Lion and the Lamb: Chapter 14

  • Paul established several local congregations in major urban centers on at least three missionary journeys
  • Most likely Philippians was written prior to the other letters
    • In Phlm 22, Paul expected to be released from prison soon, while in Phil 1:21-25 he inferred what the future held based on spiritual principles, but he had no idea as to the timing of his release
  • Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon were all related to the return of Onesimus and were most likely written roughly at the same time and under similar circumstances.
    • The precise sequence is unknown
    • Ephesians
    • Colossians
  • Prison Epistles’ contribution to the canon of scripture
    • The centrality of the gospel of Christ and partnership in the gospel
    • Christ’s self-humiliation
    • The supremacy of Christ, the cosmic reconciling work of Christ, and spiritual warfare
    • The subjection of all things to Christ’s lordship and the present implications of Christ’s victory for believers
    • The unity of the church as the body of Christ consisting of Jews and Gentiles
    • Christian joy and thanksgiving
    • The Christian transformation of socioeconomic structures such as slavery
    • Social relationships
  • The occasion of Philippians: Thanksgiving for the Philippians’ partnership in the gospel and warnings against disunity and false teaching as hindrances to the spread of the gospel
  • Purpose of Philippians: To promote gospel-centered unity for the sake of advancing the gospel
  • The theme of Philippians: Partnership in the gospel and walking worthy of the gospel
  • Acceptance of Pauline authorship
    • The letter opens by identifying Paul as the author
    • The early church accepted Paul as the author without dissent
    • The letter is intensely personal, suggesting that the author was well known to the church of Philippi
  • Paul’s Imprisonment
    • Rome
    • Caesera
    • Ephesus
  • The traditional view imagines Paul imprisoned in Rome
    • The mention of the Praetorium and Caesers household
    • The loose restrictions implied by his activity during his imprisonment
    • References to a seemingly well-established church
    • The “life or death” nature of the imprisonment
  • Problems with the Roman hypothesis
    • Distance between Philippi and Rome (1,200 miles)
    • The letter to the Romans implies a trip to Spain, while the letter to the Philippians implies a trip to Philippi
  • The straightforwardness of the destination raises no contest
  • Paul addresses both pastoral problems and personal concerns
    • Disunity
    • Warning against false teachers
    • Update regarding his circumstances and the advancement of the gospel
    • Commendation of Timothy
    • Announcement of Paul’s desire to visit the church
    • Report on Epaphroditus and his illness
  • The Philippians’ partnership in the gospel should be understood in an active, not passive, sense
  • Identification
    • Letter of friendship
    • Family letters
    • unified and coherent composition from start to finish
  • Outline
    • Introduction: greetings to the Philippians
    • Body: The Philippians’ partnership with Paul in the Gospel
    • Theme: Gospel Partnership
    • Opening: Thanksgiving and Prayer for the Philippians
      • centers on the Philippians’ participation and partnership in the gospel
    • Body Proper: Exhortation to Unity for the Sake of the Gospel
      • Four Biographical Vignettes (serve as examples because of demonstrated humility)
      • The lives of Paul
      • Jesus
      • Timothy
      • Epaphroditus
      • Call to Emulation
      • False teachers
      • Disunity among the Philippians
    • Closing: Thanksgiving for the Philippians’ Present and Previous Gifts
      • Paul rejoices for the Philippians’ present and past financial support
      • Rejoicing in the representation of the gift, not the gift itself
    • Conclusion: Final Greetings
  • Theological Themes
    • Christian Unity
    • Paul’s concern was for the unity of believers so that the gospel proclamation would not be hindered
    • Internal disunity continues to be a major tool of Satan hindering effective Christian ministry
    • Joy in Christ in the Context of Christian Suffering
    • “joy” word family was used 16 times
  • The purpose of Ephesians is to declare and promote cosmic reconciliation and unity in Christ
  • The theme of Ephesians is the summing up of all things in Christ
  • Ephesians is a magisterial summary of Paul’s teaching
  • Ephesians’ significant contributions to the canon
    • Paul presented the theme of subjecting things to Christ’s lordship most clearly and articulately
    • Only Colossians can compare with Ephesians’ emphasis on the staggering aspects of Christ’s victory that believers already enjoy Christ
    • Ephesians contains perhaps the most developed discussion of and vision for the church
    • Ephesians also contains the most developed discussion of spiritual warfare in the NT
  • Foundation of Paul’s authorship
    • The claim of the letter
    • the testimony of the early church
  • The fact that some important manuscripts do not include “at Ephesus” (1:1) poses problems for identifying a destination
  • Main themes in Ephesians
    • Unity in the church
    • A distinctive Christian ethic
    • Vigilance in Spiritual warfare
  • Outline
    • Opening (1:1-2)
    • Author
    • Recipient
    • Greeting
    • Body: Seated with Christ, Walking with Christ, Standing for Christ (1:3-6:20)
    • Shared Spiritual Blessings in Union with Christ and Unity in Christ (1:3-3:21)
      • Unpacked spiritual Blessing
      • Prayed for Readers
      • 3 sections portray the unity that God has created through the gospel in 3 different angles
      • Heavenly angle
        • Described Conversion as a change from spiritual death to spiritual lfie
      • Cross-Centered angle
        • Portrayed the gospel-centered unity of the church
      • Paul’s apostolic ministry angle
        • Highlighted his own role in this unity as the minister to the Gentiles
      • Ended with a concluding prayer and doxology
    • Walk with Christ and Stand for Christ (4:1-6:20)
      • Unity (What Christians are called to do, How they are to do it, Why)
      • Diversity in Unity
      • Stability
      • Growth
      • Unity and Maturity guard the body from false teaching
      • Holiness
      • Also from the false living
      • Christians must not walk in the dark like Gentiles
      • \
        • \
      • Love
      • Light
      • Christians must not walk in the dark like Gentiles
      • Walk as children of light
      • Remain separated from dark deeds and expose them
      • Walk in light
      • Wisdom
      • And wisdom
      • Be filled by the Spirit
        • Wholehearted praise
        • Thanksgiving
        • Submission
        • Wives submit to husbands
        • Children obey parents
        • Slaves obey masters
        • Husbands love your wives
        • Fathers do not provoke children into anger
        • Masters should not treat slaves unfairly
      • Call for believers to stand in Spiritual Warfare by
      • Putting on God’s armor
        • Introductory admonition for believers to be strong in the Lord
        • Reinforce the introductory admonition/specifications of armor
        • Truth
        • Righteousness
        • Peace
        • The Gospel
        • The word of God
        • Salvation
        • Faith
      • Prayer
        • Access God’s power in prayer
    • Closing (6:21-24)
  • Theological Themes
    • The Lordship of Christ
    • the central theme of the letter
      • Soteriology
      • Ecclesiology
      • Ethics
      • Spiritual Warfare
    • The Church
    • The trinitarian work of salvation has massive implications for the church
    • Christ has broken down the dividing wall through the cross and created the church as one new man
  • The purpose of Colossians is to Combat false teaching with the supremacy and sufficiency of Christ
  • The theme of Colossians is that Chris ti’s complete in every way and thus believers are complete in Christ
  • Perhaps the most Christ-centered letter in the NT
  • Pauline Authorship
    • Letter’s own claim to authenticity
    • Unbroken tradition throughout church history
    • Close connections between Colossians and Philemon
    • Questions surrounding the practice and acceptance of pseudonymity
  • Colossian heresy
    • Essene Judaism and Gnosticism
    • Hellenism
    • Paganism
    • Judaism
  • 3 main points to the Colossians
    • Fullness dwells in the preeminent Christ
    • Believers are complete in Christ
    • They should seek to know more of Christ in his fullness by speaking the things above where he dwells, not on the earth
  • Outline
    • Introduction (1:1-8)
    • Opening (1:1-2)
      • Author
      • Recipients
      • Grace Salutation
    • Thanksgiving (1:3-8)
      • Faith
      • Love
      • Hope
    • Body: The Supremacy and All-Sufficiency of Christ (1:9-4:6)
    • The Centrality of Christ and the Colossian Heresy (1:9-2:23)
      • Supremacy of Christ
      • Christ as head over creation
      • Christ as head over the church
    • Believers’ New Life in Christ (3:1-4:6)
    • Closing (4:7-18)
    • Commendation of Tychicus and Onesimus (4:7-9)
    • Greetings from Paul’s Coworkers (4:10-14)
    • Final Instructions (4:15-17)
      • In regards to the church at Laodicea
    • Believers’ New Life in Christ (4:18)
  • Theological Themes
    • Supremacy of Christ
    • Jesus’ supremacy over Creation
    • Why he has supremacy over Creation
    • Jesus as the purpose of Creation
    • Lordship over God’s new Creation
    • Jesus as the head of the Church
    • Proper Christian Conduct
    • Christ’s sufficient work and believers’ spiritual union with him means that they can keep pursuing the things above where Christ dwells
    • The believer is a new creature and acts accordingly
    • Christ’s lordship has staggering implications for his lordship over every aspect of the believer’s life, which is especially emphasized in the household code
  • The theme of Philemon is Love and reconciliation in the body of Christ
  • Shortest Pauline letter
  • Relationship between Philemon and Colossians
    • Colossians refers to Onesimus
    • Both letters have Timothy as the cosender
    • Both letters refer to Epaphras and Archippus
    • Both letters include Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke among Paul’s companions
  • Biographical details of Philemon
    • Cherished coworker
    • Model of love and faith toward Jesus
    • Philemon’s love and faith had also overflowed to all the believers whom he had often refreshed
    • Paul played a part in Philemon’s conversion
    • Probably wealthy
  • Provenance of Philemon
    • Rome
    • Ephesus
    • Caesarea
  • Ephesian imprisonment
    • Most likely Onesimus would flee to Ephesus as the nearest metropolis, not the distant city of Rome
    • Paul’s request to Philemon for a room in the near future fits more readily with the shorter distance between Ephesus and Colossae
  • Roman imprisonment
    • The proximity of Ephesus to Colossae cuts both ways
    • Paul’s request for lodging does not preclude Roman imprisonment because he could still make the trip in about five weeks.
  • Outline
    • Opening (1-7)
    • Salutation (1-3)
      • senders
      • recipients
      • grace salutation
    • Thanksgiving and Prayer (4-7)
    • Body: Three Appeals for Onesimus (8-20)
    • Initial Appeal: He is Useful for Both You and Me (8-11)
    • Second Appeal: Accept Him as a Brother in Christ (12-16)
    • Third Appeal: Refresh MY Heart by Sending Onesimus Back (17-20)
    • Closing (21-25)
  • Theological Themes
    • Mutual Love and Brotherhood in the Body of Christ
    • A Christian Approach to Slavery and Other Social Issues