Fullness and freedom – two aspects of Christian life that we all want to share.
Paul wrote about them at length (and depth) in his letter to the Christians at Colossae, where certain new teachers were proclaiming that ’mere Christianity’ is not enough. There is, they suggested, a fuller experience, a greater liberation, than they had so far enjoyed. But Paul was adamant: all God’s fullness is in Christ alone, and only through his complete work are we set free.
Paul’s letter to Philemon is of particular interest to us as a letter to an individual friend and convert. Yet it is not marked ‘personal and private’. It was also to be read by the church in Philemon’s house. This letter applies the themes of the fullness and freedom found in the gospel to the complex situation of Onesimus and Philemon, a scenario with much to teach us today about the relationship of the gospel of Christ to social concerns.
These are the great objective truths of the faith that Dick Lucas highlights in his exposition, enabling us to see both the riches that are ours in Christ and the irrelevance – even blasphemy – of all would-be improvements on what God has done.
Innehållsförteckning
General preface ix
Author’s preface xi
Chief abbreviations xiii
The letter to the Colossians 1
1. But why did he write? (1:1-2) 3
2. True Christians and the true gospel (1:3-8) 10
3. Be filled for this (1:9-14) 19
4. Christ, supreme Lord and sufficient Saviour (1:15-20) 27
5. Stable and steadfast (1:21-23) 41
6. Apostolic ministry (1:24-29) 48
7. Apostolic concerns (2:1-5) 62
8. This way ahead (2:6-7) 67
9. No return to slavery (2:8-15) 76
10. Shadows and substance (2:16-17) 91
11. Dealing with robbers (2:18-19) 100
12. Why submit? (2:20-23) 106
13. The Christian and Christ (3:1-8) 112
14. The Christian and the local church (3:9-17) 125
15. The Christian at home (3:18-21) 135
16. The Christian at work (3:22 – 4:1) 143
17. The Christian and the outsider (4:2-6) 149
18. Final greetings and instructions (4:7-18) 154
The letter to Philemon 157
From slavery to freedom (1-25) 159
Study guide 166
Om författaren
Dick Lucas is Rector Emeritus of St Helen’s, Bishopsgate, in the City of London.
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