See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand! Galatians 6:11
Sometimes we need to establish our bona fides. That means verifying that someone is who they say they are. Just last week, the US Federal Government revealed that there is approximately $220 billion in Covid-related unemployment fraud. Nearly ¼ of $1 trillion was (apparently) fraudulently given out by the US Government because it (the gubmint) failed to verify that the applicants were actually unemployed. Or that the information on their applications was valid. Or even if said people were real. The US government didn’t check the bona fides of the applicants. We each carry identification of various kinds. Drivers licenses, social security cards, employer IDs or badges; we carry things to identify who we are, especially to strangers. It was important that someone authenticate the credentials of recipients, but it didn’t happen.
Paul closed out his first letter to the church in Corinth to authenticate his credentials. Some speculate that Paul dictated most of his letters, and only signed them, in part, because he had very poor eyesight. Others say it was to bring emphasis to what he had written. No matter the reason, Paul was establishing his identity, his credentials, with his friends, readers, and others. They could know that what was sent to them was genuine. It was bona fide.
It’s funny, though: this is the point when I think of “O Brother Where Art Thou,” where Ulysses’ (George Clooney) ex-wife sought out a new husband. In the movie, as if to defend herself, she kept insisting “he’s bona fide.” The new husband wouldn’t be a vagabond deserter like the old one. The new one had established himself as reliable and honest.
Just like the Spirit did through Paul. Paul’s words were dictated to him by Jesus’ Spirit, inspiring him to write what he did, so that people would listen. So that people would hear what God wanted them to hear. God established His credentials to establish Paul’s credentials to give the message weight, as if God was saying, “listen to this man. He’s saying something I want you to hear.”
Bona fide…
…Which, in Latin, means “in good faith.” Everything God tells us is bona fide. Everything He shared through the 66 books of the Bible was in good faith, was bona fide. It was all sincere, and said with earnest intent, without fraud or deceit: all of which are additional definitions of this term. Because sometimes, even God, through His apostles, prophets, and messengers, wants us to know, in good faith, that He is who He says He is. Where our treasures are involved, maybe governments could do the same.
For further reading: 1 Corinthians 16:21, Galatians 6:12
Lord, You are bona fide. You are the Father, Son, and Spirit, creator of everything. Your words are always honest and true.
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