People from many walks of life speak of the POV. Point Of View as listed at dictionary.com contains three similar meanings:
- a specified or stated manner of consideration or appraisal; standpoint
- an opinion, attitude or judgment
- the position of the narrator in relation to the story, as indicated by the narrator’s outlook from which the events are depicted and by the attitude toward the characters
Videos or movies are often given a particular POV. The story may even be told from the POV of the viewer or reader.
Luke’s Point of View
Luke writes the history of the early church through the activities of the apostles Peter and Paul. During Paul’s second missionary journey, Luke joins Paul’s group in their travels. The account of the history has the flavor or POV of someone who experienced the mission. Luke provides his POV on the group’s time spent in Berea.
The historian analyzes the Berean Jews, likely comparing them to the Jews they had met in Philippi and Thessalonica. Luke summarizes that these Jews were of a different nature. He describes them with the Greek word εὐγενέστερος (EU-GEN-ESTER-OS) literally meaning “well-bred.” Originally it meant someone who came from a wealthy and well-educated family, but over the years it developed the connotation of someone who was open-minded, tolerant, generous, and kind-hearted. The character and integrity of the people to whom Paul spoke impressed the author of Acts.
Understanding the Pointe in Berea
He continues on to explain why their nature struck him so strongly. “They examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true” (Acts 17:11). They did not take the easy route of either extreme – accepting everything Paul said, or immediately rejecting his words out of anger. Instead they weighed carefully his message against the message of Scripture.
As we look to the pointe in Berea, Luke’s perspectives helps place things in focus.
- We should strive to receive the message of Scripture with eagerness. There should be an excited anticipation any time we will have God’s Word shared with us.
- When we hear a message from Scripture, we need to examine the message and compare it to Scripture to collaborate its truth. Although we develop a trusting relationship with many of our teachers and mentors, we need to constantly balance our trust with critical (not negative) evaluation. Does the message, lesson or sermon mesh with the teachings of Scripture?
- We should spend time in the Scriptures daily. Our understanding of Scripture cannot mature by seeing it once a week and having someone else feed it to us. The responsibility become entrenched in the Word rests on our shoulders. Time each day on our own will deepen our understanding.
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