1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:03,640 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:03,960 --> 00:00:06,880 Speaker 2: How doy there, faithful listeners, Welcome to the Book of Philemen. 3 00:00:07,760 --> 00:00:10,320 Speaker 2: We are in the second portion of phi Lemen today 4 00:00:10,520 --> 00:00:12,360 Speaker 2: and we're going to finish up the Book of Philemen. 5 00:00:12,400 --> 00:00:16,160 Speaker 2: Actually I kind of suspected we do three episodes in Philemen, 6 00:00:16,640 --> 00:00:18,799 Speaker 2: but now I don't think we will. 7 00:00:19,600 --> 00:00:21,040 Speaker 1: I think we'll get through all of it today. 8 00:00:21,079 --> 00:00:23,880 Speaker 2: It is a short little book, so we'll be diving 9 00:00:23,920 --> 00:00:26,360 Speaker 2: into the second part of Philemen in just one moment. 10 00:00:32,800 --> 00:00:33,520 Speaker 1: All right, as. 11 00:00:33,440 --> 00:00:35,920 Speaker 2: Usual, here is a sponsored ad for you guys, and 12 00:00:35,960 --> 00:00:40,760 Speaker 2: then we'll get right into the episode. All right, let's 13 00:00:40,760 --> 00:00:42,720 Speaker 2: go ahead and dive into the Book of phi Lemen. 14 00:00:43,280 --> 00:00:45,080 Speaker 2: If you did not listen to the first portion, I 15 00:00:45,080 --> 00:00:47,479 Speaker 2: do highly recommend that you do that because context is 16 00:00:47,560 --> 00:00:50,640 Speaker 2: very important when reading through a very small book of 17 00:00:50,640 --> 00:00:53,760 Speaker 2: the Bible like this, So check out Tuesday's episode if 18 00:00:53,760 --> 00:00:55,600 Speaker 2: you haven't gotten a chance yet. But let's go ahead 19 00:00:55,600 --> 00:00:58,080 Speaker 2: and read Phileman the entire thing. As always, I'll be 20 00:00:58,080 --> 00:01:01,320 Speaker 2: reading from the web. But faithful listener, grab a delicious 21 00:01:01,600 --> 00:01:04,080 Speaker 2: cup of coffee to share with me this morning as 22 00:01:04,080 --> 00:01:07,720 Speaker 2: we discuss this lovely little book, and also your Bible 23 00:01:07,720 --> 00:01:10,040 Speaker 2: out of the version that you prefer, but as usual 24 00:01:10,080 --> 00:01:15,840 Speaker 2: I'll be reading from the Web or the World English Bible. Paul, 25 00:01:15,959 --> 00:01:19,000 Speaker 2: a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to 26 00:01:19,080 --> 00:01:23,280 Speaker 2: Phi Lehman, our beloved fellow worker, and to the beloved Apea, 27 00:01:23,720 --> 00:01:26,680 Speaker 2: to Archipas and our fellow soldier, and to the assembly 28 00:01:26,720 --> 00:01:29,560 Speaker 2: in your house. Grace to you and peace from God, 29 00:01:29,560 --> 00:01:32,720 Speaker 2: our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my 30 00:01:32,800 --> 00:01:36,000 Speaker 2: God always making mention of you in my prayers, hearing 31 00:01:36,040 --> 00:01:38,039 Speaker 2: of your love and of the faith which you have 32 00:01:38,160 --> 00:01:40,800 Speaker 2: towards the Lord Jesus and toward all the Saints, that 33 00:01:40,880 --> 00:01:43,560 Speaker 2: the fellowship of your faith may become effective in the 34 00:01:43,640 --> 00:01:45,760 Speaker 2: knowledge of every good thing which is in us in 35 00:01:45,880 --> 00:01:49,360 Speaker 2: Christ Jesus. For we have much joy and comfort in 36 00:01:49,400 --> 00:01:51,680 Speaker 2: your love, because the hearts of the saints have been 37 00:01:51,720 --> 00:01:53,000 Speaker 2: refreshed through you. 38 00:01:53,040 --> 00:01:53,360 Speaker 1: Brother. 39 00:01:54,160 --> 00:01:57,280 Speaker 2: Therefore, though I have all boldness in Christ to command 40 00:01:57,360 --> 00:02:00,400 Speaker 2: you that which is appropriate, yet for love's sake, I 41 00:02:00,520 --> 00:02:03,440 Speaker 2: rather appeal to you, being such a one as Paul 42 00:02:03,720 --> 00:02:07,120 Speaker 2: the aged, but also a prisoner of Jesus Christ, I 43 00:02:07,160 --> 00:02:09,960 Speaker 2: appeal to you from my child Onisimus, whom I have 44 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:13,080 Speaker 2: become the father of in my chains, who once was 45 00:02:13,200 --> 00:02:16,000 Speaker 2: useless to you, but now is useful to you and 46 00:02:16,040 --> 00:02:19,720 Speaker 2: to me. I am sending him back. Therefore, receive him, 47 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:22,880 Speaker 2: that is my own heart, whom I desired to keep 48 00:02:22,919 --> 00:02:25,240 Speaker 2: with me, that on your behalf, he might serve me 49 00:02:25,320 --> 00:02:27,560 Speaker 2: in my chains for the good news. But I was 50 00:02:27,600 --> 00:02:30,440 Speaker 2: willing to do nothing without your consent, that your goodness 51 00:02:30,520 --> 00:02:33,520 Speaker 2: would not be as of necessity, but of free will. 52 00:02:34,120 --> 00:02:36,920 Speaker 2: For perhaps he was therefore separated from you for a while, 53 00:02:37,160 --> 00:02:40,160 Speaker 2: that you would have him forever, no longer as a slave, 54 00:02:40,560 --> 00:02:44,600 Speaker 2: but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, 55 00:02:45,080 --> 00:02:47,880 Speaker 2: but how much rather to you, both in the flesh 56 00:02:48,040 --> 00:02:51,240 Speaker 2: and in the Lord. If then you count me a partner, 57 00:02:51,440 --> 00:02:54,120 Speaker 2: receive him as you would receive me. But if he 58 00:02:54,160 --> 00:02:56,919 Speaker 2: has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, put 59 00:02:56,960 --> 00:02:59,640 Speaker 2: that to my account. I Paul write this with my 60 00:02:59,639 --> 00:03:02,560 Speaker 2: own hand, and I will repay it, not to mention 61 00:03:02,639 --> 00:03:06,720 Speaker 2: to you that you owe to me, even your own self. Besides, yes, brother, 62 00:03:07,080 --> 00:03:09,640 Speaker 2: let me have joy from you in the Lord. Refresh 63 00:03:09,680 --> 00:03:12,880 Speaker 2: my heart in the Lord. Having confidence in your obedience, 64 00:03:12,919 --> 00:03:15,240 Speaker 2: I write to you, knowing that you will do even 65 00:03:15,280 --> 00:03:18,480 Speaker 2: beyond what I say. Also, prepare a guest room for 66 00:03:18,560 --> 00:03:20,720 Speaker 2: me for I hope that through your prayers, I will 67 00:03:20,760 --> 00:03:24,280 Speaker 2: be restored to you. Epiphrats, my fellow prisoner in Jesus 68 00:03:24,360 --> 00:03:29,120 Speaker 2: Christ greets you, as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demus, and Luke, 69 00:03:29,320 --> 00:03:32,760 Speaker 2: my fellow workers. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, 70 00:03:32,960 --> 00:03:33,800 Speaker 2: be with your spirit. 71 00:03:34,240 --> 00:03:34,600 Speaker 1: Amen. 72 00:03:37,280 --> 00:03:40,200 Speaker 2: When I was first reading the Bible for myself, I 73 00:03:40,240 --> 00:03:42,080 Speaker 2: was going through the New Testament. So I went through 74 00:03:42,120 --> 00:03:44,960 Speaker 2: you know, first and second Thessalonians by myself, and First 75 00:03:45,000 --> 00:03:47,600 Speaker 2: and Tewod, Timothy and Titus, and then I get to 76 00:03:47,600 --> 00:03:50,680 Speaker 2: the Book of Philemen, and after reading it, which took 77 00:03:50,720 --> 00:03:54,040 Speaker 2: me about you know, two minutes, I was like, why 78 00:03:54,200 --> 00:03:58,520 Speaker 2: is this here? Why did the Book of Philemin get 79 00:03:58,520 --> 00:04:02,000 Speaker 2: canonized in scripture? You know, because when you read through it, 80 00:04:02,000 --> 00:04:05,080 Speaker 2: it's like a letter to just some random guy about 81 00:04:05,360 --> 00:04:08,160 Speaker 2: how he should treat his runaway slave, and it doesn't 82 00:04:08,160 --> 00:04:12,640 Speaker 2: really feel like it applies to the modern person. Whereas 83 00:04:12,680 --> 00:04:14,600 Speaker 2: you know, the books of First and two, Timothy and 84 00:04:14,640 --> 00:04:18,200 Speaker 2: Titus that we just covered, those definitely feel like they 85 00:04:18,240 --> 00:04:22,200 Speaker 2: apply to the modern age because it's talking about church 86 00:04:22,320 --> 00:04:26,880 Speaker 2: leadership and elders and just how the Christian should live. 87 00:04:27,720 --> 00:04:30,400 Speaker 2: But we don't have slaves in America right now. But 88 00:04:30,520 --> 00:04:33,440 Speaker 2: now reading through this, I love the Book of Philiman, 89 00:04:33,520 --> 00:04:36,600 Speaker 2: and I think there is so so much that we 90 00:04:36,640 --> 00:04:38,760 Speaker 2: can learn from this, So don't forget. As we talked 91 00:04:38,760 --> 00:04:41,400 Speaker 2: about on Tuesday, Paul wrote this while he was in prison, 92 00:04:41,440 --> 00:04:44,479 Speaker 2: most likely during his first imprisonment, while he was under 93 00:04:44,520 --> 00:04:46,919 Speaker 2: house arrest. And even though he was under house arrest, 94 00:04:47,040 --> 00:04:50,120 Speaker 2: he did have some modicum of freedom. You know, he 95 00:04:50,160 --> 00:04:52,800 Speaker 2: wasn't really allowed to go out anywhere, but he was 96 00:04:52,839 --> 00:04:55,840 Speaker 2: allowed to receive visitors. And one of the visitors he 97 00:04:55,960 --> 00:04:59,680 Speaker 2: ends up receiving at some point in time is named Onisimus, 98 00:05:00,279 --> 00:05:04,400 Speaker 2: and Onissimus was a runaway slave. But what's really weird 99 00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:10,359 Speaker 2: is that Paul actually knew Onissimus's master, whose name was 100 00:05:10,400 --> 00:05:13,920 Speaker 2: phi Leman. In fact, he met phi Leman when he 101 00:05:14,080 --> 00:05:16,440 Speaker 2: was in the area of Ephesus. We know that Paul 102 00:05:16,520 --> 00:05:18,520 Speaker 2: stayed in Ephesus for a very long period of time, 103 00:05:18,720 --> 00:05:21,280 Speaker 2: longer than any other missionary journey that he took. He 104 00:05:21,360 --> 00:05:24,440 Speaker 2: stayed there for about three years, and that was likely 105 00:05:24,520 --> 00:05:27,600 Speaker 2: when he ended up meeting phi Leman. So we talked 106 00:05:27,600 --> 00:05:30,039 Speaker 2: about all of that on Tuesday. But now we're going 107 00:05:30,080 --> 00:05:32,520 Speaker 2: to get into verses eight through sixteen. Today and talk 108 00:05:32,560 --> 00:05:36,120 Speaker 2: about these a little bit more in depth. Now, obviously, 109 00:05:36,160 --> 00:05:39,960 Speaker 2: Paul is writing to phi Leman, and he's writing specifically 110 00:05:40,040 --> 00:05:45,160 Speaker 2: on behalf of Onisimus, saying, phi Leman, I met Onissimus. 111 00:05:45,360 --> 00:05:48,520 Speaker 2: He is here with me. He was a useless slave 112 00:05:48,640 --> 00:05:51,440 Speaker 2: to you, but now he is very useful to you 113 00:05:52,320 --> 00:05:56,919 Speaker 2: because Onissimus has become a Christian. He is now following 114 00:05:57,080 --> 00:06:00,159 Speaker 2: the Way, which was the first name of Christianity before 115 00:06:00,320 --> 00:06:03,880 Speaker 2: the word Christian even came into existence. Christian came about 116 00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:07,320 Speaker 2: later on when I think the Romans were making fun 117 00:06:07,800 --> 00:06:11,920 Speaker 2: of people that followed the Way because Christian means little Christ. 118 00:06:12,360 --> 00:06:14,600 Speaker 2: And then the followers of the Way ended up coining 119 00:06:14,600 --> 00:06:17,680 Speaker 2: that for themselves and calling themselves Christians because we are 120 00:06:17,720 --> 00:06:20,960 Speaker 2: supposed to be like Christ, we are supposed to follow 121 00:06:20,960 --> 00:06:23,120 Speaker 2: after him. Even though it started out as an insult, 122 00:06:23,320 --> 00:06:26,240 Speaker 2: it became the actual word for the movement of the Way, 123 00:06:26,800 --> 00:06:29,840 Speaker 2: which is kind of funny. So now Onissimus has become 124 00:06:30,040 --> 00:06:33,280 Speaker 2: a follower of the Way, or a Christian, and that's 125 00:06:33,279 --> 00:06:36,480 Speaker 2: why Paul says in verse eleven, he was once useless 126 00:06:36,520 --> 00:06:39,600 Speaker 2: to you, but now he is useful to you and 127 00:06:40,120 --> 00:06:42,520 Speaker 2: to me. Now the reason that phrase is actually kind 128 00:06:42,560 --> 00:06:45,600 Speaker 2: of funny is because Paul was doing a little play 129 00:06:45,640 --> 00:06:49,520 Speaker 2: on words here, because the name Onisimus actually means the 130 00:06:49,680 --> 00:06:55,160 Speaker 2: useful one. But Paul's like, before he was not Onisimus, 131 00:06:55,240 --> 00:06:57,640 Speaker 2: he was not the useful one. He was the useless one. 132 00:06:57,640 --> 00:07:00,760 Speaker 2: But now he truly is Onissimus. And he says in 133 00:07:00,839 --> 00:07:04,960 Speaker 2: verse twelve, I am sending him back. Therefore receive him. 134 00:07:05,160 --> 00:07:08,880 Speaker 2: That is my own heart. And he continues in verse thirteen, 135 00:07:09,360 --> 00:07:12,360 Speaker 2: whom I desired to keep with me, that on your behalf, 136 00:07:12,440 --> 00:07:15,040 Speaker 2: he might serve me in my chains for the good news. 137 00:07:15,480 --> 00:07:17,960 Speaker 2: But I was willing to do nothing without your consent, 138 00:07:18,240 --> 00:07:21,000 Speaker 2: that your goodness would not be as of necessity but 139 00:07:21,120 --> 00:07:25,840 Speaker 2: of free will. So basically Paul is hinting very strongly. 140 00:07:25,880 --> 00:07:30,320 Speaker 2: He's like, hey, Phileman, I really really want Onissimus to 141 00:07:30,360 --> 00:07:34,040 Speaker 2: stay with me. He has become my child in the faith. 142 00:07:34,400 --> 00:07:36,960 Speaker 2: I love him, he is a friend of mine. He 143 00:07:37,000 --> 00:07:39,080 Speaker 2: has been so helpful to me while I've been in 144 00:07:39,160 --> 00:07:44,320 Speaker 2: my chains. I absolutely love having him around. But the 145 00:07:44,440 --> 00:07:47,200 Speaker 2: right thing to do is to send him back to you. 146 00:07:48,720 --> 00:07:51,560 Speaker 2: And at this point you might be like, Jen, how 147 00:07:51,680 --> 00:07:56,000 Speaker 2: was it right for Paul to send Onissimus back to Phileman? 148 00:07:56,880 --> 00:07:59,000 Speaker 2: How is that right, because that is a slave going 149 00:07:59,040 --> 00:08:01,440 Speaker 2: back to a slave owner. Well, the reason it was 150 00:08:01,480 --> 00:08:05,080 Speaker 2: the right thing to do is because Onissimus had done 151 00:08:05,280 --> 00:08:09,320 Speaker 2: something seriously wrong, as we find out later on in 152 00:08:09,360 --> 00:08:13,480 Speaker 2: this letter. It says in verse eighteen, if he has 153 00:08:13,520 --> 00:08:15,720 Speaker 2: wronged you at all, or owes you anything, put that 154 00:08:15,960 --> 00:08:18,840 Speaker 2: to my account. I, Paul, write this with my own hand, 155 00:08:18,920 --> 00:08:22,560 Speaker 2: I will repay it. So not only had a Nissimus 156 00:08:22,960 --> 00:08:26,600 Speaker 2: just run away from Philemen, but he had actually stolen 157 00:08:26,680 --> 00:08:30,760 Speaker 2: something from Phileman as well. This was a capital punishment 158 00:08:30,920 --> 00:08:34,200 Speaker 2: back in Paul's day, and a slave could be legally 159 00:08:34,240 --> 00:08:38,440 Speaker 2: crucified for something a lot less than that. But it 160 00:08:38,520 --> 00:08:41,319 Speaker 2: was wrong for Onissimus to do that. It was wrong 161 00:08:41,400 --> 00:08:45,280 Speaker 2: for him to steal from Philemen. And here's the other 162 00:08:45,320 --> 00:08:50,840 Speaker 2: reason why Paul sends Onisimus back. Because Paul is appealing 163 00:08:51,160 --> 00:08:56,760 Speaker 2: to Philemen to deal gently with Onisimus. Here's what he 164 00:08:56,800 --> 00:09:00,000 Speaker 2: says in verse twelve, I am sending him back. Therefore, 165 00:09:00,120 --> 00:09:05,000 Speaker 2: or receive him, that is my own heart. So basically 166 00:09:05,040 --> 00:09:09,360 Speaker 2: Paul is asking his good friend Phileman to accept Onisimus 167 00:09:09,440 --> 00:09:13,880 Speaker 2: back the same way he would accept Paul, not as 168 00:09:13,880 --> 00:09:17,080 Speaker 2: a slave, but as a friend. And that's actually what 169 00:09:17,080 --> 00:09:19,520 Speaker 2: Paul says in verse fifteen of this letter as well. 170 00:09:20,160 --> 00:09:23,120 Speaker 2: For perhaps he was therefore separated from you for a while, 171 00:09:23,440 --> 00:09:27,040 Speaker 2: that you would have him forever, no longer as a slave, 172 00:09:27,600 --> 00:09:31,720 Speaker 2: but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, 173 00:09:32,160 --> 00:09:34,640 Speaker 2: but how much rather to you, both in the flesh 174 00:09:34,679 --> 00:09:38,560 Speaker 2: and in the Lord. That phrase, right there was one 175 00:09:38,600 --> 00:09:42,520 Speaker 2: of the most counter cultural phrases Paul could have ever 176 00:09:42,640 --> 00:09:47,760 Speaker 2: said in regards to slavery at the time, that a 177 00:09:47,840 --> 00:09:52,040 Speaker 2: slave could become a brother of a rich man. And 178 00:09:52,080 --> 00:09:54,800 Speaker 2: this is something that Paul has said actually multiple times 179 00:09:54,880 --> 00:09:57,640 Speaker 2: as well in the New Testament. I mean, what's the 180 00:09:57,640 --> 00:10:01,560 Speaker 2: famous verse where he says, there is no longer slave 181 00:10:01,800 --> 00:10:05,240 Speaker 2: or free, There is no longer Jew or gentile, male 182 00:10:05,360 --> 00:10:09,280 Speaker 2: or female, because everybody is equal under the eyes of God. 183 00:10:10,240 --> 00:10:12,880 Speaker 2: You know. The world says all the time that there's inequalities, 184 00:10:13,080 --> 00:10:16,679 Speaker 2: that certain ethnicities are above another ethnicity, that men are 185 00:10:16,720 --> 00:10:20,559 Speaker 2: above women, or women are above men, or Jews are 186 00:10:20,600 --> 00:10:24,280 Speaker 2: better than gentiles, or vice versa. The world has all 187 00:10:24,280 --> 00:10:28,280 Speaker 2: of these inequalities and plays favorites with people all the time. 188 00:10:28,520 --> 00:10:32,400 Speaker 2: But God never plays favorites. And that is what Paul 189 00:10:32,440 --> 00:10:37,560 Speaker 2: is saying right here that Phileman accept Onissimus back not 190 00:10:37,640 --> 00:10:41,720 Speaker 2: as a slave, but rather as a brother. This was 191 00:10:41,880 --> 00:10:47,560 Speaker 2: so countercultural when it comes to slavery that actually US 192 00:10:47,559 --> 00:10:52,200 Speaker 2: slave owners would not teach the Gospel to their slaves, 193 00:10:52,800 --> 00:10:55,360 Speaker 2: at least a lot of them wouldn't because they didn't 194 00:10:55,440 --> 00:10:59,840 Speaker 2: want their slaves understanding that they had equality with them, 195 00:11:01,480 --> 00:11:04,160 Speaker 2: so they would refuse to allow the slaves to learn 196 00:11:04,160 --> 00:11:07,640 Speaker 2: how to read, especially the Book of Philemen. Because of 197 00:11:07,679 --> 00:11:11,160 Speaker 2: what Paul is saying here. This completely flipped the whole 198 00:11:11,240 --> 00:11:15,120 Speaker 2: narrative of slavery on its back. That people are equal 199 00:11:15,120 --> 00:11:17,959 Speaker 2: with one another under the eyes of God. That because 200 00:11:18,000 --> 00:11:21,800 Speaker 2: Onisimus is now a brother in Christ and Philemen, a 201 00:11:21,920 --> 00:11:25,200 Speaker 2: slave owner, is now a brother in Christ, these two 202 00:11:25,280 --> 00:11:29,360 Speaker 2: men are completely equal. They are brothers with one another. 203 00:11:30,000 --> 00:11:33,360 Speaker 2: Really amazing stuff. And I've mentioned this before on the podcast, 204 00:11:33,760 --> 00:11:38,280 Speaker 2: but abolitionists were Christians. The people who wanted to get 205 00:11:38,360 --> 00:11:41,040 Speaker 2: rid of slavery were the Christians, and you can look 206 00:11:41,080 --> 00:11:44,880 Speaker 2: those stats up because of passages like this, and this 207 00:11:45,000 --> 00:11:47,600 Speaker 2: is why the Book of Philemen is so important and 208 00:11:47,640 --> 00:11:51,480 Speaker 2: why it's been canonized in scripture, because it shows that 209 00:11:51,640 --> 00:11:55,600 Speaker 2: nobody is underneath anybody else. In the eyes of God, 210 00:11:56,040 --> 00:11:59,880 Speaker 2: everybody is equal to God. God does not play favorites. 211 00:12:00,320 --> 00:12:04,199 Speaker 2: He doesn't love Phileman more than Onissimus just because Phileman 212 00:12:04,640 --> 00:12:08,479 Speaker 2: is wealthy and a free man. God doesn't love Onissimus 213 00:12:08,520 --> 00:12:12,280 Speaker 2: anymore because Onissimus is a victim, because he's a slave. 214 00:12:12,760 --> 00:12:16,560 Speaker 2: God loves them both and considers them both his children 215 00:12:16,920 --> 00:12:21,439 Speaker 2: and considers them brothers with each other. This book should 216 00:12:21,440 --> 00:12:24,520 Speaker 2: really make us look at our fellow human beings very 217 00:12:24,520 --> 00:12:28,160 Speaker 2: differently that us Christians are not better than any other 218 00:12:28,280 --> 00:12:31,000 Speaker 2: member of Christ. You know, the person that comes through 219 00:12:31,120 --> 00:12:34,760 Speaker 2: your church doors that just recently got saved and is 220 00:12:34,840 --> 00:12:38,280 Speaker 2: still in a really hard place in life and doesn't 221 00:12:38,360 --> 00:12:42,679 Speaker 2: understand the Bible. If they have accepted Christ, they are 222 00:12:42,960 --> 00:12:45,680 Speaker 2: a brother or a sister to you. They are equal 223 00:12:45,720 --> 00:12:49,000 Speaker 2: to you in the eyes of God. God doesn't play favorites. 224 00:12:49,240 --> 00:12:52,080 Speaker 2: And that's a really, really good thing. I'm sure a 225 00:12:52,120 --> 00:12:54,959 Speaker 2: lot of you, you know, grew up in households where 226 00:12:55,480 --> 00:12:59,000 Speaker 2: your parents favored one of your siblings. But you know 227 00:12:59,080 --> 00:13:04,080 Speaker 2: how unfair life can be when your parents play favorites. 228 00:13:04,120 --> 00:13:08,359 Speaker 2: It's just not fair. It's no fun and makes things miserable. 229 00:13:08,679 --> 00:13:12,640 Speaker 2: And I've known kids that have grown up in families 230 00:13:12,760 --> 00:13:15,840 Speaker 2: like that, where these kids grow up to be broken 231 00:13:15,960 --> 00:13:19,560 Speaker 2: adults because they know that their parents didn't love them 232 00:13:19,840 --> 00:13:22,720 Speaker 2: as much as their sibling. We are all equal in 233 00:13:22,760 --> 00:13:26,280 Speaker 2: the eyes of God. He loves us all so so much, 234 00:13:26,440 --> 00:13:29,360 Speaker 2: and that's the same thing here with Onisimus. So Paul 235 00:13:29,559 --> 00:13:34,000 Speaker 2: is appealing to Philemen. He says, Philemen, I'm not going 236 00:13:34,080 --> 00:13:38,040 Speaker 2: to command you to treat Onissimus well, even though I 237 00:13:38,120 --> 00:13:40,440 Speaker 2: do believe that that's the right thing to do here. 238 00:13:40,440 --> 00:13:41,600 Speaker 1: That's what he says. In verse eight. 239 00:13:41,720 --> 00:13:44,400 Speaker 2: He says, therefore, though I have all boldness in Christ 240 00:13:44,440 --> 00:13:48,240 Speaker 2: to command you that which is appropriate, yet for love's sake, 241 00:13:48,320 --> 00:13:51,160 Speaker 2: I rather appeal to you, being such a one as 242 00:13:51,200 --> 00:13:54,680 Speaker 2: Paul the aged, but also a prisoner of Jesus Christ, 243 00:13:55,480 --> 00:13:58,000 Speaker 2: he says, I appeal to you from my child Onissimus, 244 00:13:58,040 --> 00:14:00,840 Speaker 2: who I have become the father of in my chains. 245 00:14:02,160 --> 00:14:05,360 Speaker 2: Paul knew that the right thing to do for Philemen 246 00:14:05,760 --> 00:14:10,000 Speaker 2: was to treat Onismus well and possibly free him. But 247 00:14:10,080 --> 00:14:13,360 Speaker 2: Paul was not going to command Phileman to do that, because, 248 00:14:13,400 --> 00:14:15,160 Speaker 2: first and foremost, I actually do think that would have 249 00:14:15,160 --> 00:14:18,320 Speaker 2: been less effective for Paul to do that for Paul 250 00:14:18,360 --> 00:14:22,040 Speaker 2: to be like, I command you phi Leman, to forgive 251 00:14:22,160 --> 00:14:24,560 Speaker 2: Onnissimus for all that money that he stole from you, 252 00:14:24,600 --> 00:14:27,560 Speaker 2: because that's the right thing for you to do, especially 253 00:14:27,640 --> 00:14:32,200 Speaker 2: when you know Roman law told phi Lemen that he 254 00:14:32,360 --> 00:14:36,880 Speaker 2: had property rights over Onissimus and that he could choose 255 00:14:37,400 --> 00:14:42,520 Speaker 2: to beat Onissimus or crucify him even for what Onismus 256 00:14:42,560 --> 00:14:44,720 Speaker 2: had done. You know, I really don't think Paul would 257 00:14:44,720 --> 00:14:48,320 Speaker 2: have been as effective if he would have commanded Phileman 258 00:14:48,400 --> 00:14:52,080 Speaker 2: to do this. So instead he appeals as a brother 259 00:14:52,200 --> 00:14:56,120 Speaker 2: in Christ, as a friend to Phileman, and he says, Philemen, 260 00:14:56,720 --> 00:14:58,680 Speaker 2: I know that this is the right thing for you 261 00:14:58,800 --> 00:15:00,720 Speaker 2: to do, but I have appeal to you, and I 262 00:15:00,800 --> 00:15:05,920 Speaker 2: make an argument for my son, Onisimus, who I hope 263 00:15:06,040 --> 00:15:09,560 Speaker 2: can become your brother. And that's the thing. You know, 264 00:15:09,800 --> 00:15:13,280 Speaker 2: Paul was clearly against slavery. You can see that throughout 265 00:15:13,320 --> 00:15:16,480 Speaker 2: all of his letters. But Paul was not somebody who 266 00:15:16,560 --> 00:15:19,120 Speaker 2: was going to go against the institution of slavery because 267 00:15:19,120 --> 00:15:23,800 Speaker 2: it was so deeply widespread in Roman culture. If Paul 268 00:15:23,840 --> 00:15:26,280 Speaker 2: would have protested and beat people up over it, he 269 00:15:26,320 --> 00:15:29,800 Speaker 2: would have been forgotten to history. It wouldn't have mattered. 270 00:15:30,240 --> 00:15:32,360 Speaker 2: Paul understood that the best way to get rid of 271 00:15:32,400 --> 00:15:36,800 Speaker 2: this deep wound of slavery was to change hearts one 272 00:15:36,880 --> 00:15:40,880 Speaker 2: at a time, and man, it was effective, because that's 273 00:15:40,960 --> 00:15:45,360 Speaker 2: actually what caused people to end the institution of slavery 274 00:15:46,040 --> 00:15:50,040 Speaker 2: was the Christian movement. Paul understood that changing hearts was 275 00:15:50,080 --> 00:15:52,480 Speaker 2: the way to get rid of the hatred and the 276 00:15:52,520 --> 00:15:55,960 Speaker 2: inequalities that was going on in Roman culture. And man, 277 00:15:56,040 --> 00:15:58,960 Speaker 2: isn't that the same nowadays? You know, we could talk 278 00:15:59,000 --> 00:16:01,400 Speaker 2: to somebody till we're lou in the face trying to 279 00:16:01,440 --> 00:16:04,760 Speaker 2: convince them of our arguments about how they shouldn't be 280 00:16:05,200 --> 00:16:09,760 Speaker 2: racist or sexist or against abortion or something like that. 281 00:16:09,840 --> 00:16:13,280 Speaker 2: But if we don't help them have a heart change, 282 00:16:13,680 --> 00:16:16,640 Speaker 2: if we don't point them to the gospel message, they're 283 00:16:16,720 --> 00:16:19,520 Speaker 2: never going to see things the way that we do. 284 00:16:20,120 --> 00:16:23,160 Speaker 2: They're not going to see it. Because Paul is appealing 285 00:16:23,480 --> 00:16:27,040 Speaker 2: to his friend to do the right thing, not forcing him, 286 00:16:27,240 --> 00:16:30,800 Speaker 2: not commanding him, but appealing to him and also telling Onisimus, 287 00:16:31,200 --> 00:16:33,920 Speaker 2: you know, Onismus, though you were a slave, you did 288 00:16:33,960 --> 00:16:37,560 Speaker 2: something wrong, you stole from a friend of mine, and 289 00:16:37,640 --> 00:16:40,440 Speaker 2: you need to make it right. So just because Onisimus 290 00:16:40,480 --> 00:16:43,440 Speaker 2: was a slave, just because he was a victim doesn't 291 00:16:43,480 --> 00:16:47,440 Speaker 2: mean that he just gets off Scott free for the 292 00:16:47,480 --> 00:16:51,200 Speaker 2: sins that he does. Either, he needed to return to 293 00:16:51,240 --> 00:16:54,400 Speaker 2: Fi Lehman and make things right, and that's why Paul 294 00:16:54,480 --> 00:16:57,880 Speaker 2: sends a letter back with Onissimus, and then in verse 295 00:16:57,880 --> 00:17:00,480 Speaker 2: seventeen it says, if then you count me a partner, 296 00:17:00,760 --> 00:17:04,080 Speaker 2: receive him as you would receive me. But if he 297 00:17:04,119 --> 00:17:06,480 Speaker 2: has wronged you at all or owes you anything, put 298 00:17:06,480 --> 00:17:09,159 Speaker 2: that to my account. I Paul write this with my 299 00:17:09,200 --> 00:17:12,159 Speaker 2: own hand. I will repay it. Not to mention to 300 00:17:12,200 --> 00:17:16,600 Speaker 2: you that you owe to me, even your own self. Besides, yes, brother, 301 00:17:16,760 --> 00:17:19,359 Speaker 2: let me have joy from you in the Lord. Refresh 302 00:17:19,440 --> 00:17:23,399 Speaker 2: my heart in the Lord. Now, Philemen clearly looked up 303 00:17:23,400 --> 00:17:25,800 Speaker 2: to Paul. We can see that because of this little 304 00:17:26,080 --> 00:17:28,919 Speaker 2: thing that Paul says in verse nineteen, he says, not 305 00:17:29,040 --> 00:17:31,560 Speaker 2: to mention to you that you owe to me, even 306 00:17:31,600 --> 00:17:34,600 Speaker 2: your own self. Besides, it's pretty clear that Phileman became 307 00:17:34,640 --> 00:17:37,200 Speaker 2: a Christian because of Paul, and Paul's like, I'm not 308 00:17:37,240 --> 00:17:39,560 Speaker 2: really gonna mention that to you. I'm gonna kind of 309 00:17:39,600 --> 00:17:42,840 Speaker 2: mention it to you. Just Just remember, Phileman, that you 310 00:17:43,040 --> 00:17:46,200 Speaker 2: do owe a lot to me based upon the fact 311 00:17:46,200 --> 00:17:48,639 Speaker 2: that you were once in darkness, but because of the 312 00:17:48,640 --> 00:17:51,240 Speaker 2: gospel message that I presented to you, because of the 313 00:17:51,280 --> 00:17:53,840 Speaker 2: discipleship that I showed you, and the friendship that I 314 00:17:53,880 --> 00:17:55,960 Speaker 2: showed you, you do kind of owe me for that. 315 00:17:56,520 --> 00:17:58,760 Speaker 2: But I don't want anything from you. I want you 316 00:17:58,840 --> 00:18:02,960 Speaker 2: to pay me back by being friendly and kind to Onismus, 317 00:18:03,400 --> 00:18:05,720 Speaker 2: by treating him the way I treated you as a 318 00:18:05,840 --> 00:18:09,520 Speaker 2: friend and a brother. He says, yes, brother, let me 319 00:18:09,600 --> 00:18:12,399 Speaker 2: have joy from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart 320 00:18:12,600 --> 00:18:15,680 Speaker 2: in the Lord. Notice here that Paul again uses the 321 00:18:15,720 --> 00:18:19,600 Speaker 2: word refreshment in verses four through seven. We talked about 322 00:18:19,600 --> 00:18:22,280 Speaker 2: this on Tuesday. Paul said to Philemen, you know, one 323 00:18:22,280 --> 00:18:25,040 Speaker 2: of the things you're really good at, Phileman, is refreshing 324 00:18:25,080 --> 00:18:28,679 Speaker 2: the brothers because of your generosity. You are so kind 325 00:18:29,040 --> 00:18:32,160 Speaker 2: and generous, and so again in verse twenty, he says, 326 00:18:32,440 --> 00:18:35,440 Speaker 2: refresh me, refresh my heart. 327 00:18:35,320 --> 00:18:35,879 Speaker 1: In the Lord. 328 00:18:36,200 --> 00:18:38,639 Speaker 2: You refresh all of these other saints' hearts, so do 329 00:18:38,800 --> 00:18:41,600 Speaker 2: the same for me. And again I think Paul is 330 00:18:41,720 --> 00:18:46,600 Speaker 2: hinting that he wants Onisimus to stay. But don't forget, 331 00:18:46,600 --> 00:18:50,400 Speaker 2: Paul was not going to force Phileman to do anything 332 00:18:51,240 --> 00:18:53,320 Speaker 2: he says in verse twenty one, I have confidence in 333 00:18:53,359 --> 00:18:56,000 Speaker 2: your obedience. I write to you knowing that you will 334 00:18:56,040 --> 00:18:59,760 Speaker 2: do even beyond what I say verse twenty two, also 335 00:18:59,760 --> 00:19:02,080 Speaker 2: pay a guest room for me, for I hope that 336 00:19:02,119 --> 00:19:04,680 Speaker 2: through your prayers I will be restored to you. Now 337 00:19:04,720 --> 00:19:07,600 Speaker 2: that first is evidence that Paul was writing this during 338 00:19:07,600 --> 00:19:11,359 Speaker 2: his first Roman imprisonment, because you can kind of tell, 339 00:19:11,400 --> 00:19:14,399 Speaker 2: based upon Paul's other letters when he was in Rome 340 00:19:14,480 --> 00:19:16,560 Speaker 2: the first time, that he had a lot of hope 341 00:19:16,600 --> 00:19:18,320 Speaker 2: that he was going to get out of prison. And 342 00:19:18,359 --> 00:19:20,760 Speaker 2: again right here he has hope that he's going to 343 00:19:20,760 --> 00:19:23,160 Speaker 2: get out of prison, which is why he tells Philemen. 344 00:19:23,520 --> 00:19:25,879 Speaker 2: He's like, hey, please prepare a guest room for me. 345 00:19:26,480 --> 00:19:29,240 Speaker 2: So it could be that while Paul was in Ephesus 346 00:19:29,480 --> 00:19:33,400 Speaker 2: he actually did stay with Philem in a handful of times, 347 00:19:33,480 --> 00:19:36,560 Speaker 2: because if Paul is comfortable enough to ask for this, 348 00:19:37,080 --> 00:19:41,280 Speaker 2: that means that Phileman hosted Paul on a handful occasions before. 349 00:19:41,680 --> 00:19:44,040 Speaker 2: And then he gives a few greetings to conclude from 350 00:19:44,080 --> 00:19:47,440 Speaker 2: a couple other men that were surrounding him at this time. 351 00:19:47,480 --> 00:19:50,840 Speaker 2: He says, epifrass, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus greets 352 00:19:50,840 --> 00:19:55,280 Speaker 2: you as you mark Aristarchus, Demus and Luke, my fellow workers. 353 00:19:55,600 --> 00:19:58,399 Speaker 1: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. 354 00:19:59,400 --> 00:20:02,960 Speaker 2: Now the name Demus here might ring some bells for you, 355 00:20:03,560 --> 00:20:06,639 Speaker 2: because we talked about Demus a little bit, and I 356 00:20:06,720 --> 00:20:09,760 Speaker 2: believe the Book of Two Timothy at the very end, 357 00:20:10,480 --> 00:20:14,560 Speaker 2: when Paul was about to be killed, he actually said 358 00:20:14,560 --> 00:20:17,960 Speaker 2: that everybody abandoned him except for Luke, and he called 359 00:20:18,000 --> 00:20:21,600 Speaker 2: Demus out by name. He said, my friend Demus has 360 00:20:21,640 --> 00:20:25,000 Speaker 2: abandoned me because he loved the things of this world. 361 00:20:25,400 --> 00:20:28,080 Speaker 2: That's a really sad verse because Demus right here in 362 00:20:28,119 --> 00:20:32,439 Speaker 2: Phi Lehman is mentioned as being a good friend, a 363 00:20:32,600 --> 00:20:35,960 Speaker 2: fellow worker of Paul's. I think this is a warning 364 00:20:36,000 --> 00:20:39,880 Speaker 2: to all of us. No matter how strong you might 365 00:20:39,960 --> 00:20:45,040 Speaker 2: be in the Gospel, the world can always pull you away. 366 00:20:45,119 --> 00:20:48,240 Speaker 2: It's a warning that we need to be careful not 367 00:20:48,320 --> 00:20:50,560 Speaker 2: to allow that to happen to us any It can 368 00:20:50,600 --> 00:20:52,919 Speaker 2: happen to any of us. It could happen to you, 369 00:20:53,040 --> 00:20:55,240 Speaker 2: It could happen to me. You know. The cares of 370 00:20:55,280 --> 00:20:59,119 Speaker 2: this world might take precedent and we go off the 371 00:20:59,160 --> 00:21:01,760 Speaker 2: wrong path for a while. Even Jesus talked about this 372 00:21:01,880 --> 00:21:03,920 Speaker 2: in the Parable of the Sowers. You know, he said, 373 00:21:03,920 --> 00:21:06,680 Speaker 2: some seeds fall on rocky soil, some seeds fall in 374 00:21:06,760 --> 00:21:11,520 Speaker 2: good soil, some seeds fall in the thorn bushes. And 375 00:21:11,600 --> 00:21:13,560 Speaker 2: Jesus said that the ones that fall in the thorn 376 00:21:13,600 --> 00:21:17,240 Speaker 2: bushes are the ones that spring up. In other words, 377 00:21:17,240 --> 00:21:19,960 Speaker 2: they hear the gospel message and they spring up, but 378 00:21:20,359 --> 00:21:23,560 Speaker 2: the thorns choke them out after a while. And the 379 00:21:23,600 --> 00:21:27,240 Speaker 2: thorns represent the cares of this world. And that's what 380 00:21:27,359 --> 00:21:30,080 Speaker 2: happened to Demus. He sprang up. He was a fellow 381 00:21:30,119 --> 00:21:33,639 Speaker 2: worker of Paul's, but when persecution happened, or when something 382 00:21:33,640 --> 00:21:37,239 Speaker 2: else came up in life, he abandoned Paul and the 383 00:21:37,240 --> 00:21:41,679 Speaker 2: gospel message for the cares of this world and left. 384 00:21:42,280 --> 00:21:44,240 Speaker 2: We need to make sure that we are not seeds 385 00:21:44,440 --> 00:21:47,959 Speaker 2: that fall among the thorn bushes, but that we're seeds 386 00:21:48,000 --> 00:21:51,439 Speaker 2: that fall among the good soil, where we sprout up 387 00:21:51,480 --> 00:21:55,679 Speaker 2: and we produce a lot of fruit. Now that's not 388 00:21:55,720 --> 00:21:57,760 Speaker 2: to say that Demas wasn't saved by the way, or 389 00:21:57,800 --> 00:22:00,600 Speaker 2: that he lost his salvation. I don't believe that, because 390 00:22:00,680 --> 00:22:04,720 Speaker 2: Jesus did say in that parable that the Gospel message 391 00:22:04,760 --> 00:22:07,719 Speaker 2: was effective you know, they sprang up when they heard it. 392 00:22:07,960 --> 00:22:10,600 Speaker 2: But if you allow the world to take precedent over 393 00:22:10,640 --> 00:22:13,520 Speaker 2: the Gospel message in your life, you will not have 394 00:22:13,600 --> 00:22:16,760 Speaker 2: the same reward from Jesus when you eventually see him. 395 00:22:17,160 --> 00:22:19,120 Speaker 2: So you have to be very careful of that. It's 396 00:22:19,200 --> 00:22:22,600 Speaker 2: kind of a scary thought, I suppose. But Paul concludes 397 00:22:22,640 --> 00:22:25,240 Speaker 2: the letter by saying, the grace of our Lord Jesus 398 00:22:25,320 --> 00:22:26,720 Speaker 2: Christ be with your spirit. 399 00:22:27,200 --> 00:22:27,560 Speaker 1: Amen. 400 00:22:29,840 --> 00:22:32,840 Speaker 2: Right after this ad, I'm going to share a little 401 00:22:32,840 --> 00:22:35,520 Speaker 2: bit more about the canonization of the Book of Philamen 402 00:22:35,880 --> 00:22:38,440 Speaker 2: because I really like the story. So take a listen 403 00:22:38,480 --> 00:22:40,199 Speaker 2: to this ad and I'll be back right after that. 404 00:22:42,320 --> 00:22:45,320 Speaker 2: So in the one tens a d there was a 405 00:22:45,440 --> 00:22:50,840 Speaker 2: bishop named Onissimus in Ephesus. A bishop was a church 406 00:22:50,920 --> 00:22:55,200 Speaker 2: leader of sorts, and church history says that this same 407 00:22:55,320 --> 00:23:00,399 Speaker 2: Onissimus of Ephesus was very likely the same Onismus found 408 00:23:00,440 --> 00:23:02,560 Speaker 2: here in the Book of Philemon. And it makes some 409 00:23:02,640 --> 00:23:05,199 Speaker 2: sense because if Onisimus was a young man when he 410 00:23:05,560 --> 00:23:08,960 Speaker 2: ran away when this book was written about sixty four eighty, 411 00:23:09,480 --> 00:23:12,760 Speaker 2: he would have been in his seventies or eighties at 412 00:23:12,760 --> 00:23:15,639 Speaker 2: the time of the bishop Onisimus in Ephesus in the 413 00:23:15,760 --> 00:23:18,720 Speaker 2: year like one ten eighty. So that's kind of cool 414 00:23:18,760 --> 00:23:23,280 Speaker 2: to think about that Phileman very likely listened to the 415 00:23:23,280 --> 00:23:23,960 Speaker 2: words of Paul. 416 00:23:24,359 --> 00:23:25,360 Speaker 1: You know, Paul said. 417 00:23:25,160 --> 00:23:28,119 Speaker 2: That he had a faith that Phileman was going to 418 00:23:28,160 --> 00:23:31,000 Speaker 2: go above and beyond. He says, I have confidence in 419 00:23:31,040 --> 00:23:33,879 Speaker 2: your obedience. I write to you, Phileman, knowing that you 420 00:23:33,880 --> 00:23:37,520 Speaker 2: will do even beyond what I say, And Philemen very 421 00:23:37,640 --> 00:23:40,800 Speaker 2: likely did, which is probably one of the reasons why 422 00:23:40,920 --> 00:23:45,480 Speaker 2: this little letter was canonized. It could be that Onisimus himself, actually, 423 00:23:45,840 --> 00:23:49,320 Speaker 2: when he became a bishop in Ephesus, brought forth this 424 00:23:49,480 --> 00:23:52,200 Speaker 2: letter himself and was like, look, this was my letter 425 00:23:52,640 --> 00:23:55,719 Speaker 2: of freedom. So a lot of people say that Onisimus 426 00:23:55,760 --> 00:23:59,000 Speaker 2: was the one who actually saved this letter and especially 427 00:23:59,000 --> 00:24:01,560 Speaker 2: brought it forward when he was bishop in Ephesus. So 428 00:24:01,600 --> 00:24:04,880 Speaker 2: it's kind of a neat little conclusion to the story 429 00:24:05,640 --> 00:24:09,399 Speaker 2: that Onisimus could have become a church leader in his 430 00:24:09,520 --> 00:24:13,000 Speaker 2: old age, which was very common actually in these days 431 00:24:13,040 --> 00:24:17,200 Speaker 2: for bishops or elders or church leaders to be older men. 432 00:24:17,720 --> 00:24:20,359 Speaker 2: Just a neat little conclusion. So I loved the Book 433 00:24:20,359 --> 00:24:23,240 Speaker 2: of Philehman. I hope you guys enjoyed studying this book 434 00:24:23,280 --> 00:24:25,240 Speaker 2: with me, like I said it was short, and we're 435 00:24:25,280 --> 00:24:27,760 Speaker 2: done with it, so we are moving into the Book 436 00:24:27,760 --> 00:24:31,280 Speaker 2: of Hebrews, and man, I am so so excited to 437 00:24:31,320 --> 00:24:33,439 Speaker 2: go through the Book of Hebrews with you guys. It 438 00:24:33,560 --> 00:24:37,119 Speaker 2: is my favorite New Testament book by a long shot. 439 00:24:37,240 --> 00:24:41,200 Speaker 2: I love the Book of Hebrews. My favorite Old Testament 440 00:24:41,240 --> 00:24:43,720 Speaker 2: book is the Book of Judges. I've talked about that before. 441 00:24:44,119 --> 00:24:48,400 Speaker 2: But Hebrews, Man, I love it. I absolutely love Hebrews. 442 00:24:48,760 --> 00:24:51,240 Speaker 2: So we're going to get into Hebrews next week. I 443 00:24:51,280 --> 00:24:53,360 Speaker 2: hope you guys tune in on Tuesday as we discussed 444 00:24:53,359 --> 00:24:55,760 Speaker 2: the first chapter of Hebrews, and we're going to spend 445 00:24:55,840 --> 00:24:58,320 Speaker 2: some time in Hebrews. I am certainly not going to 446 00:24:58,400 --> 00:25:00,320 Speaker 2: rush it because I think there's a lot to know. 447 00:25:00,760 --> 00:25:03,399 Speaker 2: I think it's a fantastic book. I think every single 448 00:25:03,440 --> 00:25:06,000 Speaker 2: person in the world can benefit from the Book of Hebrews. 449 00:25:06,160 --> 00:25:09,080 Speaker 2: So I'm certainly looking forward to presenting that to all 450 00:25:09,160 --> 00:25:11,199 Speaker 2: of you guys and studying it with all of you 451 00:25:11,240 --> 00:25:14,000 Speaker 2: faithful listeners. But anyway, guys, I hope you have a 452 00:25:14,040 --> 00:25:17,560 Speaker 2: fantastic and wonderful weekend. I will see all of you 453 00:25:17,680 --> 00:25:20,000 Speaker 2: on Monday. If I don't see you, guys, tomorrow. Don't 454 00:25:20,000 --> 00:25:22,520 Speaker 2: forget tomorrow is for the members. We are going through 455 00:25:22,720 --> 00:25:24,919 Speaker 2: the Book of Psalms right now over on the Bible 456 00:25:24,960 --> 00:25:27,680 Speaker 2: Explained on Fridays. You're not going to gain access to 457 00:25:27,720 --> 00:25:30,280 Speaker 2: the Bible Explained on Fridays unless you become a member, 458 00:25:30,280 --> 00:25:32,200 Speaker 2: So that's what you gotta do. Click the link in 459 00:25:32,240 --> 00:25:35,280 Speaker 2: the description that says Kofi and I'll hopefully see all 460 00:25:35,280 --> 00:25:39,359 Speaker 2: of you faithful members tomorrow on the podcast. But if not, 461 00:25:39,480 --> 00:25:43,679 Speaker 2: I hope you have a fantastic and wonderful weekend. Happy listening, 462 00:25:43,760 --> 00:25:51,760 Speaker 2: faithful listeners, and God bless. I just want to take 463 00:25:51,760 --> 00:25:53,679 Speaker 2: a second to thank the team at Life Audio for 464 00:25:53,680 --> 00:25:56,160 Speaker 2: their partnership with me on the Bible Explain podcast. 465 00:25:56,560 --> 00:25:58,720 Speaker 1: In fact, if you go to lifeaudio dot com you. 466 00:25:58,640 --> 00:26:01,560 Speaker 2: Will find dozens of other faith centered podcasts in their network. 467 00:26:01,840 --> 00:26:05,400 Speaker 2: They've got shows about prayer, Bible study, parenting, and more.