Book Blogging: Paul’s Apostolic Gospel

1 Corinthians 15 is where the best definition of the word gospel can be found in the New Testament and, according to Scot McKnight in The King Jesus Gospel, looking anywhere else is a big mistake (46).

McKnight divides 1 Corinthians 15 into three parts: 15:1-2 is the introduction, 15:3-5 is the definition, and 15:20-28 is additional gospel statements” (47-48) and spends the rest of the fourth chapter of The King Jesus Gospel drawing out eight observations about Paul’s gospel from the three sections (48-56).

According to McKnight, the “authentic apostolic gospel” is “the story of the crucial events in the life of Jesus Christ” (49), namely, his death, burial, resurrection, and post-resurrection appearances (1 Cor. 15:3-5). But he highlights Paul’s point that these events were “according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor. 15:3, 4) to make the point that the story of Jesus Christ follows and completes the story of ancient Israel (50).

Salvation, McKnight points out, is the “intended result” of the story of Jesus Christ who, Paul notes in 1 Cor. 15:3,  died “for our sins.” His death effected forgiveness of sins as well as reconciliation with and justification before God (52).

But the story of Jesus also includes his burial, resurrection, and post-resurrection appearances which speak to the promise of a final general resurrection and final consummation of the kingdom of God (1 Cor. 15:20-28).

McKnight closes his fourth chapter with a warning that emphasizing the Plan of Salvation (upper case his) apart from the story of Jesus turns it into an account of one’s personal salvation rather than God’s salvation.

So, how did the Plan of Salvation subsume the gospel? That’s the question McKnight takes up in the next chapter.

Posted in Bible and Theology, Biblical Studies, Book Review, NT Theology, OT Theology | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The Philemon Files: Witnesses

Also serving as witnesses-from-a-distance to whatever Philemon’s response to Paul’s request will be are five individuals who are or have been with Paul and who greet Philemon and his church (Phm. 23-24). They are Epaphras (also imprisoned), Mark, Aristarchus (later imprisoned with Paul, according to Col. 4:10), Demas, and Luke.

The same five greet the Colossian church at the end of that letter (Col. 4:10-14). Epaphras, mentioned first, is especially important because he is a native Colossian and the “minister of Christ” (Col. 1:7) who established the church at Colossae (Col. 1:7-8; 4:12).

It is a bit of a surprise that the individual who is the apparent focus of Paul’s letter to Philemon isn’t introduced until almost half-way through the letter. Nevertheless, as the next post in this series will show, both the character Onesimus and the name Onesimus play important roles in the letter.

The Philemon Files — Related Posts:
The Philemon Files: Introduction
The Philemon Files: From Paul
The Philemon Files: Co-Senders
The Philemon Files: Co-Recipients

Posted in Biblical Studies, New Testament | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The Library of Tomorrow

jeff-koterba-library

HT: Jeff Koterba, Omaha World-Herald

Posted in Education, General | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Book Blogging: The King Jesus Gospel–Story to Salvation

Does your “gospel” include the Old Testament?

In the third chapter of The King Jesus Gospel, Scot McKnight says that the ignorance of many Christians about the Old Testament is evidence of how our current gospel culture (see The King Jesus Gospel — Gospel Culture) has suffocated the story of Israel and the story of Jesus.

Continue reading

Posted in Bible and Theology, Biblical Studies, Book Review, NT Theology, OT Theology | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The Philemon Files: Co-Recipients

Philemon isn’t the only one to whom Paul’s is writing his letter. Apphia, Archippus, and the church that meets in Philemon’s house are also addressed as co-recipients of the letter. Paul calls Apphia “our sister” and Archippus “our fellow soldier” (Phm. 2). Some have wondered whether this “sister” and “fellow soldier” are Philemon’s wife and son but there is no evidence to support such an identification. Probably they are, like Philemon, prominent members of the Colossian church (see Colossians 4.17 where Archippus is told to complete his assigned task in the Lord).

What is really of interest is that Paul’s letter to Philemon is also letter to the whole church! Paul wants Philemon, as a believer and especially as a church leader, to know that the subject of the letter is not merely a personal matter. Thus, Apphia, Archippus and the entire church will be witnesses to whatever request Paul might make of Philemon. And they will also witness Philemon’s response to Paul’s request!

Apphia, Archippus, and the church are the on-scene witnesses to Philemon’s response to Paul’s request. But the letter also identifies five others who will be witnesses from-a-distance to Philemon’s decision.

Who are they?

The Philemon Files — Related Posts:
The Philemon Files: Introduction
The Philemon Files: From Paul
The Philemon Files: Co-Senders

Posted in Biblical Studies | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment