The Bible Book by Book Part 29

Paul's Connection with the Church. By a vision from G.o.d he went to Philippi on the second missionary journey (Acts 16:9-12). He first preached at a woman's prayer-meeting, where Lydia was converted. She furnished him a home while he continued his work in the city. After some time there arose great opposition to him and he and Silas were beaten and put in prison, but through prayer they were released by an earthquake which also resulted in the conversion of the jailer (Acts ch. 16). He perhaps visited them again on his journey from Ephesus to Macedonia (Acts 20 2 Cor 2:12-13; 7:5-6). He spent the Pa.s.sover there (Acts 20:6) and received messages from them (Phil.

4:16). They also sent him a.s.sistance (Phil. 18) and he wrote them this letter.

The Character and Purpose of the Letter. It is an informal letter with no logical plan or doctrinal arguments. It is the spontaneous utterance of love and grat.i.tude. It is a tender, warm-hearted, loving friend and brother presenting the essential truths of the gospel in terms of friendly intercourse. He found in them constant reasons for rejoicing, and now that Epaphroditus who had brought their aid to him was about to return from Rome to Philippi, he had an opportunity to send them a letter of thanks (Phil. 4:18). It is remarkable for its tenderness, warnings, entreaties and exhortations and should be read often as a spiritual tonic.

Date. It was written by Paul during his imprisonment at Rome, about A.

D. 62.

a.n.a.lysis.

Introduction, 1:1-11.

I. Paul's Present Situation and Feeling. 1:12-26.

II. Some Exhortations, 1:27-2:18.

III. He Plans to Communicate with Them, 2:19 end.

IV. Some Warnings, ch. 3.

1. Against Judaizers, 1-16.

2. Against false professors, 17 end.

V. Final Exhortation. 4:1-9.

VI. Grat.i.tude for Their Gifts, 4:10-19.

Conclusion, 4:20 end.

For Study and Discussion. (1) Paul as a good minister, 1:3-8. Paul's prayer for the Philippians, 1:9-11. (3) The choice between life death, 1:19-26. (4) Humble-mindedness and its rewards as seen in Jesus 2:5- 11. (5) An upright Christian life, 2:12-18. (6) Paul's sense of imperfection, 3:12-16. (7) Worthy meditations, 4:8-9. (8) Outline the information the book gives concerning Paul's condition at the time of the writing. (9) Point out all the teachings of the book on the necessity of cultivating unselfishness and the blessing derived from it. (10) The expression of joy and rejoicing. (11) The number of times our Lord, under different names, is referred to.

Colossians.

The City. It was situated about 100 miles east of Ephesus, and was of little importance at the time of this epistle, though it had once been of considerable influence. It was one of a group of three cities, Laodicia and Hierapolis being the Other two, situated on the Lycus river near where it flows into the famous Meander.

The Church of Colossae. It was perhaps founded by Epaphras (1:6-7; 4:12-13) who was directed by Paul in his work there "for us" "on our behalf", (1:7). Paul though having a very vital connection with it.

had never visited the church (1:7; 2:1). He seems to have kept posted about conditions in the church (1:3; 4, 9, 2:1), and to have approved the work and discipline of the church (1:5-7, 23, 2:5-7; 4:12-13). He was loved by them (1:8) and knew and loved some of them. See also Phile 9.

Condition of the Church and Occasion for the Epistle. False teachers or a false teacher, had come among them and had greatly hindered the prosperity of the church. The main source of all their false teaching lay in an old eastern dogma, that all matter is evil and its source also evil. If this were true, G.o.d, who is in no wise evil, could not have created matter. And since our bodies are matters they are evil and G.o.d could not have created them. From this notion that our bodies are evil two extremes of error arose: (1) That only by various ascetic practices, whereby we punish the body, can we hope to save it, 2:20- 23. (2) That since the body is evil, none of its deeds are to be accounted for. License was, therefore, granted to evil conduct, and evil pa.s.sions were indulged at pleasure and without impunity (3:5-8).

In seeking to find relief from this condition they formulated two other false doctrines. (1) An esoteric and exclusive theory which was a doctrine of secrets and initiation (2:2, 3, 8). By this doctrine they declared that the remedy for man's condition was known to only a few, and to learn this secret one must be initiated into their company. (2) That since G.o.d could not have been creator of these sinful bodies, they could not, therefore, come to him for blessing, and so they formulated, in their theory, a series of intermediary beings or Aeons, such as angels, that must have created us and whom we must wors.h.i.+p (2:18), especially as a means of finally reaching G.o.d.

All these false theories conspired to limit the greatness and authority of Jesus Christ, and to limit the efficiency of redemption in him (2:9-10). They are called by the one name, Gnosticism, and present four aspects of error in this book. (1) Philosophic, 2:3, 4, 8. (2) Ritualistic, or Judaistic, 2:11, 14, 16-17. (3) Visionary, or angel-wors.h.i.+p, 1:16; 2:10, 15, 18. (4) Ascetic practices, 2:20-23.

There are three modern applications of the Colossian heresy. (1) Ceremonialism, or ritualism. (2) Speculation. (3) Low standards of righteousness.

The Epistle. The news of these false teachings was brought to Paul probably by Epaphras. 1:7-8, and he wrote to combat them. It is polemic in spirit and argues that we have everything in Christ, that he is the source and Lord of all creation and that he alone can forgive sins and reconcile us to G.o.d. It, therefore, represents more fully than any other of Paul's epistles his doctrine of the person and preeminence of Christ.

a.n.a.lysis.

I. Doctrinal Teachings, Ch. 1.

1. Introduction, 1-14.

2. Christ in relation to creation, 15-17.

3. Christ in relation to the church, 18 end.

II. Polemic Against False Teachings, ch. 2.

1. Introduction, 1-7.

2. Polemic against the general false teachings, 8-15,

3. Polemic against the particular claims of the false teachers, 16 end.

III. Hortatory Section, 3:1-4:6.

1. To a lofty Christian life, 3:1-4.

2. To exchange the old vices for the Christian graces, 3:5-14.

3. To make Christ sovereign over the whole of life, 3:15-17.

4. To the Christian discharge of relative duties, 3:18-4:1.

3. To a proper prayer life, 4:2-6.

IV. Personal Section, 4:7 end.

For Study and Discussion. (1) Paul's prayer for them, 1:9-14. (2) The preeminence of the Savior,1:5-20. (3) The false and true philosophy of religion, 2:8-15. (4) The worldly vices, 3:5-8. (5) The Christian graces, 3:9-14. (6) The lofty Christian life, 3:15-17. (7) All references to the false teachings as in the words mystery, head, body, Lord, fullness, etc. Note 2:3, 8, 11, 16, 18, and many others. (8) Paul's view of Jesus. Study every reference to him.

Chapter x.x.xIII.

First and Second Thessalonians.

The City of Thessalonica. It was founded by Ca.s.sander, King of Macedon 315 B. C., and was about a hundred miles west of Philippi. It was a great commercial center of Paul's time, the inhabitants being Greeks, Romans and Jews. It still exists under the name of Saloniki, and has a population of from 75,000 to 85,000 about half of whom are Jews.

The Church of Thessalonica. Upon being delivered from prison at Philippi. Paul continued his second missionary journey to Thessalonica, having also Silas and Timothy with him (Acts 17:1-5). He spent three Sabbaths there, but on account of the persecution of the Jews, went from there to Berea, then to Athens, and then to Corinth where he spent 18 months. The first letter bears testimony to the splendid Christian character of these new converts from heathenism.

First Thessalonians.

This is probably the first epistle written by Paul and perhaps the first written doc.u.ment of the Christian religion. It is not doctrinal, has no element of controversy and is one of the most gentle and affectionate of Paul's letters. It is notable for its special salutations and refers to their expectations of the immediate return of Jesus. Its main idea is _consolation_ (4:17-18), its keynote _hope_ and its leading words _affliction and advent_. Its purpose was: (1) to send affectionate greetings, (2) to console them in their afflictions, (3) to correct their wrong, their mistaken views of Christ's second coming, (4) to exhort then to proper living as against certain immoral tendencies.

Date. From Corinth A. D. 53.