Joy in the Midst of Lordship and Proclamation
Introduction
Jesus is the one whom the Christians are to regard as supreme, to whom they are obliged to give obedience, and whom they see as designated by God as the unique agent of redemption and judgment. Through his death and resurrection Jesus has now been given authority to exercise lordship (Rom 14:9, kyrieuō), which Christians recognize freely now in referring to him as “Lord.”
Paul’s Kingdom Allegiance
For Paul this goal overrides all else; personal inconveniences, sufferings, and imprisonment serve this end.
Paul’s Imperial Circumstances
These were the riot, the two-year imprisonment at Caesarea, the appeal to Caesar, the threat on his life, the trip to Rome with its shipwreck, his house-arrest and restricted freedom, and the impending trial. However, the focus is on the Roman events.
Paul’s Divine Perspective
He recognized that all events could be redeemed for the Lord’s sake, and he took what advantage he could to continue his mission. The primary concern was that the gospel go forward. This happened through adverse circumstances, but as long as it happened, Paul could be joyful.
The word translated progress, which appears again in verse 25, is a military metaphor describing a scout who identifies and, if possible, removes obstacles before an advancing army. This word signifies advancement in spite of the dangers and obstacles which block the way of the traveler.
It became evident that his imprisonment, which was “in Christ,” was a demonstration of Christ’s saving activity and thus contributed to the spread of the gospel not only among the troops but to others as well (“the gospel … has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to everyone else,” Phil 1:13). It is not surprising, then, to find Caesar’s household well represented in the Christian group in Rome.