Suffering for the Advance of the Gospel
In this teaching, we look at how Paul's imprisonment was actually for the good and the advancement of the Gospel in his letter to the church at Phillipi.
Suffering for the Advance of the Gospel
This eleventh book of the New Testament is the most personal of Paul’s letters and has been valued for its exuberant teachings on joy, which occurs sixteen times in this short letter. One scholar has summarized the content of this letter as follows: “I rejoice; do you rejoice?” (Bengel; Hawthorne, xlviii).
The beginning of Paul’s involvement with the church at Philippi is recorded in Acts 16. Prompted by a vision (Acts 16:6–10), Paul and his colleagues traveled to Philippi (Acts 16:12). During their brief visit, God did mighty works and a church was established (Acts 16:40)
Conflict arose when Paul cast an “evil spirit” from a slave girl, which had previously enabled her to predict the future, while also earning a profit for her masters (Acts 16:16–24). For this Paul and Silas were beaten and imprisoned. An earthquake shook the prison and its prisoners were freed (Acts 16:25–27), to which the overseeing jailer responded, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30). Upon the jailer’s famous conversion, he and his household were baptized (Acts 16:32). Paul subsequently complained to the chief magistrate about their mistreatment as Roman citizens, for which they seemed to receive an apology and were entreated to leave Philippi (Acts 16:39). After visiting the new church at Lydia’s home and encouraging them, they did depart (Acts 16:40).
Philippians is unique in that it reveals the apostle’s general satisfaction with the congregation’s progress in the faith. Though he does address some false teaching, the thrust of the letter lies elsewhere. In particular, the “hymn” in 2:6–11 perhaps depicts some of the most ancient of Christian creeds while serving to illustrate the need for believers to remain humble. The letter resonates with joy, with the noun “joy” occurring five times and “to rejoice” nine.
Recap of
Suffering Has a Purpose
13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.
v.12 Analysis
It may have happened to the Philippians, that they were in some degree discouraged in consequence of the persecution of their Apostle.
The design, accordingly, of this detail is, to encourage the Philippians, that they may not feel deterred by the persecution endured by him.
It may have happened to the Philippians, that they were in some degree discouraged in consequence of the persecution of their Apostle.
v. 13-14 Analysis
Immediate Company
The phrase “the keys of the kingdom” occurs only once in the Bible, in Matthew 16:19, where Jesus is speaking to Peter: “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you shall bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven and whatever you shall loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven” (NASB).
The “keys of the kingdom of heaven” therefore represent at least the authority to preach the gospel of Christ (cf. Matt. 16:16) and thus to open the door of the kingdom of heaven and allow people to enter.
Separation of Church and State
The Christian faith can stand on its own two feet and compete very well in the market-place of ideas in any society and in any culture, provided it has the freedom to do so.
“all the rest” - Greater Influence Area
but God has frustrated both the attempts of the former and the expectations of the latter, and that in two ways, for while the gospel was previously obscure and unknown, it has come to be well known, and not only so, but has even been rendered honourable in the Praetorium, no less than in the rest of the city.”
All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household.
22 All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household.
Salt and Light.... AND on a Hill
The primary value of salt is not as a flavoring but as a preservative. Disciples are to hinder the world’s corruption. The salt deposits along the Dead Sea contain not just sodium chloride but a variety of other minerals as well. This salt can become useless when the rain washes out its saltiness over the years. Likewise, Christians whose value and conduct do not remain distinct from the culture around them fail in their mission.
The Jailer at the Church at Philippi
Brothers and Sisters in Christ
By means of Paul’s imprisonment, the Lord strengthens and encourages the Christians to proclaim the gospel fearlessly.
By this instance we are taught that the tortures of the saints, endured by them in behalf of the gospel, are a ground of confidence to us.
we ought to venture farther than we had been accustomed, having now a pledge of our victory in the persons of our brethren. The knowledge of this ought to overcome our fears, that we may speak boldly in the midst of dangers.
2For he lingered that he might be delivered up, even as the Lord did, to the end that we too might be imitators of him, not looking only to that which concerneth ourselves, but also to that which concerneth our neighbours. For it is the office of true and stedfast love, not only to desire that oneself be saved, but all the brethren also.
2For who could fail to admire their nobleness and patient endurance and loyalty to the Master? seeing that when they were so torn by lashes that the mechanism of their flesh was visible even as far as the inward veins and arteries, they endured patiently, so that the very bystanders had pity and wept; while they themselves reached such a pitch of bravery that none of them uttered a cry or a groan, thus showing to us all that at that hour the martyrs of Christ being tortured were absent from the flesh, or rather that the Lord was standing by and conversing with them.
The Gospel will Prevail
From Good Will
Envy and Rivalry (v. 17)
The apostle seems to have at least two groups of opposition in the Philippian church. Their identity, however, is among the most disputed subjects in modern scholarship on this epistle (O’Brien, 27). The first group is comprised of Christians (called “brothers”) who are preaching Christ with the intent of compounding Paul’s difficulties (1:14–15).
Rabbis were quite concerned with mixed motives for serving God, which for them primarily involved study and practice of the Scriptures. Such was not to be done out of selfish motives (m. Abot 6.1). One rabbi said, “Do not say, I will work in the Torah with the purpose of being called Sage or Rabbi, or to acquire fortune, or even to be rewarded for it in the world to come. But do it for the sake of your love for God, though the glory will come in the end”
“Since the gospel cannot be preached but by those that understand it, what motive induced those persons to persecute the doctrine of which they approved?” I answer, that ambition is blind, nay, it is a furious beast. Hence it is not to be wondered if false brethren snatch a weapon from the gospel for harassing good and pious pastors. Paul
“Since the gospel cannot be preached but by those that understand it, what motive induced those persons to persecute the doctrine of which they approved?” I answer, that ambition is blind, nay, it is a furious beast. Hence it is not to be wondered if false brethren snatch a weapon from the gospel for harassing good and pious pastors.
“Pride or self-glorification is the cause and starting point of all controversies, when each person, claiming for himself more than he is entitled to have, is eager to have others in his power.” Moreover, he says, “Ambition has been, and still is, the mother of all errors, of all disturbances and sects.”9
1:17. The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition. Selfish ambition (eritheias) is a rare word, used by Aristotle to describe a greedy grasp for public office by unjust means
From Good Will (v. 16)
The motive of one group is goodwill and love for Christ, and Paul’s defense of the gospel explains why they love the apostle (vv. 15, 16). The
What then? Christ is proclaimed
In the Old Testament the preaching of the word of God was thought to overcome all hindrances
For God sometimes accomplishes an admirable work by means of wicked and depraved instruments.
and at this day we rejoice that the progress of the gospel is advanced by many who, nevertheless, had another design in view.
(Paul reacted with anything but joy when others spread a message other than the gospel of grace in Christ; 3:2, 18, 19; Gal. 1:8, 9).
In fact, if church members were actively involved in giving private words of gentle admonition and in praying for one another when the first clear evidence of sinful conduct is seen, very little formal church discipline would have to be carried out, because the process would begin and end with a conversation between two people that never becomes known to anyone else.
Wrap Up
Suffering for the Gospel is not Suffering
Proclaim Christ from a sober and Vertically Aligned Heart
Admonish One Another for the Sake of the Gospel
Preview to Next Week: “To live is Christ, to die is Gain”
The Word of God’s Perspective
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God