You Can't Stop the Gospel

I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice,

Prayer

Exposition

In , Paul reveals that the gospel isn’t limited by bad circumstances.

As they read verse 12 for the first time, the Philippians would have been quite surprised. The believers in Philippi knew experientially something of the persecution Paul was experiencing, though perhaps not to the same degree. Surely, Paul would have heard of their suffering from Epaphroditus, of the opposition they faced from unbelievers, the opposition they faced from false believers, and the internal discord within their own church, brought about by envy and selfish ambition. The situation in Philippi was grim, but it paled in comparison to the darkness of Paul’s situation. So they thought.

Through Epaphroditus, they had heard of Paul’s imprisonment. Now they were reading a letter from Paul firsthand. What's going to happen to Paul? What’s going to happen to their partnership? What’s going to happen with the Gospel movement? The gospel had left a mark on their lives, but would it continue to mark the world? Would it continue to spread amidst such opposition.

Life is chock-full of difficulties, isn’t it? Each one of us represents a lifetime of unique challenges and obstacles. Some of us know what it’s like to struggle financially. Some of us know what it’s like to suffer a broken relationship. Some of us know what it’s like to lose a job. Some of us are enduring a difficult season this very moment. My question is, how does the gospel speak to that?

As Christians, we’re to approach our circumstances differently. Our perspective is no longer shaped by the world, but by the gospel. That is God’s good news. What might happen if we viewed our circumstances in light of a good and sovereign God?

Paul begins our text by giving his readers some reassurance. Their concern for him was legitimate. He was imprisoned, held captive for his faith. But his situation was not as bleak as they had thought.

As Paul writes, he says that what has happened to him has really served to advance the gospel. Without a doubt, Paul’s word choice here would be just cause for a double-take. The word Paul uses here for “advance”, the Greek word προκοπή, is just one letter off from another Greek word, προσκοπή, which means obstacle or obstruction. Did Paul make a mistake? Didn’t he mean that his chains, that his situation served as an obstruction to the Gospel?

With a proper perspective, Paul was able to leverage his situation, seeing his chains not as a hindrance to the gospel, but as a means to advance it. Perhaps Paul had in mind truths like we see in , which reads:

Genesis 50:20 ESV

As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.

Paul’s focus on the sovereignty of God and on the goodness of his gospel allows him to transcend his circumstances. Certainly, he could have succumb to his situation, feeling the full weight of his chains. But he wouldn’t allow that. Paul would never see himself a captive of Rome, because he had been captivated by Christ.

What does this mean for us? How could God’s sovereignty and the goodness of his gospel change the way we look at our circumstances? How should the gospel inform our hardships? What is bigger, your troubles or your God?

Paul refused to let his imprisonment determine his perspective and, because of that, the gospel advanced. In verse 13, the apostle reports that the gospel message has been proclaimed to the entire imperial guard, so that they and anyone else paying attention might know that his imprisonment is for Christ.

Let me describe what is going on here. After Paul was arrested, he was put under the watch of the Praetorian guard.

Praetorian soldiers were the baddest dudes of their day. They were the Navy Seals of the Roman empire. Listen to what one commentator has to say about the Roman Praetorium:

“Paul’s reference to the palace guard points to the most elite group of Roman soldiers, who served as a special bodyguard for Caesar. This group of 9,000 elite soldiers sometimes exerted control over Caesar himself. In fact, they deposed and promoted Caesars. After they assassinated Caligula, they put Claudius on the throne. Later they guided the directions of Nero’s reign.” (Hansen, PNTC)

Paul’s reference to the palace guard points to the most elite group of Roman soldiers, who served as a special bodyguard for Caesar.113 This group of 9,000 elite soldiers sometimes exerted control over Caesar himself. In fact, they deposed and promoted Caesars. After they assassinated Caligula, they put Claudius on the throne. Later they guided the directions of Nero’s reign.114

Although in service to the emperor, they carried great influence with the emperor. And here Paul was, under the watch of the Praetorian guard.

To be under watch by the Praetorian guard means that for every second of every day, Paul was chained at the wrist to Roman soldier. If Paul wanted to sleep, he had a snuggle buddy. If he wanted to use the restroom, he had someone to hand him a new roll of toilet paper. Under Praetorium watch, Paul never had a moment of privacy.

But this also presented Paul with a unique opportunity. Every four hours, the shift would change and a new soldier would be chained to his wrist. As he was reading the OT scrolls, a guard was with him. As he was writing letters to individuals and to churches, a guard was with him. As he was praying and signing songs of praise, a guard was with him. With each new guard came a new opportunity for the gospel to advance.

Imagine a guard coming on duty, having no idea who Paul is. The guard asks him, “So what are you in for? Murder?” No. “Rape?” No. “Treason?” Not quite. “So what are you in for?!” “I’m in these chains for the cause of Christ.” Huh?

Every new guard presented Paul with a unique opportunity to share the gospel message. “You’re a prisoner of Caesar,” they’d say. And his response: “No, i’m a prisoner of Christ.”

When we talk about the sovereignty of God in suffering, we’re not just declaring God’s power in the midst of our suffering. Yes, God is bigger than your circumstance. But when we talk about the sovereignty of God in suffering, we’re also declaring that God has ordained our suffering. This is what Paul means in , where he writes:

Philippians 1:29 ESV

For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,

That word “granted” here means to be given graciously or to be given as a gift. God not only graces us with faith, but also graces us with suffering.

That’s a hard truth for us to swallow, isn’t it? Why would God ordain suffering for his people? This could be a sermon in itself, so let me quickly give you three reasons

God graces us with suffering, so that we might grow unto maturity

James 1:2–4 ESV

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

God graces us with suffering, so that we might depend on God more

2 Corinthians 1:8–9 ESV

For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.

God graces us with suffering, so that others may see the treasure, that is Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:7–12 ESV

But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you.

And it’s this last truth that Paul seems to draw out in our text this morning. Paul’s imprisonment was ordained by God for the advance of the gospel. Apart from these chains, he never would have had the opportunity to share Christ with the Praetorium guard, in the way that he did.

Though Paul was in chains, the gospel was not. The gospel advanced, not in spite of his chains, but because of them, so that he could write at the end of his letter ()

Philippians 4:22 ESV

All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household.

In verse 14, Paul reports that his imprisonment had also served as an encouragement for other believers.

Those Christians, who heard of Paul’s imprisonment, who saw how much he suffered, who learned of what it might cost to follow Christ, began to trust Christ all the more.

Now, this is the opposite of what we would expect. Those near to Paul, those who saw him arrested and imprisoned, knowing he was on trial for his very life, should have maybe taken a step back and privatized their faith.

Why should the gospel cost us our comforts, our freedom, or our very lives?

Hebrews 11:35–38 ESV

Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

“Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— of whom the world was not worthy.”

Hebrews 11:35b–38a ESV

Perhaps these Christians, like so many before them, believed they were getting more than what they might lose. That was, in fact, Paul’s attitude, as we see from , where he writes:

Paul reflects this attitude later in when he writes:

Philippians 3:8–9 ESV

Philippians 3:8–11 ESV

Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count 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 that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

Philippians 3:8–9 ESV

Like the parable of the hidden treasure, Paul believed he had found something worth holding onto, regardless of what it might cost him. His comfort, his freedom, his life — what were these in light of what he had in Christ. He sacrificed earthly comforts because he knew the God of all comfort (). He gave up his personal freedom, knowing where the Spirit of the LORD is, there is freedom (). And he would gladly give up his life, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus would also raise him (). Paul had found his treasure in Christ, and gave up everything so that he might lay hold of him.

As other Christians looked at Paul in the midst of suffering, what they saw was a man so convinced of the gospel message that he was willing to give up everything, even his life, rather than deny its truth. And he was not only willing, but did it with joy.

Although some saw Paul’s suffering and were discouraged, most, as the text reads, most became much more bold to speak the word without fear.

Why? As David Platt responds, “Suffering leads others to see Christ as he really is.” And when they looked at Paul, they began to see Christ as their greatest treasure.

In vv. 12-14, Paul declares that the gospel’s not limited by bad circumstances. Paul’s imprisonment did not negate God’s sovereignty and the goodness of his gospel. Not in spite of, but because of Paul’s situation, the gospel went where it wasn’t likely to go and encouraged others to see the treasure they have in Christ.

In , Paul reveals that the gospel isn’t limited by bad motives, as he describes two groups of people who began to preach boldly because of his imprisonment.

There were those who preached from good will, out of love, knowing that Paul was imprisoned so that he could defend the gospel.

These friends exemplified faithful devotion to Christ and to the gospel, knowing it is the power of salvation for all who believe. Risking their own comforts, their own freedom, and their own lives, they not only continued preaching the gospel, but did so with greater fervor and frequency.

They knew he had been put there for the defense of the gospel. That word translated “put” here is translated as “appointed” in other versions. That Greek word has military connotations and was often used in reference of a soldier’s post. Perhaps a better understanding would be to say that Paul was stationed in prison for the defense of the gospel. In any case, the word reflects God’s sovereignty over Paul’s situation. Paul’s imprisonment was not contrary to God’s will but actually came about because God had willed it.

Paul’s role in the gospel movement had become so obvious to these Christians that his imprisonment didn’t scare them, but instead gave them greater courage. They preached Christ, knowing that the gospel has the power of salvation, but also perhaps knowing that by drawing greater attention to the gospel, he might have the opportunity to present his case before Caesar.

There were those who preached out of envy and rivalry, for self-promotion, thinking to increase Paul’s affliction.

Unlike those who preached with good intent, these Christians preached with selfish ambition. Many throughout Paul’s ministry sought to discredit his apostleship. Many throughout Paul’s ministry were unimpressed with him personally. Many throughout Paul’s ministry disagreed with him. Some of these saw his imprisonment as an opportunity to to take his place.

The word Paul uses for selfish ambition certainly reflects this idea. One scholar affirms, “ ἐριθεία, found before NT times only in Aristotle, denoted ‘a self-seeking pursuit of political office by unfair means’.” (O’Brien)

ἐριθεία, found before NT times only in Aristotle,17 denoted ‘a self-seeking pursuit of political office by unfair means’;

These men sought to fill the void of Paul’s apostolic role, perhaps correcting his wrongs, exerting influence and authority over the church, as Paul had once done. Seeking to afflict him in his imprisonment, they could point to their newly acquired positions and say, “Na Na Na Na Boo Boo.” Such words reflect their childish ways.

Notice Paul treats these men differently than he treats the false teachers in Galatians. In , Paul writes:

Galatians 1:9 ESV

As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.

Paul is not saying here, as he was saying in Galatians, that this group was preaching a different gospel, but that they were preaching the true gospel with false motives. In Paul’s mind, this isn’t worthy of damnation, but it is worthy of rebuke.

Whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.

This final verse indicates that Paul wasn’t entirely concerned with a person’s motivation, so long as that person was preaching the true gospel of Christ. Paul recognized God’s sovereignty at work and knew that God’s Word would be effective, no matter if it comes from the mouth of a prophet or the mouth of a DONKEY.

Those who imagined they might afflict Paul through their preaching failed. If they brought any additional suffering to Paul’s situation, it was momentary. It’s as Simone Weil writes in her book, Waiting for God:

“Those who are persecuted for their faith and are aware of the fact are not afflicted, although they have to suffer. They only fall into a state of affliction if suffering or fear fills the soul to the point of making it forget the cause of the persecution.”

Karen Prior, On Reading Well: Finding the Good Life through Great Books

What mattered to Paul, first and foremost, was that the gospel was proclaimed and continued to advance. His confidence rested in the fact that the gospel isn’t limited by bad situations or bad motives. Neither of these negates God’s sovereignty or the goodness of his gospel. Paul rejoiced, knowing the gospel can’t be stopped.

Swallow Prior, Karen. On Reading Well: Finding the Good Life through Great Books . Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Application

How might this message change the way we do church, here at New Hope? So often, our attention goes to the things we don’t have, instead of the things we have. New Hope may not have a big building, a large congregation, or a pastor right now. Those things may come in time. But what you do have right now, at this very moment, is a sovereign God and a good gospel. You don’t need the right situation or even the right motives (but let’s shoot for the right motives). All you need is the willingness to carry the gospel message with you wherever you go. From your homes and your neighborhood, to the grocery store and to the office. How might the gospel reshape your perspective and how you view your role in those places and spaces? Let’s pray.

How might this message change the way we do church, here at New Hope? So often, our attention goes to the things we don’t have, instead of the things we have.

Closing

Prayer

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