212-10-
A letter written from Rome in about 61 AD during Paul’s
1st imprisonment. He was in his own rented home, where for 2 years he was
allowed to receive visitors & preach the gospel. It was one of his 4 Prison Epistles, (Colossians,
Ephesians and Philemon.) The letter comes about ten years after Paul’s first
visit there. Philippi was named after Alexander the Great’s father Phillip II.
Paul visited here on his 2nd mission. (Acts 16) There was a small Jewish
congregation. Paul & Silas were beaten & thrown into prison here for
casting out the evil spirit from a young lady who used her evil spirit to help
her in her divination. Paul’s most noted converts from this area were Lydia a
dealer in purple from Thyatira in Asia who had the missionaries stay with her
after her conversion. The other was the Jailer, who was converted when an
earthquake allowed their escape. Thinking that they had escaped on his watch,
he was about to kill himself, but was taught the gospel. Paul demanded an
apology from the magistrates for their poor treatment of he and his companion. It is the happiest of St. Paul’s writings, for the
Philippians were the dearest of his children in the faith.The Lord Jesus Christ
is mentioned by name over 50 times in the four chapters of Philippians.
Chapter 1
- vs. 12 & 13 - See also 2 Nephi 2:1-2
Vs. 21-24 - To live or die for the gospel
vs. 27 - the word conversation is better translated
conduct with today’s usage of the words.
Chapter 2
- vs. 7 - A literal translation from the Greek of “but made himself of no
reputation” would be “He emptied himself” There are those among us today who
are completelyselfless—as was [Jesus Christ]. A selfless person is one
who is more concerned about the happiness and well-being of another than about his
or her own convenience or comfort, one who is willing to serve another when it
is neither sought for nor appreciated, or one who is willing to serve even
those whom he or she dislikes.
“A selfless person displays a willingness to sacrifice, a
willingness to purge from his or her mind and heart personal wants, and needs,
and feelings. Instead of reaching for and requiring praise and recognition for
himself, or gratification of his or her own wants, the selfless person will
meet these very human needs for others” (“Selflessness:
A Pattern for Happiness,” Ensign, May 1985, 66).
vs. 12 - Note first how obedient the people in Philippi
were and then note the end of the verse which tells us to “work out our own
salvation with fear and trembling. President McKay said, “Work out your own
salvation, is an exhortation to demonstrate by activity, by thought, obedient
effort the reality of faith. But this must be done with a consciousness that
absolute dependence upon self may produce pride and weakness that will bring
failure. With fear and trembling we should seek the strength and grace of God
for inspiration to obtain the final victory” (CR Apr. 1957 p. 7) See also 2 Nephi
25:23.
vs. 25-30 -
Treating those who return from missions early because of illness.
Chapter 3 - vs. 8 - Paul had apparently lost his
family, &his standing in the community as a Pharisee. Paul reminds me of
Amulek in Alma 10:4 and then 15:16. A religion that does not require the
sacrifice of all things never has power sufficient to produce the faith
necessary unto life and salvation; for from the first existence of man, the
faith necessary unto the enjoyment of life and salvation never could be obtained
without the sacrifice of all earthly things. (Lectures on Faith, 1985, p. 69)
vs. 12- 14 - Paul does not consider himself saved. See
also 2 Tim. 4:7-8
vs. 17-21 - Paul encourages saints to look to heaven &
not Rome as the source of lasting citizenship.
Chapter 4 - vs. 8 The 13th article of faith, admonition
of Paul appears to come from here &1 Cor. 13:7. Vs. 13- “We don’t seek out
tribulations. Many trials are just a natural part of our mortal existence, but
they play an important role in our progress. Sometimes we want to have growth
without challenges & to develop strength without struggle. We clearly
understand that an athlete who resists rigorous training will never become a
world-class athlete. We must be careful that we don’t resent the very things
that help us put on the divine nature. “Not one of the trials and tribulations
we face is beyond our limits, because we have access to help from the Lord. (“Paul
Johnson, Ensign May 2011, 79–80)
212-10 -
Colossians
Colossae was a small unimportant city near Laodicea
and Hierapolis. It lay in a high valley about 100 miles east of Ephesus with
mountain scenery resembling the Wasatch Front. Epaphras, a native of Colossae
and perhaps Timothy were its first Christian teachers. Scholars are not sure if
Paul ever visited Colossae. This letter was written as a result of a visit to
Paul by Epaphras during Paul's 1st imprisonment in Rome about 62 AD. Philemon &
Onesimus lived in Colossae.
"The problems Paul wrote about were false
doctrines concerning the Godhead and worship of angels (2:18). Paul knew that
apostates would disseminate perverse doctrines to draw away disciples. Some
were denying the physicalness of the Savior, just as some Corinthians denied
the idea of bodily resurrection. The basic issue was whether Jesus was God or
man or both at the same time. Great diversity of belief prevailed. Some argued
that Christ had one mind or one will or that he was born a man and became a a God.
Where there were two Christians, there were three opinions. Some were also
attempting to displace the preeminent Head with mediating angels."
(Ogden p. 192-3)
The true doctrines about Christ in Ch. 1 refute the
false doctrines in Ch. 2
Ch.
1-
Vs. 10-11 - Teach the
importance of Works. Vs. 12-15 - The separate nature of Heavenly Father and
Jesus. (Also see vs. 1-2)
Vs. 14-19 - Note at least
8 attributes of Jesus; Vs. 15 - Christ is the image (Gk. icon) of the invisible God (John 14:9) God is not made in man's
image but (Gen. 1:27) God has a face (Dt. 5:4), eyes (Dt. 11:12), ears (Ezek.
8:18), a mouth (Num. 12:8), arms (Ex. 15:16), hands (Job 10:8), fingers (Ex.
8:19), a heart (Gen. 6:6; 8:21), feet (Is. 60:13). "That which is without
body, parts, and passions is nothing. There is no other God in heaven but that
God who has flesh and bones" (TPJS. 181) Most Christians base their
concept of God on 4 councils held between the 4th and 6th centuries rather than
scripture. Pope Gregory the Great compared them to the 4 Gospels, because they
formulated the basic dogmas of the Church- the Trinity and Incarnation (Christ
taking on a corporal body. The real source of the Trinitarian Doctrine is the
Nicene Council of 325 AD. 318 Bishops met to decide whether Christ was similar
to or the same as his Father. They decided he was the same.
Vs. 23 - remember
Ephesians 3:17 -"Keeping our sense of proportion whatever we do, keeping
our precious perspective wherever we are, and keeping the commandments however
we are tested reflect being settled, rooted, and grounded in our discipleship.
Remaining settled and established is not easy, for we are crowded by the cares
of the world. We are diverted by the praise of the world; we are buffeted by
the trials of the world, drawn by the appetites and temptations of the world,
and bruised by the hardness of the world. But when we are grounded, rooted, and
established, and settled, we can have a precious perspective which puts other
things in their proper place. This is no small blessing, for it lifts us above
our immediate circumstances and concerns, giving us a larger view of
things" (NAMaxwell, Speeches of the Year, BYU Press, 1982, p. 15-16)
Ch. 2 -
Vs. 8-9 - See 2 Nephi
9:28-29. The word used for body is the gk.
soma, referring to a physical body.
Vs. 18-19-Gnostic
philosophy held that God's contacts with men and women were through angelic
mediators. Paul denounced the idea. Christ is the Head, and somebody was falsely
emphasizing the role of angels. (Ogden p. 195)
Vs. 23 - "Will
worship" was man-made worship. Neglecting of the body was a tendency of
the Gnostics. They believed that men and women were saved through secret or
esoteric knowledge and that the physical body is evil. This led to 2 extremes:
complete denial of marriage and sexual relations; or complete indulgence and
satisfaction of the physical urges. Both negated the purposes and value of the
human body." (Ogden p. 196)
Chapter 3 -
Vs. 9-10- It is easier to
act oneself into a new way of thinking than to think oneself into a new way of
acting.
Vs. 16 - Singing in church.
Vs. 23 - A great way to live
Chapter 4
Vs. 6 - Do you know
anybody who does this? symbolism of salt. Vs. 10 & 16 - Missing Scripture?
122-10 - THE BOOKS OF THESSALONIANS
Thessalonica, the largest city in
Northern Greece, was made the capital of Macedonia when it was made a Roman
province in 146 BC. It was made a free city by the Romans, which means it
enjoyed a status free from taxation or military occupation and the privilege of
self-government. The city was named by its founder, the Macedonian King
Cassander in honor of his wife who was the half-sister of Alexander the Great.
It was located on the Via Egnatia (the major Roman road through
Macedonia) and on the coast and was the major sea port for the area. It remains
a large and prosperous city (now called Salonica or
Thessaloniki)
to this day.
The
Acts account of Paul’s dealings with the people in Thessalonica.
Acts
16:9-10 - Paul, traveling with Luke, Timothy and
Silas are directed to go from Asia (Turkey) to Macedonia. They stop first in
Philippi.
Acts 17:1-10
1.
17:4 – What is a “God Fearers”? According to Jewish rabbinic tradition, all
non-Jews are "children of Noah", and as such arc subject to a special
universal Noachite Covenant. This covenant, made with Noah following the Flood,
is prior to, and separate from, the Torah Covenant made at Sinai with the
"children of Israel". All humankind is accordingly obligated to follow
the "seven Laws of Noah", traditionally enumerated as: the
prohibitions of 1) idolatry,2) blasphemy,3) bloodshed,4) sexual sins,5)
theft, and6) eating flesh (or blood) from a living animal; and the 7)
obligation to establish legal systems to administer justice.(1) Indeed,
according to rabbinic interpretation, Jews, functioning as the chosen priestly
people, and a "light to all nations", are obligated to teach the
Gentile world those portions of Torah applicable to non-Jews (Exodus 19:5;
Isaiah 42:1-6). Such Gentiles who turn to God, and turn away from these sinful
practices, are said to "have a share in the world to come". They have
become yirei shamayim ("fearers of Heaven", i.e., God), and in the
Land of Israel are called ger toshav (i.e.,"the stranger that dwells among
you")(2) These Noachites are not proselytes, nor full converts to Judaism.
They remain Gentiles, but with special attachment to God, Torah, and Israel.
(James D. Tabor)
2.
The missionaries had to leave suddenly because of persecution by the Jews. Paul
had wanted to return but when he was not able to, he sent Timothy. He wrote
this letter in response to the word that timothy brought him after his visit
there. The Thessalonians had a profound interest in the expected return of
Jesus to the earth and were anxious about the meaning of the 2nd
coming. Paul wrote to reassure and advise them.
First
Thessalonians (About 50-52 AD)
Chapter
1 – Thanks for your example
Chapter
2 – There have been some rumors going around about us when we were missionaries
to you, we may not have kept all of the mission rules. Stop those rumors! We
loved you, as missionaries do.
2:20
– “No man can conceive how great is the worth of souls. One soul saved which
would have been lost means added Kingdoms and worlds, added spirit children
born to exalted beings, added hosts of intelligent beings going forward
everlastingly in eternal progression.” (DNTC 3:46)
Chapter
3 – We missed you a whole bunch and sent Timothy to check on you. We prayed for
you. (See verse 10)
Chapter
4 – Verses 3-5 – Morality- 9 of the 14 Epistles warn against this.
vs.
3 sanctification
vs.
3 fornication – The Greek “porneia” refers to any illicit sexual
activity.
Vs.
5 lust of concupiscence (ardent desire; hence, sexual lust. Desire for that
which is desirable to the senses) as the Gentiles which know not God. – It was
acceptable to have a mistress and certain religious rites promoted sexual
activity outside of marriage.
Vs.
13-18 Don’t worry about those who are dead-they will also be caught up to meet
the Lord.
Chapter
5 –
vs.
1-5 How to know when Christ is coming
vs.
12-26 – A laundry list of things to do from a missionary to his converts.
Second
Thessalonians
- Purpose – to clean up any 2nd
coming questions
Chapter
1 – Don’t sweat the petty stuff and don’t pet the sweaty stuff.
a.
vs. 4-9 Those who persecute will
receive God’s recompense.
Chapter
2:1-4
The
“falling away comes from the man of sin, the son of perdition, who sitteth in
the temple of God shewing himself that he is God. Almost always Paul uses the
word temple figuratively- Occasionally, the body is a temple for God’s spirit,
but usually the Church is the temple of God. In this case the temple is
representative of the church in which God dwells. When the man of sin is
revealed, he will be in the midst of the temple, the church remains, but Satan
is in the midst of it. This imagery demonstrates that the great apostasy will
take place through the influence of Satan in the Church, thus making the
restoration necessary. (Paraphrased from Joann Seely, Studies in Scripture, V
p. 60-61)
"The
original Greek text of 2 Thes. 2:3 uses the word apostasia, meaning literally a revolt or breaking away. Apostasy is
a conscious act of rebellion against God in which one deliberately attempts to
change divinely appointed doctrine and practice and opposes God's chosen
leaders. Apostasy, by definition, is not a gradual drift from divine truth, nor
is it a waning interest in the gospel. Apostasy, as Paul says, is rebellion,
and it always reveals the great motivator of rebellion-Satan, or Perdition
(from the Latin perditius,destruction). The phrase "falling away" may
connote to some people a gradual slide from the truth, but a comparison of the
of the wording of the KJV with other versions of the Bible shows the
significance and intent of Paul's comment. The New International Version
renders the Greek as "the rebellion"; the Revised Standard Version,
"the rebellion", the Phillips Bible, "a definite rejection of
God", the Jerusalem Bible, "the Great Revolt", the Contemporary
English Version, "People will rebel against God." (Ogden p. 119-121)
Chapter
3
Verse
1 – Pray for the gospel to have free course
Vs.
6 – be careful who you hang with
Vs.
10-11 – don’t be lazy
Brigham
Young on the 2nd coming, “Do not be too anxious for the Lord to
hasten this work. Let our anxiety be centered upon this one thing, the
sanctification of our own hearts, the purifying of our own affections, the
preparing of ourselves for the approach of the events, that are hastening upon
us. This should be our concern, this should be our study, this should be our
daily prayer. (JD 9:3)
