Some thoughts for Today, The Christian's Contentment, Philippians 4

Philippians 4

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Think of Excellence

4 Therefore, my beloved brethren ^[a]whom I long to see, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.

² I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to ^[b]live in harmony in the Lord. ³ Indeed, true companion, I ask you also to help these women who have shared my struggle in the cause of the gospel, together with Clement also and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is ^[c]near.⁶ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all ^[d]comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

⁸ Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is ^[e]lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, ^[f]dwell on these things. ⁹ The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

God’s Provisions

¹⁰ But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity. ¹¹ Not that I speak ^[g]from want, for I have learned to be ^[h]content in whatever circumstances I am. ¹² I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. ¹³ I can do all things ^[i]through Him who strengthens me. ¹⁴ Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction.

¹⁵ You yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the ^[j]first preaching of the gospel, after I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone; ¹⁶ for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs. ¹⁷ Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the ^[k]profit which increases to your account.¹⁸ But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am ^[l]amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus ^[m]what you have sent, ^[n]a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God. ¹⁹ And my God will supply ^[o]all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. ²⁰ Now to our God and Father be the glory^[p]forever and ever. Amen.

²¹ Greet every ^[q]saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren who are with me greet you. ²² All the ^[r]saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household.

²³ The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Footnotes:

1. Philippians 4:1 Lit and longed for
2. Philippians 4:2 Or be of the same mind
3. Philippians 4:5 Or at hand
4. Philippians 4:7 Lit mind
5. Philippians 4:8 Or lovable and gracious
6. Philippians 4:8 Lit ponder these things
7. Philippians 4:11 Lit according to
8. Philippians 4:11 Or self-sufficient
9. Philippians 4:13 Lit in
10. Philippians 4:15 Lit beginning of
11. Philippians 4:17 Lit fruit
12. Philippians 4:18 Lit made full
13. Philippians 4:18 Lit the things from you
14. Philippians 4:18 Lit an odor of fragrance
15. Philippians 4:19 Or every need of yours
16. Philippians 4:20 Lit to the ages of the ages
17. Philippians 4:21 Or holy one
18. Philippians 4:22 V 21, note 1

NIV Application Commentary

Paul begins in verse 10 with an exuberant expression of joy that the Philippians have again shown their concern for him. The Philippians had generously supplemented the income Paul earned in the workshop during his attempts to establish other churches both in Macedonia (4:15–16) and Achaia (2 Cor. 11:7–9). Perhaps because of their poverty (2 Cor. 8:1–2), however, they had not been able to help Paul in this way recently. Thus Paul rejoices “greatly” that the opportunity to show their concern for him has returned.

Despite this, Paul wants the Philippians to know that his joy does not depend on the alleviation of his physical discomfort; thus, although he is in prison, Paul says that he is not in need (vv. 11–13). He has learned to be content in every circumstance. The term “content” (au tarkes, v. 11) was used by Stoic philosophers of Paul’s time to mean “self-sufficient,” and in their view this characteristic was the most valuable attribute of the wise person. Indeed, like the wise Stoic, Paul does not consider physical deprivation an unmitigated disaster nor physical comfort the sign of success. But unlike the Stoic, Paul does not find the resources for this attitude in himself. They reside instead in the Lord, through whom he can face all things (v. 13).

So Paul remains unperturbed either by his own imprisonment and possible death or by fellow believers who seek to intensify his suffering. As long as Christ is being preached, Paul is joyful (1:18), and he does not want the Philippians to think that the physical comfort their gifts have made possible has increased his ability to cope with the difficulties at hand.

From NIVAC: Philippians by Frank Thielman. Published by Zondervan Academic.

Philippians 4

The Bible Panorama

V 1: FIRMNESS In the light of Christ’s second coming and the present personal knowledge of the risen Christ, Christians are to stand fast in the Lord. 

V 2–3: FELLOWSHIP This is expressed in fellowship with each other, both in solving our differences and in working together with others. The Philippian Christians are urged to do both of these things in the aftermath of a dispute between two women in the church.

V 4: FERVOUR Again, Paul urges the Christians to rejoice in the Lord always and repeats this exhortation again immediately. 

V 5: FUNDAMENTAL ‘The Lord is at hand’ is fundamental to this verse, this chapter, the whole of the book of Philippians, and the whole of the Christian life. The knowledge of Christ’s presence with us now, and the certainty of His glorious coming again soon, should produce Christian gentleness and shape the Christian’s life in every facet. This should be true individually, with other believers, and in the world in which every Christian lives.

 V 6–7: FAITH Prayer, supplication, and thanksgiving are the expressions of faith to be made known to God in everything. Thus anxiety is dealt with and is replaced with the surpassing peace of God through Christ.

 V 8–9: FINALLY Paul’s final exhortation is to concentrate on things that are noble, just, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and praiseworthy. Christians should concentrate and meditate on these things, rather than on the things of the world. This is the example Paul set at Philippi. In following it, the church knows the presence of the God of peace with them.

 V 10–13: FORTIFIED Paul rejoices in the material support of Christians. Nevertheless, in all circumstances, adverse and favourable, Paul finds that he ‘can do all things through Christ who strengthens [him]’. This brings contentment to him even when he is in physical need

.V 14–16: FAITHFULNESS Notwithstanding this confidence in God, the repeated and continual faithfulness of the church is gratefully commended by him. They sent money to Paul when he was in distress and continually when he was in Thessalonica, 

V 17–20: FULNESS Paul is grateful that, currently through their giving, God is fully supplying everything that he needs. Selflessly, he is grateful for the fruit that will come to the giver, knowing that God will also supply all their needs ‘according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus’. Their gift rises to God like a pleasing and sweet-smelling sacrifice.

 V 21–23: FRUIT The fruit of the gospel is not only in Philippi, where people have trusted Christ, but also among his captors in Rome. Some may have been Christians before Paul went there, but doubtless some have been the fruit of his witness, even in chains. God’s grace, which he wishes for them all, is certainly upon him.

The Bible Panorama. Copyright © 2005 Day One Publications.

Some thoughts for Today, Philippians 3, The Christian's Citzenship

Philippians 3

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

The Goal of Life

3 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you.

2 Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the [a]false circumcision; 3 for we are the true [b]circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh, 4 although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless.

7 But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 More than that, I count all things to be loss [c]in view of the surpassing value of [d]knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, [e]for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, 9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and [f]the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; 11 [g]in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

12 Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on [h]so that I may lay hold of that [i]for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as are [j]perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; 16 however, let us keep [k]living by that same standard to which we have attained.

17 Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. 18 For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their [l]appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. 20 For our [m]citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; 21 who will transform [n]the body of our humble state into conformity with [o]the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.

Footnotes:

Philippians 3:2 Lit mutilation; Gr katatome

Philippians 3:3 Gr peritome

Philippians 3:8 Lit because of

Philippians 3:8 Lit the knowledge of

Philippians 3:8 Lit because of

Philippians 3:10 Or participation in

Philippians 3:11 Lit if somehow

Philippians 3:12 Lit if I may even

Philippians 3:12 Or because also

Philippians 3:15 Or mature

Philippians 3:16 Lit following in line

Philippians 3:19 Lit belly

Philippians 3:20 Lit commonwealth

Philippians 3:21 Or our lowly body

Philippians 3:21 Or His glorious body

NIV Application Commentary

 [Paul] also speaks positively in verses 12–14 of what he is doing in light of the incompleteness of his spiritual journey. His language comes from the world of war and athletics and emphasizes the strenuous nature of his efforts to fulfill his vocation. In verse 12 he says that he presses on to take hold of the goals listed in verses 8–11, choosing a pair of words that could, in military contexts, refer to the pursuit of one army by another. Together the two terms connote a single-minded attempt to reach a particular goal.

According to the niv, Paul’s goal is to reach “that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” But the Greek phrase behind “that for which” (eph’ ho) usually expresses cause in Paul’s letters, and it probably carries a causal force here. So the goal Paul pursues probably remains all that he has described in verses 8–11, and the second part of verse 12 should be rendered, “because Christ Jesus took hold of me.” That is to say, Paul vigorously pursues the knowledge of Christ, his sufferings, his resurrection power, and union with him at the final day because on the road to Damascus, Christ took hold of him (Acts 9:1–19; 22:3–16; 26:9–18). Had that event not taken place, Paul might still be busy “persecuting (dioko) the church” (Phil. 3:6) instead of pressing on (dioko) toward these goals (vv. 12, 14).

Even more expressive of the difficulty of Paul’s exertion to reach these goals is the athletic imagery in verses 12–14. Like a runner who knows that a backward glance at ground already covered will only slow his progress toward the finish, Paul says that he forgets what is behind and stretches out toward what is ahead, so that he might complete the race and win the prize. Some interpreters have taken Paul’s claim that he forgets what is behind as a reference to his pre-Christian past (cf. vv. 5–6), but two considerations point away from this interpretation. (1) The point under discussion here is Paul’s progress as a believer, not his progress beyond his days of persecuting the church. (2) When Paul uses athletic imagery elsewhere, the subject is his apostolic labors (cf. 2:16; 1 Cor. 9:24–26). These labors are his focus here too. Paul’s point, then, is that he refuses to rest on his past successes but presses on toward that day when he will present the Philippians and his other congregations blameless to Christ (1:10; 2:14–18; 1 Cor. 1:8; 1 Thess. 3:13; 5:23).

What is this prize? The term “call” in Paul’s letters, both as a noun and as a verb, possesses a rich theological significance. Just as God called Israel to be his people in the Old Testament (Isa. 48:12; 51:2), so, in Paul’s letters, God calls people from many ethnic and social backgrounds (1 Cor. 1:26; Eph. 3:1; 4:1) into fellowship with Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 1:9) and into his kingdom (1 Thess. 2:12), and he does this by his grace (Gal. 1:6). This call is not, moreover, to something that will be fully realized in the present but to the future for which the believer now hopes (Eph. 1:18; 4:4). Thus, the heavenly call toward which Paul stretches with all his might is God’s call to be part of the people, made up of both Jews and Gentiles, who will stand justified before him on the final day because of their identification with Christ (vv. 8–11).

From NIVAC: Philippians by Frank Thielman. Published by Zondervan Academic.

The Bible Panorama

Philippians 3

V 1–2: REJOICE In this ‘letter of rejoicing’, rejoicing and joy feature strongly. Here, that is so even though Paul has to address the false teaching that salvation is not possible without circumcision.

 3–8: RUBBISH Real Christians worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ, and put no confidence in themselves, in anything else or in anyone else for salvation. Paul even counts his immaculate Pharisee’s pedigree and religious zeal as rubbish, now, compared with the joy of knowing Jesus Christ.

 V 9: RIGHTEOUS Paul rejoices that his acceptance by God is because, having trusted Jesus Christ, his account is credited with the righteousness of his Saviour. He is now counted righteous through Jesus.

 V 10–11: RESURRECTION Paul is determined to know Jesus Christ closer, and even the fellowship of His sufferings and dying to self. This can only be because he is also determined to know the power of the resurrection of Jesus in his daily life.

V 12–14: REACHING Paul honestly admits he has a long way to go, but has learned to leave the past with God, press on with the present, and reach on into the future. He wants to lay hold of that which God has for him, and for which Christ has laid hold of him. His concern is to answer the ‘upward call of God in Christ Jesus’. Only when the past is dealt with, and Christ is known in the present, can Paul have confidence and determination like this.

 V 15–16: REVEALED With this mindset, Paul tells the Philippians to build on what they have already learned in the knowledge that God will reveal to them other lessons which they need to learn.

 V 17–21: REALITY Contrasting the walk of the Christians with lost people who despise the cross and live sinfully for this passing world, Paul reveals the reality of a Christian’s invisible and spiritual home in heaven. He looks forward to the future reality of the second coming of Christ and to the transformed resurrection body which will be given to each person who trusts Him.

The Bible Panorama. Copyright © 2005 Day One Publications.

Why the 'New' Tolerance Is Actually Intolerant

Why the 'New' Tolerance Is Actually Intolerant

Morality as Wine Tasting

Today morality is more like wine tasting than banking. In banking, there is a right and wrong answer. If you deposit $1,000 in a new bank account and a week later try to withdraw $80, you would not be willing to agree to disagree when the teller says your account is empty.

But we don’t see morality like banking anymore. Instead, we see it more like wine tasting. In wine tasting, everyone has their favorite blends and no one is necessarily right or wrong—it all depends on individual palates. No one has the right to declare as an absolute truth that simply because they prefer a specific grape or vintage, it is superior to all other wines.

The problem is, the God of the Bible sees morality like banking, not wine tasting. This is why Jesus referred to sins as “debts” in the world’s most famous prayer (Matt. 6:12).

Today there are not sins. There is only one sin, and that is calling anything a sin.

Some thoughts for Today, The Christian's Conduct, Philippians 2

Philippians 2

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Be Like Christ

2 Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any [a]affection and compassion, 2 make my joy complete [b]by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do nothing [c]from [d]selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Have this attitude [e]in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be [f]grasped, 7 but [g]emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death [h]on a cross. 9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing; 15 so that you will [i]prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you [j]appear as [k]lights in the world, 16 holding [l]fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain. 17 But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all. 18 You too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me.

Timothy and Epaphroditus

19 But I hope [m]in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, so that I also may be encouraged when I learn of your condition. 20 For I have no one else of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare. 21 For they all seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus. 22 But you know of his proven worth, that he served with me in the furtherance of the gospel like a child serving his father. 23 Therefore I hope to send him immediately, as soon as I see how things go with me; 24 and I trust in the Lord that I myself also will be coming shortly. 25 But I thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your [n]messenger and minister to my need; 26 because he was longing [o]for you all and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. 27 For indeed he was sick to the point of death, but God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 Therefore I have sent him all the more eagerly so that when you see him again you may rejoice and I may be less concerned about you. 29 Receive him then in the Lord with all joy, and hold men like him in high regard; 30 because he came close to death [p]for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete [q]what was deficient in your service to me.

Matthew Henry's Commentary

Verses 12-13

I. He exhorts them to diligence and seriousness in the Christian course: Work out your own salvation. It is the salvation of our souls (1 Pet. 1:9), and our eternal salvation (Heb. 5:9), and contains deliverance from all the evils sin had brought upon us and exposed us to, and the possession of all good and whatsoever is necessary to our complete and final happiness. Observe, It concerns us above all things to secure the welfare of our souls: whatever becomes of other things, let us take care of our best interests. It is our own salvation, the salvation of our own souls. It is not for us to judge other people; we have enough to do to look to ourselves; and, though we must promote the common salvation (Jude 1:3) as much as we can, yet we must upon no account neglect our own. We are required to work out our salvation, katergazesthe. The word signifies working thoroughly at a thing, and taking true pains. Observe, We must be diligent in the use of all the means which conduce to our salvation. We must not only work at our salvation, by doing something now and then about it; but we must work out our salvation, by doing all that is to be done, and persevering therein to the end. Salvation is the great thing we should mind, and set our hearts upon; and we cannot attain salvation without the utmost care and diligence. He adds, With fear and trembling, that is, with great care and circumspection: “Trembling for fear lest you miscarry and come short. Be careful to do every thing in religion in the best manner, and fear lest under all your advantages you should so much as seem to come short,” Heb. 4:1. Fear is a great guard and preservative from evil.

II. He urges this from the consideration of their readiness always to obey the gospel: “As you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, Phil. 2:12. You have been always willing to comply with every discovery of the will of God; and that in my absence as well as presence. You make it to appear that regard to Christ, and care of your souls, sway more with you than any mode of showing respect whatsoever.” They were not merely awed by the apostle’s presence, but did it even much more in his absence. “And becauseit is God who worketh in you, do you work out your salvation. Work, for he worketh.” It should encourage us to do our utmost, because our labour shall not be in vain. God is ready to concur with his grace, and assist our faithful endeavours. Observe, Though we must use our utmost endeavours in working out our salvation, yet still we must go forth, and go on, in a dependence upon the grace of God. His grace works in us in a way suitable to our natures, and in concurrence with our endeavours; and the operations of God’s grace in us are so far from excusing, that they are intended to quicken and engage our endeavours. “And work out our salvation with fear and trembling, for he worketh in you.” All our working depends upon his working in us. “Do not trifle with God by neglects and delays, lest you provoke him to withdraw his help, and all your endeavours prove in vain. Work with fear, for he works of his good pleasure.”—To will and to do: he gives the whole ability. It is the grace of God which inclines the will to that which is good: and then enables us to perform it, and to act according to our principles. Thou hast wrought all our works in us, Isa. 26:12. Of his good pleasure. As there is no strength in us, so there is no merit in us. As we cannot act without God’s grace, so we cannot claim it, nor pretend to deserve it. God’s good will to us is the cause of his good work in us; and he is under no engagements to his creatures, but those of his gracious promise.

The Bible Panorama

Philippians 2

V 1–4: LOVING LOWLINESS Selfishness and strife is to be rejected as, through the fellowship of the Spirit, God’s love in Christ makes Christians humble, like-minded, and causes them to care for others.

V 5–11: LIFTED LORD This likeminded humility to be sought was exemplified by Jesus in His incarnation and death for us. Although He was God by nature, He humbled Himself, through becoming a man and a bondservant, to the very lowest point of death on the cross. This resulted in His exaltation to the very highest place in heaven. Humility produces elevation, by God’s grace.

V 12–18: LIVING LIGHTS God’s working in the lives of the Christians produces a reverent outworking of His salvation, irrespective of whether the apostle Paul is with them or not. The Philippian Christians are urged to live in such a way that their blamelessness and shining example will be obvious to all, in contrast with the wicked world around. They will proclaim God’s word so that Paul, who is imprisoned and facing death, knows that his labour has not been in vain.

V 19–30: LOYAL LABOURERS Paul now commends Timothy for his son-like service in the gospel. He esteems Epaphroditus highly for his courage, sacrifice and selfless love for Christ and for Christians, including for Paul himself. Epaphroditus was near to death as a result of his sacrificial service for the Lord. It is good to see how God’s grace is lived out in the lives of those who are ‘sold out’ for Christ.

The Bible Panorama. Copyright © 2005 Day One Publications.

Some quotes for Today

“Not called!' did you say?

'Not heard the call,' I think you should say.

Put your ear down to the Bible, and hear Him bid you go and pull sinners out of the fire of sin. Put your ear down to the burdened, agonized heart of humanity, and listen to its pitiful wail for help. Go stand by the gates of hell, and hear the damned entreat you to go to their father's house and bid their brothers and sisters and servants and masters not to come there. Then look Christ in the face — whose mercy you have professed to obey — and tell Him whether you will join heart and soul and body and circumstances in the march to publish His mercy to the world.”

“While women weep as they do now, I’ll fight; while little children go hungry as they do, I’ll fight; while men go to prison, in and out, in and out, as they do. I’ll fight; while there is a drunkard left, while there is a poor lost girl on the streets, while there remains one dark soul without the light of God, I’ll fight I’ll fight to the very end.’’

― William Booth

Some thoughts for Today, Philippians 1 The Christians Confidence

Philippians 1

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Thanksgiving

1 Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus,

To all the ^[a]saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, ^[b]including the overseers and deacons: ² Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

³ I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, ⁴ always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, ⁵ in view of your ^[c]participation in the gospel from the first day until now. ⁶ For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. 

^7 [d]For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my ^[e]imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me. ⁸ For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the ^[f]affection of Christ Jesus. ⁹ And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment,

 ¹⁰ so that you may ^[g]approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless ^[h]until the day of Christ; ¹¹ having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

The Gospel Is Preached

¹² Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, ¹³ so that my ^[i]imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole ^[j]praetorian guard and to everyone else,¹⁴ and that most of the ^[k]brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my ^[l]imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear. ¹⁵ Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even ^[m]from envy and strife, but some also ^[n]from good will; 

¹⁶ the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel;¹⁷ the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition ^[o]rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my ^[p]imprisonment. 

¹⁸ What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice.

Yes, and I will rejoice, ¹⁹ for I know that this will turn out for my ^[q]deliverance through your ^[r]prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,

 ²⁰ according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.

To Live Is Christ

²¹ For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. ^22 [s]But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labour for me; and I do not know ^[t]which to choose. ²³ But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; ²⁴ yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. ²⁵ Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy ^[u]in the faith, ²⁶ so that your proud confidence in me may abound in Christ Jesus through my coming to you again.

²⁷ Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one ^[v]mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; ²⁸ in no way alarmed by your opponents—which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God. ²⁹ For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, ³⁰ experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me.

NIV Application Commentary

Paul’s second reason for joyful thankfulness to God is his confidence that God will complete the good work he has begun in the Philippians (v. 6). This work, which must be identified with the Philippians’ salvation, will reach its consummation only at “the day of Christ Jesus.” It is a work that God alone accomplishes, but the notion that it is not yet complete shows that it involves a progressive transformation of the lives of believers.

 The “good work” of salvation, then, includes God’s gift to believers both of the will and of the ability to do good works. The presence of these good works in turn provides evidence of real belief—evidence that God has begun and will complete the work of salvation in the person who displays them. Thus Paul says in 1:28 that the Philippians’ steadfastness in the midst of persecution serves as a sign of their future salvation, and in 2:12–13 that whereas the Philippians should “work out” their “salvation with fear and trembling,”

 God is the effective power behind this work. This thought also lies behind Paul’s confession in 3:12, that he presses on “to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” It is only because God in his grace has taken hold of believers and works within them to produce a life consistent with the gospel that they can in any sense “take hold” of salvation on “the day of Christ Jesus.” In other words, those who will be saved in the future live holy lives in the present, but the holiness that characterizes their lives is God’s work from beginning to end.

If this represents a correct understanding of verse 6, then Paul’s first two reasons for joyful thanks to God are probably bound to one another by a profound theological truth. Paul thanks God for the Philippians’ partnership in the gospel not only because of the practical assistance it provided for the advancement of the gospel but also because it stands as a confirmation that God is at work in the lives of the Philippians (cf. 4:17). Paul knows, moreover, that if God has begun a work of grace in the Philippians, he will complete it, for he has the power “to bring everything under his control” (3:21); he is thus confident that God will conduct the Philippians safely into the realm of salvation on the day of Christ Jesus. This, he feels, is reason enough to rejoice.

From NIVAC: Philippians by Frank Thielman. Published by Zondervan Academic.

The Bible Panorama

Philippians 1

V 1–2: PEOPLE Paul gives a brief but all-embracing description of the church to which he and Timothy write. ‘All the saints’ (which means every Christian) and ‘the bishops and deacons’ are the recipients of the letter. Paul prays that they will all receive God’s grace and peace.

V 3–11: PRAYER Paul thankfully prays for the Christians. He is grateful for gospel fellowship with them and is confident of their salvation. He specifically prays that their love will abound in a knowledge and discernment that will help them to live holy lives.

V 12–18: PREACHING Paul’s witness for Christ is as a prisoner in chains. Paradoxically, this helps some to preach more boldly. Although some preach from wrong motivation, Paul rejoices that Jesus Christ is proclaimed.

 V 19–26: PRIORITY With his Christian confidence that Paul will gain greatly when he dies, his priority is to live for Christ now. If the choice were his, he would find it hard to decide whether to be ‘with Christ, which is far better’ or whether to serve Him and His people on earth.

V 27–30: PURPOSE He urges them to live lives worthy of the gospel and to strive together, taking persecution without fear by God’s grace.

The Bible Panorama. Copyright © 2005 Day One Publications.

I was wondering… who you’re talking to Written by Vicky Walker

I was wondering… who you’re talking to

Written by Vicky Walker

OK, let’s get to down to business. It’s safe to assume you’re here because you don’t want to fly solo any more. You’re proactive, not just waiting for God to drop the perfect partner into the seat next to you on Sunday.

You’ve prayed (yes of course it’s praying if you say amen after whinging for an hour about still being single… right?), you might have fasted, you may even have enlisted a network of supportive cheerleaders (ideally not sporting Lycra and pom-poms) to encourage you along the way.

You’ve read the dating / getting ready for dating / enjoying dating / seriously, still going on about dating? / relationship / engagement / marriage books. All of them. Twice.

You’ve done everything you’ve been told its ok to do and stopped just short of tattooing Wife or Husband Material across your forehead (note: while it does demonstrate commitment, this level of clarity can backfire).

You’re ready. Except, well, there’s just one thing… Have you remembered to actually speak to people?

I recently undertook the earth-shattering responsibility of being ‘beverage pourer’ at an event (and you thought I was just a regular person). ‘What would you like?’ I asked a man queuing for drinks.

He raised a suggestive eyebrow and launched into a speech which included desires other than his preferred brew. Resistible content but full marks for effort.

Alongside him was a man who had let it be known publicly he was ‘actively seeking’ marriage and yet, surrounded by ladies of all kinds, his focus was solely and intently on acquiring and customising his tea.

I admire anyone who takes hydration that seriously, of course – it’s high on many people’s list of ideal partner requirements – but I wondered if he’d actually noticed who he was surrounded by.

Had he realised that the wife and family he openly sought could only come through a first conversation with someone, somewhere? Someone who might be one of the many single women standing nearby at an event, for example. Someone who at first glance might seem like just a regular person missing the heavenly glow that would mark them out as The One, no conversation needed. It appeared not.

Being aware helps, as does being realistic, but it can be intimidating to jump in and start a conversation with a stranger. However – spoiler alert – at some point you’re going to have to speak to the person you want to spend your life with.

It’s kind of the point. And yet my suggestion a friend should talk to a woman I thought he’d hit it off with was met with horror. This was apparently terribly direct.

Perhaps I could instead organise a weekend at a spa for a reasonably large, but not too large, group, say around 10 people, at which they could both be guests and mingle in a no-pressure environment? Guess my answer.

Give it a go. Don’t wait to be chased.
Don’t wait for another day when a mystical dose of courage will manifest.
Talk to people. Talk to someone you might not usually talk to.
Not a cheesy line there’s no good response to.
Not – especially not – about what you’re looking for from a spouse sent from the Lord.
Talk about them, and you, and life, and music, art, sport, the world, beautiful things, interesting things, funny things, anything.

Maybe they won’t be someone you end up in blissful-lurve-together-forever with, but you will connect with another human, maybe make a friend, maybe expand your social life, get better at connecting, have more to talk about, think about, develop, grow, like more, love more and lots of other fun things it would be a shame to miss out on just because you didn’t look around and think “They look interesting” and then go to say hello.

Read more articles on: Dating & Relationships

About Vicky Walker

Vicky Walker is a writer and speaker, among other things. Her book ‘Do I have to be good all the time?’ about life, love and awkward moments is available now from www.vickywalker.info