Meaning and Significance – Philippians 4:21-23 For this week’s paper, we have been asked to reflect on the meanings and significance of Chapter 4, verses 21 to 23 of Paul’s letter to the Philippians. This paper will address the meaning and function of this passage and its transferable significance. It was standard practice for ancient letters to close with greetings to and from people known by the writer and the people to whom the letter was addressed. When Paul addresses “brothers and sisters,” he is including all members of the church. His reference to Caesar’s household would include not only Caesar’s family but his network of slaves, relatives, and dependents. Such blessings, as does this one, denoted a divine-human relationship. Jesus blessed many things, including the disciples themselves, so it is meaningful that Paul offers the grace of Jesus Christ to those at Philippi. He was blessing them as an intermediary for God. Paul wrote this letter from prison to thank the Philippians for providing him financial support and to tell them how glad he was to see how well they were doing. It is a letter of encouragement. He is telling the Philippians how that they should look at things as he does, as part of Christ’s …show more content…
Paul’s church was fearful and there were quarrels within the church, just as there is today. Paul reassured the church that problems did not mean that God had deserted them, nor has God deserted the modern day church. Then, as now, Christians need to be reminded that all will be made right on Christ’s return and that our struggles are not individual, but communal. Just as Paul sought to encourage the church at Philippi that all things work together for Christ’s cause, today’s church also needs to be encouraged and reminded that God is with us even in adversity as deep as being in prison, and that the grace of Jesus Christ is available to lift our
Murray, John. The New International Commentary on the New Testament. The Epistle to the Romans. (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1968)
Scholars of the Pauline writings have divided them into the following categories: (1) those unquestionably by Paul: Romans, I and II Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, I Thessalonians, and Philemon; (2) a letter that was probably written by Paul, but has had serious questions raised about its' authorship: II Thessalonians; (3) letters that were not actually written by Paul but were developed from his thought: Colossians and Ephesians; (4) letters that bear Paul's name but clearly come from another time and different set of circumstances in the church: I and II Timothy and Titus (the so-called Pastoral Letters); (5) a letter not bearing Paul's name and which evidences a wholly different thought and religious vocabulary from that of Paul: the Letter to the Hebrews (Kee, 5th Ed. 224).
In this passage of the second letter to the Corinthians, Paul addresses several concerns. He is addressing the situation of a man who has sinned not only against himself, but against the Corinthian Church as well. He explains why he wrote a letter rather than bringing sorrow upon them. Paul is sensitive to the Lord’s leading, and in love, writes to the church encouraging them to discipline this man in love for the purpose of restoring him. He urges the Corinthians to be obedient and love the man through forgiving and encouraging him. Paul shares with them his trust in the Lord for the outcome of this matter and how burdened he was for restoration to take place. He warns them of the need to not allow Satan a foothold through this matter. Finally, Paul puts the focus on Christ; for it is in Him that we are adequate thereby becoming His fragrance to others.
A major problem that needs to be addressed is the question of setting. Was the letter to the Ephesians only written to the church at Ephesus? Most sources suggest that it was not. The oldest manuscripts, such as codex Vaticanus and codex Sinaiticus, do not have the church at Ephesus as the recipient of the letter; this was added into later manuscripts (Donzé et al, 534). Many state that Ephesians was a circular letter, a letter that was meant to circulate among all of the churches in the area and not meant to be specifically addressed to one church. This theory is supported by the fact that there are very few proper names in the letter, unlike the other letters Paul wrote, and the fact that it does not address specific problems of the church, only general statements are mentioned. Also, if the letter were, in fact written solely to the Ephesians, Paul would probably have included some reference to the fact that he was the pastor of the Ephesian church for two years (Ramsay, 454). Instead of doing this, the author uses phrases such as “I have heard of your faith” (1:15), implyi...
...ectly united in mind and thought.” (1 Cor. 10) The plea for unity is not one that is born out of his own will or imagination though, Paul connects unity within the church to Jesus Christ, “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ . . . I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel.” (Phi. 1:27-28). Within The Epistle of Paul to the Philippians, Hugh J. Michael expounds further upon this passage, “The words rendered like one man literally mean ‘with one soul.’. . . The member are not only to have one spirit [pneuma] : they are to fight side by side with one soul [psyche].” (66) This teaching of Paul to the Philippians is no small topic and it bears much weight. Paul does not simply aim for the church to be of one body, but to exist and function with one soul without division.
The purpose of this speech was to persuade the audience to read letters from the apostle Paul carefully and to avoid taking verses out of context; instead, allow the context to dictate the intended purpose of the passage. The speaker stated his purpose and continued to elaborate throughout.
Grayston, Kenneth. The Letters of Paul to the Philippians and to the Thessalonians. CBC. London: Cambridge U.P., 1967.
Paul the Apostle is the central figure in many New Testament writings. Many historians have attributed fourteen New Testament letters to Paul’s writing; seven of these letters are uncontested meaning historians are sure that Paul wrote them, the remaining seven are contested. Paul was not always a Christian; in fact, he persecuted Christians before Christ came and temporarily blinded him. Upon seeing Christ, Paul devoted his life to Christianity and set out to spread the teachings of Christ. Scholars often credit Paul’s leadership to the ability of the Church to become Hellenistic in one generation. Paul also answered specific worries and questions that his converters may have had in many of his writings; one of these writings is 1 Corinthians. In 1 Corinthians, Paul set out to deal with the many believers in Corinth who are divided into the followings of Paul or Apollos rather than Christianity as a whole. The converts of Paul in 1 Corinthians 12-14 were divided during times of worship because of jealousy invoked by the spiritual gifts received from the “Spirit”; the worships and the church became a place to boast who is closest to God, instead of a place of worship, interpretation, and love. In 1 Corinthians 14:26-33, Paul set guidelines in times of worship to heal the divide among his converts present in 1 Corinthians 12-14.
...be protected from sin and evil. Paul goes on to say pray for the Lord’s people and to also pray for him as well. Chapter 6 ends with a conclusion where Paul gives Tychicus the authority to bear this epistle and he considered him and faithful servant of the Lord. The end if concluded with grace and love from the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Apostle Paul was attributed to 14 out of the 27 books in the New Testament. Some of his most popular writings are in Acts and Romans and have had significant impact to Christians all over the world. Paul wrote letters to various churches and could be considered one of the most influential men in the Bible. In Ephesians 4:7-16, Paul addresses how all believers should have unity in Christ and they need to recognize and use their spiritual gifts. This passage gives significant implications for the personal and social life of Christians. What was the application he intended for those who heard it or read it? Why did he write this letter?
Being able to understand the Bible in its original context is very important since it is
Romans is unique among Paul's letters, because it is the first letter written to a church which Paul or his colleagues did not start. Paul had never paid a visit to the Christians in Rome. The tone of the letter is more neutral and reserved than in his other letters where the tone was more disturbed.
Jesus and Paul are two crucial characters in the New Testament. They both depict the Gospel on which Christianity is based upon, but there is debate about rather these two versions of the Gospel are complementary. Scholars like George Shaw claim that Paul is “anti-Christian,” and he “produced a fantastic theology” (Shaw 415-416). On the other hand, I believe that even though Jesus and Paul may present the Gospel different at times, they are still advocating the same religion. Through the understanding of the Gospels and Paul’s letters it is clear that Jesus and Paul have the same underlining goals and values.
The author of the letter of Jude was Jude the brother of James. James was the brother of Jesus, thus making Jude Jesus’ brother also (Judas, Matthew 13:55). Some people think that Jude was also one of the twelve apostles, and that sometimes he went by the name Thaddaeus or Lebbaeus (Matthew 10:3 and Mark 3:18), but in other references to the twelve apostles (Luke 6:16 and Acts 1:13) Jude is referred to as, “Judas the son of James.” Both Peter and Jude would have had a close relationship with Jesus, and since they could both possibly be one of the twelve apostles, one could assume that they were receiving very similar or even the same teaching, this would help in contrib...
Epistle to the Romans is the longest Paul's letters, most influential, and theological. Probably for reasons that this letter was placed in front of the thirteenth letter of the other. Paul wrote this letter in order to phrophet services to non-Jewish world. Contrary to the tradition ...