Our reading challenge for the day is Titus 1-3 and Philemon. I’ll hit a few highlights. You make comments too and fill in the gaps. What strikes you as specially significant?
Titus 1 - Titus’ task was to appoint elders who would engage in teaching sound doctrine, thus protecting the saints against deceivers.
Titus 2 - Teaching is different for different groups. Yet underlying all of it is Jesus the redeemer who cleanses us for himself. As he cleanses us we grow in godly attitudes which sustain us in this world.
Titus 3 - As Jesus chose us and called us to faith we who have become obedient to God also become good members of our society. We devote ourselves to living a life of holiness in Christ because he loved us and saved us.
Philemon - Paul writes to a friend, Philemon, asking him to receive back a runaway slave who has become a Christian. While Paul does not request that Philemon should release Onesimus, he asks that he receive him as a brother in Christ. How do we view those who are different from us but for whom Christ died? Do we receive them as brothers and sisters?
Showing posts with label Philemon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Philemon. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Philemon
"Philemon" Carson & Moo pp. 588-595
Philemon, the shortest book in the New Testament, is an extremely personal letter, discussing the status of a slave, Onesimus, and Paul's desire that he should be restored to his master's favor and accepted as a brother in Christ. The letter has uniformly been viewed as a genuine Pauline work. The setting raises some difficulties. Paul is writing from prison, but the actual location or time is unclear. Carson and Moo weigh the evidence and settle on Rome as the most likely location. Philemon gives us insight into the love and respect which is appropriate within the body of Christ. It also gives some insight into a biblical author's view of slavery. Those who are bond-slaves to Christ can live together as brothers and sisters, regardless of the master/slave relationship they may also have.
Philemon, the shortest book in the New Testament, is an extremely personal letter, discussing the status of a slave, Onesimus, and Paul's desire that he should be restored to his master's favor and accepted as a brother in Christ. The letter has uniformly been viewed as a genuine Pauline work. The setting raises some difficulties. Paul is writing from prison, but the actual location or time is unclear. Carson and Moo weigh the evidence and settle on Rome as the most likely location. Philemon gives us insight into the love and respect which is appropriate within the body of Christ. It also gives some insight into a biblical author's view of slavery. Those who are bond-slaves to Christ can live together as brothers and sisters, regardless of the master/slave relationship they may also have.
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