In the book Salvation by Allegiance Alone, by Dr. William Bates, an intriguing notion emerges. It revolves around Paul's deliberate use of words that function as condensed vessels, compressing larger ideas or narratives into a single word or phrase.
An example of this is the term "gospel," which serves as a linguistic shortcut for an entire story. Consequently, when delving into Paul's letters, one must understand the stories compressed into these words in order to unpack the implicit embedded narrative within words like "gospel" and then apply them to the larger narrative or message being written about. Using this literary mechanism means Paul can pack a great deal of meaning into a very small space.
Understanding the stories behind words like "gospel" enables us to have a more comprehensive understanding of the overarching message Paul seeks to convey.
Gospel (εὐαγγέλιον, euangelion)
When Paul uses the word εὐαγγέλιον (euangelion or gospel), the word is packed with a story that does not align with how we in the 21st century often align the story. First, we must see that words like "gospel" are compressions or (in more modern words) "triggers", where our minds automatically unpack such words and phrases into stories with a large amount of detail.
Secondly, we need to see that the story we have been taught to unpack from "gospel" is not the same story that Paul was unpacking. Let's first understand what Paul had in mind when he used the word "gospel" and then compare it to what many of us are taught as the story to unpack the same word.
PAUL'S GOSPEL: The word "gospel" translates to "good news" or "glad tidings" in Greek (εὐαγγέλιον, euangelion). However, the Greco-Roman understanding of "gospel" in the first century was not religious, but rather political and military in nature.
It was often used to refer to the birth, coming of age, or accession to the throne of a ruler, a military victory, or any event that brought benefit to the empire. It was a proclamation of something that had already happened, and it carried an idea of a significant change or a turning point.
For Romans, the ascension of a new emperor would entail a lot of meaning that affected their daily lives. Caesar Augustus had his stepfather, Julius Caesar, declared to be a god, which in turn made him the "son of god". Therefore, temples were erected around the empire where Roman citizens were expected to go and worship, offering their gifts, incense, and declarations of loyalty, allegiance, and fealty to Caesar as the "son of god".
Therefore, when Christians adopted this term (such as Paul) they were doing so with great significance. Literally, by proclaiming the gospel, they were proclaiming not only the ascension and installment of Jesus Christ as the King of kings and the universe, but they were disavowing Caesar and giving their lives in allegiance, loyalty, and fealty to Christ as King. Thus, when Paul uses the word "gospel" it is a highly loaded term and not stated lightly.
Now—keep the story above fully in your mind and compare to what many of us are presently taught about what "gospel" means:
FULL GOSPEL: The term "Full Gospel" is a way of describing the Christian doctrine that emphasizes the four aspects of the gospel: salvation, sanctification, healing, and the second coming of Christ. It is based on the idea that whatever God did through the church in the New Testament times, he still does today. The term was coined by A. B. Simpson, the founder of the Christian and Missionary Alliance, in the late 19th century¹. It was later adopted by various Pentecostal and charismatic movements, such as the Foursquare Church and the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship². The term "Full Gospel" reflects the belief that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever³, and that his followers can experience his power and presence through the Holy Spirit. The term also implies a commitment to the mission of God and the proclamation of his kingdom⁴. Some of the distinctive features of the Full Gospel movement are:
- Belief in modern miracles, such as spiritual healing and speaking in tongues².
- Ongoing operation of spiritual gifts, such as prophecy, discernment, and wisdom³.
- Emphasis on personal holiness and sanctification, as a result of the work of the Holy Spirit⁴.
- Expectation of the imminent return of Christ and the fulfillment of his promises.
- Participation in the global evangelization and social transformation of the world.
The term "Full Gospel" is not without controversy, as some critics have accused it of being too subjective, emotional, or sensationalist. Some have also argued that it is not biblical, historical, or ecumenical. However, the proponents of the Full Gospel movement have defended it as a faithful and relevant expression of the Christian faith, rooted in the Scriptures and the experience of God's people.
(1) Full Gospel - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Full_Gospel.
(2) . https://bing.com/search?q=Full+Gospel+meaning+and+history.
(3) What is a Full Gospel Church? – Evangel Magazine. https://www.evangelmagazine.com/2018/05/what-is-a-full-gospel-church/.
(4) undefined. https://www.gotquestions.org/Full-Gospel-church.html.
What I am calling compression or condensing as presented in the example of "the gospel" is technically the idea of Synecdoche (sih-NEK-duh-kee).
Gospel vs Gospel
It is important to understand the striking transformation that Paul brings to the concept of the gospel. He draws from the Roman perspective of good news, but then redefines it through the lens of Jesus as the exalted and reigning King. Paul's primary emphasis rests on showcasing Jesus as the majestic Lord and ruler of the entire universe, surpassing all other authorities (especially men, gods, and demons, et al).
This extraordinary focus on Jesus carries indirect and implied implications for those who encounter this message of hope. Consequently, the narrative places greater significance on Jesus rather than on ourselves.
The concept of "Full Gospel" in modern times tends to prioritize our own interests, placing the kingdom of God as a mere afterthought. This clear evidence reveals the existence of two distinct "gospels" being presented, which should urge us to critically re-evaluate and reject the current "modern gospel" fabricated by individuals like A. B. Simpson and others.
Instead, we ought to be reminded of the gospel preached by Paul, guiding us back to its true essence.
This passage raises two significant issues for us.
Firstly, we must acknowledge that we often fail to carefully and closely examine the Scriptures. If we were diligent readers, we would recognize the presence of compressed language and actively seek to understand it better.
Secondly, due to our lack of attentiveness, we become vulnerable to losing the original meanings of these compressed terms. Instead, we may unknowingly adopt fabricated interpretations or outright falsehoods.
Consequently, in the year 2023, if we were questioned about our belief in the "Full Gospel," many of our common responses would not align with the actual teachings of scripture or historical accuracy. Our misunderstanding would lead us to focus on ourselves, our lives, and our choices, rather than directing our attention towards Jesus as the exalted King. Is a gospel about us instead of Jesus still the gospel Paul preached? Hardly at all.
Synecdoche
In our discussion of Paul's gospel versus other (or false) gospels we find the two-step dance of getting this technical matter called "synecdoche" glaringly wrong, which may (in fact) lead us into a "false gospel". Before continuing further, let's get a solid definition of this new term:
Synecdoche (noun): A literary device or figure of speech in which a part of something is used to represent the whole, or the whole is used to represent a part. This can also include larger entities representing individuals or individuals representing a larger group. Examples could include referring to a long artistic career as "a lifetime at the easel," or describing a challenging lifelong journey for equality as "a seat on a bus."
Although this phenomenon has a technical term, let's simply call it a condensing of a story into a single word or phrase that triggers our mind to unfold a larger framework of understanding. These condensed words and phrases help us pack a lot of theology into a small space. For those who understand these compressed theological fragments, we can more easily and quickly communicate God's story and His expectations for us.
Pistis as Allegiance, Loyalty, Fealty
The concept of "gospel" in Paul's teachings, as well as in the Greco-Roman context, entails people's reaction upon hearing the "good news" of a new ruler. During the time of Augustus, Romans would witness the establishment of temples in their towns and cities where they were expected to gather and worship the newly crowned "son-of-god" in Rome. It was obligatory for every Roman citizen to demonstrate their loyalty and announce their allegiance to Caesar Augustus as king and son-of-god (Julius Caesar) in a public manner at these temples.
At the core of Paul's message is the same concept, but applied to Jesus as the ruler over all. Each person is required and even expected by the king to publicly renounce all previous loyalties and show unending loyalty to the new king: Jesus Christ as he reigns in the heavenly realm and will come back in all of his glory as the King of both heaven and earth. Whereafter, he will rule and govern the earth for a thousand years, followed by a judgment, and then for all eternity. This is how the term gospel was understood by the people Paul wrote to.
The ultimate inquiry we must pose is straightforward: How did Paul's gospel anticipate individuals to exhibit this devotion once professed? To find the solution, we must examine the concept that allegiance is love and love is allegiance. When Romans announced their loyalty to Caesar, it was riddled with contradictions and disgust as they encountered the frequently repulsive actions of human emperors. However, when it comes to King Jesus, things take on a completely different aspect!
Love is Loyalty; Loyalty is Love
The very basis of a marriage vow is that of loving-loyalty. Any thought, word, or action that threatens the bond of loving-loyalty between a husband and a wife is instantly deemed as treachery and an act of betrayal.
Just ask any wife what she thinks of her husband flirting with another woman—either seen or unseen by her? You could well ask the same of husbands about their wives.
Either way, even the slightest flirtations are met with the bristling brought on by even a hint of disloyalty in thought, word, or action.
The loyalty of Christ to his Father and to us is unmistakable. It is not something that can be denied, especially since the Father himself raised Jesus from the dead and exalted him as the King of all heaven and earth. One of the main teachings of Paul's gospel is the resurrection of Jesus, a fact that cannot be disputed, proving that Jesus now reigns in the heavenly realms, having all the power and authority given to him by the Father.
One of the most significant things that Jesus demonstrated was his unwavering loyalty to his Father and to us. He fulfilled the promise made to Eve in Genesis 3. This means that now, humanity has the opportunity to embrace the gospel of Jesus as our King. We can also witness the defeat of the fallen sons of God who once terrorized us through violent acts.
These tumultuous days are coming to an end, both in heaven and on earth. When the King returns, everything will be resolved once and for all. This will happen in the last Age of the King and culminate on the Day of the Lord, which marks the final judgment. But as marriage reveals that loyalty is a two-way street, so to is the loyalties of the Kingdom—both his and ours to each other.
One important aspect to consider regarding love is loyalty. Loyalty and love are inseparable, and it is important to understand that God's perfect loyal love is directed towards both his Father and us.
In response, we are called to reciprocate with loyal love towards our King and Savior, Jesus Christ. However, it is crucial to acknowledge that our loyal love towards him falls short in comparison to his love for us.
We must always remember that we are not on equal footing with him in this significant aspect.
Next, it is important to clarify and direct our attention. Our love and devotion towards Jesus Christ as our King is expected to progressively increase.
Although we may initially possess a limited understanding of His love and devotion towards us, we are meant to mature in our knowledge of Him and His love for us. This growth will result in us expressing greater and greater waves of visible love and loyalty, mirroring His example, but directed from us towards Him.
At long last, although Jesus currently dwells in the invisible realms of heaven, he has provided us with a means by which we can manifest our increasing allegiance to him as our King. This instrument is none other than the fellowship we share with one another and with those who are entering into the gospel through repentance.
By forsaking their loyalties to the flesh and worldly desires, false gods, and malevolent forces, they embrace a new devotion to Christ, motivated by his faithful love for all who receive the gospel message.
How can we show our devotion to others? We demonstrate this by emulating the qualities of Jesus in our interactions: showing love, care, kindness, compassion, mercy, providing support, offering healing, lending a helping hand, and generally being beneficial to one another in practical and significant or even small ways.
Hence, one cannot truly consider themselves a faithful follower of Jesus Christ, the king declared by the gospel Paul preached, if they are deceitful and treacherous towards those around them. Such behavior contradicts our commitment to Christ as our spiritual partner and tarnishes our reputation before him.
The key to becoming more like Jesus Christ lies in our willingness to serve others. It is not enough to simply speak or think about it; we must actively engage in acts of service. James, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, emphasizes this important message in James 2:14.
Other compressions
So far, we have noted compressed ideas or stories unfolded from words like "gospel", "pistis" (loyalty), and "love" (agape as loyalty). There are others besides, which will help us as we go along in the last section of this article, where we look at common scriptures mentioning the gospel, pistis, and agape. Let's unpack a few.
The riches of his glory
Let's begin by discussing the concept of glory in relation to Jesus Christ as King. Here, glory refers to the radiant majesty and authority that Jesus possesses. This glory not only radiates from Jesus himself, but also from all those who are his followers and everything that belongs to him. However, Jesus is the central figure and the source of this glory. The essence of this glory is found in the gospel, which is truly remarkable when you stop and think about it!
Human kings, on the other hand, strive to present themselves as glorious in order to exert power and control over others. They seek to appear majestic, often by flaunting their wealth and riches. However, their focus is usually on themselves, their own interests, and their own glory. In contrast, Jesus, the glorious King, displays the glory of others rather than himself. This selfless display of glory ultimately reflects back to him, as he perfectly serves all in unwavering love and devotion to his Father, as well as to us.
So, let's delve into the text and see how it supports the idea that our work and commitment to loving-loyalty to our King brings about an investment in his glory and riches. One aspect we can focus on is the concept of wealth and its measurement.
As believers, we often think of wealth in terms of material possessions or financial abundance. However, the Bible presents a different perspective. It describes the riches of God's glory as something far greater and more profound. It is none other than the people, you and I, who make up the body of Christ.
When we engage in acts of mercy, compassion, help, healing, and provision towards others, we are directly investing in the glory and riches of our King. Our actions become a means through which God's glory is manifest in this world.
As we explore the Scriptures from this point of view, we will find undeniable evidence supporting this truth. The Bible consistently stresses the significance of serving one another and prioritizing love and loyalty to God. These acts of service are not merely empty gestures, but rather they are an expression of our devotion to the very King of heaven.
Thus, the true measure of our wealth lies in our relationships with one another and our commitment to serving our King who is within each other. By investing in acts of love and service, we contribute to the riches of God's glory.
The final message to see is that the resources of heaven, the riches of his glory, are found in and through each other. When you want the wealth of heaven, then look no further than those who are members together with you of his body and those who are being added or will be added. If you want to grow in the riches of his glory, then you are seeing wealth in the people of God!
1. Romans 9:23: "What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory—"
2. Ephesians 1:18: "I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people,"
3. Ephesians 3:16: "I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,"
4. Philippians 4:19: "And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus."
5. Ephesians 2:7: "In order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus."
A good conscience
Passages such as 1 Peter 3:19-21 contain the phrase "good conscience." This phrase is rich with meaning and conveys different meaning besides "inner voice of right or wrong." In the context of Greek culture at that time, it denotes the disposition and loyalty of an individual.
When we encounter terms like "evil conscience" or "good conscience," we are actually delving into the concept of a person's overall inclination or tendency. In one instance, it describes an individual who actively seeks to demonstrate loyalty and love to Jesus by showing kindness, offering assistance, and showing mercy and compassion to others.
On the other hand, an "evil conscience" signifies a disposition inclined towards betraying Jesus as King and acting treacherously towards His own, His royal family members, both current and future (those responding to the gospel).
NOTICE: Take special care to observe how a small amount of knowledge is influencing your understanding as you read. For instance, in the previous paragraph, I used the term "gospel." If you've been attentive, you may have started reading this word with a new understanding that you analyze and comprehend in your mind while reading. Thus, in this context, you are likely interpreting "gospel" as follows: An evil conscience refers to someone actively working for the harm and suffering of those who are devoted to the enthroned King of all, and also loyal to him and each other in return. As you continue reading, the King and his Kingdom have become your primary interpretation of the word "gospel" and the overall message is painted into that landscape.
Practical application
Let's apply what we've learned to a reorientation of scripture passages having to do with gospel, pistis, agape, riches of his glory, or good or evil conscience.
Galatians 5:6 For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; but faith working through loyal allegiance.
Ephesians 3:16-19 I pray that out of his glorious riches (members of his body) he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through fealty to him. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in loving-loyalty, may have power from it, together with all the Lord's people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the gospel, which is the proclaiming of the resurrection and enthronement of Jesus Christ as King of all heaven and earth, and to know this proclaiming is what surpasses human knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
1 Thessalonians 1:3 We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by loyalty, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord (enthroned King) Jesus Christ.
1 Timothy 1:5 The goal of this command is loving-loyalty to Christ, the King, which comes from a pure allegiance and a good conscience (bent towards) and a sincere fealty to Jesus.
2 Timothy 1:13 Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in loyal allegiance and love to King Jesus.
Philemon 1:5 Because I hear of your loving-loyalty and allegiance towards Jesus the King and all the saints, I pray that the proclaiming of the resurrection and enthronement of Jesus Christ as King of all heaven and earth, which you have received with a loving-loyal heart, may bear fruit and bring forth a rich harvest of new members who will also be loving-loyal to Jesus and his body, the church.
SPECIAL NOTE: Built within this short passage is a deep compression of the church. It is the proclaiming of the gospel that we have received and reciprocated our own loyalty to Christ in response to his for us. Moreover, we then understand that we live and grow under our loving King. One of our demonstrable activities within the family is to grow the family, which is the bearing of fruit, which is in two parts: First, the part of our own actions and then the second part are the new members of the family that come as a result. Therefore, this verse acts as a compression of what it means to be a Christian!
WIDER VIEW OF PHILEMON: The entire short letter, reoriented and reinterpreted from the Greek.
1 Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,
To Philemon our beloved fellow worker 2 and Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier, and the church in your house:
3 [Growth of] Allegiance [to Christ] to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, 5 because I hear of your loving-loyalty and of the allegiance that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints, 6 and I pray that the sharing of your loving-loyalty may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ. 7 For I have derived much joy and comfort from your loving-loyalty, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.
8 Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required, 9 yet for loving-loyalty's sake I prefer to appeal to you—I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus— 10 I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment. 11 (Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.) 12 I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart. 13 I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the resurrection and enthronement of Jesus Christ as King, 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. 15 For this perhaps is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, 16 no longer as a bondservant but more than a bondservant, as a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
17 So if you consider me your partner, receive him as you would receive me. 18 If he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. 19 I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it—to say nothing of your owing me even your own self. 20 Yes, brother, I want some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.
21 Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. 22 At the same time, prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping that through your prayers I will be graciously given to you.
23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you, 24 and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
1 Peter 1:21-22 By him (his cross and power in yourselves), you have pledged your allegiance to God, who (by my gospel that I preach) raised him from the dead and bestowed upon him honor (enthroned Kingship), so that your loyalty and confident expectation (hope at the judgement day) are in God. Your souls have been cleansed by your commitment to the truth, resulting in genuine devotion to your brothers and sisters, lovingly loyal to each other deeply from a sincere heart (good conscience).
SPECIAL NOTE: It is here that we see that human works are not what is accomplishing this Kingdom-thing within us and other members of the family. It is by the work of the Father, Son, and Spirit that any of this is possible. Moreover, it is not about rule-following (Mosaic Law or any other set of rules), but of direct guidance and direction through the Spirit of Christ in us to the purpose of genuine devotion to God through our brothers and sisters and new members being added along the way.
1 John 3:23 And this is his commandment, that we pledge our allegiance to the name of his Son Jesus Christ and remain lovingly loyal to one another, just as he has commanded us.
Jude 1:20-21 But you, beloved, strengthening yourselves in your most holy allegiance and praying in the guidance of the Holy Spirit, maintain your loyalty to God, eagerly anticipating the benevolence of our Lord Jesus Christ (on that Day of the Lord) that results in everlasting life.
SPECIAL NOTE: It is our choice to be strengthened by giving our critical attention to both our allegiance to Jesus Christ and doing so through prayerfully seeking the direct guidance of the Holy Spirit. Through this, we maintain (keep, hold fast to) our "loyalty to God", which has an eager anticipation (hope) of the benevolence of our Lord Jesus Christ at the Day of the Lord judgment of all, where the outcome is either participation in eternal life or denial of it (for those who are either not loyal or who walk away from and disavow Christ as King).
1 John 4:16 So we have come to know and to pledge our loyalty to the love that God has for us. God is lovingly-loyal, and whoever remains faithful in their loving-loyalty to him remains in God, and God remains in them.
SPECIAL NOTE: It is clear from the apostle John that mutually held loyalty and allegiance between King and human is the glue that maintains the bonding of God to us and us to God. There can be no other reasonable outcome. What's most telling is that this message is contained in the original translation (ESV in this case), but is shrouded in compressed ideas. Only when we know what ideas are being compressed can we discern the overall message being given.
1 John 4:16: "So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him." (ESV)
2 Thessalonians 1:3 We are called to constantly offer our gratitude to God for all of you, brothers and sisters, as it is fitting, because your loyalty and allegiance to one another is flourishing, and the loving-loyalty of each and every one of you towards each other is growing stronger and deeper.
SPECIAL NOTE: What you are most likely now adding into your mind and allowing your own mind to expand for you is simply this: What Paul is describing above is the supernatural working out of the gospel that he preaches by people who reciprocate to God their own loyal allegiance to King Jesus by way of being loyal to teach other in love, grace, mercy, compassion, help, suffering, and so on. The message ought to be getting very strong by now.
And why is Paul and those with him filled with such deep gratitude towards God for all of the people at Thessaloniki? Because they see the gospel flourishing and thriving in lived out embodied loyalty in each person in the church body of Jesus Christ, their King!
Titus 3:15 All who are with me send greetings to you. Greet those who are lovingly-loyal to us in their allegiance to Jesus. Grace be with you all.
SPECIAL NOTE: Once again, we note that there is an intimate tie between allegiance to King Jesus and loving-loyalty to each other. One cannot honestly and sincerely claim loyalty to Christ while treating other family members (household of faith) and those becoming or about to become members with anything other than grace, mercy, help, and so on. Pretending to love (be loyal) to God, while demonstrating contempt for human beings makes one nothing more than a traitorous and treacherous liar.
1 John 5:1-4 Everyone who pledges their allegiance to Jesus as the King has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this (obeying his commandments) is the (demonstration of) loving-loyalty to God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world - our allegiance.
SPECIAL NOTE: Once again, it should be becoming clearer to us the message of the gospel and how salvation is attained through allegiance to King Jesus alone. Note that allegiance is not a "works-based" thing, but an active living response to what Christ has both done and empowered and provided for of himself in us.
The triumph of Jesus is shown through those who hear the gospel of the new King Jesus, ruling and reigning above, and believe in the evidence of his resurrection by the Father.
How do they respond? They renounce their previous allegiances and publicly demonstrate their allegiance to King Jesus. This is where the phrase "Victory in Jesus, my Savior forever" finds its foundation.
The victory is a direct result of our proclaimed and lived-out loyalty, which is a response to his loyalty demonstrated to us, and as we respond to him through one another and those entering his Kingdom. Therefore, passages like 1 John 5:1-4 deeply pregnant with profound meaning and messages.
2 Peter 1:5-7 For this very reason, devote yourselves to adding to your loyalty towards Jesus, virtue, and to virtue, understanding, and to understanding, self-control, and to self-control, endurance, and to endurance, godliness, and to godliness, brotherly affection, and to brotherly affection, loving-loyalty.
Philemon 1:6 And I pray that your allegiance and love towards Christ may be fruitful in bringing about a deep understanding of every good thing that resides within us, all for the sake of Christ.
Closing thoughts
Throughout our journey, we have come to realize that scripture contains an abundance of words, phrases, and passages that are filled with highly profound compressed messages and stories. However, due to the vast time gap between us and the original context in which these texts were written, much of their meaning has been obscured. In fact, over the centuries, these messages have not only been lost but also distorted, leading to the formation of new narratives that have been held up as church truths, traditions, creeds, doctrines, and dogmas.
In addition to these challenges, our modern minds are often disconnected from the worldview of the original writers and readers of the text. This disconnect highlights the vital importance of rediscovering and realigning ourselves with the magnificent and epic message of the gospel.
My most earnest prayer is for anyone reading these words that they would help the Spirit of God in you to be open to what the unfiltered message of scripture truly is in its original worldview and context.
Please, Lord Jesus—give us all the mind and view of those you chose to first write these words. Give us mostly the mind of Christ Jesus, the King deep in ourselves. Cause us to be willing to labor to honestly see and know your message to us, which will enable us towards that Day of the Lord when you appear as King of Glory!