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57 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Prison Epistles |
Colossians Ephesians Philippians Philemon |
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Dates/delivery of prison espistles |
Colossians, Ephesians delivered Tychius 60-61 Philemon 60-61 delivered by Onesimus Philippians 61-62 AD. Delivered by Epaphroditus |
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Colossians and XXX related how? |
Philemon and Colossians related by list of people
Colossians and Ephesians very similar in content -Jesus as HEAD of church (Col.) -Church as BODY of Christ (Eph.) |
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Suffering [Paul/Philippians] |
Paul incarcerated in Jerusalem around 57-58 AD. We'd never know it by his letters, though. |
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Paul's outlook through suffering is helped by: |
His perspective/view of divine purpose of suffering: -This was God preparing him, not satan interfering -View of who J is: Christology is fully developed -W/out imprisonment, he may never have slowed down to write |
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Critical concerns about Pauline authorship of Ephesians and Colossians |
-Too similar to each other (doesn't make it unlikely though) -Theology seems different than other undisputed letters (Capital, Soteriological). Less justification, more cosmic Jesus. Really just a question of emphasis though. Still there. |
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Responses to critical concerns regarding Pauline authorship |
-Remember: occasion/circumstance of audience determines the nature of a letter. -Textual evidence is incredible: no copies of either text without Paul's name -Accepting a pseudonymous text would go against the teaching/tradition of the early church |
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Philippians |
"Joy in All Circumstances" Written in Rome, toward end of imprisonment, 61-62 AD |
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Occasion of Philippians |
Church in Philippi often supported Paul. They sent $, and Epaphraditus, who got sick and almost died. Paul sends him back to recover, and deliver this letter. |
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Purpose of Philippians |
-Report to the church his condition and situation -Exhort them to unity through humility; identifies as servant in 1:1 -Commend Epaphraditus and Timothy (was gonna send him from Eph.) -Warn against false teachings: legalism (3:1-16) and libertinism (3:17-21) -Express gratitude for their financial assistance |
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Major theme of Philippians |
Joy, in all of life's circumstances. Also, the peace of God, and the principle of contentment. |
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Characteristics of Philippians |
-No direct OT references (allusions though); no synagogue in Ph, so no OT background. -Very personal -Refers to joy over 50 times -Stresses very high level of Christian living |
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Conversion stories of church in Philippi |
From Acts 16: -Lydia; rich woman -Possessed slave girl; very poor -Jailer; middle class Roman |
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Philippians 4:10-13 'All things' |
"I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me." The secret of contentment in abundance or need: appreciation, and deciding to be content despite circumstances. GROSS misrepresentation to use this passage as a prosperity formula. |
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Philippians basis of unity in church: |
love and serve each other, just as Christ set aside his divine perogatives |
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Philippians 4:4-7 'Rejoice/anxiety' |
"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." |
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Philippians Dealing with anxiety/peace of God |
Worry consumes our minds. -Spend time analyzing, confessing our anxieties -Only way to attack/move into peace = prayer -when we pray, the Peace of God guards our hearts -Our part is to pray, and to guard our thoughts/what goes in ("whatever is true....practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you." 4:8-9) |
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Philippians 4:11-13 'contentment' |
"Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me." |
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Philippians Principle of Contentment |
-must be learned -express appreciation for what's given to/done for us, even if it's not what we want or need -Contentment is pleasing to God, and to us -Wealth and impoverishment have their own dangers. If you're not content with a little, you won't be content with a lot. Learn this early! -We can be content if we want to be - God will give us strength to be satisfied -Make our home wherever we are, as though we'll be there for awhile |
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Philemon |
"A Christian Response to Slavery" |
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Occasion of Philemon |
Ph was a wealthy believer in Colossae. Onesimus ran away, met Paul in Rome. Was saved, and Paul sends him back to Philemon. Asking Ph to treat On as family, not a slave |
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Purpose of Philemon |
That Ph treat On as a Christian brother. Uses all his powers of persuasion: -P responsible for Ph's hearing of gospel -Plays up his imprisonment and age -Appeals to his better nature -Tells the rest of the church about it, too (shame) -'more useful to you now than before' ***Tactful persuasion accomplishes more than outlandish demands*** |
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Philemon general thoughts |
-Christian relationships are to exhibit evidence of forgiveness -In JC we are one family - no slave or freed man |
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Philemon and slavery: |
-P sought to change society by changing people -P knocked out the foundation for Christian justification of slavery -Roman slavery was different than in the American south |
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Unique aspects of Roman slavery (Philemon) |
-Based on conquered lands, not race -Couldn't always visually tell difference -Amongst the Jews, only the Essenes spoke out against the use of slavery -In context of accepted slavery, abrupt emancipation could have led to death of many Christians -Slaves often freed by the age of 30 -Main emphasis of Christianity was inward, spiritual transformation, and eternity |
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Colossians |
"The Supremacy of Christ" Lord of the Cosmos and the Church |
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Colossians occassion |
Epaphyrus took gospel from Ephesus to Colossae. He warned P of dangerous heresy infiltrating the church. Syncretistic: legalism, and Greco Roman philosophy. Incipient form/seed of gnosticism. This depreciates the person/work of Christ. |
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Colossians purpose: |
To rebut the heretical teaching infiltrating the church |
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Colossians: MANY references to Christ |
-image of invisible God 1:15 -Creator of the universe (Jn 1:1) 1:16 -Pre-existent sustainer of all things 1:15-17 -Head of the church (body) 1:18 -First to be resurrected from the dead 1:18 -Fullness of God dwells in J (counters gn saying MORE) 1:19, 2:9 -Reconciler of all things 1:21-22 -Jesus has every power and authority 2:10 -Jesus is at the right hand of the father 3:1 |
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Implications of Colossians Christ statements |
-In light of all this, Jesus is TOTALLY adequate -God help us if we live in disobedience, with less than a Godly passion for him |
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Paul's gratitude for the Colossians |
-Grateful for their faith in Jesus, their love for Jesus's people, and a hope laid up in heaven |
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Paul's prayer for the Colossians |
Prays that they would know G's will. The fruit of that is a worthy life: -Bear fruit (spiritual labors) -Increasing knowledge of God -Strengthened w/power, by his might -Giving thanks to the Father THIS is the worthy/spiritual life |
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4 things to be thankful for from Colossians |
-We're partners -He has delivered us -He transforms us -He redeems us |
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Sufficiency of Christ, vs gnostic premise of more |
-Scope of Christ's supremacy is over creation, and the church -Basis of Christ's supremacy is that the fullness of G dwells in him, and his work of reconciliation |
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Ministry of Paul (Colossians) |
-suffering -preaching -intercession -exhortation |
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Colossians Warnings against: |
-legalism -angelic worship -asceticism ascetic rules give the appearance of wisdom but are useless in curbing the things of the flesh. We're dead to the things of this world, so look to the things above. THIS is the way. Put off the old, take up the new. |
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Colossians Spiritual Warfare |
"God has disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to shame, by triumphing over them in him." (2:15-16) This applies to us in life, ministry, and evangelism. "Because of this, don't let anyone pass judgement on you in regards to food and drink,...observances..." |
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Ephesians |
"Unity in Diversity as Witness to the 'Powers'" ***The Scope of God's eternal plan for all humanity - Jew and Gentile alike***
AD 60, from prison in Rome to churches around Ephesus |
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Ephesians occasion |
Paul knew the heresies from Colossae would make their way to Ephesus. Had spent 3 years in Ephesus. Epaphyrus took gospel from Eph to Col. This was a preemptive strike. |
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Ephesians purpose |
To prepare church to confront heresy. The general nature makes some doubt Pauline authorship. This is a preemptive strike, which can explain the significant overlap with Colossians. |
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Ephesians Critical Authorship Issues |
-Very systematic letter for a church that Paul would have known well (sit, ppl change though) -Eph and Col. very sim in content, structure. Person/work of JC-reconciliation/unity in church-exhortational material along similar themes -Oldest, best manuscripts don't include 'in Ephesus' |
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Responses to Ephesians critical authorship claims |
Many evangelical scholars, including Blomberg, take it as a circular letter. Dr. Cook believes it was intended for Ephesus: -No general letters from Paul -W/out 'in Ephesus' doesn't work gramatically -P spent 3 years there, but people and situations change all the time -Huge church; not suprising that he doesn't address many specific people
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2 halves of Ephesians |
1-3 = doctrine; what Christians believe 4-6 = practical; what this means for our lives |
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Major features of Ephesians |
-Longest passage on spiritual warfare (6) -Long important passage on marriage (also in Colossians) -Only NT command to 'be filled with the Spirit' -Strong ecclesiology: church =J's body/bride. -2 beautiful prayers for the church |
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2 Ephesians prayers for the church |
1:15-23 asks for wisdom and revelation 3:14-21 asks for inner peace, to comprehend the incomprehensible, and to be filled with the fullness of God |
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Ephesians Unity in the Church |
Jew and Gentile, united in the church under the cornerstone of Christ, built on the foundation of apostles and prophets (2:11-22) |
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Ephesians Pre-Christian condition |
-Spiritually dead -Spiritually enslaved -Spiritually condemned |
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Ephesians Christian condition |
-What has God done to a people like us? Loved us, Saved us, Reconciled us -Why did God do this? His mercy, grace/love, as trophies of his love -So, what now? Work it out. Works are created for us already. Open our eyes to see, and DO it |
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Ephesians 2 prerequisites to understanding God's love |
-Must be loving -Must be understood with/via all the other saints These are expressions of God's love. Some people complain of not knowing G's love. But they never show up w/the body or serve. How can we expect to see G's love if we don't show up? |
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Ephesians Nature of being filled with the spirit |
-Being filled is different than just having the spirit -Say no to being drunk with wine; instead, be filled with spirit. Why? We act differently when we're drunk or filled. |
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Ephesians Evidence/proof of a spirit filled life |
-How we address one another -How we submit to one another -Genuine, sincere worship -Giving thanks/attitudes of gratitude |
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Ephesians Responsibilities of being filled with Holy Spirit |
We can't fill it ourselves. But we still have a role to play: -ask to be filled -remove what grieves the spirit, embrace what is good -be open to the ministry of the spirit |
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Ephesians Working out of the Spirit-filled life |
-husbands laying down their lives for their wives -wives joyfully submitting to their husbands -kids honoring, respecting their parents -parents not abusing, provoking their kids -slaves and masters -being ready for spiritual warfare |
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Ephesians The Believer's Protection (6:10-20) |
Stand firm, by putting on the armor of God The list of pieces carries 2 meanings: -knowing the truth means being true, not duplicitous -knowing the truth means knowing scriptural truth. We have righteousness. But we have to live it out. |
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Ephesians Offensive armor |
-Gospel boots -Gospel sword of spirit
We also have prayer: most effective, best way to help.
Known, believed, obeyed. THIS is how we go to war. |
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Ephesians Bottom Line |
Two parts: -Work of God/Spirit gives us unity, new identity -Now, we live this identity Ephesians begins, ends with LOVE. From predestination to our lives now. |
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Ephesians Ministry of the spirit/word |
Parallel passage in Colossians says to be filled with the word, not the spirit. They are connected: the ministry of the spirit uses the ministry of the word. |
