Philemon 1

• Philemon 1:8-9 – Paul could have ordered Philemon (he had authority as an apostle) but instead appealed to him in love.
  • See II Corinthians 8:8
  • See also Philemon 1:14
  • What precisely was Paul asking Philemon to do here? Possibly, he was asking Onesimus to be allowed to stay and minister to Paul. Or he may be asking Philemon to simply receive Onesimus (Philemon 1:17).
• Philemon 1:10-11 – The name “Onesimus” means “useful.” This is apparently a play on words. Paul seems to indicate here that he converted Onesimus while he was in prison.
  • See Colossians 4:7-9.
• Philemon 1:14 – Paul did not want to be presumptuous with his handling of Onesimus. He wanted to operate out of love rather than authority.
• Philemon 1:15-16 – Despite the previous relationship between Philemon and Onesimus, Paul is reminding them that they are now brothers in Christ.
• Philemon 1:17-19 – The literary device in verse 19 is called a paralipsis, in which something is mentioned by saying you are not mentioning it. See other uses of this device in I Thessalonians 4:9; 5:1.
  • The meaning of verse 19 is not entirely clear. Paul could mean that he converted Philemon.
• Philemon 1:21 – Paul continues to appeal out of love.
• Philemon 1:22-25 – Paul was hoping to be released from prison. Colossians was written after Philemon and Paul was still in prison at that time. Paul was thriving and being productive, even in prison.

Jude – quick overview

Observations

Error is a serious problem, and not unique to Jude.

• Compare II Peter 2. Some of the same examples as Jude are used.

The Holy Spirit inspires Jude to use a lot of triads and triplets.

• Jude 1:1, 2, 5-7, 8, 11, 19, 22-23

There are several things mentioned here that are not mentioned elsewhere (at least, not in any great detail).

• Don’t run wild with curiosity and speculation. John 21:20-23; Deuteronomy 29:29

Holiness is a daily battle, continued

The external battle … with Satan, continued

He is an active enemy … but one we can fight.

• James 4:7 – submit to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you
• I Peter 5:8 – your enemy walks about like a roaring lion, resist him
  • Be soberminded – there is something for us to do!

He is persistent …

• Luke 4:13

He is crafty …

• II Corinthians 11:3, 13-15 – serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, transforms into an angel of light
• Matthew 7:15-16 – false prophets dressed like sheep
• II Corinthians 2:11 – he uses schemes and tricks

He is subtle …

• Psalms 1:1-2 – progression of sin: walk, stand, sit

The internal battle … within ourselves

• Galatians 5:16-17 – lust of the flesh vs. spirit
• Why does the flesh have lust?
  • James 1:12-16 – drawn away by his own desires and enticed
• Romans 7:22-25 – Paul says the internal battle is hard!
  • I do the things I hate
  • I do evil I do not want to do
  • He recognizes the battle

Introduction

• Proverbs 11:6

Greed is the desire to have more.

• Romans 1:28
• I Corinthians 6:9—10
• I Corinthians 5:9
• I Thessalonians 2:5
• II Peter 2:1-3, 14 – False teachers were greedily extorting them.
• Mar 7:21-23 – Greed comes from the heart.
• II Corinthians 9:5-7 – Don’t let greed spoil things.
• Ephesians 4:19; 5:3 – Greed can involve desires other than money.
• Colossians 3:5

Money is not the answer we think it is.

• I Timothy 6:9-10 – The love of money is the problem.

“lottery winners declare bankruptcy at twice the normal rate”

• Ecclesiastes 5:10 – If you loe money, you won’t be satisfied with money.
• Matthew 22:39
• Ephesians 4:28
• Gambling is an avenue for greed.
• The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel

Greed is fixed by spiritual maturity, not more money.

• Luke 12:13-21
• Philippians 4:11 – Paul learned to be content.
• Colossians 3:1-4
• I Timothy 6:6-12

New Testament slavery, continued

• Ephesians 6:5-9
• Colossians 3:22-4:1
• I Timothy 6:1-2
• Titus 2:9-10
• I Timothy 1:10
• Matthew 20:26-28 – If you wish to be great, be a servant.
• John 13:13
• Luke 17:1-10 – The centurion and his relationship with his slave.
• Philemon 1:10-17 – This might indicate that Paul was involved in the conversion of Onesimus. The gospel transforms every relationship, even master/slave.
• Colossians 4:7, 12, 9 – People referred to as slaves of Christ.

Philemon 1

• Philemon 1:1-3 – Apphia and Archippus might be Philemon’s wife and son (Colossians 4:17). Possibly, Archippus was a preacher working there.
• Philemon 1:4-5 – Paul constantly mentioned his prayers for others.

Introduction

• Colossians 3:17
• Hebrews 10:25
• I Corinthians 14:23
• Acts 20:7
• We have authority to assemble and need a place to do so.
• John 4:21

Classrooms for Biblical teaching

In the New Testament, we find authority for churches to be involved in the teaching of God’s word.

• Acts 15:35
• Acts 13:1
• Acts 18:4, 8, 11
• I Corinthians 4:17
• I Corinthians 14:26
• Acts 20:28, 32 – Arranging Bible classes is one way that elders can shepherd the flock.

As far as I know, there are two main arguments against classes:

• First, some object to classes by saying that it divides the assembly, and we have no authority to divide the assembly (Hebrews 10:25; Acts 15:30; 11:26).
• Another objection to Bible classes is that it involves women in an unscriptural way.
  • I Corinthians 14:34-35
  • I Timothy 2:11-12

No kitchen or fellowship hall

The church building is not sacred like the temple was.

As a local church, we need to abide by what the New Testament authorizes us to do as a church.

• Provide for needy Christians
  • Help needy saints in the local church (Acts 6:1-6)
  • Help needy saints in other churches (Romans 15:26)
• Preaching the gospel
  • Sound forth the word (I Thessalonians 1:8)
  • Support preachings in other places (Philippians 4:15-16)
• Worship and edification
  • Add/subtract members (Acts 9:26-28; I Corinthians 5:13)
  • Assemble to worship God and edify each other (I Corinthians 14:23-26)
  • Have elders (Acts 20:28)
  • Have deacons (I Timothy 3:8-13)
  • Make decisions (I Corinthians 16:3)
  • Help sinners repent (Matthew 18:17)
  • Partake of the Lord’s Supper (I Corinthians 11:17-24)
  • Sing spiritual songs (I Corinthians 14:26)
  • Pray (I Corinthians 14:15)
  • Teach God’s word (I Corinthians 14:26)
  • Collect money (I Corinthians 16:2)

There is no passage that gives a church authority to provide facilities for regular meals.

• Churches can provide for needy Christians
  • Acts 6:1
• Churches can provide for the Lord’s Supper
  • I Corinthians 11:17-22, 34

The difference between an individual and the church

• Matthew 18:15-17
• Philippians 4:15 – Sometimes the church acts via money.
• Acts 4:32-5:4
• I Timothy 5:16
• Matthew 9:10
• Acts 16:34
• Acts 2:46-47

Can’t the church practice fellowship?

• (share, contribute, participate)
• Philippians 4:15
• Luke 5:19
• I Corinthians 10:16
• I Timothy 5:22
• I John 1:7
• Acts 2:42

We can make the same point about edification

• Acts 20:32; I Corinthians 14:26; Ephesians 4:11-12