The situation in the first century was far different. There were none of the media that we take for granted. This was true through the fifteenth century when the printing press was invented by that enterprising German, Gutenberg. Before that, texts were lovingly enjoyed, like a fine wine; carefully decanted, nosed, swirled, left to caress the mental palate, carefully tasted for every nuance of meaning, and only then swallowed by memory. Very few texts were available for study, so they were treated with care, like a long-cellared Burgundy. We ourselves did the same thing with a love letter in the days before texting and email. Our beloved's words were read for every subtle color of meaning. What if we had gotten a letter from our beloved and someone asked us what it said, and we replied, "Oh, I don't know. I haven't read it yet." They would think us mad or hard hearted. The only way to know the heart of the beloved who writes to us is to read what is written.

So it is for God's Word in human letters, especially those of the Apostle Paul. We need to open his letters, read and study them, savoring them as they were intended to be savored and considered. Paul had not the capacity to write a novel or a huge theological tome for his readers; he was sending them letters. Therefore, he sought to pack much substance into few words. This is why we ought to read them carefully; Paul wrote them carefully. This is especially true of the Letter to the Romans. I am envious of the world in which John Chrysostom lived and studied the letters of Paul. Chrysostom lived when written texts were relatively few and when Greek, the language of the Apostle, was still the language of the church and her preachers. Paul spoke the language still used by Chrysostom. No wonder Chrysostom considered Paul such a good friend, right there with him as he heard the letter read. We have greater opportunity to make the Apostle to the Gentiles our friend, simply because we can hold a copy of Paul's letter in our hands. If you do, you will find Paul a great friend.