New Testament Lesson #40 I can do all things through Christ
New Testament Lesson #40Philippians; Colossians; Philemon
Apostle Paul as described by Joseph SmithHe is about five feet
high; very dark hair; dark complexion; dark skin; large Roman nose;
sharp face; small black eyes, penetrating as eternity; round
shoulders; a whining voice, except when elevated, and then it
almost resembled the roaring of a lion (Teachings of the Prophet
Joseph Smith,sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [1976], 180).
2
The Prison EpistlesThe Prison Epistles were all written at about
the same time. They were also written to congregations or
individuals in the same area. Therefore, they are alike in many
ways. Tychicus, Pauls companion, was the bearer of the epistles of
Ephesians, Colossians and PhilemonEphesians and Colossians are
called "twin epistles" because they are so much alike. About one
half of the verses in Ephesians are also found in Colossians in
very similar language.
OnesimusThe epistle to Philemon has one object: the welfare of a
runaway slave named Onesimus. Onesimus had been Philemon's slave.
After he ran away, he found the gospel and joined the Church. Now
he desired to return to Philemon and the fellowship of the saints
in his former residence, but an escaping slave who was caught and
returned to his master could, by law, be put to death.
ForgivenessI beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have
begotten in my bonds, which in time past was to thee unprofitable,
but now profitable to thee and to me...Receive him...not now as a
servant[or as someone who owes youa tremendous amount, which was
what often led to slaveryin those days], but above a servant, a
brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both
in the flesh and in the Lord? If thou count me therefore partner,
receive him as myself...
"If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee [anything], put that on
mine account. I...have written it with mine own hand[think of the
scars of Golgatha],I will repay it: albeit[it goes without
saying]how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides. Yea,
brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my
bowels[today we would say,my heart]in the Lord"(Phile.
1:10-21).
ForgivenessTruly, until we forgive, our peace and happiness is
held hostage by the offenses committed against us. Once we give
that debt over to Christ, we are free to be happy, free to live in
the present and for the future, unfettered by the damaging
past.
Viewing Everything (but our sins) in a Positive Light"But I
would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which
happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the
gospel"(Philip. 1:12)Paul points out that everything works out,
even things that appear to be negative."What then? notwithstanding,
every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached;
and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice"(Philip. 1:18).
Not Complaining"Do all things without murmuring and disputings:
that ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without
rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom
ye shine as lights in the world; holding forth the word of life;
that I may rejoice in the day of Christ...for the same cause also
do ye joy, and rejoice with me(Philip. 2:14-18).
Forgiving ourselves and moving onbut this one thing I do,
forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto
those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the
prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus"(Philip.
3:13-14).Remember that Paul caused a great deal of damage to the
early Christian church. He causedslaughter and imprisonments,
terror and scattering among the believers of Christ.
Being Content"Not that I speak in respect of [or, not that I
give a lot of attention to] want; for I have learned, in whatsoever
state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to abased, and
I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed
both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer
need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth
me"(Philip. 4:11-13).Sometimes, rather than being strengthened by
Christ to conquer overwhelming odds or achieve amazing goals, we
must be content to accept what is, we must be okay with giving up
dreams we thought were important. In things that might be
considered disappointments, we can, like Paul, learn to be content,
through Christ which strengtheneth us.
Find Peace through Thankfulness Be careful for nothing; but in
every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your
requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which
passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through
Christ Jesus. (Philip. 4:6-8)Gratitude is the surest way to find
peace in this life.Have you ever heard of a gratitude journal?
Seeking and Spreading Good CheerFinally, brethren, whatsoever
things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things
are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely,
whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and
if there be any praise, think on these things. (Philip. 4:8)The
"admonition of Paul," to use Joseph Smith's words, wastothink upon
thingsthat lift our hearts, that elevate our spirits,things that
are "true," "honest," "just," "pure," "of good report," "virtuous".
We should focus on and share news stories that are uplifting and
encouraging. We should activelyseek to elevate those around us with
our good cheer. We should promote happiness. We should be
positive.
14
13th Article of Faith13 We believe in being honest, true,
chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed,
we may say that we follow the admonition of PaulWe believe all
things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope
to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous,
lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these
things.
Living in Love"Above all these things put on charity, which is
the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your
hearts..."(Col. 3:14).We don't need to worry about achieving
perfection through checking off lists and meeting expectations. We
will, like the Pharisees, never succeed. But we can achieve
perfection through doing everything we do andtreating everyone we
meet with love. Our goal in life should be to have love become our
motivator in every instance, becausecharity never faileth, and
charity will bring us peace.
We don't need to worry about achieving perfection through
checking off lists and meeting expectations. We will, like the
Pharisees, never succeed. But we can achieve perfection through
doing everything we do andtreating everyone we meet with love. Our
goal in life should be to have love become our motivator in every
instance, becausecharity never faileth, and charity will bring us
peace.17
Giving Whole-Heartedly"And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as
to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall
receive the reward of the inheritance; for ye serve the Lord
Christ"(Col. 3:23).This is an amazing Key to happinessWe may
experiment and find that in any endeavor in any area of our life,
if we do it hesitantly, with misgivings, with resentments, holding
back even a tiny bit from the Lord, welikely willget burned out.
There is too much tension in our spiritual muscles, too much
earthly gravity holding us down. But if we give it all and don't
count the cost, the stress lessens, the joy increases, and we only
desire to do more.
Singing with Grace in Your HeartsLet the word of Christ dwell in
you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in
psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your
hearts to the LordBoth the epistle to the Colossians and the
epistle to the Philippians were based around early Christian hymns
of praisetothe Savior. Paul quoted one in Philip. 2:6-11 and the
other in Col. 1:15-20(Harper-Collins Study Bible).
Couple interesting tidbits..4:14Luke,thebelovedphysician,and
Demas greetyouReference to Luke his companion and author of Book of
Luke4:16Andwhenthisepistleisreadamongyou,causethatit
bereadalsointhechurchofthe Laodiceans;andthatye likewisereadthe
Epistle from Laodicea.Reference to another missing Epistle
