A. Ideologically: When Paul says to stand firm, he says to stand firm...in this way. What way? The way he describes in v.1. Paul has a proper perspective of the church. He calls them, “my beloved brethren.” THEY are his family. He want’s to see them in a major way. He wants to be around them. He wants to hang out with them. They are his joy and crown. He gets to have his cake and eat it too, because the Philippian believers brought him joy, and will be his reward in the end. And they are his “beloved.” He genuinely loves the church, even with all their missteps.
