Contemplation #169
The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. Romans 16:20
This is a remarkable statement by Paul particularly because it is made to the Christians in Rome. This is the city where Paul, according to tradition, would be beheaded. The persecution had not even begun as it would under Nero, starting in the city of Rome. Was Paul completely wrong about God soon crushing Satan? In the years following the writing of this letter, Satan seemed stronger, not weaker, and no where was that more apparent than in Rome. The crushing of Satan must not have been something that was observable by those looking at day to day events. Paul was not wrong, even though he wasn’t talking about an event that would lessen the Christians’ experience of trouble in this world.
Contemplation #170
The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. Romans 16:20
The crushing of Satan under the feet of these Roman Christians did not mean that Satan would disappear from their world. Instead, in some way they were going to experience a triumph over Satan. Perhaps Paul’s reference first to God as the God of peace and to the abiding presence of Christ’s grace give us insight into the type of victory Paul was imagining. A victory to peace through living in grace may be a triumph that occurs despite circumstances. If Paul could promise impending victory to those who would soon face more persecution for their faith than had occurred previously, perhaps even in today’s world Satan will be crushed under our feet though wars and rumors of wars continue.
Contemplation #171
But I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. Romans 16:19
Paul's prediction of the crushing of Satan by the God of peace, as he wishes the grace of Jesus to be with these Christians, follows his wish that they be wise regarding goodness and innocent regarding evil. Perhaps what we see is that as these Christians continue to become wiser about good, and more innocent of any participation in evil, they are moving toward the time when Satan will be crushed under their feet in a victory through their lives of faith. Maybe the victory he foresees is not one where he expects the world around them to change, but for them to be changed with respect to the world. Though Satan continues to work, they are on the path to being truly free from him and alive to what is good. The promise of Paul remains true to all people who long to become wise to God’s ways, and innocent of Satan’s – he will be crushed beneath their feet.
The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. Romans 16:20
This is a remarkable statement by Paul particularly because it is made to the Christians in Rome. This is the city where Paul, according to tradition, would be beheaded. The persecution had not even begun as it would under Nero, starting in the city of Rome. Was Paul completely wrong about God soon crushing Satan? In the years following the writing of this letter, Satan seemed stronger, not weaker, and no where was that more apparent than in Rome. The crushing of Satan must not have been something that was observable by those looking at day to day events. Paul was not wrong, even though he wasn’t talking about an event that would lessen the Christians’ experience of trouble in this world.
Contemplation #170
The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. Romans 16:20
The crushing of Satan under the feet of these Roman Christians did not mean that Satan would disappear from their world. Instead, in some way they were going to experience a triumph over Satan. Perhaps Paul’s reference first to God as the God of peace and to the abiding presence of Christ’s grace give us insight into the type of victory Paul was imagining. A victory to peace through living in grace may be a triumph that occurs despite circumstances. If Paul could promise impending victory to those who would soon face more persecution for their faith than had occurred previously, perhaps even in today’s world Satan will be crushed under our feet though wars and rumors of wars continue.
Contemplation #171
But I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. Romans 16:19
Paul's prediction of the crushing of Satan by the God of peace, as he wishes the grace of Jesus to be with these Christians, follows his wish that they be wise regarding goodness and innocent regarding evil. Perhaps what we see is that as these Christians continue to become wiser about good, and more innocent of any participation in evil, they are moving toward the time when Satan will be crushed under their feet in a victory through their lives of faith. Maybe the victory he foresees is not one where he expects the world around them to change, but for them to be changed with respect to the world. Though Satan continues to work, they are on the path to being truly free from him and alive to what is good. The promise of Paul remains true to all people who long to become wise to God’s ways, and innocent of Satan’s – he will be crushed beneath their feet.
posted by Greg at 11:51 AM
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