Considering the Bible

Philemon 1:14

but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own accord.

Let’s remember the authority structure between Paul and Philemon.  Philemon was a Roman slave owner that Paul evangelized, brought into the church, and trained for a period of time.  Onesimus, Philemon’s slave had run away, found Paul and got converted.

• Paul – the apostle to the Gentiles.
• Philemon – a lowly believer, who owes his salvation to Paul in a very real way
• Onesimus – a run away slave who actually is owned by Philemon

So why is Paul asking for consent from one which is lower on the authority? for one that is even lower in authority?

It kinda makes sense, based on some current religious structures, that Paul should “encourage” (a synonym in Christendom for “force”!) Philemon to do the right thing, and to release Onesimus.  Maybe tell him that if he doesn’t, he will be in rebellion. Ya – that’s it.  Use the rebellion card.

No – Paul the old man has realized the power of love, of serving others, of putting them first, of seeking agreement amongst brethren.

Paul even asks Philemon if he considers him a partner.  What?  How degrading, said the man who wants power!

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1 Corinthians 1:10

I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.

I attended a medium size church for a period of time and one of the things I learned while their is that unity and uniformity are not equal.

The church sought the entire body to study one topic and a small group of us requested we continue with a separate study.  This desire was evidence of an unwilling spirit, showing a fruit of division.

Is this Paul’s concern above?

Consider Paul’s later lament, where he rails against the believers joining cliques, forming premature denominations, and seeking to cling with their own group think.  Finding folks that think the same way in church does not challenge our lives, but allows us to settle for a safe existence.  Being around folks that think differently, forces a believer to capitulate to a strong personality (definitely a danger) or to become firm in his convictions.

So is Paul wanting us to believe the same minutia of doctrines, and refuse to fellowship with those who differ?  I think not.

He wants them

• to agree / speak the same
• to have no divisions / schisms among them
• to be united in the same mind and the same judgement

Check the context – the believers, in the previous verse, are told of their calling – and since I reside in Texas, I’m gonna give you the Texan translation.

… All y’all were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord

The focus of the fellowship, of the church body, of the gathering of the saints is to have fellowship with one another and the Lord Jesus Christ.

If Jesus is head, we look to Him for direction and guidance, we humble ourselves to accept that we may be wrong in our understanding of the will of God, and in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

If all y’all believers (including me!) sought this type of Christianity, there would be no divisions, and the world would see a group of believers united in the same mind and the same judgement concerning things of the Spirit of God.

• Agree to speak the same thing (about Jesus) – that He is Lord.
• Have no divisions, (although some believers may be at different stages of their pilgrimage)
• United in the same mind (of humility) and of the same judgement, (based on the Spirit and the written Word)

Thanks for joining me in this study.  Hope to visit with you in our next post as we continue to look at the Greek term γνώμη.

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Matthew 27:19 Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today in a dream.”

John 19:13 So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic Gabbatha.

Acts 7:5 Yet he gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot’s length, but promised to give it to him as a possession and to his offspring after him, though he had no child.

Acts 12:21 On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them.

Acts 18:12 But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him before the tribunal,

Acts 18:16 And he drove them from the tribunal.

Acts 18:17 And they all seized Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal. But Gallio paid no attention to any of this.

Acts 25:6 After he stayed among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea. And the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought.

Acts 25:10 But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar’s tribunal, where I ought to be tried. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you yourself know very well.

Acts 25:17 So when they came together here, I made no delay, but on the next day took my seat on the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought.

Romans 14:10 Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God;

2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

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2 Corinthians 5:10

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

First off, I don’t see a difference between judgement seat of God and judgement seat of Christ.  To all who may see a difference, let me know – I am open to discussion and learning!!)

Secondly, I found out a little something years back when I was teaching through the book of Corinthians that made me reconsider the type of God I serve.

Let’s refer to Vines one more time.  Note that the primary meaning of the greek word translated as evil is

“slight, trivial, blown about by every wind;” then, “mean, common, bad,” in the sense of being worthless, paltry or contemptible, belonging to a low order of things; in Jhn 5:29, those who have practiced “evil” things, RV, “ill” (phaula), are set in contrast to those who have done good things (agatha); the same contrast is presented in Rom 9:11; 2Cr 5:10,

I’m not totally convinced of this thought but would like to float it for your consideration.  Follow me on this thinking for a moment.  The primary meaning of the greek word translated as evil is “slight”, “trivial”, “worthless,”  “belonging to a low order of things”.

That was not expected.  When I think of evil, I think of cruelty, malice, sinfulness, wickedness, depraved, villainous, corrupt, foul.

You get my meaning?

But let us remember the context.  We are at the judgement seat of Christ.  The evil has been taken care of at the cross, but now we only have things that were done in the body as a Christian.

Also, Christians can’t be evil.  That list of synonyms above cannot consistently describe the believer.

Anything less than “good” at the judgment seat will be delegated to the worthless pile.  Kinda reminds me of a pile of wood hay and stubble, but that is a whole different passage, and may not directly relate.

I think this may need some good ol’ fashioned back porch ruminating, but for now I offer it to the gentle reader for their consideration.

How does this relate to judgment?  (That is the point of the study Carl!)

The judgment will be based on knowledge of the life lived, and this verse again informs us that it will be a “family gathering”, not a separate meeting with no one around.  All will be exposed, for the good and the worthless.

When I consider this situation, for a momentary thought, it is completely and utterly okay.

He is my Father, and the Lord was crucified for me.  Will I experience sadness for the loss of opportunity to serve Him.  Yes.  That is true.  I find no comfort in that.

Will my Father hug me when I get home?

He is our Father.

Thanks for joining me in this study.  Hope to visit with you in our next post as we look at the Greek term γνώμη which is commonly translated judgment, mind, purpose, advice, will, agree in the New Testament.

Be Blessed.

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Romans 14:10

Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God;

This first verse brings two words for judgement together. The first term will be discussed in a later post, but is the most common term for judgement.

Vines defines this first term as

those who judge severely (unfairly), finding fault with this or that in others, Matthew 7:1; Luke 6:37; Romans 2:1; τινα, Romans 2:1, 3; Romans 14:3f, 10,

The context of this passage is of two groups (Jewish and Gentile) within the body of believers that have different views on food and religious holidays. Some eat everything and consider each day the same (thinking the Gentiles here) whereas some see certain foods as defiling and certain days as holier than others.

In the midst of this difference, love reigned – Ummm not so much! One group was despising his brother, thinking of them as nothing, or contemptible. The other group was judging the first group, condemning them for their lifestyle. Note that this difference in lifestyle was not a moral difference, but in the observation of non-moral issues.

Come with me to the day of judgement. I am standing beside a brother I despised, and a sister I may have judged, and I hear the Lord commend both of them. (See previous post for verse and teaching on this truth).

I don’t know about you, but I will realize my failings in loving the brethren completely at that time. How proud and boastful I will realize I have been. How proud and boastful I really am!

But we have not so learned Jesus, and we are to encourage one another and the more so as we see the day approaching.

The term we are dealing with in this verse is the judgement seat of God. The term describes a location of judgement, a seat or throne where upon the Judge will sit to make declarations of judgement upon the subject before Him. Notice it will not be a separate room where I can discuss my failings and foibles with a manager, such as we may experience in our workplace. This is a family gathering, where I am on display with all of my family.

Remember, that brother or sister you got a gripe with… put the gift for God down, and go to them. Seek reconciliation. Seek forgiveness, even if it is for perceived sins you have committed.

Thanks for joining me in this study. Hope to visit with you in our next post as we continue to look at the Greek term βῆμα.

Be Blessed.

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