Character Studies - ElectronicGospel

Character Study of Dorcasa character study by Jeff S. SmithIntroductionIt is unfortunate that the Bible name “Dorcas,” has been marred in modern times by a similar “term ofabuse favored by American youngsters, designating the target as quirky, awkward, eccentric, sociallyinept or simply of lower status.” 29 That word’s origin is even more sordid, causing many of us to preferthe Aramaic “Tabitha” instead. This woman was no object of derision in her life and those who imitate herexample today should be held in high esteem rather than low as well.DiscussionI. Dorcas’s Character (Acts 9:36-42)A. A Certain Disciple at Joppa1. the apostle Peter was on a teaching and healing tour of Judah, Galilee and Samaria while acertain disciple named Tabitha was becoming sick in the city of Joppaa. Joppa (pr. jop'-a) was perhaps originally a Phoenician town allotted to the tribe of Danbefore Israel’s conquest of the Promised Land (cf. Joshua 19:46)b. it was in Joppa that the prophet Jonah found a ship bound for Tarshish (cf. Jonah 1:3) andin Ezra’s time, Joppa served as a distribution center for cedar trees used in rebuilding Jerusalem (cf. Ezra3:7)c. the modern city of Yafa is built on a rocky mound at the edge of the sea and is famous forits gardens and orange groves, as well as for tourist destinations like the remains of the house of Simonthe tanner and a certain disciple named Tabitha 302. the name Dorcas literally means “gazelle,” which is a small and very quick antelope “mostlyfound in the grasslands and savannas of Africa, but they are also found in southwest Asia 31a. we don’t have any idea how old Tabitha was when he she died and even the Dr. Luke’sbrief autopsy provides no clue, for he only indicates that she took ill and diedb. Tabitha might have been a young virgin, a young wife, a young widow or an old woman3. this is the only case in the entire New Testament in which the Greek word maqhvtria (mathetria,pr. math-ay'-tree-ah), or “a female disciple” 32 is useda. although there are many female disciples, Tabitha is the only one that is described by aspecial word that denotes both her gender and her avocationb. the word “disciple” regardless of gender has a special meaning that goes beyond a mereadherent to a certain religion or profession, denoting a genuine learner or pupil, as someone who humblysits at the feet of a teacher and studies and adopts his doctrines and convictionsc. Tabitha was a disciple of Christ, not in a denominational sense or even in a meaninglessmanner, but in truth as she sought to understand the will of her MasterB. Full of Good Works Which She Did1. that becomes evident in the way that the historian Luke describes Tabitha–“full of good worksand charitable deeds”2. her particular charitable interest seems to have been in making tunics and garments, perhapsfor the widows who would later display them for Peter when he arrived3. had Paul met her, he would have found some further inspiration for the things he would writeabout the beauty of a female disciple who relieves the afflicted and diligently follows every good work(see First Timothy 5:10; read First Timothy 2:8-10)4. in an age when it is easier to throw money at problems that can often be solved at Target orKroger, there is something much more powerful and personal about a disciple who works with her ownhands to relieve the afflictedC. Mourned1. Tabitha was so beloved that when she died, her friends simply refused to let her go so easily,not only keeping her memory alive, but summoning Peter to visit her death chamber before she wasburied2. it is not hard to imagine these brethren there in that house of mourning, weeping over their lossand informing Peter about Tabitha, for we have all mourned the passing of someone that we held in highCharacter Studies! 163