1: Lords give slaves [that which is] righteous even equality[1] knowing that you also have a Lord in Heaven See commentary on Colossians 3:22-23 2: Continue in prayer and watch in the same with thanksgiving 3: Praying together also for us that God would open to us a door of utterance to speak the mystery of Christ Eph 3:3-9, Col 1:26-27 for which I am also bound [a prisoner] 4: That I may make it manifest as I ought to speak 5: Walk in wisdom toward them that are without [unbelievers] redeeming the time 6: your speech always with grace seasoned with salt that you may know how you ought to answer every one 7: All pertaining to me shall Tychicus declare to you who is a beloved brother and a faithful diakonos and fellow-slave in the Lord [2] 8: Whom I have sent to you for the same purpose that he might know about you and comfort your hearts 9: With Onesimus Philemon 1:10-21 a faithful and beloved brother who is one of you [3] They shall make known to you all things which are done here 10: Aristarchus my fellow-prisoner greets you and Marcus sister's son [nephew of??] Barnabas touching whom you received commandments if he come to you receive him 11: And Jesus who is called Justus who are of the circumcision These only [are my] fellow-workers in the kingdom of God who have been a comfort to me 12: Epaphras who is one of you a slave of Christ salutes you always laboring fervently for you in prayers that you may stand perfect Col 3:14 and complete in all the will of God 13: For I bear him record that he has a great zeal for you and them that are in Laodicea[4] and them in Hierapolis 14: Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you 15: Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea and Nymphan [5] [spelling from the KAINH (Koine) Greek NT] and the church which is in her house[6] 16: And when this letter is read among you cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans and that you likewise read the letter from Laodicea[7] 17: And say to Archippus Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord that you fulfill it 18: The salutation by the hand of me Paul Remember my bonds Grace be with you Amen
[1] The Greek word, isotēs, used in verse one, is translated as
“equality” in 2 Corinthians 8:14.
[2] Class
division was sharp in first century Rome, with slaves and women being at the
very bottom of the social hierarchy. Paul’s reminder to masters that they also
have a master in Heaven, was radical. When he followed that up by informing
them that he was sending a slave, Onesimus, to the free people and slave-owners
at the Colossian Church, on equal par with Tychicus and the the rest of them as
a beloved “brother” and “one of you,”
the apostle backed his strong message of equality by referring to himself as a
slave (to Christ) as well.
[3] Colossians chapter four, is one of many
scripture passages where human equality is honored and reinforced. Sadly, so
many of these passages have been rendered virtually invisible due to translator
bias. While Paul referred to most every
person in his letter as servants and slaves of the Lord, he did not do so
regarding Onesimus, who actually was
a slave, but rather, used Onesimus as an example to reinforce the functional
equality of all Christians, regardless of whether they were *Jew, Greek, slave,
free, male, or female.
*Side-note: When Paul listed this hierarchy (Galatians
chapter three), it was a deliberate reference to the actual order of things
from the perspective of a Jewish male.
[4] We read in the Revelation, that the
Church at Laodicea later degenerates into materialism and luke-warmness towards
the things of God. The location of Laodicea was situated near the modern-day
city of Denizli located in Turkey. The seven Churches in The Revelation, were
all located in Turkey.
http://www.christianitytoday.com/history/2008/august/vanishing-act-of-church-in-turkey.html
[5] To avoid doctrinal error through
English-Translation-Theology, it is important to compare any English translation
with the Greek Text. In doing this, there are many resources readily available
to modern Christians. As a rule, the classical Greek [that most eclectic texts
are translated from] exhibits textual misogyny, while the koine Greek of the Received Text [New Testament], is exceptionally egalitarian
but the translators are biased. Translators of either text cannot always be
trusted when it comes to texts placing women on par with men. While many translations
correctly identify Nympha (Numphan [Koine Greek NT], Numphas [Berry Interlinear]) as a
woman [Col 4:15], translators of some versions transform the feminine Nympha/Numphan/Numphas, into a male. A partial list of versions [translated from
various texts [including the Koine,
classical Greek, and eclectic texts] exhibiting translator misogyny in Col 4:15,
is as follows: KJV, YLT, NKJV, ASV, DBY, WEB, HNV. Since there are over 200
translations, of necessity, this is an abbreviated list.
[6] Jesus’ entire ministry was itinerant,
as was that of the Twelve Apostles of the Lamb.
Virtually all of the earliest churches of the New Testament were house churches—not organizations.
This is important to understand, as while this was the case, the Church was entirely egalitarian, unapologetically featuring women as leaders and teachers. On the day of Pentecost, women [who were likely in the majority among the 120] were preaching and prophesying in the street, right along-side the eleven Apostles of the Lamb. Peter knew that these preaching women would shock the patriarchal crowd, and immediately defended their right to do so, by reminding them about “that which was foretold,” that God’s daughters would prophesy.
These first women preachers, were standing on the solid rock of the Word of God, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ rocked the world at that time, turning it “upside down.”
After the day of Pentecost, the only way for New Covenant egalitarianism to be over-thrown, was for men to take the reins of rulership by transforming the living organism of the Body of Christ into a man-made organization.
The conversion of the early church from egalitarianism to patriarchy was largely accomplished [through organizing and galvanizing the male leaders] by the third century. Though the Gospel cannot be stopped, and the 20th and 21st centuries have brought some measure of freedom to women, Christian women in most denominations are a notable exception.
Religious organizations of every ilk [most notably CBMW—the Council for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood] have made the subjection of women the primary focus of their ministries, and have virtually bound and gagged women as concerning the Gospel, and crushed any real leadership they might be called to within the Christian family and the Body of Christ, cheating the world of the ministry and influence of God’s women.
The good news is, that God’s women are shaking off man-made bands that have bound them for thousands of years and are obeying His call on their lives in ever-increasing numbers, and many of God’s men, are rising up to defend their right to do so, just like Peter did on the day of Pentecost.
Virtually all of the earliest churches of the New Testament were house churches—not organizations.
This is important to understand, as while this was the case, the Church was entirely egalitarian, unapologetically featuring women as leaders and teachers. On the day of Pentecost, women [who were likely in the majority among the 120] were preaching and prophesying in the street, right along-side the eleven Apostles of the Lamb. Peter knew that these preaching women would shock the patriarchal crowd, and immediately defended their right to do so, by reminding them about “that which was foretold,” that God’s daughters would prophesy.
These first women preachers, were standing on the solid rock of the Word of God, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ rocked the world at that time, turning it “upside down.”
After the day of Pentecost, the only way for New Covenant egalitarianism to be over-thrown, was for men to take the reins of rulership by transforming the living organism of the Body of Christ into a man-made organization.
The conversion of the early church from egalitarianism to patriarchy was largely accomplished [through organizing and galvanizing the male leaders] by the third century. Though the Gospel cannot be stopped, and the 20th and 21st centuries have brought some measure of freedom to women, Christian women in most denominations are a notable exception.
Religious organizations of every ilk [most notably CBMW—the Council for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood] have made the subjection of women the primary focus of their ministries, and have virtually bound and gagged women as concerning the Gospel, and crushed any real leadership they might be called to within the Christian family and the Body of Christ, cheating the world of the ministry and influence of God’s women.
The good news is, that God’s women are shaking off man-made bands that have bound them for thousands of years and are obeying His call on their lives in ever-increasing numbers, and many of God’s men, are rising up to defend their right to do so, just like Peter did on the day of Pentecost.
[7] “The epistle appears in more than 100
manuscripts of the Latin Vulgate (including the oldest, the celebrated codex
Fuldensis, 546 CE), as well as in manuscripts of early Albigensian, Bohemian,
English, and Flemish versions.” –See link. Info on and content of Paul’s letter
to the Laodiceans:
Subscribe to Jocelyn Andersen’s Updates & Newsletters: http://eepurl.com/dgDt6b
Woman this is WAR! Gender Slavery
and the Evangelical Caste System examines Bible commentary and
translation practices which have historically been androcentric (male centered)
and even misogynistic (anti-woman). These have adversely effected understanding
of the scriptures, relations between women and men, the happiness of men and
women, and, in general, has hindered the work of the gospel. The book
chronicles the early history of the women's rights movements, as well as the
role of church leadership in aggressively suppressing both women's rights and
the historical record of Christian initiatives within the movements. Through
the complementarian movement, many of the same arguments used to support the
institution of slavery, are still used today in suppressing the rights of
Christian women. This book documents identical arguments used by Christian
leaders against both movements, and is an unparalleled resource for all who
desire an in-depth study of gender equality from a Christian perspective. The
history of women’s rights is traced back [much further than usual] to the very
first feminists…who were Christians—godly women, who brought the issue
of women's rights to the forefront as they struggled to alleviate the suffering
of others, and found they were hindered in doing so for no other reason than
the fact of their sex. This work, provides valuable historical insight into
Christian initiatives in the movements for women’s rights, that are rarely
included in Christian literature. Visit this link for more information or to
buy the book: Woman this is WAR! Gender Slavery
and the Evangelical Caste System
