1. The document provides summaries of the key messages in Paul's letters to the Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. It emphasizes themes of forgiveness, viewing challenges positively, contentment, thankfulness, seeking good cheer, and living with love. 2. Paul encouraged Onesimus, a runaway slave, to return to his master Philemon with a letter asking for forgiveness. 3. Paul's letters focused on maintaining unity through humility, gratitude, and upholding what is virtuous.

1. NEW TESTAMENT LESSON #40
Philippians; Colossians; Philemon

2. Apostle Paul as described by
Joseph Smith
 “He is about five feet high; very dark hair; dark
complexion; dark skin; large Roman nose;
sharp face; small black eyes, penetrating as
eternity; round shoulders; a whining voice,
except when elevated, and then it almost
resembled the roaring of a lion”
(Teachings of the Prophet
Joseph Smith,sel. Joseph
Fielding Smith [1976],
180).

3. The “Prison Epistles”
 The Prison Epistles were all written at about the
same time. They were also written to
congregations or individuals in the same area.
Therefore, they are alike in many ways. Tychicus,
Paul’s companion, was the bearer of the epistles
of Ephesians, Colossians and Philemon
 Ephesians and Colossians are called "twin
epistles" because they are so much alike. About
one half of the verses in Ephesians are also found
in Colossians in very similar language.

5. Onesimus
 The epistle to Philemon has one object: the
welfare of a runaway slave named Onesimus.
 Onesimus had been Philemon's slave. After
he ran away, he found the gospel and joined
the Church.
 Now he desired to return to Philemon and the
fellowship of the saints in his former residence,
but an escaping slave who was caught and
returned to his master could, by law, be put to
death.

6. Forgiveness
 I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten
in my bonds, which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but
now profitable to thee and to me...Receive him...not now as a
servant [or as someone who owes you a tremendous amount,
which was what often led to slavery in those days], but above
a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much
more unto thee, both in the flesh and in the Lord? If thou
count me therefore partner, receive him as myself...
"If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee [anything], put that on
mine account. I...have written it with mine own hand [think of
the scars of Golgatha], I will repay it: albeit [it goes without
saying] how thou owest unto me even thine own self
besides. Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord:
refresh my bowels [today we would say, my heart] in the
Lord" (Phile. 1:10-21).

7. Forgiveness
 Truly, until we forgive, our peace and
happiness is held hostage by the offenses
committed against us. Once we give that debt
over to Christ, we are free to be happy, free to
live in the present and for the future, unfettered
by the damaging past.

9. Viewing Everything (but our sins) in
a Positive Light
 "But I would ye should understand, brethren, that
the things which happened unto me have fallen
out rather unto the furtherance of the
gospel" (Philip. 1:12)
 Paul points out that everything works out, even things
that appear to be negative.
 "What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether
in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I
therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice" (Philip.
1:18).

10. Not Complaining
 "Do all things without murmuring and
disputings: that ye may be blameless and
harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in
the midst of a crooked and perverse nation,
among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice
in the day of Christ...for the same cause also
do ye joy, and rejoice with me“
 (Philip. 2:14-18).

11. Forgiving ourselves and moving on
 “…but this one thing I do, forgetting those
things which are behind, and reaching forth
unto those things which are before, I press
toward the mark for the prize of the high calling
of God in Christ Jesus" (Philip. 3:13-14).
 Remember that Paul caused a great deal of damage to the
early Christian church. He caused slaughter and
imprisonments, terror and scattering among the believers of
Christ.

12. Being Content
 "Not that I speak in respect of [or, not that I give a lot of
attention to] want; for I have learned, in whatsoever
state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to
abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in
all things I am instructed both to be full and to be
hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all
things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Philip.
4:11-13).
 Sometimes, rather than being strengthened by Christ to
conquer overwhelming odds or achieve amazing goals,
we must be content to accept what is, we must be okay
with giving up dreams we thought were important. In
things that might be considered disappointments, we can,
like Paul, learn to be content, through Christ which
strengtheneth us.

13. Find Peace through Thankfulness
 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by
prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let
your requests be made known unto God. And
the peace of God, which passeth all
understanding, shall keep your hearts and
minds through Christ Jesus. (Philip. 4:6-8)
 Gratitude is the surest way to find peace in this life.
 Have you ever heard of a gratitude journal?

14. Seeking and Spreading Good
Cheer
 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true,
whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things
are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever
things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good
report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any
praise, think on these things. (Philip. 4:8)
 The "admonition of Paul," to use Joseph Smith's words,
was to think upon things that lift our hearts, that elevate
our spirits, things that are "true," "honest," "just," "pure,"
"of good report," "virtuous". We should focus on and
share news stories that are uplifting and
encouraging. We should actively seek to elevate those
around us with our good cheer. We should promote
happiness. We should be positive.

15. 13th Article of Faith
 13 We believe in being honest, true, chaste,
benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all
men; indeed, we may say that we follow the
admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we
hope all things, we have endured many things,
and hope to be able to endure all things. If
there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good
report or praiseworthy, we seek after these
things.

17. Living in Love
 "Above all these things put on charity, which is
the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of
God rule in your hearts..." (Col. 3:14).
 We don't need to worry about achieving perfection through
checking off lists and meeting expectations. We will, like
the Pharisees, never succeed.
 But we can achieve perfection through doing everything we
do and treating everyone we meet with love. Our goal in life
should be to have love become our motivator in every
instance, because charity never faileth, and charity will
bring us peace.

18. Giving Whole-Heartedly
 "And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord,
and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall
receive the reward of the inheritance; for ye serve
the Lord Christ" (Col. 3:23).
 This is an amazing “Key to happiness”
 We may experiment and find that in any endeavor in any
area of our life, if we do it hesitantly, with misgivings,
with resentments, holding back even a tiny bit from the
Lord, we likely will get burned out. There is too much
tension in our spiritual muscles, too much earthly gravity
holding us down. But if we give it all and don't count the
cost, the stress lessens, the joy increases, and we only
desire to do more.

19. Singing with Grace in Your Hearts
 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all
wisdom; teaching and admonishing one
another in psalms and hymns and spiritual
songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the
Lord
 Both the epistle to the Colossians and the epistle to the
Philippians were based around early Christian hymns of
praise to the Savior. Paul quoted one in Philip. 2:6-11
and the other in Col. 1:15-20 (Harper-Collins Study
Bible).

20. Couple “interesting tidbits..”
 4:14 Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas
greet you
 Reference to “Luke” his companion and author of
Book of Luke
 4:16 And when this epistle is read among you,
cause that it be read also in the church of the
Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the
Epistle from Laodicea.
 Reference to another “missing Epistle”