Incarnating the Gospel
Hello, Church. Do you like surprises? I suppose it depends, doesn’t it? Not all surprises are good, and sometimes even good surprises can be awkward. This morning we’re going to read about a surprise that Paul dropped on the Colossian church at the end of his letter to them. I imagine it was an unexpected bit of news that had the potential to blow up into division and possibly even violence.
The surprise (spoiler alert…) involved the return of a fugitive slave named Onesimus, and suddenly Paul’s encouragement and exhortations that he’d spent the whole of his Colossian letter writing about were becoming very very real. His words weren’t just words; they were truths inspired by the Holy Spirit of God that were given so that God’s people could live more like Christ.
The Colossians, if we can assume that their motivations and worldview are similar to our own, would have loved Paul’s teaching about empowerment and inheritance and victory in Christ. They would have been challenged by Paul’s teaching about everyday ethics and the appropriate use of authority in our relationships. But they probably were shocked by Paul’s partnership with Onesimus and Paul’s instructions to his master Philemon. That’s how it usually works for us, too. We love the blessings and promises of God, but we’re much more hesitant to accept the really hard teachings that call us to humility, forgiveness, and sacrifice. That, however, is where we find the gospel of Jesus. And that’s where the world needs to find Christ living in us.
3 Comments
Jeff hubbard
Dear Brother Barber, I enjoy listening to your lessons, and look forward to them. In your lesson on Paul’s letter to Philemon , you implied that the slave stole from Philemon, but the text doesn’t say that, Paul only states that perhaps, I think Paul was covering all his bases by saying perhaps. The slave could have just run away, and we don’t know the situation between Philemon and onesimus ,, and why did he seek out Paul anyway. Thank you ,
Jeff hubbard
I guess I’m saying we shouldn’t assume onesimus did all those things Paul mentions,
Patrick Barber
Hello, Jeff. Thank you for your questions and comments.
Since Paul was well-acquainted with Onesimus and his backstory when Paul writes his letters we call Colossians and Philemon, I suspect that Paul was writing with direct knowledge of what Onesimus did when he ran away. But, you’re correct that we can’t say for sure. 🙂