Philippians Part 1 Joy through Participation

 

A study of the Biblical Book of Philippians
Part 1 –Joy through Participation
Introduction & Chapter 1: 1-11

Introduction to Philippians

Picture if you can an ancient town of around 10,000 inhabitants, called Philippi, in the Mediterranean area of Europe, bordering the Aegean Sea. This town is mid-point on a major trade highway known as the Via Egnatia, that runs from modern-day Turkey across to Greece.  It is the major town in the District of Macedonia and home mostly to Greeks and Romans. Many nationalities, including Jews, are present in the city, but they are not highly regarded.

The religious life of the city is diverse. The official religion is the worship of the Emperor of Rome, but older religions such as the cult of Dionysus (a religion that was practiced by the earliest residents of the region known as Thracian's) and Orphism (which emphasized union with the Divine) also attract a following.

According to the Book of Acts, the Apostle Paul one night had a vision of a Macedonian man pleading for him to bring the gospel message to his area.

 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them. Therefore, sailing from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and the next day came to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is the foremost city of that part of Macedonia, a colony. And we were staying in that city for some days.  (Act16:9-12NKJ)

In Philippi there is no synagogue, the normal place Paul would have sought to attract disciples to the religion of Christianity he first knew as ‘The Way’, but he discovers that there is a place of prayer down by the riverside.  He meets there a gracious lady known as Lydia, who invites Paul and his companions to stay at her house that she may learn more of their message.  They also encounter a ‘fortune-telling’ slave girl, who turns out to be most annoying, following them around saying, “These men are servants of the Most High God”. We pick up the story at verse 18 of Acts Chapter 16;

And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And he came out that very hour. But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities. And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, "These men, being Jews, exceedingly trouble our city; "and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe." (Act16:18-21NKJ)

The local magistrates are not impressed. Paul and his colleague, Silas, are firstly beaten and then thrown into prison, their feet placed in the stocks. This incident provides a glimpse into a characteristic that becomes the dominant theme of the letter he later writes to the Philippian Church, namely; ‘Transformed by Joy’.

Whereas most of us would be nursing our wounds and be about ready to throw in the towel we read  “At midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. (Act16:25NKJ)

There is an earthquake. The chains fall off, the jailbirds can fly free.  The chief jailer, realizing that his life is on the line as he has allowed his prisoners to escape, is about to commit suicide, but Paul and Silas call out, ‘Hey… we’re still here!’ This incident leads the jailer and his household to embrace the Christian message.

The magistrates also have a change of heart… particularly when they find out that Paul was a Roman citizen and their treatment of him had been unlawful.  They ask him to leave the city, which he does, but not before again spending some time at the house of Lydia.  From out of these incidents, the encounter with Lydia at the riverside and that of the Jailer and his family’s conversion, the church in Phillipi comes into being.

Time goes by. The Church in Phillipi grows.  From within new leaders emerge. Paul continues on a journey that leads to imprisonment in Rome. Contact with Paul is maintained by church workers such as Epaphroditus, a fellow worker with Paul who brings him news of the developments in Phillipi as well as carrying to them his own concerns.

From Epaphroditus  (a name which means ‘lovely’) Paul receives gifts from the Philippians as well as news.  Some of the news warms his heart. Other things concern him. He worries about divisions he hears of in the church and encourages reconciliation. He is concerned at the influence of divisive teaching.  He fears that their success had led to complacency, and that they were losing the ‘edge’ that had caused them to stand out against the rest of society, an ‘edge’ defined by love and service to each other and those around them.

He also wants them to never to lose sight of the transforming power of true Christian joy. The kind of joy that he had experienced in the jail cell at midnight the first time he ever went to their town. A joy that could shake the foundations, and overflow in streams of blessing towards others.

Above all this joy was not defined by outward experience but by inner conviction. He worries that they may see his imprisonment in Rome as a defeat. That his current circumstances would discourage them. He is anxious they realize that what was happening to him was part of a bigger picture… that God was working out God’s purposes and they therefore had no reason to fear for him.  He again encourages them to ‘Rejoice and be glad!’.

Around our lives today are circumstances that cause us great concern. The threat of violence. The uncertain economy. Cultural shifts and technological developments. The uncertain future of traditional denominations such as the PC (USA). These are anxious days!

The challenge Paul lays at our door, is this. Can we allow our lives, both as individuals and churches, to be transformed by joy? Can we connect with the grace and love of God in such a profound way that our whole attitude becomes one of gratitude?

Can we find our lives defined not by the outward situations we travel through, but through their internal relationship to God? A God who is always creating that which is good, always setting free that which is imprisoned and always calling us to care and share out of the abundant blessings showered upon us? 

For our motivation Paul invites us, (in a wonderful hymn-like passage that occurs in the second chapter) to focus on Jesus Christ. From Eugene Petersen’s transliteration ‘The Message” we read;

“Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of Himself. He had equal status with God but didn't think so much of Himself that He had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, He set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! “

‘Responsive obedience’ to God’s call, digging deep into the resources God places in and around our lives, staying focused on what is really important in life… such things, Paul suggests, can give our life a joy-filled center!

Part One : Joy through Participation  Philippians Chapter 1: 1-11

We begin our journey by looking at the opening greetings, in which joy is expressed by Paul for the way the Church in Phillipi has blessed him whilst he was imprisoned in Rome.  Verses 1-2…

Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

What is special about Paul's’ greeting to the Philippian Church is that it begins the letter on a note of friendship. In many of his letters, Paul is anxious to proclaim his status as an apostle, but here he describes himself using a Greek word ‘Doulos’... a word meaning servant, or more literally ‘slave’. 

He has no need to emphasize his position, so instead he talks in terms of the relationship that he and his co-worker in the gospel, Timothy, had with them, a relationship based upon mutual service and recognition of each others standing with God.

In this light he calls the Philippian Christians ‘saints’, not intimating that they were somehow all perfect individuals, but that they were people, like himself, who had found a new identity in life through their relationship with Jesus Christ.

I remember hearing the old gospel song ‘When the saints go marching in’ being sung at football matches. By singing the song the supporters were identifying them selves with the team. In a similar way, we are on God’s team; through grace, through baptism, through our daily participation in the life of God’s Kingdom. Sainthood is here a mark of intent rather than an achievement!

He mentions that among the ‘saints’ were ‘bishops and deacons’.  We should not interpret those terms in the light of 21st Century practice. The offices of bishop and deacon had not yet fully developed.  Bishops came in time to be seen as ‘Fathers’ to newer believers, whilst deacons had a particular role in serving the practical needs of the congregation.

His greeting continues by offering them ‘Grace and Peace’. William Barclay in his commentary points out that Paul here was taking the greeting phrase of two nations and molding them into one.

“Charis” (Grace) is the greeting with which Greek letters always began and “eirene” (Peace) the greetings with which Jews met each other. Each of these words had its own meaning and each is deepened by the new meaning Christianity poured into it”

He goes onto speak of how grace was a word associated with joy, beauty and charm, whilst peace was a word associated with wholeness … rather like the Hebrew ‘Shalom’. Both were joys that Paul, Timothy and the Philippian disciples were called to share in through their faith in Jesus. 

All that in one sentence… let us move on! Verses 3-7

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace.
 (Phi1:3-7NKJ)

Again, Paul is emphasizing the joy of the partnership he felt with the church in Philippi. Things had gone well with the ‘saints’ in Phillipi from the very beginning. He had cause to offer many thankful prayers whenever he thought about them.

This wasn’t the Church in Galatia, being torn apart by divisive teachings.  It wasn’t the Corinthian Church, struggling to stay focused amidst a diverse and sometimes decadent culture. It wasn’t Rome, a church situated at the power center of an empire. This was Philippi, a congregation who had embraced both Paul and the gospel he proclaimed, with warmth and love.

Paul is confident that the seed that had been sown in Philippi, having shown evidence of growth, would continue to blossom and flourish.  This reminds us that the hope we have in Jesus, is not just for the past (as in we are forgiven for whatever held us back from following the way). It is not just for the present (as in we have daily opportunity to call upon God in prayer). It is also a hope for our future, ‘that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it’

Matthew Henry, my favorite commentator of olden times, notes the following things about this verse.

Firstly, notice that the work of grace is a ‘good’ work. It is a good work that God is doing in us. At times we may not see it that way. At times we may struggle to understand our faith. But even that struggle is a ‘good’ thing because it’s taking us somewhere and moving us forward. We can treasure the questions and embrace our doubts, because we are confident that this search for understanding is a ‘good’ thing.

Secondly, note that it is God who has started this work in us, it is not of ourselves. God is the instigator of our strivings to find out more. Our confidence is not in our own ability or tenacity to see things through, but in the faithfulness of God to finish what the Holy Spirit has started to stir within us.

Thirdly, note that this work of grace is never completed in this life. The verses speak of it not being complete ‘until the Day of Christ’. We could say ‘It ain’t over till the fat lady sings’. Throughout our whole journey of discipleship we are always a work in progress.  In this life we never arrive; we are always becoming.

Finally, notice that if God didn’t make it part of the program to finish what the Holy Spirit has started, then it would never be complete! Our quest is God breathed, God maintained, God sustained, God blessed and only in God completed! As with so many things in Christian life it is a matter of trusting in God. That ‘He who has begun a good work in you will complete it.’

Paul rejoices as he witnesses the grace of God at work in the Philippian congregation. In a phrase that sounds like it could have been lifted straight from a country song he declares ‘I have you in my heart’.  Even though he was now confined within the walls of a prison he knew that they were supporting him and praying for him and working hard to see that the Good News he had delivered to them was still being declared to others and taken on board their own lives. “You all are” he says  “partakers with me of grace”. I love you guys! Why? Because we are in this together! So he continues…

For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ. And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. (Phi1:8-11NKJ)

Paul here outlines some of the things he will later return to.  He lets them know what sorts of things he desires that they may find in their lives through their relationship with God in Jesus Christ.  He prays that their love will keep on growing, stronger and stronger. That it will bring with it knowledge and discernment that they may, as it says in the margin of some older translations ‘Try the things which differ’. By doing so they will know when something excellent comes their way and be able to lift it up as being a good thing.

One of the problems of the overload of information we receive in our culture today is that we don’t have a lot of time for ‘discernment’. In our throwaway world much of what we seek is just for the now. We see it, we try it, we move onto the next thing.  Maybe that’s one of the reasons folk are no longer attracted to ‘traditional, mainline’ churches.  Our minds are befogged by the mantra which tells us ‘If there’s nothing new about it there can’t be anything good about it!’

Paul prays that they may be sincere, a wonderful Greek word ‘heilikrines’ that can also mean ‘pure’ or ‘unsullied’ or even  ‘found pure when unfolded and examined by the sun's light’, having its root in the Greek word for the suns rays ‘heile’. Sincerity is here defined as deep intentions of the heart, so deep, that even when our motives are revealed, they are wholesome and true.

He prays that they may be without offense, meaning not so much that they will not cause offense to others, but have nothing in their own lives which would cause them to stumble in their spiritual journey.  Rather they are to be “filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”

Notice here that the goal of discipleship is not to be empty of desire or longing, but rather Paul envisages an emptying of our ‘negativity’ in order that we may be filled with ‘positivity’… the ‘righteousness’ of Christ… which enables us to share good things (good fruits) with others and brings glory and praise to God.

So our initial greetings conclude and we are given a hint of what is to come.  Paul will go onto address concerns they had regarding his situation, offer some advice as to how they could avoid problems in the future, urge them to seek unity and offer more greetings! Yet even undergirding even these few opening sentences is a note of joy.

The first part of the first chapter Paul of Philippians is all about joy through participation. Paul found in the Philippians some true friends who are concerned for his well-being and are carrying on his work. This brings to his soul a feeling of deep joy.

Can we not learn from this? As we consider the friendships and the faith that sustain us, surely we cannot help being thankful. We too have experienced the joy of participation through our fellowship with each other.

Next time we will move on to consider joy through endeavor and look at how Paul framed his life experiences in a bigger picture than just life on earth. 

Philippians Part 2 Joy through Endeavor

  A study of the Biblical Book of Philippians
Part 2 –Joy through Endeavor
Chapter 1: 12 - Chapter 2:2

In our previous study we were introduced to the church in Philippi and explored the story of its founding by Paul that we are given in the Book of Acts, before taking a look at some of the initial verses of the letter. We saw how Paul rejoiced in the way that the Philippian Church had blossomed and was delighted that the work was still going on. He was also thankful for the way the church there continued to show their love and support for him.  We titled our first session ‘Joy through participation.’

In this second section, which I’m calling ‘Joy through Endeavor’ we’ll see how Paul encourages the Christians in Philippi to enter into the struggle for the faith with him. In doing so he suggests that they would find their discipleship deepened and lives enriched.  He invites them to consider his own struggles as evidence that God could work out God’s purposes in the most unlikely ways.

He begins by addressing some of their concerns. He knows, because of the joy he shared with them in their participation in the gospel, that they are worried about his situation in prison.  How could that be part of God’s plan? It’s almost bringing us to that age-old question, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” Or even the nagging thought that if God were so good and great why did things ever have to go any other way then total blessings for those who sought to follow His way with all their hearts?

But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from good will: The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice. (Phi1:12-18NKJ)

Paul is anxious for his Christian friends to understand, that from his perspective, what had happened to him, far from being to the detriment of the gospel, was actually aiding it's growth. Everybody around the prison knew that he was there because of his refusal to give up speaking about Christianity. This obviously raised questions in their minds. Was he just another religious nut case, or was there something to this message that he proclaimed?

He gives the impression that some among the palace guard had gained a strong interest in the message, maybe even accepted it for them selves. This new climate of acceptance and questioning was a positive thing, because it gave others the boldness to speak out about their own Christian faith. He is convinced that God was using his situation for some higher purpose. What seemed like a major setback was turning out to be a great leap forward.

I find it interesting that he does not say; “That’s the way that God planned it”. Rather he talks of the 'things which have happened to me'.  There is a huge gulf between the two. Suggesting everything that happens in life is somehow exactly what God desires... even suffering, disease, disaster and all the rest, can make God appear to be anything but love.

The alternative view is to suggest that in life there is joy and there is pain. That such is just the nature of things. Leave God in or out of the picture and the joy and the pain are still there. There is chaos. There is Creation. And we live out our lives in the tension between the two.

The mystery of faith is when God appears to turn the chaos towards our favor. As Joseph says to his brothers, after they had left him for dead, in Genesis 50:20 “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good.” (NLT)

Paul even applies that principle to reports that there are preachers out there declaring the message who were of questionable integrity, alongside many who were the real deal. His reaction? To rejoice that  “whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached”. He seems to have this unquenchable addiction to finding the positive where most of us see only the problem.

Yes... he hopes to be out of prison... yes... he would rather be visiting with the Philippians than writing to them, but he recognized that genuine discipleship involved the calling to face hardships. That was how it was for Jesus. Should he expect anything less? Indeed he counts it as a joy that his Lord and Savior deemed him worthy of sharing in His sufferings!

Most of us, I believe, find that hard!  But we are not Paul and we do not possess that perspective on faith that Paul was experiencing. He continues…

19 For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.

Paul is full of hope.  He senses his deliverance is at hand. He is captivated by a sense of expectation.  His overwhelming desire is that events, be they negative or positive, will ‘magnify’ the work of Christ that is going on in his ‘body’. (The word used here by Paul for body is the Greek ‘soma’ which meant more than just the physical being, but the whole person).

The resources that he seems to be drawing upon are firstly, his own prayer and devotional life, secondly, the prayers of others and thirdly what our passage describes as  ‘the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ’. These are what bring to him a sense of joy as he endeavors to move in faith.  Should it not be the same for us?

Through personal devotion our expectations and hopes can be deepened. Through our participation in a community of faith, we can be encouraged and lifted up by others prayers and concerns. God can supply us with the impetus to go forward through the Holy Spirit acting within us and around us.

Note that he refers to the Holy Spirit here as ‘the Spirit of Jesus Christ’. We see here the beginnings of what eventually became theologically known as the ‘doctrine of the Trinity’. Paul links the work of the Spirit directly to the work Jesus Christ.  The implication is one of a deep unity. The work of God… is the work of Jesus Christ… is the work of the Holy Spirit, distinct, but one in purpose and application.

Paul then reveals his deep devotion to Jesus Christ, as being one that went beyond the boundaries of life on earth.

For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith, that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again. (Phi1:21-26NKJ)

Paul has this tremendous sense that whatever this life is … ‘we ain’t seen nothing yet’. For Paul death is not the end, but the new beginning. In our current life we are not able to be all that we could be, but in the next we will finally be free and see Christ as He really is.  Such he maintains is “Far better!” than anything this world can offer. Yet whilst heaven was an incredibly desirable destination, the fact was that there was work to be done here on earth.  As it reads in the NKJ “To remain in the flesh is needful”.

‘Needful’, Paul suggests, in order that his beloved Philippians’ may progress towards having an even more joy filled faith and that their joy may be even greater when he gets to be with them again. He’s not letting this idea that a life of faith should be a ‘joy-filled’ endeavor pass us by!  In order for us to experience such a life it involves following a certain path. Paul continues;

27 Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God. For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me. (Phi1:27-30NKJ)

In verse 27 Paul uses a Greek Word ‘politeuomai’ which has it roots in the idea of ‘political citizenship’. Philippi was a very Roman town.  Some translations have ‘live your life worthily of the gospel’ or speak of ‘conducting yourself’ worthy of the gospel; neither of which truly capture the nuance of Paul’s words.  It is as though he is saying to them…  “You know that citizenship of Rome requires certain obligations and requirements. So in your community life reflect the values of the Kingdom of God in all your affairs.”

What were those values? He speaks of ‘standing fast in one spirit’ and ‘striving together for the faith’. Notice how these are community actions, not actions we are called to endeavor to achieve alone.  There is a tendency in modern religious life to see the spiritual quest in very individualistic terms. Yet Paul keeps bringing us back to the idea that joy is found when a community pulls together.

It is also as a community that opposition and persecution were best resisted. Paul was in prison.  The community were aware (in a way that we are not aware today) that embracing the gospel could bring hardships and suffering at the hands of those who saw the Christian message as a threat. Eugene Petersen’s transliteration “The Message” captures well the sense of the first chapters final verses.

“Your courage and unity will show them what they're up against: defeat for them, victory for you — and both because of God. (There's far more to this life than trusting in Christ. There's also suffering for Him. And the suffering is as much a gift as the trusting.) You're involved in the same kind of struggle you saw me go through, on which you are now getting an updated report in this letter.”

As we travel into Chapter 2 the first verses of the chapter serve as a link between where we have been and where we are going.

Philippians 2:1 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. (Phi2:1-2NKJ)

This is an ‘if’ verse! In other words Paul is asking… “If this discipleship journey we are on together has blessed you in any way, if love has made a difference to your life, if being a part of your church community has been in any way positive… then make my day by taking it further, going deeper, sharing and caring like you have never done before.” And that seems like a good place to finish!

Let us recap where our journey has taken us. Paul begins his letter to the Philippians by stressing the joy he received through participation in the gospel. He is thankful for the way the Philippians have cared for him and takes great joy in seeing how their life together has blossomed and flourished.

He then moves on to encourage them to find joy in their endeavoring together. To allow themselves to be nurtured by each other’s prayers and presence. To not be discouraged by events like his own imprisonment but see how God was using even that situation to the good purpose of proclaiming the Good News.

He encourages them to adopt an eternal perspective to their lives, using the memorable phrase; “For me to live is Christ, to die is gain”. Yet he offers this not in an escapist way, but in a way that reminds them that there is much to be done and that by endeavoring to be a community of faith, much could be accomplished.

As we move into chapter 2 he will invite us to consider Jesus Christ as the ultimate example of service and speak of ‘Joy through Obedience’.

Philippians Part 3 Joy though Obedience

 

“ Transformed by Joy”
A study of the Biblical Book of Philippians

We began our journey into Philippians by looking at the story in Acts of how the church in Philippi had been founded by Paul. We then reflected on Paul’s later circumstances, as a prisoner in Rome writing to a church whose love for each other and for him brought to him a great sense of joy.

Paul instructs his readers to find joy through their endeavor to live truly Christ-like lives. He offers them the bold statement, “For me to live is Christ, to die is gain’.  Whilst heaven may indeed be something to look forward to he states the more pressing need was that the work of the Kingdom move forward.

He invites the Philippians to find joy through ‘living lives worthy of the gospel” What did that mean? We concluded last time on an ‘If’ verse and I gave you the ‘Authorized Adrian Translation’ of the first verses of Chapter 2. “If this discipleship journey we are on together has blessed you in any way, if love has made a difference to your life, if being a part of your church community has been in any way positive… then make my day by taking it further, going deeper, sharing and caring like you have never done before.”

And so on to verses 3 through 5.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus:- (3-5)

Paul insists that for joy to be truly experienced it must be found within the context of a community of faith. And in order for that community to flourish so that joy can be known, there must be a commitment to looking out for each others needs and interests.  There was no room for those who wanted to ‘push their way towards the front’ or ‘sweet-talk their way to the top’ (as the Message bible transliterates).

Paul urges them to regard ‘each other as better than themselves’. Such an exhortation is not meant to foster false modesty, or create low self-esteem, but to encourage a grateful and graceful recognition of the rights and achievements of others in the community.

 Humility was a virtue not often expressed in Greek culture any more than it is in our own. Humility can be portrayed as the sneaky, whining variety epitomized in Charles Dicken’s character of Uriah Heap (from David Copperfield), who wrings his hands and says ‘Very humble, very humble sir…” The kind of humility Paul has in mind is rather that which shone so lovingly through the ministry of Jesus.

Our 5th verse invites us to think of ourselves the way Jesus thought of Himself. We move into a section, often called the ‘Philippian Hymn’, which speaks about the true humility and eventual exaltation of Christ. Before we actually look at this passage, which some commentators describe as one of the most significant in the whole New Testament, a bit of background to these verses may be helpful.

Although it is described as a ‘hymn’ translators are not in agreement as to how it actually should be translated. Some versions of the English Bible line it out, as though it were a poem. But others point out that, if it were a poem, it does not follow the usual structure of other Greek poems.

Some suggest it was a poem that Paul added lines to. Others that it was a liturgical item, as though it were part of an ancient church bulletin. A few suggest Paul may have been the author, but others point out that it contains vocabulary that Paul does not use elsewhere in his writings.

The verses are theologically significant because they present the idea that Jesus came from God and returned to God having completed His mission here on earth in obedience to the Father’s will.  Some commentators have suggested that such understanding only came later in Christianity, but if Paul (who writes around AD 60-62) was quoting earlier sources, then it appears such teaching had been around a lot earlier.

I’m sure most of you will not lose any sleep over such debates, so for the purpose of our study, I’m treating the hymn as a liturgical poem. But firstly let us read it in the Scripture –

Phillipians 2:6-11

“ who though he existed in the form of God did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking on the form of a slave, by looking like other men, and by sharing in human nature. He humbled himself, by becoming obedient to the point of death– even death on a cross! As a result God exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow– in heaven and on earth and under the earth– and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.” (Phi2:6-11NET)

I offer you the following structure. Not because it is more grammatically correct  or in any way a better translation, but simply… as a structure… we can use for our study!

Philippian Hymn

Though He was in the form of God,
He did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited,
But emptied Himself,
Taking the form of a slave.

Being born in human likeness,
And being found in human form,
He humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death;
Even death on a cross.

Therefore God highly exalted Him
And gave Him the name that is above all names,
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
In heaven and on earth
And under the earth,

And every tongue confess…
‘Jesus Christ is Lord’
To the glory of God the Father!

(Adapted from New Revised Standard translation)

Let us recall also the theme we are taking for our study of Philippians, namely being ‘Transformed by Joy’ and the theme of this particular session, ‘Joy through obedience’. This hymn speaks of death, suffering and the Cross, not in any way descriptive of joyful events, but frames them in the larger picture of the glory and exaltation of Jesus and His willingness to give His life in service.

First Stanza:   
Though He was in the form of God,
He did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited,
But emptied Himself,
Taking the form of a slave.
This theology in this passage echoes that of passages such as the opening section of Johns Gospel and the Book of Hebrews which present Jesus as the eternal one, present with God at the beginning and through whom all things came into being.

John1:1-3 - ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through Him, and without Him not one thing came into being.’ (NRS)

Hebrews1:1-3- ‘Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom He also created the worlds. 3 He is the reflection of God's glory and the exact imprint of God's very being, and He sustains all things by His powerful word.’ (NRS)

The notion that creation involved more than one ‘agent’ is an ancient one. Genesis 1:2 speaks of the ‘Spirit of God’ hovering over the waters, whilst Genesis 3: 22 pictures God declaring "Behold, the man has become like one of Us…” (plural). Whilst it is not the best practice to pull scriptures out of their original context, the idea of God as being a unity that was more than a ‘ONE’ had been around long before Paul wrote his letters.

Our hymn begins by picturing Jesus as being in the form of God and having equality with God. We then have this idea of Jesus letting go of all that privilege in order to declare solidarity with humanity. As the Message Bible reads:- “When the time came, He set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human!”

The Greek term for this ‘self-emptying’ is ‘Kenosis’. The voluntary setting aside of all privilege. There is a hymn that says; “Thou who wast rich beyond all measure, All for our sakes becamest poor”.  Such is the idea in this first stanza.

Notice that the humanity that Jesus takes upon Himself is of the humblest and lowest kind. He comes as a slave (or as different translations have it a ‘bond-servant, or ‘servant of no reputation’).  There is no mention of working for payment or reward. He comes to us with the motivation of love as an act of  grace.

Second Stanza: 
Being born in human likeness,
And being found in human form,
He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death;
Even death on a cross.   

Two of the great celebrations of the Christian year are Christmas and Easter. We find them both in this short passage. The idea of Christ being born in human form, as a baby in the manger, is re-enacted in nativity plays around the world on an annual basis.

The events of Christ’s humiliation that lead up to His crucifixion are ones we focus upon every Easter season. Time after time in the gospel narratives we hear Jesus saying He must do His Father’s will.  His whole life is an act of obedience. That obedience is not only His duty but also His joy. The life of Jesus is defined by joyful service!

Third Stanza:    
Therefore God highly exalted Him
And gave Him the name that is above all names,
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
In heaven and on earth
And under the earth

The other side of the Easter narrative is of course the Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus. The very last Sunday in the Christian year is “Christ the King Sunday” (or the more political correct ‘Rule of Christ Sunday’ which for myself really doesn’t capture that ‘every knee shall bow’ idea quite so well!)

Our first stanza referenced Genesis, but now we are in the imagery of the last book of the Bible, Revelation, which is full of images of the victory of Christ and the worship that is due to His name. Not only does this brief hymn take us through all the seasons of the Christian calendar, but also through all the books of Scripture.

Fourth Stanza 
And every tongue confess…
‘Jesus Christ is Lord’
To the glory of God the Father!
The earliest Christian confession of faith was simple. ‘Jesus Christ is Lord’. The hymn concludes by picturing a day when all, in Judea, in Rome, and even in the wild untamed world beyond the empires boundaries, would share in that confession and all that it implies.  And all of this to the glory of God!

The importance of these few verses should not be underestimated. If it indeed pre-dates Paul and was part of the earliest churches liturgy and theology then it gives us a unique glimpse into what the earliest Christians thought was important and some of the beliefs that became established in the early church.

Some critics of Christianity suggest that our modern version of faith has more to do with Paul than it has to do with the gospels, and suggest that Paul shows little knowledge of the actual life of Jesus and the theology of the gospel narratives. This hymn, about the obedient life of Jesus Christ, who was born among us, died for us and was raised for us, and who will ultimately reign victorious, would strongly suggest otherwise.

 If it were written by Paul, then he knew more than his critics admit, if it was a whole lot earlier than Paul, then the early church was a whole lot more developed than they are prepared to acknowledge!

But how does Paul follow up on this hymn. Our next passage; verses 12-15.

Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;
for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Do all things without murmuring and arguing, so that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine like stars in the world.

Paul is telling them, that just as they had always followed his example of following Jesus Christ (something that we saw in the first chapter gave him great joy when he was far from them stuck in a Roman jail) so, whether he would be able to be with them or not, they were to recall the example of servanthood Christ set before them and was calling for them to embrace.

‘Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling’ is an injunction that they treat their personal discipleship with the utmost awe and with serious intent. This was their most vital task. This is why Jesus went through all that He did. That their lives may change. That they would allow God, through the Holy Spirit to carry on renewing them and reshaping the life that they shared together.

He warns them of the sorts of things that could so quickly destroy communities of faith. Murmuring. Arguing. Complaining. Maybe Paul has in mind the journeys of the people of Israel in the desert following their Exodus from Egypt.  Whatever Moses did, however God acted it was invariably followed by murmuring and complaints and grumbles. And it nearly destroyed them. It happened then. It happens now. Paul says; “Don’t let it happen to you”. Or as I heard it said on the Andy Griffiths’ show “Nip it in the bud”!

The ways of the world were something they were called to rise above.  They were supposed to be different. They were called to be light, not add to the darkness. They were to ‘shine like stars’.  And if they couldn’t do it for their own sake, then maybe they could do it for the sake of their community or even for Paul!  Actually, he was counting on them, as our next passage reveals. (16-18)

It is by your holding fast to the word of life that I can boast on the day of Christ that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. But even if I am being poured out as a libation over the sacrifice and the offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you-- and in the same way you also must be glad and rejoice with me.

Now remember Paul’s life is on the line! Whilst he earnestly hoped to be released and the treatment he was receiving in jail was a whole lot better than it could have been, the wind could change any time. When he said “To live is Christ, to die is gain’ he spoke as a man who’s life could be over in a moment. 

The image he uses of his life ‘being poured out as a libation over the sacrifice’ is  deeply sacramental. If his life, like the life of His Lord, is to be broken like the bread at the table, if his life, like the blood of Christ, is to be poured out like communion wine, then they needed to know that such was something he was prepared to face, because they made it all worth while! The faith he had seen birthed in them gave him hope and courage and most of all … deep joy.

Using an image from the Roman games he talks about not ‘running the race in vain”. If you have ever watched a football game and seen the player run 96 yards down the field to score a touch down, not knowing that the ref has thrown a yellow flag, then you know what ‘running in vain’ means! Paul encourages them to hold onto what they believe, to continue to allow the love of Jesus Christ to remake their lives, individually and together as a community.

And their ultimate example is not to be Paul, but Jesus Christ, the Jesus of the Philippian hymn. The One who gave up all privilege so that they may know themselves children of God. The One who was obedient, obedient even unto death, the death of the cross. The One whom God raised to glory and before whom every knee would one day bow and every tongue one day confess as the true Lord of life. 

If their lives, and our lives, are to be transformed, then such requires willful obedience to the example of Jesus Christ.  Notice the words ‘joy’ or ‘joyful’ appear 4 times in verses 17 and 18.  Obedience is not seen as a burdensome duty but the essence of Christian faith.  It is, after all an obedience based upon love.

To perform an action because one has to do so, out of duty, or expecting payment, is one thing. But to take on a task, out of love for somebody, is a whole different ball game. The first can be hard going, and even create resentment. The second way, the better way of love, whilst it may be hard, also breeds joy.

This time we talked about “Joy through Obedience”.
Next time we’ll look at “Joy through Faithfulness”.

Philippians Part 4 – Joy through Faithfulness

 

Chapter 2: verse 19 – Chapter 4: verse 1

We continue our journey through the biblical book of Philippians. Let us review where we have been. We are taking the theme ‘Transformed by Joy” and we saw in our first session how Paul found joy through participating with the Philippian church in the work of the gospel. He was instrumental in founding the church in Philippi, and now he was in prison, they were doing their best to take care of him.

In our second session we talked about the joy found through endeavor. He encourages the church to find unity through lifting each other up in their prayers and concerns… through endeavoring to truly be a community with Christ at their center.

Last time we talked about ‘Joy through Obedience’ and saw how Paul lifted up the life of Jesus Christ as the greatest example of serving and joyful obedience we could ever have. Paul urges us to ‘follow him following’ Christ. This time I’m calling our session ‘Joy through faithfulness’ and we will take a look at Philippians Chapter 2:9 through Chapter 4:1.

We begin by Paul talking of two of his most faithful friends in the work he had been doing, Timothy and Epaphroditus (verses 19 through 30)

I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I may be cheered by news of you. I have no one like him who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. All of them are seeking their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But Timothy's worth you know, how like a son with a father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. I hope therefore to send him as soon as I see how things go with me; and I trust in the Lord that I will also come soon.

Still, I think it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus-- my brother and co-worker and fellow soldier, your messenger and minister to my need; for he has been longing for all of you, and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. He was indeed so ill that he nearly died. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, so that I would not have one sorrow after another. I am the more eager to send him, therefore, in order that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. Welcome him then in the Lord with all joy, and honor such people, because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for those services that you could not give me.

Timothy is mentioned many times in the New Testament letters as being Paul’s young companion. He is mentioned in connection with the churches in Thessalonica, Collosae, Corinth and Ephesus. He was with Paul when the church in Philippi was founded and was well known to them. We have two letters in the New Testament that bear Timothy’s name. Our letter began with greetings from ‘Paul and Timothy’. Timothy’s great use was that whenever Paul wished information or to send advice to a church and could not go, then Timothy was always prepared to be the messenger. And Paul had total trust in Timothy – and commends him for being whole-hearted in his service of Christ.

Epaphroditus was a member of the Church in Phillip whom they had sent to be with Paul during his time of imprisonment. Their intention was that he should probably stay with Paul till such a time as he was released. Unfortunately, whilst in Rome he had taken seriously ill, and almost died.

Communications in the Roman world did not include telephones, e-mail or texting. It could take a while for information to travel from place to place. It sounds as though the Philippians had heard something about Epaphroditus being unwell, but had not had the whole story.

Paul speaks highly of him, and encourages them to receive him home with the honor he deserved. He had literally put his life on the line for the sake of the gospel. It was probably Epaphroditus who took this letter we are studying to them.

His words about both Timothy and Epaphroditus remind us of the joy that faithful friendship can bring to our lives. If we are fortunate in our lives to have those kind of trusting and fulfilling relationships with a few truly good friends, then we are truly blessed.

From speaking in a personal way about two good friends, Paul now offers some advice about some matters that seem to have been troubling the church at Phillippi. They have to do with the way Paul saw Christian faith as being a matter of receiving the grace of God, rather than observing outward rituals or having to do with where you were in the social or spiritual pecking order.

God’s grace, found through faith in Jesus Christ, was something that transcended all barriers, welcomed everybody and Paul became angry when folk tried to impose restrictions and create ‘insiders and outsiders’ amongst the people of God. Grace was something to be rejoiced in, and something that had changed his own life in dramatic ways.

Let us look at verses 1 through 6 of chapter 3.

Philippians 3:1 Finally, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is not troublesome to me, and for you it is a safeguard. Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of those who mutilate the flesh! For it is we who are the circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and boast in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh-- even though I, too, have reason for confidence in the flesh. If anyone else has reason to be confident in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, a member of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.

Paul begins with the words ‘Finally’ and then goes on to speak for another two chapters! We preachers like that observation because we feel it gives us license to speak as long as we feel like it! However the Greek sense of the word is not ‘and so to finish…’ as it is to say ‘and so now lets get down to business!’.

And the business Paul wants us to get down to is ‘rejoicing’. Not that he isn’t about to say some hard things, but before he does he wants to remind his readers that whatever he is saying to them, he offers it in order that their joy may be complete.

There was a problem that had arisen in Phillip and many other churches. It had to do with an ongoing debate that was taking place. ‘How Jewish was Christianity meant to be?’ Jesus was a Jew and the first disciples were all Jews. They presumably had submitted to all the conventional Jewish customs such as circumcision.

There were those in the early church who therefore believed that in order to be a ‘true’ Christian, then it meant having to be circumcised as well as observe other Jewish laws, such as those about what you could eat and what days you should observe as holy.

For Paul, this imposing of the Jewish customs that he believed Christ had transcended, was something that robbed the gospel of it’s true power. The whole reason for Christ’s death was to do away with empty ritual and sacrifice and bring in a new era of grace, in which people were accepted by God, not because of what they put themselves through, but because of what Jesus had done for them.

People were placed into a right relationship by faith, by grace and by trusting in the action of the Holy Spirit to renew them and create order out of the chaos of their lives. To return to a religion of law and ritual, of circumcision and external actions, would be a huge step backwards.

And he didn’t care how loudly his critics complained, or how great their credentials were. As far as Paul was concerned, they just didn’t get it! Here’s how the Message Bible transliterates verses 2 and 3.

“Steer clear of the barking dogs, those religious busybodies, all bark and no bite. All they're interested in is appearances—knife-happy circumcisers, I call them. The real believers are the ones the Spirit of God leads to work away at this ministry, filling the air with Christ's praise as we do it. We couldn't carry this off by our own efforts, and we know it”

Lest anybody should doubt his own sincerity he reminds them of his personal pedigree. If anybody was in a position to make a judgement call on the place of rituals and circumcision then it was him. He had been circumcised in the right way at the right time. He was a descendant of Israel, the special name God had given to Jacob. He was a Benjamite. The tribe of Benjamin were the aristocracy of the nation. King David had been a Benjamite. They were the elite. He was a Pharisee who had taken his duties with the utmost seriousness. His heritage was as purely Jewish as any purely Jewish person could possibly be.

What did he make of his privileged position? Not a lot! He tells us in verses 7 through 11.

Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

Though at times Paul may appear rather obscure, here he speaks plainly. All of the power and prestige and position that he once knew, he now counted as nothing but garbage. Why? Because through his relationship with Jesus Christ he had found something that was infinitely more valuable.

And it was a relationship based upon his faith, not on his ability to live up to the expectations of the laws he once so rigidly sought to obey. He talks about ‘not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ’.

I cannot help here but think of Martin Luther’s great struggle that gave birth to the reformation. Luther struggled so hard to find acceptance from God and did everything that the teaching of the church expected of him. It left him empty, despairing and desperate.

He wrestled with the scriptures and in particular with the Book of Romans. Through that study the realization broke through to him that Christianity was not about his ability to meet certain standards or prove himself worthy of God’s acceptance. It was through accepting that he was helpless and that Jesus Christ alone could be his salvation in this life and the next that he found peace. The watchwords of the Reformation became ‘saved, by grace, through faith’.

We have been talking in Philippians about joy. When we realize that there is nothing we can do for our salvation except rest upon the grace of God, then it can be a tremendously liberating thought.

I can’t speak for everybody, but I known in my own experience I have had those times when sub-consciously I have believed that my relationship with God was built upon my ability to do the right things (or avoid doing the wrong things). It as though I had a report card and needed to get just enough check marks and gold stars upon it to get me through the ‘God’ test. Then God will hear my prayers. Then things will go well with my life. Such is a highly addictive view of religious life that reinvents itself in every generation.

Paul is warning the Philippians that to return to such a ‘righteousness by the law’ way of being would sap away all their joy and leave them in a worse state then they had been before ever hearing of Jesus Christ. Their acceptance by God had nothing to do with ceremonies and rituals and who they were and where they were from and who they knew… all of that was just so much garbage! Instead they were called to trust and have faith in God’s grace.

One aspect of that grace was the forgiveness they found through Christ’s death upon the Cross. The other side was the hope that could flood their lives through knowing the power of His resurrection. Paul writes in verse 10 “I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the sharing of His sufferings by becoming like Him in His death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead.”

Paul was aware that even his experience of Christ, amazing though it was, was still incomplete. There was more he had to learn. He had not fully been transformed by resurrection love. He was willing to face whatever life may bring his way because of his allegiance to Christ. Somehow it was all leading somewhere glorious, even though his words could not adequately describe what that looked like! Never mind if he didn’t have all the pieces in the jigsaw… he was pressing on!

Which just happens to be the focus of our next verses… 12 - 16

Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us then who are mature be of the same mind; and if you think differently about anything, this too God will reveal to you. Only let us hold fast to what we have attained.

Joy through faithfulness. Pushing ahead to a goal that will only finally be seen when it is reached. The key words in this section are “I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me His own.” Paul is enthused by the gospel because he had this unwavering belief that He belonged to Jesus Christ simply because God was a God of grace who desired that all people should know the love of Jesus Christ and the workings of the Holy Spirit within their lives.

The King James version translates the latter part of this key verse 12 “that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.” (Phi 3:12 KJV). As a fan of British cop shows the word ‘apprehend’ has definite meaning! Villains are the ones ‘apprehended’ and put into custody by the good guys. It is as though Paul were saying; “I want to be in the custody of the gospel message because I have been arrested by Jesus Christ. I am held captive by Christ’s love; He has apprehended me through His Holy Spirit”

So he encourages us. Hold On. Stand firm. Don’t be distracted. Not by things outside of themselves, like folks demanding they follow Jewish regulations, nor by the struggles inside themselves, desires which Paul, in our next passage, describes as ‘appetites’.

Finally (in an English sense, not a Pauline one) Chapter 3 verse 17 through to and including verse 1 of Chapter 4.

Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us. For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears. Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.

Whenever Paul spoke about the grace of God it seems there those who managed to twist it. Their argument went something like this. ‘If we can’t do anything to earn God’s good favor then what we do doesn’t really count for anything. Grace covers everything, which means that we can live however we please!”

Paul challenges this twisted idea by inviting them to look at the way he was living. Had grace led him to living a careless or immoral life? Look at Timothy… had it affected him that way? What about Epaphroditus? Or any other of the Christian leaders they saw as great examples of faith? Had their experience of grace led them to feel they could live however they please?

It broke Paul’s heart that some had interpreted God’s grace in the wrong way. Christ had died to set them free, but when they used their freedom for purposes that were destructive and the opposite of the humble life exemplified by Christ’s service, it put them in a place where they stood against everything He died for!

Again the Message bible confront us with the imagery in this passage. Verse 19 is transliterated… ‘Easy street is a dead-end street. Those who live there make their bellies their gods; belches are their praises; and all they can think of is their appetites.’

Paul isn’t here singling out the sin of gluttony, rather using it as a crude example of how there were those in the Christian community who played a dangerous game. They claimed to be following Christ but in reality were so focussed on the things of this world that their true commitment was highly questionable!

Earlier in our letter Paul has used ‘citizenship’ imagery that was appropriate to the folk at Phillipi, proud as they were of their connection to the Roman Empire. So he now reminds them that “Our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”

The question is sometimes raised as to whether Paul was expecting Jesus to return to earth in the immediate future. You may have come across those today who emphasize the ‘Second Coming of Christ’ and picture the event as something that could be ‘any day now!’ Such is a view popularized by such series as Tim La Hayes ‘Left Behind’ series of novels.

We can never know exactly what Paul’s perspective on the future was. What we can say is that in some of Paul’s earliest letters there does seem to be the implication that God might be about to blow the final whistle. However in letters from other later sources, such as 2 Peter 3:8-9 we read ‘Beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance’.

To explore that theme further is way beyond the scope of this study! What I would stress is that for Paul, whenever or however the world will come to an end, it is going to be a joyous occasion! Joyous because it will bring about the final transformation of our world from being merely full of potential to actually being all that creation could be! And all of this because of the work of Jesus Christ!

‘Joy through faithfulness’. Paul tells his beloved Philippians that to those who remained faithful there was much to look forward to! He encourages them to keep pressing forward and not be side-tracked by those who would steal grace away from their lives. He encourages them to follow his example and the faithful example of people such as Epaphroditus and Timothy. Such was a pathway towards experiencing the joy that characterized his own experience of Jesus Christ.

To those who seek to live a faithful life Paul offers numerous sources of joy in this passage.

• There is the joy of close friends who share in our aspirations and are there for us when we need them most.
• There is the joy of knowing we are forgiven by God, not because of what we have done, but because of what Jesus Christ has done for us. We are set free to serve by the grace offered to us through the Holy Spirit.
• There is the joy that comes through knowing that in God’s eyes it doesn’t matter where we are from, who we are, who our friends are, how influential our family may be, what educational attainments we may have attained, what our occupation is, what our income is, how capable we are of getting things right and wrong, all that… says Paul… is garbage. What matters is that we are God’s children and God loves us…just because…
• There is the joy of knowing we are all on a journey of discovery to know Christ ‘and the power of His resurrection’
• There is the joy of knowing that whatever the future may hold, God is taking care of it!

But there’s more!

Next Time: Joy through Contentment.

Philippians Part 5 – Joy through Contentment

Chapter 4: verses 2 – 23

We conclude our journey through the book of Philippians by taking a look at Paul’s final comments. We have seen in past sessions how much joy Paul took in the church at Philippi and how thankful he was at their participation with him in the work of the Kingdom.

He describes them as ‘saints’. He encourages them to keep running a good race. He lays before them the example of the servant lifestyle of Jesus as their ultimate aim. He encourages them to rejoice, even when things weren’t going so well, to carry within themselves a positive attitude that transformed even the darkest situations.

But as we will immediately see, just because they were a congregation of faithful believers founded by an apostle and who seemingly were growing and thriving, not all was well amongt the saints of God. Indeed a few of them seemed to have had ‘issues’. Can you believe that? A perfect church where people didn’t always get along? (O.K. I’m being sarcastic!) Let us read verses 2 and 3.

 I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord Yes, and I ask you also, my loyal companion, help these women, for they have struggled beside me in the work of the gospel, together with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.

It appears that Euodia and Syntyche are a couple of church ladies who have butted heads. We don’t know what the problem is, other than that it is serious enough to warrant Paul mentioning it in a letter that is otherwise upbeat, and encouraging.

Paul has a good deal of affection for these lady leaders and acknowledges them as being those who helped him in his work, and who have their names written in ‘the book of life’. Saints they still were. The community is given the task of helping them work through their problem. He doesn’t ask anybody to take sides, or decide who is right… only that they are given the help they need to resolve their differences.

William Barclay makes the observation that it is rather sad that the only thing we know about these ladies is that they quarreled. That was surely not their desired epitaph. They may have both been wonderful workers in their church. But all we now recall is that they argued. He challenges us with the sobering task of considering what folk may remember about ourselves once we are gone.

Thankfully that is not where Paul leaves us. As he has done throughout the letter he instead urges us to embrace thanksgiving and joyful obedience towards God. Verses 4 through 7.

 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Paul continues to remind his readers to ‘rejoice’ in the Lord. Remarkable words when we remember where he was and how uncertain the future he may be facing could be! He then speaks about some positive attitudes to adopt, habits that rightly practiced can enrich our daily lives. In these suggestions he appears to reflect Jesus teaching in the gospels about such themes as ‘Do unto others’, the Kingdom being ‘near’ and to not worry about our lives but rather trust God in prayerful and practical ways.

He writes, “Let your gentleness be known to everyone”. The word here translated ‘gentleness’ is the Greek Word ‘epieikeia’, one of the most untranslatable of all Greek words (as a browse through differing translations reveals.) Amongst the options suggested are ‘moderation’, ‘patience’, ‘softness’, ‘modesty’, 'magnanimity’ and ‘forbearance.’ For myself the Message Bible captures it best: “Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you're on their side, working with them and not against them.”

If people feel like we’re on their side they are more ready to listen to what we have to say. And that takes gentleness, patience, forbearance, moderation; all those things the different translations suggest ‘epieikeia’ may mean. In the gospels Jesus invites us to deal with others in the same sort of way we would like them to deal with us. ("In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; (Mat7:12NRS). This is a similar injunction.

Paul invites us to remember that the “Lord is Near’. Our incentive for treating others well is that God never fails to treat us well! God is always with us. Always close by, if we can but apprehend God’s presence. In Matthews gospel, the first time the disciples are sent out into the world, they are told to “Proclaim the good news; 'The kingdom of heaven has come near.' (Mat10:7NRS). So we are encouraged to believe that God is not watching us from a distance, but close by, walking with us and guiding our steps.

Knowing God is with us leads to Paul’s next observation. ‘Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.’ The first part of this verse reflects Jesus teaching “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own.” (Mat6:34NRS). The second part His teaching about prayer "Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you.

For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. (Mat7:7-8NRS).

Paul stresses that we can take everything to God in prayer. An anonymous commentator writes: “There is nothing too great for God's power; and nothing too small for His fatherly care”. Just as a child takes all things to their parents, from the cuts and bruises of rough and tumble, to the most perplexing problems of dealing with life, so we are encouraged to bring all of life into the presence of God.

And to do so thankfully! One can have the impression that prayer is an exercise in trying to wrestle something out of God that God is reluctant to give. That we need to have the right words and formula and spend the right amount of time praying in order to find God's way. Paul counteracts such a view by suggesting the true requisite for a fruitful prayer life is that it simply flows from a heart full of thanksgiving.

Such is a way of prayer that he suggests will bring us peace... and not just any old peace... but peace that passes understanding. The kind of peace that keeps us centered even when everything looks like it is falling apart! The sort of joy that comes from inner conviction rather than depending on external circumstances.

Paul now uses the word 'finally' again. This time he really is drawing to a close! Verses 8 through 9.

  Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.

There is sometimes with religious folk a tendency to divide between the sacred and the secular. Nowhere has this been more evident in recent days than with contemporary music. Indeed there is now a whole genre known as ‘Christian Contemporary Music’ which often sounds just like any other kind of music, except the lyrical content is specifically Christian.

Certainly much of it is of a high quality but it would be a mistake to think that the only spiritual insights one could obtain through contemporary music were limited to a genre specifically labeled as ‘Christian’. In all realms of the arts, not just music, whenever artists share their hearts they are reflecting something of the image in which God has made them. At times it may be their brokeness and distance from God that they communicate… but sometimes that is what speaks to us most.

Paul’s canvas is much greater than just music or art. He encourages us to look for the good in all that is around us… to find joy in whatever is worthy of praise. Interestingly, the virtues he mentions in verse 8; ‘whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise’… are among those that were particularly honored in the pagan world.

If God is the origin of all that is good and true and honorable, then such are resources we are right to enjoy!

In computer terminology there is the phrase ‘Garbage in equates to garbage out’. Turning that around, if we fill our lives with good things then a good harvest is produced. So Paul finishes this section by urging his readers to ‘keep on keeping on’ doing the good that he has witnessed in them and that they have witnessed in him. As our letter draws near its close Paul reminds the Philippians how grateful he was for their partnership in the gospel.

 I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned for me, but had no opportunity to show it.  Not that I am referring to being in need; for I have learned to be content with whatever I have.  I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need.  I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

A final parting shot about being joyful is found here. Paul tells us that he has learned to be content with whatever he has. He has in his life known times when he was overflowing with good things, and times when he was just hanging in there. He shares the secret of his contentedness in verse 13 ‘I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.’

Note that this is not a statement about what he can do, but about what God can do. Paul is content because he has a life surrendered to God and believes that whatever comes his way God will help him through it. William Barclay writes in his commentary ‘Paul could face anything, because in every situation he had Christ; the person who walks with Christ can cope with anything’. Morna Hooker in the New International Bible Commentary writes that Verse 13 ‘reveals the secret of Paul's ability to do “everything”; it is through the one who gives him the strength he needs.’

Matthew Henry makes reference to Ephesians 3:16 –17 ‘I pray that, according to the riches of His glory, God may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through His Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love.’ He paraphrases Paul as saying "Through Christ, who is strengthening me, and does continually strengthen me; it is by His constant and renewed strength I am enabled to act in every thing; I wholly depend upon Him for all my spiritual power."

Lest he give the impression that his reliance on God diminished the importance he placed on the love he had received from the Philippian Church, Paul concludes his letter by returning to his original thoughts; they had been a wonderful blessing from God during his time of need. Verses 14 though 20.

 In any case, it was kind of you to share my distress. You Philippians indeed know that in the early days of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you alone.  For even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me help for my needs more than once.  Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the profit that accumulates to your account. I have been paid in full and have more than enough; I am fully satisfied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.  And my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

He praises their kindness that had helped him on numerous occasions. He is thankful for the gift of Epaphroditus who had been a great friend and comfort to him through his Christ-like service. He assures them that their kindness would never go unnoticed by God who was intent on blessing them and meeting their every need. He says ‘Amen’ and then adds a few personal greetings.

 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The friends who are with me greet you. All the saints greet you, especially those of the emperor's household.  The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

We titled our series on Philippians ‘Transformed by Joy ‘. Let us conclude by reviewing the sources of transforming joy that Paul has offered to us.

Firstly there was joy through participation. Through his partnership with the church in Philippi Paul felt greatly blessed. They were dear to him and they had kept faith with him, in particular through sending one of their own, Epaphroditus, to be with him. The relationships we form with each other through active participation in a worshipping community can be a source of joy like no other.

Secondly, we spoke about joy through endeavor. Being part of a community is a blessing but building community is hard work. Its not a walk in the park, its more like a walk through Psalm 23. There are the clear cool waters, but also the frightening dark shadowy valleys, the wolves we need protection from and the need to rely on the shepherds rod and staff of guidance to get us through. It takes inner conviction to go forward in the midst of uncertainty. Paul phrases his inner conviction with the dramatic phrase ’For me to live is Christ, to die is gain’. But this is not grim determination, rather joyful acceptance that wherever and whatever his life may be, it was being lived out within the great framework of the eternal love of God.

Thirdly we spoke about joy through obedience. Paul lifts up for us, through a passage we called the Philippian hymn, the servant lifestyle of Jesus Christ, as the ultimate example of what a joy surrendered, to God abandoned, life should look like. Jesus love towards us becomes our incentive to care for each other. Discipleship is not a task to be pursued with grudging reticence, but joyful gratitude towards God. Paul uses the imagery of ‘running a race to the finish’ to illuminate how our endeavor is a life long journey! Our lives can be transformed through joyful obedience to Christ’s call.

Fourthly we spoke about joy through faithfulness. Paul singled out a couple of close friends, Timothy and Epaphroditus as examples of how we find joy through nurturing our closest relationships. He spoke about the joy we can experience through knowing the forgiveness of God; knowing that we are saved by grace through our faith in Jesus Christ. He spoke about the false barriers we erect between each other… barriers of class, religion, status, education, and influence… achievements he describes as garbage in comparison to the joy that comes from simply knowing ourselves God’s children, accepted and loved through Jesus Christ. He talks about the joy of knowing that whatever the future may hold… God’s got it covered.

Finally… in this session we have spoken about joy through contentment. After urging agreement between a couple of church ladies who are out of sorts, he reminds us some of the principles Jesus has taught us. Treating others in a way we would like to be treated. Remembering God is always near. Nurturing a relationship with God that overwhelms our worries. Developing an attitude of gratitude that enables us to see the good in even the bleakest of outward situations. He talks of finding joy in the good world around us, joy in all the positive things, the excellent and commendable… the things worthy of praise. They are all gifts from God through His children, for His children to feast upon.

He holds off till the end to give us the most profound of his insights about how to have a life transformed by joy. Chapter 4, verse 13 ‘I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.’ Life is transformed when we center life upon what God can do! Its not about self-sufficiency but about trusting God to do those things in our selves that we can not achieve apart from His love.

So… maybe… here is Paul’s challenge to us. Dare we allow the Spirit of Christ to invade our lives with the joy perspective? Dare we claim that even when outwardly things may seem chaotic, that because we are placing ourselves in God’s care, chaos can be infused with creativity? Dare we trust God beyond our worries and concerns? Dare we throw ourselves into deeper service of our church and community, simply because we believe that we are loved and that the servant King, our Lord Jesus Christ can actually bring the Kingdom near through our little tasks and everyday random acts of faithfulness?

Take him up on that challenge and them maybe we will see our personal lives and our church, in ways little and large, transformed by joy! And to conclude I offer Paul’s closing words: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit!”