Phil. 4:8-13, Learning in the Body of Christ

Christians are to be learners.  We already have seen this in the previous post and it really comes out in most of today’s passages.  In the Church everyone was a learner, including women.  We mention this because in much of the first century world women were deprived of that privilege.  Therefore Paul addressed this on several of his letters.  Let’s begin with that group of references.

·       1Ti 2:11: The woman was to learn in quietness, with full submission.

·       1Co 14:31,35: Each can prophesy so all may learn; women to learn at home. Paul was giving instructions concerning the regular meeting of the churches.  For a woman to learn at home was not to restrict her but to put it in the context of her husband’s Christian responsibility to manage his family.  At home they could be on the same page, both in what was learned and in the application.

·       1Ti 5:13: Young widows learn to be idle, gossips, etc.

·       2Ti 3:7: There were women loaded with sins, always learning but never coming to knowledge of truth. These two passages addressed common situations that Paul had seen.  There is nothing prejudicial here, only real life then and now.

·       1Co 4:6: Paul applied truths to self and Apollos so they can learn from them.  In this and the next two passages we understand that learning was not just about doctrinal truth but also life application, living according to the doctrine.

·       Phil 4:9: Whatever you learned from me put into practice.  We learn better if we have examples.

·       1Ti 5:4: Learn to put religion into practice 1st by caring for parents, etc.

Now we ask, having learned Christ, what else should we learn?

·       Mt 24:32: Learn from the fig tree; from leaves you can tell summer's near (Mk 13:28).  The fig tree speaks of Israel and it’s future in God’s plan.

·       Phil 4:11: "I have learned to be content."  Contentment is not natural but learned!

·       Titus 3:14: Our people must learn to do good, to provide needs, not be unproductive.

·       Hb 5:8: Although a Son, Christ learned obedience from what he suffered.  We have not learned when our minds are renewed but when our lives are changed.

·       Gal 3:2: Paul wanted to learn: did you receive the Spirit by law or faith?  When we learn Christ we learn to walk in Christ.

And finally, these passages to think about.

·       Jn 7:15: Jews amazed, How did this man (Jesus) get such learning?

·       Ac 23:27: The Roman commander rescued Paul having learned he was a Roman.  Don’t be stubborn, unwilling to learn and change based on what you learn.

·       Rev 14:3: No one could learn the song except the 144,000 redeemed from earth.