A Time To…Politick! - The Apostle Paul (Part Two) - Letters From Prison
Oct 5, 2023
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The podcast features the Apostle Paul, an influential figure in early Christianity, exploring political themes in his letters from prison. They discuss Paul's language of life and citizenship, living a transcendent and politically engaged life, and the significance of Philippi being a Roman colony. They also delve into the concept of citizenship and living worthily of the gospel, emphasizing the importance of pursuing reconciliation and peace.
Believers are called to engage in politics while keeping their allegiance to the kingdom of heaven, demonstrating the lordship of Jesus without losing hope or becoming consumed by political outcomes.
Paul emphasizes the lordship of Jesus over all creation and the church, calling believers to prioritize His lordship in their lives and pursue reconciliation and peace, following His example.
Deep dives
Living as citizens of heaven
Paul exhorts believers to live as good citizens in their earthly context while keeping their ultimate allegiance to the kingdom of heaven. He encourages them to engage in politics in a way that demonstrates the lordship of Jesus, without losing hope or becoming consumed by political outcomes. The aim is for believers to conduct themselves in a manner that witnesses to the gospel, showing love, peace, and reconciliation to others.
Jesus' lordship over creation and the church
Paul highlights that Jesus is the Lord over all creation and the church. He emphasizes that everything was created by Him and for Him, and that through His death and resurrection, all things are being reconciled to Him. This cosmic vision serves as a reminder for believers to prioritize the lordship of Jesus in their lives and to pursue reconciliation and peace, following the example set by Christ.
The transformation of relationships
The letter to Philemon provides a test case for the impact of the gospel on relationships and institutions. Paul addresses the issue of slavery by urging Philemon to receive Onesimus, a runaway slave, not just as property, but as a brother in Christ. Paul seeks to transform their relationship from that of a slave and master to one of equality and respect. He models the beginnings of an experiment in equality within the context of the Roman Empire.
Living out the gospel in specific contexts
Overall, these texts demonstrate the ongoing process of believers navigating their roles as citizens within the Roman Empire while maintaining their allegiance to the kingdom of heaven. They encourage living out the gospel in practical ways, treating others with love and dignity, pursuing reconciliation, and seeking to transform relationships and societal structures according to the principles of the kingdom of heaven.
In this episode Scot McKnight and Cody Matchett continue their series on the politics of the New Testament (A Time To…Politick!) within which they will examine political themes, texts, and theories from Jesus of Nazareth to John of Patmos.
The Apostle Paul - Letters From Prison
Philippians 1.27-30; 2.1-11
Colossians 1.15-20
Philemon
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