Jesus and Paul on Tolerance: The Strange Exorcist and the Strange Concession

This essay deals with two scriptures often overlooked: Jesus' response to the so-called strange exorcist (Mark 9:38-41; Luke 9:49-50) and Paul's curious remark to believers who might hold views different from his (Phil 3:15-16). The meaning of Jesus' "soft" statement that "he who is not against you is for you" becomes clearer when placed alongside the "hard" saying: "The one not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters" (Matt 12:30; Luke 11:23). In the Philippians passage we find that when people disagree with him personally, Paul can put up with it; but when they attack his gospel, he fights back. We find both in Jesus and in Paul a surprising tolerance for people who differ from the norm in thinking or in group allegiance. Loyalty to Christ and the core of the gospel makes all the difference.