NT # 40 Philippians, Colossians and Philemon . . .

…were written while Paul was imprisoned in Rome. Yet they are cheerful and optimistic, and contain some of Paul’s most important teachings about Jesus Christ. (See NTSM, 431.)

Consider ponderizing Philippians 2:3, “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others [before] themselves.”

How did some Church members react to Paul’s imprisonment in Rome?

(See Philippians 1:12-14)

Philippians 2:3-7) What did Paul teach about how to be like the Savior?

Philippians 3:8) What did Paul sacrifice for Christ?

          Why is it important for us to make sacrifices for Christ?

Philippians 4:8) How can we follow this admonition of Paul?

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“Members in Colosse, a small city east of Ephesus, were being influenced by teachings that minimized the Savior and focused on attaining perfection through ordinances. In his letter to the Colossians, Paul warned against these teachings, exhorting them to remember that redemption comes only through Christ.” (See NTGDTM, 168.)  How can we develop the attributes described in Colossians 3:12–16?

How can we follow Paul’s counsel in Colossians 3:23?

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Paul wrote a letter to Philemon, a member of the Church in Colosse, regarding his slave Onesimus, who had run away to Rome, where he met Paul and was converted to the Church. (See New Testament Gospel Doctrine Teachers Manual [NTGDTM], 169.)  What can we learn from Philemon 1:10-16 about the gospel’s power to transform human relationships?

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re: Philippians 2:3, President David O. McKay said: “No one can consider [the Lord's plan for our temporal salvation] without comparing [it to] the strife and selfishness [of systems based on] survival of the fittest” (October 1936 Conference Report, 104).

re: Philippians 2:3-5 . . .

. . . The Prophet Joseph Smith said: “[Let us] not seek to excel one above another, but act for each other’s good” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, 344).

. . .President Marion G. Romney said: “There should be no feelings of competition … nothing but love toward our fellow men” (Melchizedek Priesthood Manual 1988: 161).  

re: Philippians 2:5-7 . . .

. . . Elder Tad R. Callister has said: “[T]he Lord Omnipotent … left a throne to inherit a manger. He exchanged the dominion of a god for the dependence of a babe. He gave up the fullness of His glory . . . for taunting, mocking, humiliation . . .  It was  a condescension of incalculable depth.”(See The Infinite Atonement, 64; quoted in New Testament Student Manual [NTSM], 435.) 

. . . President Ezra Taft Benson said “Everything He did was prompted by His unselfish love for us”(Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Ezra Taft Benson, 94).

re: Philippians 2:12, Elder Dallin H. Oaks has said: “Could that familiar express-ion mean that . . . our own righteousness will win us salvation and exaltation? . . . [S]ome of us, some of the time, say things that can create that impression. We can forget that keeping the commandments, which is necessary, is not sufficient.” (See October 1988 Conference Report [CR], quoted in NTSM, 436.)

re: Philippians 3:8 . . . 

. . .  President Kimball said: “We begin by offering a ‘broken heart and a contrite spirit.’ We follow this by giving our best effort in our callings. . . . Finally we consecrate our time, talents, and means as called upon by our leaders and as prompted by the whisperings of the Spirit. . . .  And in the end, we learn it was no sacrifice at all.” (See April 1978 CR; in New Testament Student Manual [NTSM], 436.)

. . . The Prophet Joseph Smith said: “A religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation” (Lectures on Faith, 69; in New Testament Gospel Doctrine Teacher’s Manual, 167).

re: Colossians 2:8, 21-23, Paul warned the members to “beware lest any spoil you through [man-made] philosophy.” One such philosophy was the “neglecting of the body” known as asceticism. People who practice asceticism try to abstain from all physical pleasures. They often adopt extreme dietary restrictions and renounced all sexual relations even within the bonds of marriage. “Such excessive practices are not in harmony with the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Joseph Smith Translation helps clarify the meaning of Colossians 2:21–22”(New Testament Student Manual, 440).

re: Colossians 3:3 . . .

. . . Paul wanted the Colossians to understand that their former sinful selves had passed away, and that they were to live a new life in Christ.

. . . In addition to being born again, the Prophet Joseph Smith told at least one member who had received his second anointing: “Your life is hid with Christ in God, and so are many others … for you are sealed up by the power of the Priesthood unto eternal life”(History of the Church 5:391). “To have your life ‘hid with Christ in God’ is to have your calling and election made sure” (New Testament Student Manual, 443).  

. . . The Prophet Joseph Smith told all members to “go [forward] until you obtain a promise from God for yourselves that you shall have eternal life….  To obtain this sealing is to make our calling and election sure, which we ought to give all diligence to accomplish.” (See Words of Joseph Smith, 334, 335; also 2 Peter 1:10.)

Colossians 3:23.  Elder Dallin H. Oaks has said that our actions “should be for the love of God and [others] rather than for ... any other lesser motive” including “hope of earthly reward” or “worldly honors.”  We “must be motivated solely by the pure love of Christ,” for only those “who forget themselves and give service in this manner can look up to God ‘with a pure heart.’” (October 1984 CR; Pure in Heart [1988], 49).