bib 439 week 5

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Joe Dongell suggests the key message of Paul in the New Testament is:

"Become what you already are"

See Philippians 3:16: "Let us act on what we have already attained"

PHILEMON:

We read it and watched THIS:

The challenge of Onesimus / Scot McKnight from B.L. Fisher Library on Vimeo.

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MAYBE Philemon isn't the slaveowner at all, it is Archippus.  Note: see this note in your class Bible..

Note that grammatically, the letter  we call Philemon might be addressed not to the first mentioned (Philemon), but the last-mentioned (Archippus).  Verse 1, 2:

To Philemon our dear friend and co-worker, to Apphia our sister,] to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house..



See Colossians 4.  Note same writer (Paul) and  many similar names as the "Philemon" letter.  What is the task Paul wants Archippus to fulfill?  Could it be to release Onesimus? 

Colossians 4.7 Tychicus will tell you all the news about me; he is a beloved brother, a faithful minister, and a fellow servant[b] in the Lord. 8 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know how we are[c] and that he may encourage your hearts; 9 he is

coming with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you about everything here.

10 Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, as does Mark the cousin of Barnabas, concerning whom you have received instructions—if he comes to you, welcome him. 11 And Jesus who is called Justus greets you. These are the only ones of the circumcision among my co-workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. 12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant[d] of Christ Jesus, greets you. He is always wrestling in his prayers on your behalf, so that you may stand mature and fully assured in everything that God wills. 13 For I testify for him that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis. 14 Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas greet you. 15 Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters[e] in Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. 16 And when this letter has been read among you, have it read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you read also the letter from Laodicea. 17 And say to Archippus, “See that you

complete the task that you have received in the Lord.”

18 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.[f]

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"S" WORD

 Paul..the same Paul who wrote most of the New Testament letters ..used the "S" word in Philippians 3?.  In the original Greek in which the Bible was written,  he used the word "skubala," which your class Bible translates "rubbish,"  but the word is much close to the English S-word... yes THAT word.. SH--!

Read the section below, and the word is flagged.

Philippians 3 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

3 Finally, my brothers and sisters,[a] rejoice[b] in the Lord.

To write the same things to you is not troublesome to me, and for you it is a safeguard.

2 Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of those who mutilate the flesh![c] 3 For it is we who are the circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God[d] and boast in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh— 4 even though I, too, have reason for confidence in the flesh.

If anyone else has reason to be confident in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, a member of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.

7 Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. 8 More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish (Greek word skubala, English word, rough translation is SH-T)in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ,[e] the righteousness from God based on faith. 10 I want to know Christ[f] and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, 11 if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

Read these short posts about that:

1) Read this

2) and read this: 

Alex Heath — "Skubala?" The Apostle Paul Uses the Word "Shit".

3)Read this: 

Saint Paul says shit | by Bosco Peters

 (:  Oh, if you are brave,  here's a link to buy the T shirt (or bib or hat..or)

We did the first two Philkemon worksheets in class.  You may di the third on your own, but not required

FIRST WORKSHEET
STUDY QUESTIONS FOR The HIstorical World:

 

1.     From the text of Philemon, describe the institution of slavery in the Roman world.

2.     From the text, describe the characteristics of the first century church.

3.     From the text, describe the power and authority structures in existence.

4.     What are the relationships of Paul to Philemon? Paul to Onesimus? Philemon to Onesimus?

5.     What has Onesimus done wrong, if anything? (Read carefully and check your own assumptions.)

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SECOND WORKSHEETSTUDY QUESTIONS FOR The Literary World:

1.     How does Paul open and close the letter: inclusio(n)? Do you catch any chiasm in the letter?

2.     What is the basis for the “for this reason” at the beginning of verse 8?

3.     Why does Paul introduce a hypothetical reason in verse 15 (using “perhaps”)?

4.     What is the “so” in verse 17 there for?

5.     Some see Onesimus as a literal slave; some do not.  Based only on literary evidence from the text (and using only the class translation (NRSV), do you take the slavery as literal or metaphorical? Also, are Philemon and Onesimus literal brothers; master-slave, both, or something else?  Deal well with v 16, as well as other clues throughout the text. Defend your interpretation.

 

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THIRD WORKSHEET

STUDY QUESTIONS FOR The Contemporary World

1.     How does Paul describe himself? Philemon? Onesimus?

2.     Who else is involved in hearing this letter? How does this put pressure on Philemon?

3.     How are statuses described, reinforced and used to influence (verses 1, 9, 10, 17, 19 and 20)?

4.     What is Paul trying to get Philemon to do? Be as specific as possible. Is Paul’s focus on a larger group than just Philemon, if so, how does this change what you think Paul’s purpose is?

5.     What does the book of Philemon have to say about the use of power?

6.     What is a timeless lesson from this text that you can apply to your life/your world?

.We did 6.1 in class.

 Drops Like Stars Part 1 

we will do part 2 next week

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"Drops Like Stars" part 1

(by Fri, reply to 2 others by Sun pm)

This is by Rob Bell, who you will remember from "Everything is Spiritual" on the two creation accounts,  week 1, though this is a different kind of film.

Post a summary and  review  (300 word min) of the first half of  film, which  includes somewhere in your response  answers to questions below. 

 The first half of the film takes you through 54 minute :35 second mark in the YouTube you see here,  That is, stop after the audience throws soap, and Bell asks "Are there any Johnny Cash fans here?"). 

 We will watch second half next week under 5.8, so click there if you want to watch the whole thing at once, and see the questions for the second half.

(OR you can split up the two parts of this movie any way you like, as long as you finish it by next week .  It's designed for you to watch half this week, and half next, but do what works best for you: none this week, all next; some of the first half now, the rest next week, any way combo is OK)

Note: As an alternative, you are welcome to post a video where you orally give  the same content, instead of writing it here.

See questions to include somewhere in your response below.

 

--Include a comment about insulators.

-- From the intro:  Note the way he told the Prodigal Son story . Why do you think Jesus told it that way?  What might all this have to do with the theme of suffering?

--What did he say about text and context?

--What is the first art of suffering?  .  What  (specifically) might you remember a year from now from this section, and why? Do your best to give a personal story or example  that came to mind of how you have seen this art in your own life.

--What is the second art?  .  What ( specifically) might you remember a year from now from this section, and why? Do your best to give a personal story or example  that came to mind of how you have seen this art in your own life

---Before  watching the 2nd half of the film next week (Or whenever you watch it), guess now  what the other 4 arts of suffering might be.  No worries if you don't guess correctly--your answers might be better than his!  Here's some clues (first letters).  They are all one word each; and it might help to think of them as (sometimes) sequential.  Clues below (they are all one word,  and first letter given).  Post (or write down your guesses) 

Part one:

D

H

E

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Part 2:

S

P

F

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