What Would You Say if You Could Add One Word to the Bible?

It’s easy to say that the Bible is the most misunderstood book in our society today. This probably stems at least partially from the fact that most people have not read it but almost everybody has heard (or thinks they have heard) some of what it says. Interpretation of the Bible (and worse, misinterpretation of the Bible) is woven into the very history of our nation. So that when the average biblically illiterate American says something like, “You know the Bible supports slavery?” they are dead wrong. But if they said, the Bible has been used to support slavery, they would be absolutely right. The same could be said for polygamy, incest, and even cannibalism (not in our society but go back to the early church and you will realize that non-believers accusing the Bible of teaching evil is nothing new!) Which raises all sorts of questions in my mind about why God wrote and formed the scriptures the way that he did. Why wasn’t God clearer? Why doesn’t he anoint a prophet to modernize the scriptures every couple hundred years? Now I’m not talking about changing content - homosexuality is a sin, that’s not changing no matter how hard post modernity tries – but simply explaining some of the difficulties that shifting culture has convoluted. “Dear God, Paul said some confusing things about women being in ministry that often times seem to contradict one another. Can you please once and for all just give us a final, authoritative word on this issue?” That kind of thing. But of course God doesn’t do this. The canon is closed. What we have is the final, authoritative word. And what a word it is! I recognize I have already covered an enormous amount of ground in just one paragraph (probably too much) but allow me to take things now in a slightly different direction. I am continually astonished by the very human element of our God-inspired text.

There are many human writers of scripture. I’m sure you knew that. You could probably name most of them and are already beginning to do that in your head. But as you are compiling your mental list, did you include Quartus? I’m guessing not. And yet he wrote part of what may be the most important book in the New Testament; Romans. Well, as you are scratching your head, let me admit that I am exaggerating a little, Quartus only wrote one word of Romans, but hey, that’s one word more than you or me! In Romans 16, Paul (the “other writer” of Romans) is sending out final greetings and salutations. And then in Romans 16:23 we read this: “Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus, greet you.” There he is, Quartus! So here is the scene as I imagine it. Paul is in Corinth and wants to write a letter to Rome in hopes of visiting the great capital city soon. He is staying at Gaius’ house and he calls up Tertius and asks him to come over so that he can write as Paul dictates. Tertius arrives and they begin. Hour after hour Paul speaks and hour after hour Tertius writes. My guess is that during that time a few people arrive at Gaius’ house, but during that time, nobody leaves! Everybody is spellbound by the deep theology that Paul is dictating. They are hanging on every word. Two of these listeners are Erastus, and Quartus; they are in heaven and barely daring to breath during the long hours. And then as the sun begins to go down and as Paul’s voice begins to get scratchy he does something astonishing. He turns to the corner of the room, fixes Erastus and Quartus with his gaze and casually asks, “Anything you guys want to add?” For a moment there is silence. The city treasurer and brother Quartus are stunned; “Us?” they must be thinking. They are racking their brains for some statement that might just maybe sound as eloquent and thought out as what Paul has just finished. Erastus looks at his toes and Quartus tries in vain to remember a line from the Torah that might be applicable, and then all of a sudden there is peace. The Holy Spirit that has been literally propelling Paul’s every word suddenly fills these two to the brim and they look up with one voice and say, “greetings.” Tertius adds the line and the letter is nearly done.

OK, so I will admit it probably didn’t happen exactly that way, but I don’t think I’m that far off either. Which is amazing! God wanted Quartus to send greetings to Rome. God wanted us to know that Quartus sent greetings to Rome! Of all the theology that isn’t quite clear, or that might cause discussion, or argument, or consternation, this much we can agree on; Quartus sent greetings to Rome. Why is this so important? Why is this part of our text? Well, I think it is at least in part because it reminds us that God used real people to write these words. People that did things as normal as greet one another. People who discussed, and argued, and dealt with consternation; and yet also people who when everything was on the line, when it came to scripture and what God was saying, relied wholly and without equivocation, upon the Holy Spirit.