Page 4 - May 2022 - Truth & Tidings

I meals. The practice of social fellowship
have been asked to write an article
is invaluable and, if conversation is con-
which provides a definition of hos-
pitality. While it is not good to begin
on a negative note, perhaps it is best to trolled, can be a great spiritual help to
those in attendance.
start with what it is not. Contrary to what We need, however, to transfer our-
someone once thought, it does not mean selves into first-century society. Christi-
visiting the hospital. That having been anity was making great strides through
said, I am faced with a formidable chal- Asia Minor and parts of Europe. As a
lenge: I am assigned a 1,000-word article. result of the gospel, families were be-
Since Mr. Vine defines hospitality with ing divided. The gods and idols of the
three words, “love of strangers,” and Mr. heathen were being discarded. The syna-
Webster employs only a few more words gogue was being exchanged for simple
in his definition, “the activity or business gatherings of believers in each other’s
of providing services to guests,” I still homes. Seismic changes were occurring
have over 900 words to add to the article.
throughout the world. 1 Corinthians 7
The Meaning even hints at people leaving spouses who
Let’s start, however, with Mr. Vine’s had received Christ, refusing to continue
definition, which is derived from the in a marriage with someone who no lon-
ger worshiped the gods.
Greek words philoxenos or philoxenia,
used in at least five instances in the NT The Hebrews epistle recounts the
(Rom 12:13; 1Ti 3:2; Titus 1:8; Heb 13:2; reality that some had known the “spoil-
1Pe 4:9) and embedded in the truth of ing of their goods” (Heb 10:34). In all
1 Timothy 5:10. Combining the literal likelihood, for many believing Jews, it
meaning of the word, the contexts in meant being disinherited. They were left
which they are found, and the conditions without home or possessions. Others,
of the times in which the letters were like Paul, “suffered the loss of all things”
written, we can arrive at a contextually (Php 3:8). Persecuted believers would
appropriate understanding. be driven out of their homes and even
“Love of strangers” means something from their cities, consigned to wander-
other than inviting the believers from ing from city to city, looking for friendly
the assembly to your home for a meal or believers. When the writer of Hebrews
for an informal gathering after meeting. 13 enjoined the saints to “be not forgetful
Please, by all means continue this valu- to entertain strangers,” he had in mind
able activity. But we are considering a those who were previously unknown,
love of “strangers.” This form of “hospi- who would appear on the doorstep and
tality” would not involve reciprocal visits claim that they needed a place to live and
to each other’s homes for socializing or food to eat.

132 TRUTH kTidings May 2022