Colossians 2:1-5

For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face… (v. 1) I had a strange thought here, hearkening back to John 17:20, one verse in Jesus’ “high priestly prayer”: I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word… Most of us have probably read or heard that in this verse Jesus is praying directly for us. So I wondered in the first verse of today’s reading whether we are included among those who have not seen Paul “face to face”. Might he still be in heaven the fervent missionary that he was here on earth? Might he still be praying for each and every one of us who reads his letters? Yeah, a strange thought…

Whether that’s the case or not that Paul is “struggling” for us, either way, for those who have not seen him face to face he asks that …their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in Whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (vv. 2-3) Is Paul saying here that only when we are “knit together in love” that we can attain to “all the riches” and the “full assurance” of understanding and knowledge of Christ? I fully believe that my faith has certainly been strengthened by my being solidly planted in our church body and in other similar bodies prior to St. Andrew’s. And to repeat a refrain from my post yesterday, I fully believe that my knowledge, understanding, and wisdom have all increased by being a part of all of you. We simply can’t do this alone, folks. We need each other!

Slava Bohu!

Colossians 1:21-29

Paul mentions a “mystery” twice in today’s reading (verses 26 and 27): …the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Both of my study bibles talked about “mystery religions” in the Roman world – religions in which only members had certain information, secret this-and-that, possibly not unlike the Skull and Bones secret society at Yale University that has included both Bush presidents. You can read up on these mystery religions on your own. I first encountered Paul’s “mystery” talk many years ago in my early Scriptural readings. To my understanding years back, the “mystery” that Paul is talking about is that the Gospel is now revealed to the Gentiles. Previously the Jews had been an exclusive “club” to which the Gentiles were excluded, but now salvation has been offered to these Gentiles through Peter (Acts 10-11) and Paul’s missionary activities and other early Christian missionaries. In today’s reading Paul refers to this mystery as Christ in you, the hope of glory – the hope of the Gentiles. And that same hope is ours today – Christ in you, the hope of glory!!

Slava Bohu!

Colossians 1:9-20

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything He might be preeminent. For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of His cross. (vv. 15-20) Sorry for copying such a long quotation, but the entire six-verse content is powerful and complete. Credit to my Study Bible for pointing out the “all things” items that I have highlighted in bold above. ALL THINGS!! All of these things, in Christ, all things!! It’s strange to me that Paul did not use Jesus’ name or his Christ title in these verses, referring only by “He” and “Him” pronouns to the “beloved Son” mentioned in verse 14.

…we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding… (v. 9) Credit again to my Study Bible for pointing out these three connected words. Knowledge of our Lord’s will for our lives comes first, but knowledge of His will without action on our part sounds like rebellion to me. So knowledge comes first, then (for me) understanding, then wisdom. I see “understanding” as something that is internal to myself, something that is now within my comprehension. But I see “wisdom” as an ability for me to somehow see inside God’s mind, into His heart – to know His ways for my life. I see “wisdom” as something that puts me at peace in a way that “understanding” does not. Maybe I’m way off. It’s something I’ve never thought of before.

Slava Bohu!

Colossians 1:1-8

Colossians!! The same questions we had last week as to where Paul was imprisoned when he wrote Philippians and Philemon also apply to Colossians, so I won’t comment on that item.

Paul makes a nice, almost hidden triad using the simple word “as” in verses 6 and 7, with the words “which” and “it” referring back to “the Gospel” in verse 6: which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing – as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant… (vv. 6-7) Substitute “the Gospel” for “which” and “it” in those verses and Paul’s message becomes more clear.

Epaphras is mentioned above as the person who brought the Gospel to Colossae. He was mentioned in yesterday’s reading (Philemon 23) as being in prison with Paul. Later in this letter (v. 4:12) we will see that Epaphras is from Colossae (or we can at least infer that from Paul’s mention of him as “one of you” or “one of your number”). Since there is never any mention of Paul having been in Colossae, we have to imagine that Epaphras must have been converted sometime during Paul’s three-year ministry in Ephesus and then sharing that message with his friends back home. So he really is quite a story, a model for us, if you will, in taking what we know and sharing it with others – except he went a bit further than we might go, presumably forcefully enough to warrant prison time with Paul! Quite a story…!

Slava Bohu!

Philemon 1:17-25

More on my post from yesterday on Paul’s “demand” of Philemon. That “demand” is reinforced twice in today’s reading. First, as to any debt that Onesimus may have owed to Philemon: …I will repay it—to say nothing of your owing me even your own self. (v. 19b) Second, two verses later: Confident of your obedience… (v. 21a) So yeah, Paul appeared to be more than a bit heavy-handed!

My Study Bible had a comment from Martin Luther on verses 17 to 19. It was nice to think that we are reading, digesting, and commenting on the same verses that Luther did some 500 years ago.

One final comment on Philemon… At the same time, prepare a guest room for me… (v. 22a) I’m sure languages and formalities were different back in the 1^st century A.D. than they are today, but still Paul seems a bit demanding again – even if he had added “please” to his directive. I was thinking – Mark Bruner has stayed with us probably 8-10 times since we first met him in 2004. Whenever he is visiting the USA and hoping for a St. Andrew’s stop, he always asks us well in advance if we might have room for him. It’s never any form of a directive, like “Please prepare my guest room!” So unlike Paul here…! And BTW, advance notice… Mark will be attending Asbury’s “Spring” commencement on November 14. We’re hoping for a joint reception for him and Samuel on Friday, November 13. GLORY!

Slava Bohu!

Philemon 1:8-16

I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment. (v. 10) and I am sending him back to you… (v. 12a) Yesterday I began the discussion of where Paul was in prison when he wrote Philippians, arguing that he might have written Philemon (and Colossians, as we will see later) from the same location. Scholars have argued for Rome or Caesarea, places where we know Paul to have been imprisoned. Today’s reading lends credence to an argument for Ephesus, although we have no record of Paul in prison in Ephesus. It is very likely that Philemon was from Colossae, since Onesimus and Tychicus (Colossians 4:7-9) are bringing this letter and the Colossians epistle to Philemon. (There are also non-Biblical sources supporting Philemon’s residence in Colossae.) It is more likely that Onesimus came to Paul in prison in Ephesus rather than Rome, since Colossae was only 100 miles or so from Ephesus but quite a much greater distance from Rome. Paul is also returning Onesimus to Philemon (see above), again a more likely possibility of a return from Ephesus than from Rome. Where Paul was in prison when he wrote these letters is more important to Bible scholars than to us, but to me it is particularly intriguing.

Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required, yet for love’s sake I prefer to … appeal to you for my child, Onesimus… (vv. 8-10) Paul is playing both ends against the middle here. He first makes the claim that he could command Philemon’s actions, but then he says that he is making an appeal instead of a command. However, by first stating the he could make the command, he is effectively making a demand! Later Paul lightens his tone a bit: I would have been glad to keep him with me, … but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own accord. (vv. 13-14) I especially like his nothing without your consent and of your own accord phrases. With it all, I suspect Philemon bristled a bit at Paul’s verse 8 “bold-and-command” comment.

Paul makes a really good comment in closing today’s reading: For this perhaps is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever … as a beloved brother… (vv. 15-16a) Paul is saying that Onesimus’ salvation is worth the difficulties Philemon may have endured by Onesimus’ escape. Jesus Himself said, I tell you that even so there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance. (Luke 15:7) ‘nuff said!

Slava Bohu!

Philemon 1:1-7

Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother… (v. 1a) Paul’s intro in this letter – writing with Timothy – is exactly the same as his intro to Philippians. Back when we started Philippians The Chronological Study Bible had Paul writing Philippians from Caesarea and they have him writing Philemon from Rome. I argued back then that Philippians was more likely written from Rome. Here is further evidence to back that up. There are further arguments that can be made that both letters were written from Ephesus; I’ll touch on that in the next few days.

I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers… (v. 4) A new thought hit me – trivial for you, maybe, but helpful for me. What does the word “remember” mean? One definition would have to do with calling to mind something that had not been in mind, as in “Do you remember when…?” or “Aha, now I remember!” But another definition would have to do with a constant remembrance, something that is always in mind when a certain topic is raised. For example, when Carol and I pray together at night we always “remember” our children. Please note that we’ve never forgotten them! But we use the word “remember” as I think Paul is using it for Philemon. So why is this helpful for me? I am in touch with a lot of people who are my “friends from afar”. Right now I have in mind our European friends in Czechia, Slovakia, and Poland. I don’t “remember” them each and every time I pray. But I do pray for them irregularly, as a group mostly whenever any one of them comes to mind. This would be the word “remember” as I think Paul is using it. But there are other people who come to mind almost accidentally, a “happenchance” as it were and I will whisper a prayer. These folks I am remembering in the second sense – someone who had not been in mind at all and I am truly remembering them and praying for them. So, is Philemon a “happenchance” prayer for Paul or a regular “remembrance”? I think the latter! Finally, one small item on this topic – I remember each and every one of you in my prayers every day before I begin my daily RTB. And I have not forgotten any one of you!!

Slava Bohu!

Acts 28:17-31

So today we finish the Book of Acts, on the 218^th day after we read Acts 1:1. What a wonderful journey it has been, interspersing the Epistles with Paul’s traveling, preaching, and teaching. But we’re not through with Paul just yet; we’ve still got six more of his Epistles to read – Philemon, Colossians, Ephesians, and the Pastoral Epistles to Timothy and Titus. We’ve got Paul in Rome now, at least for his next two years. Many scholars argue that Paul left Rome after some time and traveled to Spain, Asia Minor, Crete, and Greece. We’ll cover more on this claim of Paul’s “Fourth Missionary Journey” when we read I Timothy. Stay tuned!!

I am surprised that the Jewish leaders from Jerusalem had not sent word forward of Paul’s coming to Rome. Here are the Jews from Rome speaking: And they said to him, “We have received no letters from Judea about you, and none of the brothers coming here has reported or spoken any evil about you.” (v. 21) Since they did not have a predisposition to hate or harm Paul, they seemed to be open to listening to him, much like other Jews in synagogues had been during Paul’s first two missionary journeys. In fact, verse 23 tells us that Paul spoke, From morning till evening… What a change that must have been for Paul!

Paul appears to be under house arrest: …it is because of the hope of Israel that I am wearing this chain (v. 20b), but he also seems to have quite a bit of freedom. He was allowed to have visitors (vv. 17, 23, 30) and was living in a rented house instead of a jail cell, and he is allowed to continue his preaching and teaching. Verse 31 is especially clear about Paul’s relative freedom: …proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance. I daresay that we, ourselves, could preach and teach “without hindrance”, but most of us lack Paul’s “all boldness”. We all need more Holy Spirit fire!

Slava Bohu!

Acts 28:11-16

…and on the second day we came to Puteoli. There we found brothers and were invited to stay with them for seven days. (vv. 13b-14a) Puteoli was on the Bay of Naples on the mainland of Italy and (according to my Study Bible) the chief port for Rome, some 75 miles to the north. From Puteoli Paul and his companions and guards could walk to Rome – no more sailing!

That’s why we have these other two stops on the way to Rome: And the brothers there, when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. (v. 15a) In our chronological study the only epistle that we have read since Romans was Philippians. Presumably there may have been others, but none have surfaced. For today’s reading, it has been almost three years (or more) since Paul wrote Romans, possibly from Corinth on his third missionary journey. So there has been plenty of time for the Romans epistle to have circulated through the entire area around Rome and the believers in that area have come to know one another. So for Paul, coming to Rome is like a homecoming; he has many friends there even though he’s never been there himself!

Slava Bohu!

Acts 28:1-10

Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, named Publius, who received us and entertained us hospitably for three days. (v. 7) I wonder who the “us” is in this sentence. Was it only Paul and Luke and Julius? …or the soldiers or the sailors also? …or all 276 men from the ship? Already the natives were thinking of Paul as a god. Maybe it was Paul who was being honored by Publius and he brought along whomever he wanted? Wondering…

…the father of Publius lay sick with fever and dysentery. And Paul visited him and prayed, and putting his hands on him, healed him. (v. 8) I had asked a few days ago about “divine intervention” on Paul’s behalf. So here we have more healings. Looking back we have quite a bit of “divine intervention” through Paul: And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul… (Acts 19:11-20) The rest of that passage talks of healings and casting out evil spirits, eventually leading to the riot at Ephesus that was led by Demetrius, the silversmith. So, yeah, the Lord was with Paul in mighty ways!!

When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand… He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. (vv. 3, 5) In our local news we often read about snake-handling in parts of Kentucky and West Virginia. Mostly we read of this practice when someone has died. But snake-handling churches do exist and they draw their Scriptural justification from Acts 28. Even though that’s close to where we live, I don’t imagine that I will be joining them anytime soon!!

Slava Bohu!