gospel ministry of the apostle Paul in Europe is associated with this humble

office of 'help':

'And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; there stood a man of

Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over ... and help us' (Acts

Paul's and Luke's interpretation of the cry for help is: 'assuredly

gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them'

(Acts 16:10).  Apollos was a 'helper' of the saints, for we read: 'When he

was come, helped them much which had believed through grace'.  Of what did

this help consist?  We read on to the next verse: 'For he mightily convinced

the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the Scriptures that Jesus was the

Christ' (Acts 18:27,28).  This brings the help of Apollos very much into line

with the guidance of Philip (Acts 8:30 -35) which we have considered earlier.

Help is not confined, however, to preaching, teaching

or doing, for Paul writes: 'Ye also helping together by prayer' (2 Cor.

1:11).  This is a ministry in which many may share who would otherwise be

excluded from service.  Furthermore, we must not allow the idea of helping in

dire necessity, or under strenuous conditions, to exclude the gentler but no

less important service indicated by the apostle in 2 Corinthians 1:24:

'Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your

joy: for by faith ye stand'.

There were perhaps few intimate friends of the apostle Paul who were

more dearly loved or held in higher esteem than Priscilla and Aquila.  Of

these the apostle records:

'Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I

give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles' (Rom. 16:4).

Priscilla and Aquila provided hospitality for Paul and a means of

livelihood upon his arrival at Corinth (Acts 18:2).  And they took Apollos to

their home and showed him the way of God more perfectly, thus enabling him to

be a great help to the believers (Acts 18:24 -28).  The depth of affection

felt by Paul may be seen in the last salutation he sent to them: 'Salute

Prisca and Aquila' (2 Tim. 4:19).  These stood firm, where others had failed

(2 Tim. 4:10,16), and the apostle indulges at the last in a little display of

affection, calling Priscilla by the diminutive 'Prisca'.  Of these two

believers Paul writes:

'Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus' (Rom. 16:3).

Who would not value the title of helper after seeing the record of two

at least who bore it?

The woman, given by God to Adam was the first to be called an 'help'.

That was her peculiar office, specially given by God Himself.  She was an

help 'meet' for Adam, and therefore in no sense inferior to him.  There is no

suggestion in Genesis 2:18 -25 that Adam was created imperfect.  The passage

teaches us rather that God had no intention of endowing one person with all

the gifts, for such independence would be his ruin.  The church today needs

its Priscillas quite as much as its Aquilas.  May the sisters in Christ who

read these words be encouraged to take their place in God's perfect plan,