Rich Nelson Uncategorized

79: Jude – Introduction & Avoid false teachers — Jude 1-25

Get Ready

This book is often overlooked because of its brevity and its similarity to Peter’s second letter, but it contains some of the most powerful writing in the New Testament about resisting erroneous ideas and false teachers and standing firm on the faith.

Author

Most scholars agree that “Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James” [v. 1], is one of Jesus’ brothers mentioned in Matthew [13:55] and Mark [6:3]. Both he and his brother James, a leader in the Jerusalem church, did not follow Jesus during his earthly ministry, but became believers at some point after the resurrection. Paul refers to “brothers of the Lord” along with Peter [1 Cor 9:5] as active ministers for the Gospel.

Context

There is very little evidence to identify the time and place of writing or the intended recipients of this letter.

Jude probably wrote his letter in the middle of the first century before the Roman army destroyed Jerusalem and the temple, since the author does not mention what would have been a significant event in the church’s early history. He also invites his readers to remember the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, [v. 17], so he must be writing after the first wave of missionary activity. These two clues point to a time around 60 CE.

This was evidently a time when false teachers were spreading heresy in some of the churches. Jude had intended to write a more extensive or theological explanation of salvation, but felt he had to respond more directly to the errors: I find it necessary to write and appeal to you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints, [v. 3].

Structure

Jude’s organization of the letter is very straightforward, indicating that during his ministry he learned both Greek and Greek rhetoric quite well. There are five sections in the letter:

  • Greeting – using a common Greek approach.
  • Purpose – explaining why he is writing this letter.
  • Argument – setting out the errors in doctrine the false teachers were presenting to believers, as well as examples of God’s response to such errors in the past.
  • Exhortations – the “so what?” part of the letter – advising the reader how to respond to the false teaching.
  • Benediction (closing) – praising God and blessing the reader. Each section is direct and to the point. Jude does not waste any ink in getting his point across.

Major Themes

The church that Jude wrote to was similar to many churches in our time. Believers were struggling to maintain their faith while surrounded by a culture that tolerated many different beliefs about the gods and many different – and unrighteous – behaviors.

Jude urges his readers to remember that they have the truth and they need to make sure they grow in their faith, not water it down with false doctrines.

  • God has already judged those who promote error and false teaching. Jude uses examples from Jewish history: the rebellious angels were cast out of heaven [Gen 6]; God destroyed the Israelites who made and worshipped idols during the exodus; God also destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah [Gen 19]. Jude also mentions Cain, Balaam, and Korah as examples of how God deals with people who don’t remain true.
  • Believers should continue growing in faith: Build yourselves up on your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit, [v. 20].
  • And they should also continue reaching out to others: And have mercy on some who are wavering; save others by snatching them out of the fire, [v. 22-23].

Jude is unique among New Testament authors in his use of examples from sources other than the Jewish scriptures and the writings of the Apostles. He refers to an argument between the archangel, Michael, and the devil [v. 9] that is not mentioned anywhere in Scripture; and he quotes a passage from the Apocryphal Book of Enoch
[v. 15], see Lesson 2 for more information on the Apocrypha].

Get into the Word

1. Who wrote this letter? Who are his relatives? How does this give him authority to write such a letter? How is he similar to his brother? 

2. When was this letter probably written? Who was it written to? Where was the writer at the time? What clues or hints do we have about these questions? How important are the answers?

3. What was the situation facing the church at this time? What was the author’s original plan for this letter? What caused him to change the plan? What does he want the readers to do with this letter?

4. How does the writer organize this letter? What are the major sections? What does each section cover? What is Jude’s style of writing? Do you think this helps get his message across or does it get in the way of understanding?

5. What is the primary message that Jude wants his readers to take away from this letter? How is the situation he writes about similar to issues the church is forced to deal with today? Is his message still relevant to us?

6. What does Jude say about heresy and those who promote erroneous teaching in the church? How does God respond to these situations? What examples does Jude give to support his assertions about false doctrine?

7. What does Jude encourage believers to do? What directions does he give about growing as a believer? What does he say about responding to error in other believers? 

Bible Trivia
One of the early church leaders, Eusebius, reports that Jude’s grandsons were questioned by Domitian, the Roman emperor (81-96), and were bishops when Trajan was emperor (98-117).

79: Avoid false teachers – Jude 1-25

Get Ready

How do you feel about magic tricks – illusions where you know the performer did something to get the end result but you don’t know exactly what happened? Do you just enjoy the performer’s skill at sleight-of-hand? Do you try to figure out how the person did it? Or do you reject it and walk away?

The Word

Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James,

To those who are called, who are beloved in God the Father and kept safe for Jesus Christ: 

2 May mercy, peace, and love be yours in abundance. 

3 Beloved, while eagerly preparing to write to you about the salvation we share, I find it necessary to write and appeal to you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints. 4 For certain intruders have stolen in among you, people who long ago were designated for this condemnation as ungodly, who pervert the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. 

5 Now I desire to remind you, though you are fully informed, that the Lord, who once for all saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. 6 And the angels who did not keep their own position, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains in deepest darkness for the judgment of the great Day. 7 Likewise, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which, in the same manner as they, indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural lust, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire. 

8 Yet in the same way these dreamers also defile the flesh, reject authority, and slander the glorious ones. 9 But when the archangel Michael contended with the devil and disputed about the body of Moses, he did not dare to bring a condemnation of slander against him, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” 10 But these people slander whatever they do not understand, and they are destroyed by those things that, like irrational animals, they know by instinct. 11 Woe to them! For they go the way of Cain, and abandon themselves to Balaam’s error for the sake of gain, and perish in Korah’s rebellion. 12 These are blemishes on your love-feasts, while they feast with you without fear, feeding themselves. They are waterless clouds carried along by the winds; autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, uprooted; 13 wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the deepest darkness has been reserved forever. 

14 It was also about these that Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, saying, “See, the Lord is coming with ten thousands of his holy ones, 15 to execute judgment on all, and to convict everyone of all the deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” 16 These are grumblers and malcontents; they indulge their own lusts; they are bombastic in speech, flattering people to their own advantage. 

17 But you, beloved, must remember the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; 18 for they said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, indulging their own ungodly lusts.” 19 It is these worldly people, devoid of the Spirit, who are causing divisions. 20 But you, beloved, build yourselves up on your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit; 21 keep yourselves in the love of God; look forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. 22 And have mercy on some who are wavering;
23 save others by snatching them out of the fire; and have mercy on still others with fear, hating even the tunic defiled by their bodies. 

24 Now to him who is able to keep you from falling, and to make you stand without blemish in the presence of his glory with rejoicing, 25 to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. NRSV

Get into the Word

1. How does Jude address his readers? What does he wish for them? What had he intended to write about? Why did he change his plan? What is the letter actually about?

2. Who is Jude writing about? How does he describe them? How are they related to God? To believers? What did they do in the church?

3. What examples does Jude use to make his point about those who do not follow God and teach false doctrine? Why do you suppose he chose these examples? How do they show God’s response to sin?

4. What individuals does he present as examples of people who are leading the church astray? How do you think his readers responded to these examples? How do you respond to them?

5. How does Jude describe the activities of theses “intruders?” What images does he use? Why do you think he feels as strongly as he does?

6. What direction does he give the believers? How should they respond to the false teaching? Who should they rely on for support?









Get Personal

Have you encountered teaching that discounts or waters down the Gospel? How did you respond to the person? How has God helped you to understand how to identify false teaching and avoid it?

Notes . . .

1. Jude . . . James — the writer felt that he and his brother were known well enough that he did not need any other title.
3. Contend for the faith — the urgency he just described calls for strong images.
4. Stolen in among you — evidently these false teachers presented themselves as legitimate Christ followers.
5. Saved people out of the land of Egypt — most if not all of Jude’s readers would have been familiar with the story of the exodus.
6. Angels — probably a reference to Gen 6:1-4, in which the “sons of God” took wives for themselves of all that they chose.
7. Sodom and Gomorrah — two cities that God destroyed because of their evil practices,
[Gen 19].
9. Archangel Michael — Jude’s source for this incident is probably The Assumption of Moses, an apocryphal book that is not part of the Bible.

11. Cain . . . Balaam . . . Korah — Cain murdered his brother out of jealousy [Gen 4]; Balaam prophesied because he was greedy, not because he was obeying God [Num 22-24]; and Korah challenged Moses’ authority during the exodus [Num 16]. All were banished by God.
14. Enoch — another apocryphal book – Jude’s readers would have been familiar with this book and quote.
17. Predictions —John, Peter, and Paul, as well as Jesus all predicted people who would discount the Gospel and spread false teaching, [check Acts 20:29-30, 1 Tim 4:1-3, John 15:9 and 1 Peter 3:3].
24. Him who is able — Jude closes with a very strong statement of hope and praise: God will keep believers safe from “falling” into heresy and make them “stand without blemish” in his presence.

 

Memory Verse
Keep yourselves in the love of God; look forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life, [Jude 21].

Next Lesson
Revelation 3, 6: Letters to churches and God’s judgments.

Rich Nelson Uncategorized

78: 1, 2 and 3 John –Introduction & Living as children of God — 1 John 3:1-24

Get Ready

The Apostle John is the author of five different books in the Bible: the Gospel of John, the three letters and the Revelation. In this he ranks with Moses and Paul in providing the content of scripture. The letters were probably written between 90 and 100 CE, from Ephesus.

Author

Most scholars agree that John, the Apostle and brother of James, (sons of Zebedee), wrote these three letters. In the second and third letters he identifies himself as “The elder.” But in the first letter he does not identify himself directly; instead he offers a very personal description of Christ and his relationship to the author: and concludes, we are writing these things so our joy may be complete, [1 John 1:4].

Context

All three letters were written toward the end of John’s ministry, probably between 90 and 100. At this time the author is living in the Roman province of Asia (modern Turkey). 

The Roman Empire is increasing its persecution of believers and the church. The emperor Domitian has declared that people must worship him as a god; anyone who does not is persecuted and excluded from all commercial activity. Obviously this created a difficult and dangerous situation for Christians (as well as for Jews).

The church was also dealing with false teaching (that would eventually be known as Gnosticism), which John deals with in his letters (as do Peter and Jude). The central heresy is that all matter is evil. This leads to two other false beliefs:

  • Christ did not actually have a physical body, he only appeared to be “of the flesh.”
  • Since the physical body will be destroyed, it does not matter what a person does with his or her body in this life. (Although some adherents did follow a rigid discipline about their behavior in order to be “pure.”)

Gnostics also believed that knowing “the truth” was more important than living consistent with that truth.

Structure

There are significant differences between the first letter and the second and third:

  • The first letter does not follow the pattern of ancient letters. It is more like a tract or printed sermon arguing a specific point of view. The second and third letters do follow the traditional
    structure: an opening greeting, the body of the letter and final greetings.
  • The first letter is addressed to the church at large (“My little children” in 2:1), whereas the second and third are addressed to specific recipients: “the elect lady and her children,” and “the beloved Gaius,” (although many scholars believe the “lady” of the second letter is a church and “her children” are church members.
  • 1 John is considerably longer and deals with more aspects of the believer’s relationship with Christ and the effect of that relationship on the person’s life.

Major Themes

John’s letters have two predominant messages:

  • Jesus Christ is fully and completely human – he is God “in the flesh.” Christ is the manifestation of God the Father in our world; he shows us who God is.
  • God is love – God’s essential and defining characteristic is love. Followers of Christ demonstrate their relationship with God in their love for one another.

Both messages refute the growing heresy facing the church and assure believers of their relationship with Christ. John actually tells his readers the purposes of his letters: 

  • We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete, [1 John 1:4].
  • I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin, [1 John 2:1].
  • I write these things to you concerning those who would deceive you, [1 John 2:26].
  • I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life, [1 John 5:13].

The same ideas carry over into the second and third letters. In the second letter John says, Be on your guard, so that you do not lose what we have worked for, but may receive a full reward, [2 John 8]. 3 John cautions, Beloved, do not imitate what is evil but imitate what is good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God, [3 John 11].

John also stresses two primary images of God – light and love (these images also figure prominently in his Gospel). Christians walk “in the light” because they have a relationship with God, the source of light. And Christians love one another because they are intimately connected to the source of love: Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God, [1 John 4:7].

Get into the Word

1. Who wrote these letters? How does the writer identify himself in the different letters? What else did this author write?

2. When were the letters written? Where was the writer at the time? What was the situation of the church at this time? Who was persecuting believers? Why?

3. What was the internal situation for the church at this time? What were the “false” teachings? What did this say about Christ? About our physical bodies? About our lives? Why was this important to John? To believers?

4. What are the similarities among the three letters? How do the letters differ from each other? Who are the intended recipients of each letter? What is the subject of each letter? Why is the first letter longer than the other two? 

5. What are the major themes of these letters? What message is John working to convey to the churches? Why are these points so important for John? Why are they important for the church in John’s time? Why are they important for us today?

6. What purpose does John give for these letters? How does he describe his reasons for writing? Do you think these purposes are still valid for believers today? How does he describe the purpose in the second and third letters?

7. What images of God does John present in these letters? How do these images relate to the argument John is making about our relationship with God? How do they relate to our daily lives? 

Bible Trivia

John closes the second and third letter by saying he has “much to write” but doesn’t want to use “pen and ink.” This could be an allusion to the persecution of believers, or just his belief that face-to-face communication is best.

Key Point

Even though the letters are full of fairly specific guidance about how believers should live, John is not setting out a test or qualifications to become a Christian. Nor is he making a checklist a person must complete in order to continue following Christ. He is describing how we can identify light from darkness, truth from error, and “know that we are God’s children,” [1 John 5:19].

78: Living as children of God –1 John 3:1-24

Get Ready

Many of our habits and ways of acting come from our family—we adopt what we saw around us as children. In some cases we were told, “this is the way we do things in this family.” Can you recall any specific actions or behaviors that were followed “because that’s what our family does?”

The Word

3See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
2 Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is.
3 And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure. 

4 Everyone who commits sin is guilty of lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that he was revealed to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in him sins; no one who sins has either seen him or known him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Everyone who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.
8 Everyone who commits sin is a child of the devil; for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The Son of God was revealed for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. 9 Those who have been born of God do not sin, because God’s seed abides in them; they cannot sin, because they have been born of God. 10 The children of God and the children of the devil are revealed in this way: all who do not do what is right are not from God, nor are those who do not love their brothers and sisters. 

Love one another

11 For this is the message you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12 We must not be like Cain who was from the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous. 13 Do not be astonished, brothers and sisters, that the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life because we love one another. Whoever does not love abides in death. 15 All who hate a brother or sister are murderers, and you know that murderers do not have eternal life abiding in them. 16 We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. 17 How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? 

18 Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. 19 And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him
20 whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 21 Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God; 22 and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him. 

23 And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24 All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us. NRSV

Get into the Word

1. How does John “measure” the amount of God’s love for us? How do you respond to this concept? When do we become God’s children? How does this affect other people?

2. What effect does our status have on our lives? On our actions? Why does John state that we should avoid sin? How are we able to not sin?

3. What is the difference between people who are part of God’s family through Jesus and those who are not? How does John describe people who aren’t children of God? 

4. What does loving others prove about a person? What is a person who doesn’t love other Christians? How do we know we are loving other Christians? How does this affect our relationship with God? How does this affect our daily life today?








Get Personal

How is God’s Spirit infecting your daily life? In what ways have you “given up” your life for others – placed their needs or comfort or happiness above your own – recently?

Notes . . .

3:1. Children of God — people who are in a relationship with God through Christ: For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God, [Rom 8:14]. This phrase has often been translated “sons of God” but the Greek noun refers to both male and female children.
What we are — John is consistent, as are the other New Testament authors, in putting the new life and status as God’s “children” in the present tense. This is not some state in the future but is available to believers right now! Paul is just as definite in Galatians: And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God, [Gal 4:6-7].
3:4-6. Commits sin . . . sin . . . sins — the Greek word [originally “missing” or “off-target”] can refer to an individual act or action, but also the basis or cause of the action and the situation or state of being leading to such actions. John appears to be using all these meanings in this paragraph.
3:7. Righteous — faithful, truthful, just.
3:8. Devil — in the Greek the word is not capitalized, but John often referred to evil as if it were a specific individual [Satan].
3:11. Love one another — John is using agape, the Greek word for active, selfless compassion and kindness to another person, the result of a decision and not the emotions or feelings of family, friendship or sexual desire. It is a love that does not come naturally or from this world, but 

from God, and only those who are in a relationship with God can love in this manner: Support your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, and godliness with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love, [2 Peter 1:6-7].
3:12. Evil one . . . evil — the Greek word includes active harm, pain, hurt, sorrow.
3:14. John is echoing Jesus’ statement, Very truly I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and does not come under judgment, but has passed from death to life, [John 5:24].
3:16. We know love — Jesus used similar language: This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends, [John 15:12-13].
3:17. John’s explanation of active love parallels James: If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,” and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead, [James 2:15-17].
3:23. His commandment — Jesus set out the commandment in John: Then they said to him, “What must we do to perform the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent,” [6:28-29] and I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another, [15:17].

Memory Verse
Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God, [1 John 4:7].

Next Lesson
Jude: True faith

Rich Nelson Uncategorized

77: 1 and 2 Peter – Introduction & Suffering and stewards of God’s grace –1 Peter 3:8 – 4:11

Get Ready

These two relatively short letters contain a very concise, very practical theology from one of the leaders of the early church. Even though he was writing to encourage believers in difficult times, his practical approach has value for readers at any point in their walk with Jesus [check out the Notes . . . below].

Author

Even though he identifies himself in the opening verse of these letter – as “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,” scholars have argued almost from the beginning, that Peter could not have written theses two letters.

The initial argument is that he was “uneducated and ordinary” [Acts 4:13]; therefore he could not have written the literary Greek of these letters. The first weakness is relying on the assessment of Jewish scribes and priests who were questioning Peter in Acts. The second is overlooking the Jewish requirements that all male children study the Torah, which was available in Greek as well as Hebrew. The third error is not realizing that Jews in any trade would know at least some Greek because that was the language of commerce and government. In addition, Peter wrote these letters (probably with the help of a secretary) after more than twenty years of spreading the Gospel in a mostly Greek-speaking culture (see below).

Context

Most authorities believe Peter wrote these letters from Rome (“Babylon” in 5:13), probably after 60 CE. The first letter is addressed to the exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, towns in what is now Turkey [1 Pet 1:1]. He borrows a phrase normally applied to Jews living outside of Palestine.

The second letter is more generally addressed to those who have received a faith as precious as ours through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ, [2 Pet 1:1]. Peter does call this the second letter I am writing to you, [2 Pet 3:1], which implies the same audience as the first letter.

Thirty years after Christ’s resurrection the church had spread throughout the Roman empire. However, the initial fervor of evangelism and mission work had given way to established practices and rituals in many areas. The early excitement and anticipation of Christ’s return waned with each year that passed. This led to the rise of heresies that work to explain away the teachings of the Gospel.

The first letter is a call to holy living and faithfulness, even though the author knows believers are being persecuted for their faith – they are outsiders in the pagan culture: Therefore prepare yourselves for action; discipline yourselves; set all your hope on the grace that Jesus Christ will bring you when he is revealed, [1 Pet 1:13].

In the second letter Peter refutes those who are denying that Christ will return and disparaging the call to moral restraint: Therefore I intend to keep reminding you of these things, though you know them already and are established in the truth that has come to you, [2 Pet 1:12]. The second letter carries the urgency of Peter’s expectation that my death will come soon, [2 Pet 1:14].

Structure

Both letters follow a similar pattern, with a greeting, the main body and argument, and a closing with a final exhortation. The differences in subject and focus lead to different styles in the main section of the letters.

1 Peter has four main sections:

  • Thanks for our salvation and the nature of living as a Christian – including his description of believers as a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, [1 Pet 2:9].
  • Christian relationships – including being subject to lawful authority, duties of slaves, relationships within the family.
  • The Christian response to suffering – including Christ’s example and his ultimate triumph, and the blessing of suffering for Christ.
  • Stewardship of God’s grace – including the need for discipline and maintaining constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins, [1 Pet 4:8].

2 Peter is a more directed argument against false teachers:

  • Christians are called by God and equipped with everything they need to live faithfully.
  • False teachers will be judged and punished.
  • Christ will return and judgment will occur.

Major Themes

Peter’s theme in both letters is the Gospel – God’s promise of salvation through faith in Christ and his crucifixion and resurrection. He assures us the Gospel is true and our salvation is sure. And then he calls us to live as God’s people – separate from the pagan culture that surrounds the church.

The secondary theme is “persevere.” Believers must remain true to their faith, even in times of persecution. Peter tells believers they must also live their faith, because Christ’s promise to return is also true. And his return will bring judgment: Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish, [2 Pet 3:14].

Get into the Word

1. Who wrote these letters? Why do some believe someone else must have written them? What evidence points to Peter as the author? How does he describe himself in the letters?

2. When did Peter write these letters? Where was he at the time? Who did he write the letters to? 

3. What was the situation of the church at the time? What forces were hindering the church? How had believers changed from the early years of the church? How does Peter address these issues in the two letters? How are the subjects different in each letter? How are they the same? What is significant about Peter’s personal situation in the second letter?

4. How are the letters organized? What parts are similar in each letter? Why does the main part of each letter differ from the other? What are the main sections of the first letter? How about the second letter? How is the tone different in each letter?

5. What is the primary message of these letters? What is the secondary or “so what” message? Why would this be important to Peter? Why should it be important to the church? To believers? 

Notes . . .

Peter’s theology
Peter was very practical and his letters show a very practical theology:
God: the sovereign Father is holy and trustworthy; his children should copy him.
Christ: the Son is sinless and obedient; he died and rose again, so his followers should likewise die to sin and live in trust of his resurrection.
Holy Spirit: the Spirit is the agent of sanctification, our supporter, and the power behind our ministry.
Scripture: the Word is inspired by God through the Holy Spirit; it is the expression of God’s character, his love and his plan for creation.
The Church: believers are the body of the risen Christ, the manifestation of God’s love and purpose in this world.
Last Days: Christ will return in glory and complete our salvation; we respond by living as his disciples.

Bible Trivia
Peter acknowledges Paul in 2 Peter 3:15

77: Suffering and stewards of God’s grace –1 Peter 3:8 – 4:11

Get Ready

How do you feel when some one criticizes you or questions what you believe or insults you in front of other people? Do you try to walk away and not escalate the situation? Do you respond back with similar emotion? Do you try to explain yourself to the challenger?

The Word

3 8 Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 9 Do not repay evil for evil or abuse for abuse; but, on the contrary, repay with a blessing. It is for this that you were called—that you might inherit a blessing. 10 For “Those who desire life

and desire to see good days,
let them keep their tongues from evil
and their lips from speaking deceit; 
11 let them turn away from evil and do good;
let them seek peace and pursue it. 
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are open to their prayer.
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” 
13 Now who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good?

14 But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated, 15 but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you; 16 yet do it with gentleness and reverence. Keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who abuse you for your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if suffering should be God’s will, than to suffer for doing evil. 18 For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, 20 who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water. 21 And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you—not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him. 

4Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same intention (for whoever has suffered in the flesh has finished with sin), 2 so as to live for the rest of your earthly life no longer by human desires but by the will of God. 3 You have already spent enough time in doing what the Gentiles like to do, living in licentiousness, passions, drunkenness, revels, carousing, and lawless idolatry. 4 They are surprised that you no longer join them in the same excesses of dissipation, and so they blaspheme. 5 But they will have to give an accounting to him who stands ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this is the reason the gospel was proclaimed even to the dead, so that, though they had been judged in the flesh as everyone is judged, they might live in the spirit as God does. 

7 The end of all things is near; therefore be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers. 8 Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Be hospitable to one another without complaining. 10 Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. 11 Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen. NRSV

Get into the Word

1. How does the author begin this section of the letter? What does he encourage believers to do? How should they relate to one another? How should they deal with someone who hurts them? Why is this important?

2. What should be a Christian’s attitude toward suffering? What will ultimately happen in such cases? How is the believer protected? How should the believer respond to attacks or criticism about his or her faith? 

3. What example does Peter give on dealing with suffering? Why did Christ suffer? What was the result of his suffering? What happened to his body? What happened to his spirit?

4. What does Peter say about Christ’s activity after his death? Who else does he refer to? What do you think he is actually talking about here? What ultimately happens to Christ after his death?

5. How should a Christian relate to Christ? What should be her or his attitude toward suffering? How does this affect a believer’s life?





Get Personal

How do you respond when things go against you? How do you feel about God during such times? How does he help you focus on Christ and his promise of salvation? 

Notes . . .

3:8. Unity of spirit — literally, “be of the same mind.” Peter introduces general principles for relationships within the church.
3:10. For . . . — Peter quotes Psalm 34:12-16, which describes righteous behavior.
3:13. Who will harm you — Peter is not saying that believers will not be persecuted; but ultimately they will not be harmed because they have Christ’s protection, which is clearer in v. 14. This is an echo of God’s word to Isaiah: Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy; and do not fear what it fears, or be in dread, [Isaiah 8:12].
3:15. Make your defense — while a Christian should not force his or her faith on another person, she or he should be ready and able to explain what Jesus means to their lives, with gentleness and reverence, [v. 16].
3:18. Christ also suffered — Peter points to Christ’s suffering for our sins; his physical body died on the cross, but his spirit lives with God forever.
Once for all — Christ’s sacrifice was

complete and sufficient, unlike the yearly sacrifice made by the Jewish high priest.
3:19. Spirits in prison — Peter does not explain this reference except to link it to baptism as the cleansing of our spirits, which allows us to come through God’s judgment. There is no definitive explanation of when Christ preached “in prison,” or what the spirits actually are [Acts 2:31 and Eph 4:9 are similarly confusing references].
4:1. Same intention — Peter calls on believers to trust God’s promise of salvation, just as Christ trusted God’s promise of resurrection. Christians live by the will – or spirit – of God. And unbelievers will persecute them because of their changed lives [v. 4].
4:7. The end of all things — like most early Christians, Peter believed the “end of the age” and Christ’s return would happen sooner rather than later. This gives urgency to his return to moral instruction, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ, [v.11].

Memory Verse
Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins,
[1 Peter 4:8].

Next Lesson
1 John 3: Living as children of God.

Rich Nelson Uncategorized

76: James – Introduction & Faith and Works — James 2:14-3:18

Get Ready

James is the first New Testament letter addressed to the believers generally, rather than a specific church or individual. Most scholars also believe it is one of the earliest New Testament letters to be written, though, ironically, it is one of the last documents to be included in the official canon of the New Testament.

Author

According to most authorities “James” is Jesus’ brother (not James, the brother of John, who was martyred before this letter was written). Even though he was not a disciple while Jesus was alive, he became a believer after Jesus’ ascension [1 Cor 15:7], and was a leader of the Jerusalem church by the time Paul returned from his initial missionary journey and the Council dealt with the question of circumcision for Gentile Christians [Acts 15]. 

Dates for the letter range from as early as A.D. 45-50 to A.D. 62, when James was martyred. Most scholars interpret “the twelve tribes in the Dispersion” as referring to Jewish Christians who left Jerusalem after the stoning of Stephen [Acts 7:54-60], not scattering after 70 when Rome destroyed the temple and the city.

Context

The church had been expanding for the past 15-20 years, and had spread throughout the eastern Mediterranean region. But followers of Christ were constantly under pressure, from Jews and Romans as well as others, to compromise their faith and conform to the pagan culture. 

The author was concerned especially about the way Christians were treating one another and way they were perceived by the very people who needed to see the truth of the Gospel. Believers were looking and behaving just like everyone else – there was no evidence of the effect their faith had on their lives.

Structure

Like Hebrews, this book is not so much a letter as a written sermon. It does have a greeting and closing like the other letters, but its main section is much more like a formal lecture. James focuses on three primary issues:

  • Fairness or impartiality – faith leads to honoring all people equally, regardless of their status or wealth, and to meeting the needs of others.
  • Wisdom and speech – believers demonstrate their faith by speaking positively, without anger, hypocrisy, malice or judgment.
  • Wealth and generosity – trust in God leads to generosity and avoids hoarding money and possessions as well as unfair treatment of those less fortunate.

James concludes with exhortations on patience and prayer.

Major Themes

James puts his purpose statement at the end of his letter: If anyone among you wanders from the truth and is brought back by another, you should know that whoever brings back a sinner from wandering will save the sinner’s soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins, [5:19-20]. He wants to build up the church by helping believers help one another.

The major problem, according to James, is compromising or being friends with the world and he puts it in very strong language: Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God, [4:4]. His solution is equally direct: Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and he will draw near to you, [4:7-8]. He tells his readers to cleanse their hands, purify their hearts, lament and mourn and weep, and humble themselves, and God will exalt them, [4:9-10.

The author also deals with three specific concerns:

  • Partiality – evidently many believers were favoring some people over others – people with status were treated better than poor people. James said, if you show partiality, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors, [2:9]. Believers should fulfill the “royal” law and love their neighbor as themselves.
  • Wealth – James also called out wealthy people who were hoarding money and possessions and oppressing poor laborers, [5:1-4].
  • Works – if Christians look and act just like everyone else in the culture, non-believers cannot see that faith changes lives and brings a new relationship with the living God. Again, James uses blunt language: Just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead, [2:26].

James deals with patience and prayer in two mini-sermons that conclude the letter:

  • He acknowledges that Christians are suffering, that most of them are struggling economically, socially and spiritually. He encourages them to be patient: As an example of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Indeed, we call blessed those who showed endurance, [5:10-11].
  • He also emphasized the importance of prayer: Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise, [5:13], and the prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective, [5:16].

Get into the Word

1. Who wrote this book? What do we know about this person? What is unusual about his position in the early church? What major issue was he involved in deciding? When was this book probably written? 

2. What was the situation of the church at this time? Who was persecuting Christians? What was the author’s major concern with the conduct of the believers? Why was this important to the writer? To the early church?

3. How is this book organized? How is it similar to the previous book? What issues does the author deal with? Why do you think he writes about these issues and not others?

4. Why did the author write this book? What objective does he hope to accomplish? What is the primary problem facing the church? What solution does he suggest for the Christ-followers? How do you suppose his readers reacted to this direction? How do you respond?

5. What concerns does the writer address? How does he describe them? What does he tell believers to do about each of these concerns? How do these concerns relate to the message of the Gospel?

6. What two issues does the author deal with at the end of this book? Why are they important to Christians? To the church? How do you think the readers responded to this direction?

Note . . .

Paul vs James

Martin Luther called this book a “letter of straw,” but he was not the only scholar to question the apparent theology of the book (in fact it was one of the last books to be included in the New Testament).

The argument is that Christianity teaches that we gain salvation only by God’s grace through our faith in Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. We cannot “earn” salvation by any action or “work” we do.

James appears to teach that we can be “justified by works,” [2:21]. The critical passage is, You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone, [2:24]. But he is actually saying that our “works” are the evidence for our faith. Try reading that passage above as: You able to see our changed life by our work, not by what we say we believe.

76: Faith and works – James 2:14 – 3:18

Get Ready

When you see a card trick or a magic act, how do you respond? Do you enjoy the entertainment of the trick or the sleight-of-hand itself? Or do you try to figure out how the person accomplished the feat, even though you could not see everything that was happening?

The Word

214 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,” and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? 17 So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. 

18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder. 20 Do you want to be shown, you senseless person, that faith apart from works is barren? 21 Was not our ancestor Abraham justified by works when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was brought to completion by the works. 23 Thus the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.
25 Likewise, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by another road? 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead. 

3Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.
2 For all of us make many mistakes. Anyone who makes no mistakes in speaking is perfect, able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle. 3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide their whole bodies. 4 Or look at ships: though they are so large that it takes strong winds to drive them, yet they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits.

How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is placed among our members as a world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of nature, and is itself set on fire by hell. 7 For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, 8 but no one can tame the tongue—a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and brackish water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers and sisters, yield olives, or a grapevine figs? No more can salt water yield fresh. 

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom.
14 But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth. 15 Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. 16 For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind.
17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace. NRSV

Get into the Word

1. What aspect of faith is James talking about? How does he state the issue? What is the problem with no action? What example does he use? How would his readers relate to this? How do you relate?

2. Why are actions (or “works”) important to James? What do they demonstrate? How does he describe faith without action? What does he say about believing in God? Who else believes? How do they respond to this belief?

3. What examples does James provide to underscore his point about actions? Why do you suppose he chose these examples? How do they validate his argument?

4. What advice does James start this chapter with? Why do you think he feels this way about teachers? What is the primary “mistake” James presents in verse 2? What other images does he use to explain the role of speech? 

5. How does James see wisdom? How does it affect a person’s actions? What is the source of wisdom? What does it show about you?









Get Personal

How are your “works” making your faith visible to other people? How has God helped you demonstrate your faith to others?

Notes . . .

2:14. What good is it — the Greek word actually means “advantage,” “value” or “profit.”
Works — the Greek word means work or “effort.”
Can faith save you? — James is talking about the claim of faith with no evidence of a changed life, not faith as the means of salvation. He makes this clear in his example of a person needing food and clothing and the reference to demons [2:19]. 
2:18. Show you my faith — God can see a person’s attitude, but we can see only a person’s actions (“works”), which are evidence of the person’s attitude or faith. 
Jesus predicted that faith would include action: Very truly I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, [John 14:12]. 
2:20. Senseless person — the Greek word actually means “hollow man.”
2:21. The declaration is in Genesis 15:6, the story of the sacrifice of Isaac is in Genesis 22.
2:25. Joshua 2 records Rahab’s actions and Joshua 6 reveals the result: she and her family were sparred when the Israelites destroyed Jericho.

3:1. Teachers — the Bible consistently pictures teachers as having special responsibility along with serious consequences for false teaching, [check Rom 2:21-24, Luke 6:37, Acts 20:26-27, Heb 13:17].
3:5. Tongues — the tongue is one of the most common symbols in the Bible for a person’s attitude or “heart” and a sign of a person’s relationship (or lack of one) with God. Some examples are: Psalm 34:13-14, Proverbs 13:3, 1 Peter 3:10 [actually paraphrasing the several Old Testament verses].
3:11-12. James draws on some of the same images Jesus used to explain how a person’s actions reveal the attitude that can’t be seen, [Matt 7:16-20 and Luke 6:43-45].
3:13. Who is wise —Jeremiah quotes God: Let not the wise man gloat in his wisdom. . . . Let them boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord, [Jer 9:23-24]. And Jesus says, anyone who listens to my teaching and obeys me is wise, [Matt 7:24]. James also is consistent with the other New Testament authors on this point — check Gal 6:4-5, Phil 1:27-28, 1 Peter 2:12 and 3:16.

Memory Verse
For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead, [James 2:26].

Next Lesson
Peter: Living and suffering as believers.

Rich Nelson Uncategorized

75: Hebrews – Introduction & Christ is our great high priest — Hebrews 7:11-8:7

Get Ready

Hebrews is the book that links the Gospel to Jewish history and Scripture. The author takes two thousand years of history and ritual and prophecy and applies it to the person and work of Jesus Christ: he is the way to reconnect with God, the truth about God and his purposes, and the life we have with God.

Author

Hebrews is the only New Testament letter with no identification of the author or the intended recipient.

Many early church leaders thought the Apostle Paul wrote this letter. However, Paul identifies himself in every other letter. Further, the style and focus on Christ’s fulfillment of the Jewish sacrificial rituals differ from the focus of Paul’s letters.

Most scholars date this book between 65 and 70, because the author speaks to a group of established believers (the present time is contrasted to the earlier days) and writes as if sacrifices are still being carried out in the temple in Jerusalem. The temple was destroyed, ending sacrifices, in 70 when Rome destroyed the city.

Context

The probable date (above) puts this letter in the second generation of the church. The author’s frequent references to the recipients’ former faith and behavior and sufferings [10:32-34] supports this conclusion. The audience is now “drifting” and “falling” away [2:1, 3:2], is “dull in understanding,” [5:12], and evidently not regularly meeting together [10:25].

The audience is probably a group of Jewish Christians. The author uses many Old Testament passages in a manner that assumes the readers are familiar with them. In addition the author writes with a familiarity with the group, especially in the ending.

Many scholars believe the intended audience is in Rome: they interpret, Those from Italy send you greetings, [13:24], to mean the author was with believers who had been in the city. In addition, an early leader of the Roman church, Clement, references the letter in 95.

Structure

Hebrews is the most formal and literary book in the New Testament. The author calls it my word of exhortation, [13:22]. The Greek word for “Exhortation” is also used for a sermon [Acts 13:15], and this book reads like a sermon in written form. 

The author includes an exhortation after each of the three main arguments:

  • Jesus Christ is God’s unique son – he is the complete expression of God’s revelation and equal in all aspects to the Father.
  • Jesus Christ is the great high priest – he has completely fulfilled all the requirements of the Mosaic Law, including the complete and eternal sacrifice for human sin.
  • Faithful obedience is our response to Christ’s action on our behalf – Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful, [10:23]

Major Themes

Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the Old Testament rituals and prophecies.

Throughout the book the author links Christ to the Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah and compares Christ to the Old Testament priests and sacrifices:

  • Christ is God’s Son. Jesus is greater than the angels, God has anointed him and given him this throne. Jesus is a full and equal partner in creation [1:4-14]. The author then exhorts the reader to pay attention and to not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, [3:8 – a reference to the Israelites’ rebellion against God and Moses in the wilderness].
  • Christ is the great high priest. Before Jesus, the Jews had a high priest from the line of Aaron (Moses’ brother), but they were all mortal. Jesus is a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek, [4:6 – Melchizedek was a priest-king who blessed Abraham in Gen 14:17-20].
  • Christ is the ultimate sacrificial “lamb.” The human priest stands day after day at his service, offering again and again the same sacrifices that can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, [10:11-12].

The author then calls on the reader to persevere in their faith: Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen, [11:1]. He then provides a list of examples of faith from Jewish history (see sidebar).

The final section describes a life of faith with a variety of exhortations, including:

  • Pursue peace with everyone, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord, [12:14].
  • Give thanks, by which we offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe, [12:28].
  • Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it, [13:5].

Get into the Word

1. Who wrote this book? Who was thought to have written this book? When was the book written? What clues lead to this time frame?

2. Who was the intended audience for this book? What clues do we have about the probable recipients? Where were they probably living? What was their situation at the time? What problem was the author trying to address?

3. How is this book organized? What type of work is it? How does the author describe this book? What are the major sections of the book? Who is the major subject in this book? What aspects of this person’s character does the writer illuminate? What is his relationship to Jewish history? To Jewish ritual? To us?

4. What is the major theme of this book? What points does the author use to explain and support the primary message of the book? What does the writer encourage the reader to do as a response to each major conclusion? How do you suppose his readers reacted to these exhortations?

5. How does the writer link the arguments of the book to the lives of his readers? What is the primary “So what” message? How should a reader respond to Christ’s life and work? How should we? What types of practical advice does the author provide?

Bible Trivia
Faith “Hall of Fame”
The author of Hebrews defines faith [in chapter 11] but also gives several examples of faithful actions from Jewish history:
Abel offered a more acceptable sacrifice.
Enoch pleased God and did not experience death.
Noah was spared from the great flood (along with his family).
Abraham obeyed and moved to the land God promised.
Isaac invoked blessings for the future.
Jacob blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and made mention of the exodus of the Israelites.
Moses’ parents hid him to keep him alive; and Moses kept the Passover and led the people out of slavery.
Rahab received the Israelite spies in peace.
And . . .
Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel.

75: Christ is our great high priest – Hebrews 7:11-8:7

Get Ready

How do you respond to new ways of doing things or new technology? Are you an “early adapter” who is one of the first to try the new thing? Or are you one who waits until the new thing has thoroughly proven itself and all the bugs have been worked out?

The Word

711 Now if perfection had been attainable through the levitical priesthood—for the people received the law under this priesthood—what further need would there have been to speak of another priest arising according to the order of Melchizedek, rather than one according to the order of Aaron? 12 For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well.
13 Now the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar.
14 For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. 

15 It is even more obvious when another priest arises, resembling Melchizedek, 16 one who has become a priest, not through a legal requirement concerning physical descent, but through the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is attested of him,

“You are a priest forever,
according to the order of Melchizedek.” 

18 There is, on the one hand, the abrogation of an earlier commandment because it was weak and ineffectual 19 (for the law made nothing perfect); there is, on the other hand, the introduction of a better hope, through which we approach God. 

20 This was confirmed with an oath; for others who became priests took their office without an oath, 21 but this one became a priest with an oath, because of the one who said to him,

“The Lord has sworn
and will not change his mind,
‘You are a priest forever’”— 
22 accordingly Jesus has also become the guarantee of a better covenant. 

23 Furthermore, the former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office; 24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. 25 Consequently he is able for all time to save those who approach God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. 

26 For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 27 Unlike the other high priests, he has no need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for those of the people; this he did once for all when he offered himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests those who are subject to weakness, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever. 

8Now the main point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, 2 a minister in the sanctuary and the true tent that the Lord, and not any mortal, has set up. 3 For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; hence it is necessary for this priest also to have something to offer. 4 Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there are priests who offer gifts according to the law. 5 They offer worship in a sanctuary that is a sketch and shadow of the heavenly one; for Moses, when he was about to erect the tent, was warned, “See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.” 6 But Jesus has now obtained a more excellent ministry, and to that degree he is the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted through better promises. 7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no need to look for a second one. NRSV

Get into the Word

1. How does the author link the “priesthood of Levi” and the Mosaic Law? What does the writer say about the ability of the law to achieve its purpose? What consesquence does this have for the priesthood? How does the author support this assertion?

2. How is Jesus as the new High Priest different than the Levitical priests? What qualifies Jesus’ to be the new High Priest? By whose authority? 

3. How does the author compare the Mosaic Law and Levitical priests with Jesus’ sacrifice and resurrection and his role as our High Priest under the new covenant? How is Jesus a “better hope?” What is he able to do that the other priests cannot? Who guarantees our hope?

4. How does the author describe Jesus in the “main point?” What differences does the author point out between Jesus and all the previous High Priests? What is different about the “sanctuary?” What does the writer use from the story of Moses to underscore these differences? How is this a “better” covenant?







Get Personal

How does God help you to “see” the reality of Christ’s ministry in your life? How often do you find yourself looking at the “shadow,” or perhaps living as if the “old covenant” still operated? 

Notes . . .

7:11. Levitical priesthood — Mosaic Law required that the priests for Israel be from the tribe of Levi, and the high priest must be descended from Aaron, Moses brother.
Melchizedek — the name means “king of righteousness (or justice).” As the author points our, he was an ancient king of “Salem” which is usually thought to be Jerusalem. Salem means “peace” or “peaceful” so Melchizedek was a king of righteousness and peace. [The original story is at Gen 14:17-20.] 
7:17. The author is quoting Psalm 110:4: The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”
7:12. Change in the law — the writer argues that both the Mosaic Law and the Aaronic priesthood must be changed because of Jesus. His sacrifice on the cross and resurrection dealt fully and completely with sin, whereas the law and the priests who administered and served it did not. In fact the Old Testament talked about the replacement of the law and the priesthood.

Jesus’ covenant and priesthood define how God will relate to his people from now on [see verse 19].
7:18. Abrogation — literally “setting aside.”
7:25. Once and forever — the original Greek gives particular emphasis and includes the concepts of “completely” and “absolutely.” It underscores the author’s point that Jesus Christ has the only complete and final answer to sin — he is the only “way” to a full relationship with God.
8:3. Something to offer — Jesus told the disciples, My flesh is true food and my blood is true drink, [John 5:56].
8:5. Shadow — also translated “pattern” – the Jewish temple was like the heavenly one, but did not have the true substance, just as a shadow represents but is not the actual person.
Warned — the details are at Exodus 25:40.
8:6. Better covenant — God told Jeremiah, I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts, [Jer 31:33, Hebrews includes this reference at 8:10].

Memory Verse
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen,
[Hebrews 11:1].

Next Lesson
James: Faith and works.

Rich Nelson Uncategorized

74: Philemon — Introduction & Paul’s plea for a slave — Philemon 1-25

Get Ready

The last of Paul’s letters is one of the most unusual books in the Bible. It is a very personal letter from Paul to a “dear friend and co-worker” pleading on behalf of an escaped slave named Onesimus, who is a Christian and who has served Paul in prison in Rome.

Author

While there is no question that Paul wrote this brief letter, some authorities, almost from the beginning, have argued about the value of the letter and its place in the New Testament canon. There is no theology, no direction for Christian living, no guidance for church leaders, nor any encouragement to spread the Gospel. There is only Paul’s personal and humble appeal to Philemon regarding his slave, Onesimus.

But the letter shows us a very personal look at Paul and his feelings about how believers should relate to one another, regardless of their respective position or status in the larger world. The character and values that Paul displays are as important today as they were in the first century.

Context

Paul probably wrote this letter at the same time as his letter to the Colossian church, during his imprisonment in Rome (60-61 CE.).

Philemon was a leader and host of a house church in Colossae and a “dear friend and co-worker” of Paul. One of Philemon’s slaves, Onesimus, ran away (and probably stole some money in the process). Evidently he met Paul, who converted him to Christianity. He became an effective associate to Paul, who referred to him as “my child.”

Paul would have liked to keep Onesimus with him to continue spreading the Gospel; but Roman law provided very harsh penalties for escaped slaves – and anyone who harbored them. Further, keeping the slave would disrupt his relationship with a fellow believer. Paul knew returning Onesimus to Philemon was the only way to set things right. He sent the slave and this letter with Tychicus to Colossae.

Structure

Paul opens this very short letter with a greeting and praise for Philemon. The bulk of the letter is Paul’s plea for Onesimus, which is followed by some personal greetings and a blessing.

Major Themes

Paul actually is making two pleas in this letter.

  • On the surface he is appealing to Philemon to accept Onesimus back into his service and back into the Christian community in Colossal. He bases his appeal on their relationship as Christians: If you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. If he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account, [Phm 17-18]. He even notes he is writing this in his own hand.
  • But Paul is also requesting that Philemon release Onesimus and allow him to return to serving him in Rome. He grounds this appeal in the work of spreading the Gospel: I wanted to keep him with me, so that he might be of service to me in your place during my imprisonment for the Gospel, [Phm 13]. He also says: Yes, brother, let me have this benefit from you in the Lord! Refresh my heart in Christ, [Phm 20].

This letter also displays Paul’s humility. Even though he believes he could order Philemon to accept Onesimus, Paul says I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love – and I, Paul, do this as an old man, and now also as a prisoner of Christ Jesus, [Phm 9]. He also says, I preferred to do nothing without your consent, in order that your good deed might be voluntary and not something forced, [Phm 14].

Get into the Word

1. Who wrote this letter? What is unusual about the letter? Why do some question if it belongs in the Bible? Why is it included?

2. What is the situation that this letter deals with? Where does this take place? Who are the major characters in this incident? What are their roles in the church? In the larger society?

3. When did Paul probably write this letter? Where is he at the time? What is his situation? What does Paul do to try to resolve the situation? Who is involved? Why does Paul take the action he does? What might happen if the situation is not successfully resolved?

4. How does Paul organize this letter? What is he asking Philemon to do? How does Paul explain his request? How does he anticipate a possible objection from Philemon? How do you suppose Philemon felt about getting Paul’s letter? How might you have felt if you had been involved?

5. What is Paul asking of Philemon on a deeper level? Why do you think Paul asks for this “benefit”? What role does Paul want Onesimus to play in his work? How do you think Philemon reacted to this request?

6. What else does this letter show about Paul and the early church? How would you describe Paul’s attitude toward Philemon? Toward the church? 

Bible Trivia:

Onesimus means “worthless” or “without benefit” in Greek.
Paul is making a play on words when he describes the slave in v. 11, and then asks for “this benefit” in v. 20.

Notes: The Bible and Slavery

Slavery was a part of human culture throughout the period of time covered by the Bible. In fact, God blessed Noah’s sons, Shem and Japheth, and said Canaan, the son of Ham, would be their slave because Ham looked at Noah’s drunken nakedness [Gen 9:25-27]. The Israelites were slaves in Egypt prior to the Exodus, and then slaves in Babylon after the fall of Israel. In the New Testament, Jesus refers to slaves in several of the parables.

Slavery was an integral part of the culture; it was the foundation of the Greek and Roman economy in Paul’s time. The early church included slaves as well as free people in every commu-nity. Neither Jesus nor Paul advocated for any change in this situation. 

But both Jesus and Paul presented the Gospel, which radically changed the believer’s relationship to God. This change was greater and more important than any social, political or cultural change in a person’s status in this world.

While we cannot know for certain Paul’s personal view of slavery, we do know that he encouraged all believers to behave toward one another as citizens of God’s kingdom where there is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male or female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus, [Gal 3:28].

74: Paul’s plea for a slave — Philemon 1-25

Get Ready

How would you respond if you found something you knew was important or valuable to another person, but keeping it would really help you in your current situation? Would you return it as soon as possible without condition? Or might you try to get the other person to accomodate your needs?

The Word

Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,

To Philemon our dear friend and co-worker,
2 to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house: 

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 

4 When I remember you in my prayers, I always thank my God 5 because I hear of your love for all the saints and your faith toward the Lord Jesus. 6 I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective when you perceive all the good that we may do for Christ. 7 I have indeed received much joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, my brother. 

8 For this reason, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do your duty, 9 yet I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love—and I, Paul, do this as an old man, and now also as a prisoner of Christ Jesus. 10 I am appealing to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become during my imprisonment. 11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful both to you and to me. 12 I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you. 13 I wanted to keep him with me, so that he might be of service to me in your place during my imprisonment for the gospel; 14 but I preferred to do nothing without your consent, in order that your good deed might be voluntary and not something forced. 15 Perhaps this is the reason he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back forever, 16 no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a beloved brother—especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. 

17 So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. 18 If he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. 19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand: I will repay it. I say nothing about your owing me even your own self. 20 Yes, brother, let me have this benefit from you in the Lord! Refresh my heart in Christ. 21 Confident of your obedience, I am writing to you,
knowing that you will do even more than I say. 

22 One thing more—prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping through your prayers to be restored to you. 23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you, 24 and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers. 

25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. NRSV

Get into the Word

1. Who is Paul writing to? Who is with him? What does he mention first? What does he say about Philemon? What has he done for the church? How does this affect Paul.

2. What is Paul’s main subject? How does he begin his request? What could he have done? What is the basis for his appeal? What is he asking Philemon to do? On whose behalf does he ask? What is the current situation?

3. What is Onesimus’ role with Paul? What does Paul really want to happen? Why does Paul need Philemon’s agreement? What is changed about the relationship between Philemon and Onesimus? What does Paul offer to do to make things right?

4. What is Paul’s other request? How does Paul end his letter?





Get Personal

How do you relate to different people in your church? How do you respond to difficult situations? How does God help you to see the “saint” in all people?

Notes . . .

1. Paul, a prisoner — Paul follows his usual pattern of identifying himself and mentioning, when appropriate, his co-workers. In this case “prisoner” is accurate – he is under house arrest in Rome.
2. Philemon . . . Apphia . . . Archippus — Philemon is a church leader, Apphia is probably his wife, and Archippus is either a son or another church leader.
Church in your house — Philemon is the host for a group of believers that regularly meets in his house. Practically all Christians worshipped in private homes to avoid the persecutions that would become more frequent in the later part of the first century.
9. Appeal to you on the basis of love — Paul has already commended Philemon for his “love for all the saints,” [vv. 5, 7]; here he asks the same consideration for Onesimus.
Old man . . . prisoner — Paul also uses his age and hardship to encourage Philemon to “do your duty.”
10. My child — teachers often referred to their disciples as “sons.”
11. Useless . . . useful — Paul is using a play on words: “Onesimus” means useless in Greek. Evidently the slave had become part of Paul’s team spreading the Gospel and was, in a sense, serving 

in Philemon’s place on the team.
14. Your consent — Onesimus was Philemon’s property; for Paul to keep him or force Philemon to give him up would damage their relationship as fellow Christians, as well as break Roman law.
15. Was separated — Paul implies that God was behind the situation: a fairly short time of loss would lead to a permanent relationship as fellow followers of Christ – “beloved brothers.”
17. Partner — Paul gives Onesimus the same relationship status that he has with Philemon.
19. I will repay it — verses 18-19 are formal language for acknowledging debt; Paul wants to deal with any objection Philemon might have to accepting Onesimus. He also mentions Philemon’s debt to him for his salvation.
20. Benefit — continues the wordplay from v. 11; Paul really wants Philemon to return Onesimus to Rome to continue working with Paul there.
21. Guest room — evidently Paul expects to be released and plans to visit the churches in Asia Minor.
23. Epaphras — founded the Colossian church [Col 1:7]. Mark, Aristarchus and Demas had worked with Paul; Luke accompanied Paul on his last missionary journey and wrote the Gospel of Luke and Acts.

Memory Verse
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, [Philemon 3].

Next Lesson
Hebrews 4, 8: Christ the Great High Priest.

Rich Nelson Uncategorized

73: Titus — Introduction & Teach sound doctrine, maintain good deeds –Titus 2:1-3:11

Get Ready

This is the third of Paul’s “pastoral” letter’s (the other two were to Timothy). Like the others, this reflects the Apostle’s concern that his protege provides correct instruction and solid guidance to the young churches left in his care.

Author

There has been no dispute that Paul is the author of this letter. Titus was well known as one of Paul’s associates, and was, in fact, the “model” of a Gentile Christian. Titus accompanied Paul and Barnabas on their second visit to Jerusalem and meeting with the first council [Acts 15:2, Gal 2:1-3]. The church leaders agreed that Titus, a Gentile, did not have to be circumcised to be considered a follower of Jesus.

Titus was especially involved in Paul’s difficult relationship with the Corinthian church [see the Introduction, earlier in this series]. Paul called him his “partner and coworker,”
[2 Cor 8:23], and delegated him to collect the contributions for the believers suffering in Jerusalem.

Context

Like the first letter to Timothy, Paul probably wrote to Titus during his freedom between the first “imprisonment” [Acts 28:16], and his final incarceration prior to his death. Paul had left Titus in Crete to “put in order what remained to be done,” [Titus 1:5]. Paul will continue on to Ephesus, where he leaves Timothy to watch over that church, and then to “Nicopolis” in Asia Minor (there is no other reference to such a town), where he writes this letter.

Structure

This letter is similar to the letters to Timothy. In between a greeting and the closing Paul provides direction in three areas:

  • Appointing good leaders and dealing with false teachers in Crete: evidently some believers were being led astray by the Jewish leaders insisting that they must be circumcised. Paul tells Titus to rebuke them sharply, so that they may become sound in the faith, not paying attention to Jewish myths or to commandments of those who reject the truth, [Titus 1:13-14].
  • Teaching sound doctrine about relationships among the believers: Paul deals with how older men, older women, younger men, and slaves should conduct themselves with one another,
    [2:1-15].
  • Maintaining good works and a good reputation: Paul wants Titus to encourage the believers to follow Jesus’s example of “goodness and loving kindness,” and to avoid stupid controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law,” [Titus 3:9].

Paul closes with a familiar blessing: “Grace be with you all,” [Titus 3:15].

Major Themes

This letter is similar to the two letters to Timothy. It was written about the same time, and conveys Paul’s guidance and direction for Titus to continue the work of developing and strengthening the church – to “put in order what remained to be done.”

He states his overall purpose in the salutation, which is longer than most of his other letters: For the sake of the faith of God’s elect and the knowledge of the truth that is in accordance with godliness, in the hope of eternal life that God, who never lies, promised before the ages began, [Titus 1:1-2].

Paul’s foundation, as it is in all his letters, is the Gospel: For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, [Titus 2:11]. He then stresses two aspects of a believer’s life: Renouncing impiety and worldly passions, and living lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, [Titus 2:12].

Paul also focuses on the Holy Spirit, who is the believer’s source of strength to live “godly” lives: This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life, Titus 2:6-7].

As Paul’s active ministry is winding down, he wants to ensure that his associates continue to preach the Gospel, and build up the church so the work will continue into the future. Even though Paul personally believed Christ would return sooner rather than later, these three letters represent his hope that, whenever Christ does return, the church will continue to be his body in this world.

And in fact they have achieved such a goal. The letters to Timothy and Titus have been used from the time they were written as a guideline for identifying and equipping church leaders. Paul’s direction is as relevant today as it was in the first century.

Get into the Word

1. Who wrote this letter? Who is the recipient? What is the relationship between them? How does the author refer to the recipient? What tasks does he delegate to him?

2. When was this letter written? What was Paul’s situation at the time? Where was he when he wrote this letter? What church does he assign to Titus? What overall task does he give him? What happens to the other associate?

3. How is this letter organized? What subjects does Paul write about? Why do you suppose he chose these subjects and not others? What makes these topics significant for Paul? Why should they be important to Titus?

4. How does Paul describe his purpose in writing this letter? What is Paul’s basis for the directions in the letter? What does he say about the life a believer should live? How does he describe this type of life? How is a Christian able to live in this way?

5. What do these letters tell us about Paul’s view of the future of the Christian church? What did he personally believe about the future? How does this belief affect his approach to training and guiding Timothy and Titus? How do these letters relate to the church in today’s world?

Bible Trivia:
The church leader checklist:
Paul gives Timothy and Titus a checklist of what he thinks is necessary to be a good church . . . 
__ Above reproach
__ Married only once
__ Temperate
__ Sensible
__ Respectable
__ Hospitable
__ An apt teacher
__ Not a recent convert
__ Children are believers
__ Lover of goodness
__ Prudent
__ Upright
__ Self-controlled
__ Devout
__ Have a firm grasp of the Word
__ Good preacher
__ Able to refute error

73: Teach sound doctrine, maintain good deeds –Titus 2:1-3:11

Get Ready

How did you learn to do your job? Do you have an instruction manual or “How-To-Do-It” guide? Or did you go to a specialized training course or school? Or did you have an on-the-job mentor? What did your preparation cover? Was it adequate to prepare you for the daily work? 

The Word

2But as for you, teach what is consistent with sound doctrine.
2 Tell the older men to be temperate, serious, prudent, and sound in faith, in love, and in endurance. 3 Likewise, tell the older women to be reverent in behavior, not to be slanderers or slaves to drink; they are to teach what is good, 4 so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 to be self-controlled, chaste, good managers of the household, kind, being submissive to their husbands, so that the word of God may not be discredited. 

6 Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. 7 Show yourself in all respects a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, gravity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be censured; then any opponent will be put to shame, having nothing evil to say of us. 

9 Tell slaves to be submissive to their masters and to give satisfaction in every respect; they are not to talk back, 10 not to pilfer, but to show complete and perfect fidelity, so that in everything they may be an ornament to the doctrine of God our Savior. 

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, 12 training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. 14 He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds. 
15 Declare these things; exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one look down on you. 

3Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show every courtesy to everyone. 3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, despicable, hating one another. 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. 6 This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

8 The saying is sure. I desire that you insist on these things, so that those who have come to believe in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works; these things are excellent and profitable to everyone. 9 But avoid stupid controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. 10 After a first and second admonition, have nothing more to do with anyone who causes divisions, 11 since you know that such a person is perverted and sinful, being self-condemned. NRSV

Get into the Word

1. Who is Paul writing to? What is he writing about? Why is he writing this type of letter?

2. What subject does Paul deal with at the beginning? What is the basis of his directions? How are family members to relate to one another? Why is this important? What specific teaching does he have for each group?

3. What group does Paul deal with next? What does he say about the behavior of the people in this group? How should they relate to their masters? How does Paul justify these directions? Who is the real author? Who is the model we should follow in our behavior toward others?

4. What does Paul say about Christians’ attitude toward public authorities? Who does he present as the “before” model? How did he behave? What has changed? Why has he changed? How was he able to change? What should believers avoid? Why?









Get Personal

How do you relate to others in your family? In your work place? How does God help you be a “good” model?

Notes . . .

2:1. Sound doctrine — the false teaching that Paul notes in the first chapter was “upsetting whole families,” [Titus 1:11], so Paul provides direction for relationships among families and other members of the community.
NOTE: Family in Paul’s day was based as much on social connection and status (e.g. master and slave) as it was on actual relationship by blood.
2:2. Older men — Paul’s direction is consistent with Roman and Greek culture, but note the inclusion of “sound in faith” – men’s actions must be consistent with their faith.
2:3. Older women — the characteristics, again, are consistent with the culture, and point out the key role of women in nurturing and maintaining the family. Paul also relates this description to the faith: so that the word of God may not be discredited, [Titus 5].
2:6. Younger men — because they had little role in society, younger men were often undisciplined; Paul says they need to show their faith through their lives, which means self-control and “sound speech.”
2:9. Slaves — Paul neither approves nor condemns slavery, but directs Christian slaves to respect and serve their masters

so that in everything they may be an ornament to the doctrine of God our Savior, [Titus 2:10, also check 1 Tim
6:1-2].
2:11. Grace . . . salvation — the believer’s faith is the basis for the behavior that Paul is directing Titus to encourage. Such behavior also is consistent with the virtues of the Greek culture in which the church was planted. For Paul, godly behavior is always the outgrowth of faith.
3:1. Remind them — Paul now turns to the relationship of believers to the community; he tells Titus to remind the Christians that they should be good citizens of this world, just as Jesus was obedient to Jewish and Roman law [v. 4].
3:3. For we ourselves — Paul uses his own life as an example of the “before-and-after” effect of becoming a follower of Christ. The Holy Spirit causes the change because of God’s mercy, [Titus 3:5].
3:8. Good works — believers demonstrate the validity of their faith through their lives – Paul agrees with James (even though Luther, among others, thought James was a “book of straw”).

Memory Verse
He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who ar zealous for good deeds, [Titus 2:14].

Next Lesson
Philemon: Paul’s personal plea for a slave.

Rich Nelson Uncategorized

72: Timothy – Introduction & A good minister, approved by God – 1 Tim 4:6-16; 2 Tim 2:1-26

Get Ready

Near the end of his ministry (and his life) Paul wrote to two of his closest associates Timothy and Titus, encouraging them to continue spreading the Gospel and providing encouragement and advice about organizing and leading the developing church. 

Author

The church has acknowledged the Apostle Paul as the author of the two letters to Timothy and the letter to Titus since they were first circulated.

However, some inconsistencies between these letters and Paul’s other letters, as well as the chronology in Acts, has led some scholars to argue that Paul is not the author. The primary difficulty comes from Paul’s references to being in the eastern Mediterranean region after his imprisonment in Rome [Acts 28]. But Luke describes a very loose arrangement in which Paul continues to preach, so it is very possible that Paul traveled to Crete and Ephesus after the original “imprisonment,” and before the actual trial for his life.

The other objections are based on narrow interpretations of phrases or the absence of linguistic or rhetorical elements that do appear in Paul’s other work.

Context

Timothy (his name means “honoring God”) joined Paul during his second missionary journey. His Jewish mother and grandmother had become believers during or shortly after Pauls first visit to Lystra [Acts 16:1]. His father was Greek. When Timothy joined the missionaries, Paul had him undergo circumcision to forestall any objections from Jewish Christians. Timothy’s responsibilities increased to the point where he, along with Silas, was representing Paul to the churches in Asia Minor and Greece [check 1 Cor 4:17, 16:10-11, Phil 2:19-22 or 1 These3:1-6]. His role grew as the number of churches grew.

Most authorities believe Paul wrote the first letter to Timothy during a period of freedom between his first incarceration in Rome and the final one prior to his death – probably 66 or 67. Paul is evidently visiting some of his Asian and Greek churches.

The second letter comes about a year after the first. Paul clearly is a prisoner in Rome from the references in this letter: he asks Timothy to come to him before winter and to bring a cloak he had left at Troas [2 Tim 4:13].

Structure

Both letters have the same basic structure:

  • Paul begins with comments about Timothy and himself and their relationship.
  • Then Paul offers guidance and admonitions on a variety of subjects dealing with the church and leadership.

In the first letter this advice includes: prayer, qualifications for bishops and deacons, dealing with false piety and false teachings, and the responsibilities of a church leader.

The second letter deals with characteristics of a good “soldier” of Christ and a “worker approved by God,” as well as some comments about the “last days.” Paul also gives Timothy specific directions as a church leader.

Major Themes

These letters to Timothy, as well as the one to Titus, come at the end of Paul’s missionary work. In 2 Timothy it is especially clear that the Apostle knows his life is close to its end in this world: I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come, 2 Tim 4:6}. 

He actually states his purpose midway through the letter: I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these instructions to you so that, if I am delayed, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the truth, [1 Tim 3:14-15]. Paul is giving Timothy the rationale behind the choices he has been making in organizing the churches and identifying leaders – because he knows Timothy will now have to assume these responsibilities.

Paul is reinforcing – in writing – what he has been teaching Timothy for the past ten or more years during his missionary travels. He wants to ensure that his protegé has the knowledge and courage to continue to spread the Gospel and build up churches. This also explains why (as some critics complain) the letters do not contain Paul’s usual explanations of Christian theology and arguments refuting false doctrine. Timothy has fully absorbed Paul’s teachings about faith and the Gospel; Paul does not need to repeat himself on these issues.

He does, however, feel the need to encourage Timothy to persevere in the faith. He warns him that people will fall away from their beliefs and be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, . . . lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, [2 Tim 3:2-4]. Paul encourages Timothy to avoid such people and make sure they are not appointed as leaders. He also charges Timothy to always be sober, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry, [2 Tim 4:5].

Get into the Word

1. What makes these books different from the other New Testament letters?

2. Who wrote these books? Who supports this belief? Why do some scholars question this conclusion? How do scholars answer this discrepancy? How do you feel about this conclusion?

3. Who is the recipient of these letters? What is his relationship with Paul? How did these two first meet? What is unusual about Timothy’s background? How did his role and responsibilities change during his time with Paul?

4. When did Paul write these two letters? What was his personal situation at this time? Where was he when he wrote the letters? What is different about the context of the second letter? Why is this important?

5. How are the letters organized? What are the primary sections of the letters? What subjects does Paul deal with in each of the letters? Why do you suppose he discussed these issues and not others?

6. What is Paul’s primary purpose in writing these letters? What is significant about the timing of the letters? Why did Paul feel it was necessary to deal with these topics in writing? What is Paul’s ultimate objective with these letters? 

7. Why do these letters not deal with Paul’s theology and beliefs about Jesus and the Gospel (a major criticism of some scholars)? How would Timothy have become well-grounded in these subjects? 

Bible Trivia:

Paul on women . . .
Even though Paul was supported by several generous women, he had some very one-sided ideas about their role in the church: Let a woman learn in silence with full submission. I permit no woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she is to keep silent. For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor, [1 Tim 2:11-14].

And on Timothy . . .
No longer drink only water, but take a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments, [1 Tim 5:22].

72: A good minister, approved by God –
1 Tim 4:6-16; 2 Tim 2:1-26

Get Ready

Do you have a set of the “good dishes” in your family that you use on special occasions? When do you use them? Who determines when? Do they get special storage and special treatment when they are used? Who is responsible for cleaning and putting them away after they are used? 

The Word

4 6 If you put these instructions before the brothers and sisters, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound teaching that you have followed. 7 Have nothing to do with profane myths and old wives’ tales. Train yourself in godliness, 8 for, while physical training is of some value, godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 9 The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance. 10 For to this end we toil and struggle, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. 

11 These are the things you must insist on and teach. 12 Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 13 Until I arrive, give attention to the public reading of scripture, to exhorting, to teaching. 14 Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you through prophecy with the laying on of hands by the council of elders. 15 Put these things into practice, devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress. 16 Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; continue in these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers.

2 Timothy

2You then, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus; 2 and what you have heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will be able to teach others as well. 3 Share in suffering like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No one serving in the army gets entangled in everyday affairs; the soldier’s aim is to please the enlisting officer. 5 And in the case of an athlete, no one is crowned without competing according to the rules. 6 It is the farmer who does the work who ought to have the first share of the crops. 7 Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in all things. 

8 Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David—that is my gospel, 9 for which I suffer hardship, even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained. 10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, so that they may also obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. 11 The saying is sure:
If we have died with him, we will also live with him; 
12 if we endure, we will also reign with him;
if we deny him, he will also deny us; 
13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful – 
for he cannot deny himself. 

14 Remind them of this, and warn them before God that they are to avoid wrangling over words, which does no good but only ruins those who are listening. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved by him, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly explaining the word of truth. 16 Avoid profane chatter, for it will lead people into more and more impiety, 17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have swerved from the truth by claiming that the resurrection has already taken place. They are upsetting the faith of some. 19 But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who calls on the name of the Lord turn away from wickedness.” 

20 In a large house there are utensils not only of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for special use, some for ordinary. 21 All who cleanse themselves of the things I have mentioned will become special utensils, dedicated and useful to the owner of the house, ready for every good work. 22 Shun youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 23 Have nothing to do with stupid and senseless controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. 24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kindly to everyone, an apt teacher, patient, 25 correcting opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant that they will repent and come to know the truth, 26 and that they may escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will. NRSV

Get into the Word

1. Who is Paul addressing in this letter? What is Paul discussing here? What is the end result of following him? What advice is he offering? What images does he use? Why is this image appropriate in such a letter? What “struggle” is he talking about?

2. What directions does he give Timothy? What is his primary role in this church? What about his age? How is Timothy qualified for what Paul wants him to do? What will happen if he follows the directions? Why is this important for Timothy? For the church?

3. What does Paul tell him in the second letter? Where does Timothy’s strength come from? Why does he need to pass Paul’s teachings to others? What happens next? What images does Paul use to make his point? Which image speaks to you? Why?

4. How does Paul summarize his gospel? How does it affect his life? How does he underscore his point to Timothy? How does this affect a believer? How do you react to Paul’s teaching? How does God protect believers?

5. What warning does Paul give Timothy? What should he and the believers avoid? Why should we avoid this type of behavior? 

6. What metaphor does Paul use for the church? How does this help explain the importance of “cleanliness” for believers?









Get Personal

What type of “utensil” are you at this time? What type do you want to become? How does God help you “pursue righteousness?”

Notes . . .

4:6. These instructions — Paul’s teachings against false piety and other heresy; he also warns Timothy about “profane myths and old wives’ tales.”
4:7. Train yourself — Paul uses the image of athletic training, which was very important in Greek culture.
4:12. Your youth — Timothy was younger than many of the believers in his church and may have been less assertive than Paul thought appropriate, [check 1 Cor 16:10-11].
4:13. Give attention to — the public ministry consisted of reading (“Scriptures” would have been the Old Testament); teaching: helping believers understand the scriptures; and exhorting: applying the scriptures to their lives.

2:1. Be strong — the key is: in the grace that is in Christ Jesus – we use his strength, not our own. And we use it to entrust to faithful people – this is Paul’s legacy for Timothy.
2:3. Good soldier — Paul used the image of a soldier several times [check 1 Cor 9:7; Eph 6:11-18; Phil 2:25].
2:11-13. Saying — probably an early hymn or chant, summarizing Paul’s rationale for suffering.
2:14. Avoid wrangling over words — Paul doesn’t have time for arguing over “the small stuff,” Timothy knows the Gospel, he needs to proclaim “the word of truth.”
2:17. Hymenaeus and Philetus — two men spreading false teaching in the church.

Memory Verse
All scripture is inspiredby God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, [2 Tim 3:16].

Next Lesson
Titus: Sound doctrine

Rich Nelson Uncategorized

71: Thessalonians — Introduction & Christ’s return — 1 Thes 4:13-5:11 & 2 Thes 2:1-12

Well, you had an extra week to think about Colossians when WordPress decided one of my plug-ins was not playing nicely with the other program elements. We apologize for the oops.

Get Ready

The first letter to the Thessalonian church is the other contender – with Galatians – for the earliest writing in the New Testament. It is testimony to the completeness of Paul’s understanding of the Gospel and its application to the life of believers.

Author

The Apostle Paul is the author of both letters to the church in Thessalonica, although he includes Silvanus and Timothy in both greetings.

Some Biblical scholars do suggest a different author for the second letter because of the more formal tone of the letter and the different treatment of Jesus’ second coming (the Greek word is “Parousia”). However, the letters do not contradict each other and also are consistent with the theology and Gospel as expressed in Paul’s other letters. And Paul “signed” the second letter. (The so-called differences are discussed below in “Major Themes.”)

Context

Paul started the Thessalonian church during his second missionary journey (around 50 CE.), following his usual pattern of preaching initially in the Jewish synagogue and then moving to a public forum to reach the Gentiles. But some of the Jews incited a mob to attack the new believers and forced Paul and his companions to leave the city abruptly [details are in Acts 17].

Paul was concerned that the new Christians did not have sufficient instruction and preparation to withstand the inevitable persecution from the Jews. The first letter is most likely Paul’s response to Timothy’s report that the believers were remaining strong but had questions about some of the things Paul had taught them.

Evidently the first letter did not quell all the concerns. The Thessalonians believed Christ was going to return so soon there was little point in continuing to work. In the second letter Paul deals with the misunderstandings regarding Jesus’ return and how believers should conduct themselves.

NOTE: Paul, like most other early church leaders, believed that Christ’s return would happen sooner rather than later – probably during his lifetime.

Structure

Both letters have a similar organization:

  • Paul begins with a greeting and thanksgiving for the Thessalonians’ faith.
  • He then presents the teaching. In each case the major teaching is about Christ’s return; however, Paul also includes instruction about the Christian life in both letters.
  • Each letter includes encouragement for the believers to live out their faith.
  • Paul concludes each letter with a prayer and final greeting before a benediction.

In the first letter Paul also explains his preaching style and justifies his actions regarding the Thessalonians, and he tells them what has happened since his abrupt departure.

Major Themes

The Gospel is the central theme of both letters: You turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead – Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath that is coming, [1 Thes 1:9-10].

Evidently the new believers had problems with the “wait for his Son from heaven,” part. Both letters include major sections dealing with “eschatology,” (the study of the end times). Paul discusses two different aspects of Jesus’ return:

  • Suddenness – the Second Coming will be dramatic and all-at-once: For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call and with the sound of God’s trumpet, will descend from heaven, [1 Thes 4:16]. Further, The day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night, [1 Thes 5:2]. Paul also assures the believers that those who have already died will also join with Christ when he returns.
  • Timing – Paul’s teaching convinced some Thessalonians that Jesus’ return was going to be so soon there was no need to work or share the Gospel. Paul explains: that day will not come unless the rebellion comes first and the lawless one is revealed, the one destined for destruction, [2 These2:3]. Paul links the “lawless one” with Satan, who uses all power, signs, lying wonders, and every kind of wicked deception, [2 Thes 2:9-10].

Paul also deals with a secondary question about the Christian life in each letter:

  • In the first letter he tells the believers to abstain from fornication; that each one of you know how to control your own body in holiness and honor, [1 Thes 4:4].
  • In the second letter he directs them to keep away from believers who are living in idleness and not according to the tradition they received from us, and says Christians should do their work quietly and earn their own living . . . do not be weary in doing what is right, [2 Thes 3:6, 13].

Get into the Word

1. Who wrote theses letters? Who else was involved with this church? Why do some believe someone else may have written the second letter? What is the evidence that Paul actually wrote it?

2. When did Paul begin preaching in Thessalonica? Who did he talk with first? Who did he work with next? How did the Jews respond to the new Christians? How did this affect Paul and his co-workers? 

3. How did Paul’s departure affect the new church? What were Paul’ concerns about the new believers? How did he deal with his concerns? How were the Thessalonians actually doing?

4. Did Paul’s efforts solve the problems for the Thessalonians? What was the major problem with their understanding of the Gospel? How did this affect their daily life?

5. How are the letters organized? What are the primary components of each letter? How are the letters different from one another? What does Paul say about his recent experiences?

6. What is Paul’s major theme in these letters? How does he describe the change in the Thessalonians? What elements of the Gospel does he mention?

7. What part of Paul’s teaching did the new Christians not understand? Why do you suppose they had a problem with this doctrine? What does Paul focus on in his response to the Thessalonians’ concerns? What images does he use to convey the correct understanding? 

8. How does Paul deal with the question of when Jesus will return? What will happen before “The day of the Lord?” Who is the “Lawless One” according to Paul?

9. What other issues does Paul cover in these two letters? Why do you suppose he deals with these concerns? What does he advise the Thessalonians about these questions?

NOTE: Eschatology . . .

refers to “the last things” or “the end times.” In addition to Paul’s teachings to the Thessalonians, the New Testament includes Jesus’ teachings [Matt 12:28, Mark 9:1 and 14:25, Luke 17:20] plus the comments of Paul [1 Cor 10:11 and 1 Cor 15: 20 and 45, and Rom 8:11] and other Apostles [1 Peter 1:20, 1 John 2:18, Hebrews 1:2, 12:2].

71: Christ’s return – 1 Thes 4:13-5:11 and
2 Thes 2:1-12

Get Ready

How good are you at waiting for something you expect to happen? Do you just go about your regular activities and not worry about it? Do you get concerned that you might not be ready for it and try to prepare for it? Do you check for signs it might be happening soon?

The Word

413 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died. 15 For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who have died. 16 For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call and with the sound of God’s trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words. 

5Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anything written to you. 2 For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 When they say, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no escape! 4 But you, beloved, are not in darkness, for that day to surprise you like a thief; 5 for you are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. 6 So then let us not fall asleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober; 7 for those who sleep sleep at night, and those who are drunk get drunk at night.
8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.
9 For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with him.
11 Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing.

2 Thessalonians

2As to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we beg you, brothers and sisters, 2 not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as though from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord is already here. 3 Let no one deceive you in any way; for that day will not come unless the rebellion comes first and the lawless one is revealed, the one destined for destruction. 4 He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, declaring himself to be God. 5 Do you not remember that I told you these things when I was still with you? 6 And you know what is now restraining him, so that he may be revealed when his time comes. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work, but only until the one who now restrains it is removed. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will destroy with the breath of his mouth, annihilating him by the manifestation of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is apparent in the working of Satan, who uses all power, signs, lying wonders, 10 and every kind of wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion, leading them to believe what is false, 12 so that all who have not believed the truth but took pleasure in unrighteousness will be condemned. NRSV

Get into the Word

1. How does Paul begin this section of his letter? What is the concern here? What is the basis for his answer? Who is the authority behind his response? What will happen when Christ returns? Who will be involved? 

2. What is Paul’s next topic? What do his readers already know about this issue? What images does Paul use here? What is the difference between believers and pagans regarding this concern?

3. How does Paul encourage the believers? What does he urge them to do? What image does he use to make his point? What is the ultimate fate of believers?

4. How does Paul start his second response to this issue? What concerns him about the Thessalonians’ beliefs? What does he say about Christ’s return here? What will occur before. Who will appear? 

5. How does Paul describe this person? What will happen to this person? What will happen to those who follow him? Who is behind these events?









Get Personal

What do you think about Christ’s return? How has God helped you understand his promises? How has he guided your walk with Jesus during this time “in between”?

Notes . . .

4:13. Uninformed — Some Thessalonians evidently were concerned about the fate of believers who had died.
Who have no hope — non-believers grieve when a person dies, but Christians have hope because of Christ’s resurrection and promised return [v. 14].
4:15. This we declare — Paul’s understanding is that those believers who have died and those alive at the time of Christ’s return will “meet with the Lord in the air, so we will be with the Lord for ever,” [4:17].
By the word of the Lord — Paul maintained that he received the Gospel directly from Christ on the road to Damascus; he did not receive it from the other Apostles [Gal 1:11-17].
4:16. The Lord himself — Jesus also gave a similar description of his return: They will see “the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven” with power and with great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other, [Matt 24:30-31].
5:1. Times and seasons . . . day of the Lord — the Old Testament has several references to the “day of the Lord,” or end times; but there is no specific date or

time for this period or event [you can check Isaiah 13:6-12, Joel 2:28-32, or Zeph 1:14-18].
5:2. Thief in the night — Jesus also used this image [Matt 24:43], as did Peter [2 Peter 3:10].
5:5. Children of light — Paul assures his readers that they have the knowledge they need to not be surprised.
5:8. Breastplate . . . helmet — Paul often used images of a soldier’s protective armor [check Rom 13:12, Eph 6:10-18, and 1 Tim 6:12].
5:9. Destined — Paul repeats the hope that Christians have – “salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
2:2. Shaken in mind — some of the Thessalonian Christians were accepting the erroneous teaching that the “coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” had already started, which was contrary to Paul’s teaching about Christ’s return. 
2:3. Rebellion . . . lawless one — Paul assures them that certain events will take place before the end times. Jesus gives a similar description of these events in Mark 13.
2:9. Satan — in Greek this title means “adversary” or “deceiver.” Paul is using the latter meaning here: “every kind of wicked deception.”

Memory Verse
God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, [1 Thessalonians 5:9].

Next Lesson
Timothy: A good minister.

Rich Nelson Uncategorized

70: Colossians – Introduction & New Life in Christ — Colassians 3:1-4:6

Get Ready

Colossians is unique in that Paul did not start the church in this town east of Ephesus, nor did he ever visit it. He wrote this letter in response to news of false teaching that denied Christ’s central role in the salvation and new life of the believer. 

Author

Paul has been accepted as the author of this letter since the beginning of the second century. Some scholars in the nineteenth century argued that the differences in wording and teaching were great enough to deny that Paul wrote it, but their supposed author had to be someone who was very similar to Paul and who probably also wrote Ephesians and Philemon.

Context

Like Philippians, this is another “prison” letter [4:3, 10, 18]. Most authorities agree that Paul wrote it while in Rome, probably around 60 CE.

The church in Colossae was started by one or more of Paul’s associates, probably during the three years he spent in Ephesus. Most scholars believe that Epaphras, who was from the city, was the primary developer of the church. He was also the person who delivered support and news to Paul when he was imprisoned in Rome.

Evidently Epaphras brought news of worrisome teachings that were spreading among the Colossian believers. Although Paul does not explicitly state the nature of this “new philosophy,” his arguments against it in the letter provide a general picture of the heresy:

  • Powers, or “angels” in the spirit world appear to be more important than Christ in guiding a Christian’s life.
  • Checklists of rituals and earthly actions supposedly demonstrated spiritual discipline.
  • Certain teachers possessed a “higher” knowledge or philosophy than Epaphras’ straightforward Gospel.

Paul wrote to combat these false teachings.

Paul also wrote Philemon at the same time so Epaphras could take that letter, along with Onesimus, an escaped slave who Paul converted and was sending back to his owner.

Structure

This letter is similar to several of Pauls other letters – he explains correct doctrine and then he applies that teaching to the life of believers and of the church. The major parts are:

  • Greeting and introduction – Paul greets and thanks God for the believers in Colossae, [1:1-14]. 
  • Correct doctrine and understanding – especially the role and importance of Christ in God’s plan for salvation and in guiding the believers’ lives, [1:15-2:23].
  • Guidance for Christian living – Paul applies his teaching to the Christians’ daily lives, [3:1-4:6].
  • Closing greetings – Paul refers to several associates who have worked with the Colossians, [4:7-18].

Major Themes

Paul states his primary purpose for writing in the introduction: That you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may lead lives worth of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God, [1:9-10].

For Paul, “all spiritual wisdom” means the supremacy of Christ because he is “the image of the invisible God,” [1:15]. In answer to the Colossian philosophers, Paul calls Christ the “firstborn of all creation,” [1:15] – Christ clearly comes before and outranks any other beings in the spiritual world. Christ also brought about the reconciliation with God that the Colossians are now enjoying [1:22].

Because Christ is the Lord as well as the savior, Paul urges the Colossian believers to follow Christ in all aspects of their lives, and to avoid following “philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition,” [2:8]. He describes Christ’s saving work making them “alive together with him when he forgave us all our trespasses,” [2:13]. He tells them to avoid false regulations about food and drink and festivals, which have “an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-imposed piety . . . but they are of no value in checking self-indulgence,” [2.23].

The second major section then describes how to “seek the things that are above, where Christ is,” [3:1]. He then suggests what looks very much like a couple of checklists; but they are each about our attitudes toward Christ and God, as well as toward one another. Paul is talking about our heart, not our action [3:5-9]. In verse 12 he shifts and gives us a list of positive attitudes to guide our relationships with each other. Finally he deals with specific relationships: marital partners, parents and children, slaves and (earthly) masters.

Paul concludes with the direction to pray, including for his ministry, and to “conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time,” [4:5], to spread the Gospel even further among the Gentiles in that region.

Get into the Word

1. Who wrote this letter? What led some scholars to believe someone else wrote it? Who did they suggest was the author?

2. What was Paul’s situation when he wrote this letter? When did he write it? What was unique about his relationship to the Colossian church? How did Paul find out about the problem in the church?

3. What type of problem was Paul dealing with in this letter? What were the false teachings he sought to correct? Why would such doctrine be harmful to believers? Why was correct teaching so important to Paul?

4. How did Paul organize this letter? How is this letter similar to other letters of Paul? What are the primary sections of the letter? What do the two main sections cover? How does Paul close his letter?

5. Who delivered this letter to the Colossians? What other task did he carry out on this particular journey?

6. What is Paul’s major purpose in writing this letter? What are the two aspects of his teaching in the letter? What is the foundation of all Paul’s teaching? Why does he believe this central fact about the Gospel? What is the outcome of following Paul’s teaching? How do you think the Colossians responded to Paul’s instruction?

7. What does Paul advise the Colossians to avoid? Why does he suggest this? What is the ultimate value of “false regulations?” How does this advice relate to the apparent “checklists” in the next section of the letter?

8. What is Paul actually talking about in the lists he provides in the letter? Why are these things important for the Colossians? Why are they important for us today? What is Paul’s last instruction to the Colossians?

Bible Trivia:
Paul claims to be an Apostle of Christ in all but three of his New Testament letters (those are 1 and 2 Thessalonians and Philippians). An Apostle is a person who was sent (the literal meaning of the Greek word), who had seen Christ after his resurrection, and who had powers to authenticate his claim [1 Cor 15:8].

70: The new life in Christ – Colossians 3:1-4:6

Get Ready

How do you deal with your wardrobe? Do you have different clothes for work and non-work times? Do you have some clothes for special occasions? Do you have special athletic or workout clothes? What type of clothes do you prefer to wear most of the time? 

The Word

3So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, 3 for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory. 

5 Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry). 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient. 7 These are the ways you also once followed, when you were living that life. 8 But now you must get rid of all such things—anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices
10 and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. 11 In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all! 

12 As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. 13 Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. 

18 Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly. 

20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is your acceptable duty in the Lord.
21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, or they may lose heart. 22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything, not only while being watched and in order to please them, but wholeheartedly, fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever your task, put yourselves into it, as done for the Lord and not for your masters,
24 since you know that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward; you serve the Lord Christ. 25 For the wrongdoer will be paid back for whatever wrong has been done, and there is no partiality. 

4Masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly, for you know that you also have a Master in heaven. 

2 Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving. 3 At the same time pray for us as well that God will open to us a door for the word, that we may declare the mystery of Christ, for which I am in prison, 4 so that I may reveal it clearly, as I should. 

5 Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time. 6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer everyone. NRSV

Get into the Word

1. What is Paul’s basis for the directions he is giving the Colossian believers? Why is this so important to Paul? What should be the Colossians’ focus?

2. What does Paul say about “earthly” attitudes and ideas? How should the believers deal with them? Why does their faith change things? What image does Paul use for the changes the Colossians need to make? How does this affect their perception of each other in the church?

3. What attitudes does Paul suggest in place of the “earthly” ones? What image does he use for these changes? What is to be the “director” or “umpire” in their relationships with each other? How much of their lives is affected by this new principle?

4. What specific advice does Paul provide? Why did he select these subjects?








Get Personal

How has God been working on your attitudes recently? How has he helped you “let the peace of Christ rule” in your heart?

Notes . . .

3:1. Have been raised — Christians have already been raised with Christ, just as they have already died with him, spiritually. Therefore their new spiritual lives should be different because they are getting their guidance and model from “above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God,” [Check Psalm 110:1, Heb 1:3, or 1 Peter 3:22].
3:3. Hidden — our new life as believers is protected and concealed by God’s power [2:6-7].
3:5. Put to death — Paul suggests that Christians should live as if our earthly passions are now dead, and can no longer influence our actions. (Paul deals with the difficulty of doing this in other letters, [check Rom 7].
3:9. Stripped off — Paul uses the image of clothing to distinguish between our former earthly life and our new life “from above” – we need to take off and get rid of [3:8] all the old, soiled attitudes and habits that marked our life before Christ [compare with Rom 13:12].
3:11. Renewal — in addition to the old attitudes, the new life designed by and for Christ gets rid of the old racial and class distinctions humans used to rely on.
3:12. Clothe yourselves — Paul continues the clothing metaphor with the attitudes that mark the “new clothes” of a believer’s new life [contrast vv. 12-17 with the list in vv. 5 and 8].

3:13. Forgive — Paul echoes Jesus’ teaching in in the Lord’s Prayer: “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors,” [Matt 6:12], and that we are to forgive, “not seven times, but I tell you, seventy-seven times,” [Matt 18:22].
3:15. Rule — the Greek word actually refers to athletics: peace should be the “umpire” in our relationships with our fellow believers.
3:17. Whatever you do — Paul leaves no doubt that Christ should guide every aspect of a believer’s life.
3:18. Wives . . . husbands — if Christ is ruling all aspects of Christian lives, their relationships with one another will be very different than they were in their former life. The pagan culture of Paul’s time gave husbands and fathers absolute authority over wives and children, as masters had over slaves. Paul’s directions put all relationships in a Christ-ruled context: as is fitting in the Lord . . . never treat them harshly . . . acceptable duty in the Lord . . . wholeheartedly, fearing the Lord . . . as done for the Lord . . . you also have a Master in heaven, [3:18-4:1].
4:5. Wisely — wisdom means, “knowing God’s will,” [Proverbs 2:6, also compare with Col 3:16].
Salt — both preserves and brings out the flavor of food – just as wisdom brings out the understanding of the Gospel.

Memory Verse
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him, [Col 3:17].

Next Lesson
1 Thessalonians 2: Paul’s ministry in Thessolonica.