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13 I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel, 14 but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own accord. 15 For this perhaps is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, 16 no longer as a bondservant but more than a bondservant, as a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

This little letter is from the Paul to Philemon (a slave owner) on behalf of Onesimus (a slave owned by said owner) whereby the Apostle practically lives out the New Testament teaching on slavery. When we hear the word “slave” we think of the kind of slavery in the Western World from about 200 years ago. The kind of slavery that was present in Biblical times (and for most of the world for most of history) is generally a bit different. Nevertheless, there are parallels. The New Testament teaching on slavery really depends greatly on who’s receiving it. For slaves, the Bible says “do your best to work hard for your master as though they are Jesus, that’s how best to make the gospel look good.” The teaching for slave owners is “treat your slaves well and don’t be harsh with them, that’s how best to make the gospel look good… and if they’re Christians, treat them as a brother, not a slave.” So, here is Paul. One would think, from our context “surely the Bible condemns slavery!” But it doesn’t. But neither does it endorse slavery. Paul’s actions give us a practical example of how we live… an individual’s status is not the primary concern of the Christian life, it’s all about the advancement of the gospel. “But wait, slavery is evil and there’s nothing more important than stomping out slavery/racism/bigotry!” Right? Well, at least according to the Bible, there is something more important, as evil as those things may be, and that’s telling people about Jesus. In other words, if a Christian is more concerned about “social justice” than getting out the message of Jesus, they’re not lining up with the Bible too well. So, Paul doesn’t say slavery is an abomination, or that there should be laws against it, and he doesn’t feel compelled to hide Onesimus because slavery is unjust and thus he had an obligation to fight it. In fact, Paul sends the slave back to his owner and reasons with Philemon to do what’s right on the basis of the gospel. Of course Paul is opposing slavery, but he does so in a way that shows there is something more important than our “pet projects,” the gospel. No, social justice isn’t the gospel, telling people of the death, burial, resurrection etc. of Jesus, that’s the gospel. If we can effect positive change in other areas, that’s wonderful, and we should, but not at the expense of every single Christian telling people about Jesus. That’s hard to understand, even harder to do, yet we should.

2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— 4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.

The Christian life should be filled with prayer and preaching. Every one of us needs to continue steadfastly in prayer. Every day. All the time. Praying. When we pray with faith, that means we believe God will be answering our prayers (not simply giving us what we want), which is to be thankful. Not “thank you God for giving me what I’ve asked for…” but “thank you God for hearing my prayer, and for giving me your best.” We need, also, to pray that the gospel would go out. Preaching isn’t just for preachers, we are all preachers. Every one of us needs to be telling people the gospel, as clearly as we can. Who do you talk to? Talk to them about Jesus.

18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. 20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

If every home did this, we would have far fewer problems. 😉 This is not in any way a blanket statement as to the worth of women in general, simply a description of the function of how the home is intended to run. Even then, it’s not a universal statement that wives are to do everything they are commanded by their husbands, far from it. I think there is probably too much emotional baggage tied up verse 18 for most people to simply read it for what it’s actually saying, without reading anything into it that’s not really there. Wives are told to follow their husband’s godly leadership “as is fitting in the Lord.” That God’y leadership will be to love and not be harsh. The wife is not commanded to obey her husband like a child, the instruction for children is quite different “obey your parents in everything.” The father is still given peramaters of how to lead well, not provoking their children. This is the model for a biblical home.

16 Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.

Don’t let anyone dictate how you worship the Lord. There is no prescribed (at least in terms of “have to”) day on which you must worship. Sure, there is tradition for Christians to meet on what’s called “The Lord’s Day” which is Sunday, the first day of the week, but that doesn’t make it sinful to meet on a different day if your schedule conflicts. There is only a biblical description of what the early church did, not a prescription of what you must do. In the same way, the kind of foods you eat and the kind of beverages you drink are not the kind of issue where one person can judge another. These are just examples, you could probably think of more. The kind of games your family plays, the kind of entertainment you go to, the places you enjoy, the car you drive, the kind of house you own or rent, the way you educate your children, if you exercise or don’t, vaccinate or don’t vaccinate, suit or shorts, baroque or Hillsong… on and on, these are not the point, they are a matter of conscience. Sure, you have good arguments and reasons for your choice, but it’s just that, your choice. The parallel to this passage (Rom 14) says you should be convinced in your own mind why you do (or don’t do) what you do, but if it’s not specifically endorsed or prohibited in Scripture that’s for you and your family. Let’s not major on the minors, let’s strive for unity.

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 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. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 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. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

One of the most powerful descriptions of Jesus in the NT. Jesus is God, the only God, and the only God we’ll ever see. We will not get to heaven and see (as it were) three gods, that’s not a biblical idea of who God is. Jesus is the image of the invisible God, not just now, but forever. Jesus created everything. Everything. Those things we can observe in the natural world, and those things we can’t see. Physical things, and intangible things. Natural things and supernatural things (which is a kind of artificial dichotomy, BTW). He was before everything, and every thing (every. single. thing.) is held together by Jesus. This means, if Jesus takes a 3 second vacation, we all stop existing. Atoms not only fall apart, all the materials they are made-up of go “poof” into nothingness. Jesus holds it all together. Why do the trillions of cells that make up the physical you stop at the edge of your skin? Jesus. Why does the atmosphere (troposphere) stop 7 miles up? Jesus. Why don’t all the planets fly off into random space? Jesus. That’s not just power, that’s unimaginable power. In Him ALL THE FULLNESS OF GOD existed, exists, and will exist forever. And what did He do (does he do) with all that power? He saves us. In Him, we have the opportunity to come back to God. Don’t waste His gift.