Exploring Philippians with N.T. Wright: Q&A

“The Exploring Philippians” event with N.T. Wright was organized by Admirato.org.

“What can we learn from the way Paul preached vs. how we preach today?”
For Paul the Gospel is an announcement to be made publicly. He started in the synagogue and moved to the marketplace.
Too often we allow our worldview to be shaped too much by the political parties. Paul was centered on Jesus and the Kingdom.

What does Paul mean by “complete it” in Phil. 1:6?
God will bring individuals to maturity and will bring the church into the new creation community.
We are becoming who we already are.
We should be aiming at “teleos” – maturity, Christlikeness.

What would Pauls prayer looked like?
You can buy a Jewish prayer book for a glimpse.
The Shema and Psalms were certainly part of how Paul prayed.
We can also read several of his prayers in his letters to the churches he started and the pastors he mentored.
In Corinth (Acts 18), Paul was accused of teaching people to pray differently than the Jews in his time did because he prayed the Shema and included Jesus.

For Paul, joy was seen in the cross and the return of Christ. Too often the Church is more Epicurean – trying to avoid all suffering. How do we right-size this in the Church?
First, pastors need to be empathetic listeners and comforters. We should never promise a quick fix or a disregard for their pain.
It’s easier to be Epicurean when you are wealthy because you aren’t suffering like those in poverty suffer.
Jesus in the midst of the poverty and in the midst of the mess.

What about spiritual warfare?
When we get closer to Jesus and the cross, the more we get closer to Jesus and the cross. In other words, the more we experience what Jesus experienced at the cross as He took on the cosmic powers of darkness.

When the Church is doing its Kingdom work we should be doing so by feeding the hungry, caring for the poor, and so on so that people want to know why we are doing these things. This may be considered “soft power” but “hard power” is often brittle.

What does vocation really mean in light of Phil. 2:6-11?
We are the royal priesthood in Christ! We are the image bearers representing Him to the world and bringing praise to Him from the world! That is our vocation! When you pray for guidance you will get it but often later than you want it.

We need to slow down to catch up with God.

How are we to understand being in relationship with God?
We are linked to the Trinity through the death, resurrection, and ascension. He is where life is!
We can go right into the throne room saying: “Father, it’s me again.”
We can go to the Father in the name of Jesus and in the power of the Spirit.
The only way we can begin to lead God’s people in worship is if the Holy Spirit is with me and can move in and through me freely.

Discuss the role of beauty in the Gospel.
The focal point of beauty in the Hebrew Scriptures was the tabernacle and later the Temple. Both were incredible works of art!
God intends to make this already beautiful world a 1000 times more beautiful!
Now, we are the Temple of the Living God operating as signs of His coming Kingdom.
Art, music, dance, and drama should be a part of how we live our life in worship to him.
We need to let go of being rationalists like our culture. God is the Creator and we are creative!

The higher our Christology the more powerful our political witness. Explain this more.
In 9 B.C. there was an inscription in stone in Turkey marking “the good news” of Caesar’s birthday.
The early Christian language was opposed to Caesar being Lord.
Every generation needs to wrestle with how to engage with the power structures of our world.
This is not easy, but it is possible with the guidance of the Spirit.
Caesar claimed to be divine, but Jesus actually is divine!
“Work out your salvation” means “figure out how to live this out in your context.”

What can we understand more the context of Paul’s ministry in Philippi?
Paul was brought before Gallio in Corinth because of the charges of the Jewish leaders. When Gallio dismissed the charges as a Jewish issue then it legitimized Christianity. Sadly, this did not end up helping the move of Jesus. The letter to the Corinthians shows that they didn’t have an understanding of the resurrection or morality. Persecution actually purifies the church like it was doing in Philippi. Paul was happy to take money from the Philippians and not from the Corinthians because they had strings attached.

Could you give us a definition of thinking Messianically?
This is most clear in Phil. 2:6-11. We are to soak ourselves in the full story of Jesus. Jesus is not just a great teacher or a prophet but God among us willing to die as a slave. He wept at the tomb of his friend and willingly went to the Christ. The more we look at Jesus the more we will get this. We are to live with humility and give up status if it is getting in the way. God come to us. Jesus was the incarnation.

What is the New Perspective on Paul?
Christians in the East and West thought of the Jews in Jesus’ day as striving to do good works to get God’s approval.
As a result, people have seen the Jews as an example of the wrong way of relating to God and this has even been a source of anti-semitism throughout the century.
They have seen the law as the way to help people know what they need to achieve.
The New Perspective looks at the actual ways Jewish people thought and wrote in that time.
The real question is actually: “Is Jesus the Messiah of the Jews or not?”
By “the works of the Law” meant circumcision, sacrifices, etc. They do not earn relationship with God but demonstrate relationship with God.
Too often “the works of the Law” has been seen as living up to a certain moral code.

Is pistis more like allegiance or trust?
It is both and more!
See Teresa Morgan’s book Roman Faith and Christian Faith: Pistis and Fides in the Early Roman Empire and Early Churches.

Exploring Philippians with N.T. Wright: Philippians 2:6-11

“The Exploring Philippians” event with N.T. Wright was organized by Admirato.org.

6 Who, though in God’s form, did not regard his equality with God as something he ought to exploit. 7 Instead, he emptied himself, and received the form of a slave, being born in the likeness of humans. And then, having human appearance,8 he humbled himself, and became obedient even to death, yes, even the death of the cross. 9 And so God has greatly exalted him, and to him in his favor has given the name which is over all names: 10 That now at the name of Jesus every knee within heaven shall bow— on earth, too, and under the earth;11 And every tongue shall confess that Jesus, Messiah, is Lord, to the glory of God, the father.
– Philippians 2:6-11

Many scholars think Paul may be quoting an earlier writing that he was quoting.
Some think Paul may be quoting himself from an earlier writing.
It fits so perfectly that it may have been written by Paul for this letter in hopes it would be memorized by his recipients. This would help Christ-followers know what to think AND how to think.
Prose poems were quite common in that time and culture as a way to honor people who should receive high regard.
Poetry is like music and allows one to communicate more than simple prose can do.

The Creator God is remaking his world with beauty which would include music, poetry, and art.

There are 6 stanzas with 3 lines each with 1 line in the middle so that it should be organized like this:

 6 Who, though in God’s form, did not regard his equality with God as something he ought to exploit.
7 Instead, he emptied himself, and received the form of a slave, being born in the likeness of humans.
And then, having human appearance,8 he humbled himself, and became obedient even to death,
yes, even the death of the cross.
9 And so God has greatly exalted him, and to him in his favor has given the name which is over all names:
10 That now at the name of Jesus every knee within heaven shall bow— on earth, too, and under the earth;
11 And every tongue shall confess that Jesus, Messiah, is Lord, to the glory of God, the father.

Jesus demonstrates God’s self-giving love by dying on the cross.

We see how Jesus was thinking.

Phil. 2:6-8 – we can have one mind when we think like this. We are in the Messiah and this is his thought pattern.
Phil. 2:5 is literally: “Think this thing in you”
We are to think with humility and hope which is extraordinarily counter cultural.

1 Corinthians 15, Romans 5, and Romans 8 all reference Adam with Jesus being the “new Adam” who inaugurates the new Kingdom and reignites our calling to be co-laborers with God.
Western theology still has wounds from the Deism of the 1800s. As a result, we have tended to emphasize his divinity but downplayed his humanity.

Isaiah 40-55 is a major theme found in this poem. The God who will not share His glory has shared His glory with Jesus. Paul doesn’t explain how this works. Instead He simply affirms this Truth. Philippians 2:10-11 quotes Isaiah 45:23, using a similar structure to declare “That now at the name of Jesus every knee within heaven shall bow— on earth, too, and under the earth; And every tongue shall confess that Jesus, Messiah, is Lord, to the glory of God, the father.”

The Messiah is God’s powerful arm to redeem His people.
The Messiah is God’s unique self-expression.

God created humans to be His royal priesthood so that He can come to be the Priest for all of us. Remember, Abraham and his family were to be the rescuers of all the nations. God did not give up on His plan when Abraham’s family failed. His plan was fulfilled through Jesus.

Psalm 2 and Psalm 110 both refer to a “son of God” which we now know is the Messiah.

Paul is saying: “Now you must learn to think as burning bush people as you interact with the Pharaoh’s of this world.”
We are to be genuinely united and holy for that is what will get the attention of the Pharaoh’s of this world.

Caesar’s propaganda is a fake copy. He was not a “son of God” nor divine nor worthy of worship.
Jesus absolutely is the one true Son of God, divine, and worthy of worship! He alone deserves honor.

Slaves were at the bottom of the social order. Badly behaved slaves faced crucifixion.
Paul is saying that God took on the lowest of the lows because of His love for us. Because he was willing to be dishonored, He deserves all of our honor.

“Differentiated monotheism” = “a term that describes the belief in a single God while also acknowledging multiple divine figures or forms that are seen as emanations or aspects of that one God.” An example would be the way Paul included Jesus in the Shema prayer.

Jesus is Lord so from his throne eternal He might reign over His Kingdom!
God did not send someone else to take the rap for our sin. God came for us!
The higher the Christology the more you realize we need to proclaim He is the One Lord in a world with others vying to be lords.

Paul tells what Jesus thinks by sharing with us what Jesus did not think.
Jesus “did not regard his equality with God as something he ought to exploit.“

Possible interpretations:
Jesus stopped being God to come to rescue us.
Jesus was not equal with God until His death.
Jesus did not consider His equality with God to be exploited or to be used to avoid suffering.

Is my vision of God more like Caesar or more like Jesus?

Jesus did not give up being God. He gave up His status as God to be a slave.

Jesus was thoroughly human and died a human death. His human role was vital. He accomplishes what only a human can have accomplished.
He reverses Adam’s disobedience and steps into the original human vocation as a co-ruler with God, a royal priest.

“Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people” – Romans 5:18

Jesus was the human embodiment of Yahweh, and He died on the cross.

God made us in His own image so that He can come be with us as a human. He took upon Himself the chaos of this broken world. He took responsibility for bringing healing and redemption.

Paul doesn’t include all of our theology in this poem. He doesn’t mention the resurrection, but it is implied as Jesus is now given the authority to rule. In Matthew 28:18, Jesus said: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” He didn’t say: “All authority in heaven and on earth will be given to me.” He already has the authority now!

When people complain that the world doesn’t look like Jesus is reigning, it is because they are looking in the wrong direction. He is not an ordinary earthly monarch! He reigns over the invisible Kingdom of God! Jesus’ divinity brings the broken world back into balance.

Remember the poem is written to help us to know how to think.

We need to pursue unity and holiness to show the world that a new way of being human has been launched!

When leaders try to do the Caesar thing, you don’t get unity or holiness but division and corruption.
“The name” going around Philippi was Caesar, but he really had not brought peace and security as promised.
“The Name of Jesus” actually does bring eternal peace and security!
Jesus Messiah is Lord!

As followers of Jesus we are committed to live out this reality publicly.

When God inaugurates His Kingdom, He doesn’t send in the tanks! He sends His people to build schools, orphanages, hospitals, and so on.
Jesus doesn’t replace Caesars. He redefines Lordship and what it means to be One who Rules.

As His followers we are to go out bringing His Kingdom to our dark world!
We glorify the Father by confessing allegiance to the Son through the power of the Holy Spirit.
This is who we are to be to a watching world!



Exploring Philippians with N.T. Wright: Philippians 1:27-2:18

“The Exploring Philippians” event with N.T. Wright was organized by Admirato.org.

27 The one thing I would stress is this: your public behavior must match up to the gospel of the Messiah. That way, whether I do come and see you or whether I remain elsewhere, the news that I get about you will indicate that you are standing firm with a single spirit, struggling side by side with one united intent for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not letting your opponents intimidate you in any way. This is a sign from God: one that signifies their destruction, but your salvation.

29 Yes: God has granted you that, on behalf of the Messiah, you should not only believe in him, but also suffer for his sake. 30 You are engaged in the same struggle which you once watched me go through; and, as you now hear, I’m still going through it.So if our shared life in the Messiah brings you any comfort; if love still has the power to make you cheerful; if we really do have a partnership in the spirit; if your hearts are at all moved with affection and sympathy— 2 then make my joy complete! Bring your thinking into line with one another.

Here’s how to do it. Hold on to the same love; bring your innermost lives into harmony; fix your minds on the same object. 3 Never act out of selfish ambition or vanity; instead, regard everybody else as your superior. 4 Look after each other’s best interests, not your own.

5 This is how you should think among yourselves—with the mind that you have because you belong to the Messiah, Jesus:

6 Who, though in God’s form, did not regard his equality with God as something he ought to exploit.
7 Instead, he emptied himself, and received the form of a slave, being born in the likeness of humans.
And then, having human appearance,
8 he humbled himself, and became obedient even to death, yes, even the death of the cross.
9 And so God has greatly exalted him, and to him in his favor has given the name which is over all names:
10 That now at the name of Jesus every knee within heaven shall bow— on earth, too, and under the earth;
11 And every tongue shall confess that Jesus, Messiah, is Lord, to the glory of God, the father.

12 So, my dear people: you always did what I said, so please now carry on in the same way, not just as though I was there with you, but much more because I’m not! Your task now is to work at bringing about your own salvation; and naturally you’ll be taking this with utter seriousness. 13 After all, God himself is the one who’s at work among you, who provides both the will and the energy to enable you to do what pleases him.

14 There must be no grumbling and disputing in anything you do. 15 That way, nobody will be able to fault you, and you’ll be pure and spotless children of God in the midst of a twisted and depraved generation. You are to shine among them like lights in the world, 16 clinging on to the word of life. That’s what I will be proud of on the day of the Messiah. It will prove that I didn’t run a useless race, or work to no purpose.

17 Yes: even if I am to be poured out like a drink-offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I shall celebrate, and celebrate jointly with you all. 18 In the same way, you should celebrate, yes, and celebrate with me.

– Philippians 1:27-2:18

“The Exploring Philippians” event with N.T. Wright was organized by Admirato.org.

The local church is the small working model of new creation. A loving, forgiving, diverse community is so counter cultural. That way of life is subversive to social norms. Most people have never seen new creation at work! When Jesus was raised from the dead, new creation has begun!

Our theological controversies are too rooted in selfish Western viewpoints. For example, it is not all about getting our soul to heaven but to experience new life and live out new creation in community!

Paul’s emphases in this passage include unity and holiness.
Unity and holiness are difficult on their own and even harder trying to do both together.

This section is a chiasmus with the following pattern:
Phil. 1:27-30 connects with Phil. 2:14-18
Phil. 2:1-4 connects with Phil. 2:12-13
Phil. 2:6-11 are in the middle of this passage
Phil. 2:8 is in the middle of that passage and emphasizes the death of Jesus

Our public behavior in the city should be living out our Messianic calling.

There were expectations from society – to show up to offer sacrifices to the gods and show allegiance to the Caesar and to stay within your social status. Christians were blamed for natural tragedies because they were not offering sacrifices. They became public enemy #1 when bad things happened. Worries from society can turn into threats. As a result, Paul ended up in prison.

Philippi was not nearly as pluralistic as we might think. They had their gods and expected all to make their sacrifices to them. When someone chose to follow Jesus, they stopped worshiping the gods. As a result, they would stand out. People would notice. The Judeans had worked out a compromise. They would not pray to Caesar but they promised to pray for Caesar. The Romans were not enthusiastic about this arrangement, and the Judeans were not popular.

Many people in Philippi had heard about Paul being thrown in jail and then released by a miraculous earthquake. This was absolutely an example of the message of Jesus spreading through both suffering and through the miraculous.

The church needs to get in shape and stay fit to be an effective witness in the public square.

Paul wants the local church to have an outer facing and hopeful public stance.
They were communicating: “We are good citizens. We just aren’t worshiping your gods.”
They were living with love, chastity, unity, and holiness which was not the Roman way.
Honor and coming out on top were the Roman way. They were communicating: “Do what we do and say, and there won’t be troubled.”
Jesus-followers were not interested in those things. They worshipped One who died like a slave – shameful to the Romans.

Public witness includes the church’s calmness under fire. They were not troubled by the problems of the world. They were people of the New Day. While their opponents opposed them and persecuted them, that was seen as part of the old world.

Paul insists that our suffering is a gift from God! Faithfulness and steadfastness are possible with God’s help.

Phil. 2:1-4
Paul emphasizes unity of heart and minds which will help them stand firm against opposition.
Paul is saying: “While bad things are happening, you have a counter narrative through Jesus.”
Embrace and help each other. This will make Paul joyful.
If we are all thinking Messianically then we will be sharing the same mindset. He is the object we should all fix our minds upon.

“co-souled” = “thinking the same things”

Humility was a new virtue introduced into the world through the Jesus-followers. Selfish-ambition and vanity were the ways of the world.
“Humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less.”

Phil. 2:12-13
Obedience to God is the way of Jesus.
“Work out your salvation with fear and trembling” does not mean salvation comes from our works nor does it mean adding works to receive salvation. The implied contrast is between the self-serving hot air of the imperial salvation and the way of Jesus. It means “to figure out how to live out the salvation you have received from God who is at work in you.”
“Fear and trembling” is what happens when you are aware that God is among us. God is not distant but present. “The One at work in you is God!”
Psalm 2:11 says: “Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling.”
Paul is giving them agency and inviting them to be active and responsible.
God’s plan is going ahead, and He calls and equips His children to specific purposes, and we carry this out through Christ-shaped thoughtfulness.

Phil. 2:14-18
We are not to be like the grumbling and crooked generation that wandered in the wilderness because of their lack of faith in God.
When the Church is living as we should, we are demonstrating that Jesus is alive to the world around us. We stand on resurrection ground. We are to live knowing Jesus is alive.
Paul is quoting and echoing these verses:
“Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.” – Daniel 12:3
“But I said, “I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing at all. Yet what is due me is in the Lord’s hand, and my reward is with my God.” – Isaiah 49:4

God is at work in the Church which is the new Temple! As a result, we should celebrate!
If we are united around the way of Jesus (as seen in Phil. 2:6-11), the Church cannot be stopped!

This passage points towards putting Jesus at the center and then everything else will come into focus.


Exploring Philippians with N.T. Wright: Philippians 1:12-26

“The Exploring Philippians” event with N.T. Wright was organized by Admirato.org.

Now, my dear family, I want you to know that the things I’ve been through have actually helped the gospel on its way. 13 You see, everybody in the Imperial Guard, and all the rest for that matter, have heard that I am here, chained up, because of the Messiah. 14 My imprisonment has given new confidence to most of the Lord’s family; they are now much more prepared to speak the word boldly and fearlessly.

15 There are some, I should say, who are proclaiming the Messiah because of envy and rivalry; but there are others who are doing it out of good will. 16 These last are acting from love, since they know that I’m in prison because of defending the gospel; 17 but the others are announcing the Messiah out of selfishness and jealousy. They are not acting from pure motives. They imagine that they will make more trouble for me in my captivity.

18 So what? Only this: the Messiah is being announced, whether people mean it or not! I’m happy to celebrate that!

Yes, and I really am going to celebrate: 19 because I know that this will result in my rescue, through your prayer and the support of the spirit of Messiah Jesus. 20 I’m waiting eagerly and full of hope, because nothing is going to put me to shame. I am going to be bold and outspoken, now as always, and the Messiah is going to gain a great reputation through my body, whether in life or in death.

21 You see, for me to live means the Messiah; to die means to make a profit. 22 If it’s to be living on in the flesh, that means fruitful work for me. Actually, I don’t know which I would choose. 23 I’m pulled both ways at once: I would really love to leave all this and be with the Messiah, because that would be far better. 24 But staying on here in the flesh is more vital for your sake. 25 Since I’ve become convinced of this, I know that I will remain here, and stay alongside all of you, to help you to advance and rejoice in your faith, 26 so that the pride you take in Messiah Jesus may overflow because of me, when I come to visit you once again.

27 The one thing I would stress is this: your public behavior must match up to the gospel of the Messiah. That way, whether I do come and see you or whether I remain elsewhere, the news that I get about you will indicate that you are standing firm with a single spirit, struggling side by side with one united intent for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not letting your opponents intimidate you in any way. This is a sign from God: one that signifies their destruction, but your salvation.

29 Yes: God has granted you that, on behalf of the Messiah, you should not only believe in him, but also suffer for his sake. 30 You are engaged in the same struggle which you once watched me go through; and, as you now hear, I’m still going through it.

If we are God’s people, why are we suffering?

The world is so full of signs of goodness and fruitfulness, yet why do things go so badly at times?

You can switch that question around and ask: in a world so dark and broken, why is there so much good?

Popular culture in the 1st century and 21st century says: “Experience is what you get when you don’t get what you want when you want.”

Some troubles you can address and some you cannot so put the latter out of your mind (Phil. 1:10)

Paul references popular culture but he takes us into a new world – the Kingdom of God!

The Gospel, the Jesus movement we are all part of, is more important than whether he lives or dies. Paul is not the hero of the story of Acts.
The Gospel is the hero, and once it arrives in Rome we know it will go out to the rest of the world!

What we need to learn to do is what the surrounding culture is saying to the challenges of life but think it through afresh through the Good News of Jesus. Jesus is with us at the darkest points.

Aristotle saw virtue as an individual pursuit, but Paul saw it as a team sport. We discover how to live righteously in the context of community.

One way or another, Jesus the King will be exalted through it all.
This would be unheard of among the pagan philosophers and the imperial loyalists.

Plato imagined philosopher/kings or a king mentored by a philosopher the way Aristotle invested in the young Alexander the Great.

How does the Gospel of Jesus address the rhetoric of the world in which we live?

Philippians 1:12-26

One of the themes is about “advancing” = “helping the Gospel on its way” (v. 12, 25)
It is the Gospel itself that is advancing! This is Messiah-shaped thinking!

Paul believed the Philippian church will make progress regardless of what will happen to Paul.

Some were proclaiming the Gospel out of jealousy or rivalry (v. 15, 16)

If Paul was in prison in Ephesus when writing this then it was because everywhere he went there was a riot! Paul gets in trouble because magistrates saw his work and the communities of faith he started as subversive. These churches went against the sharp social divisions in place in the culture. Sometimes the charges against Paul were religious, sometimes ethnic (a Judean challenging Roman order), sometimes economic, and sometimes political. All had a grain of truth. In reality, Paul saw himself in chains because of the new Kingdom way of life. The elite Roman guard responsible for the prisons saw Paul’s suffering and Paul wanted to represent Jesus to them.

See the present moment in light of the Kingdom of Jesus.

The flow of this section:

Phil. 1:12-28 divides at Phil. 1:18
He begins this section with the opening of a new section with the word “actually.”
The Gospel is the announcement of Jesus as Lord over new creation! This news is itself a powerful force advancing in the world.
Paul sees his curious circumstances as an opportunity to proclaim this news to the guards watching him.

Some would have thought: “Paul couldn’t be a messenger of God because he is suffering so much!”
Paul says: “No, think in the cruciform way of Jesus.”
Most of the Jesus people are shaking off their inhibitions as seen in the phrase “speaking the word” could also mean “proclaiming the Gospel.”

Two Groups Proclaiming the News of Jesus:

  1. Selfish and jealous messengers.
  2. Those proclaiming out of goodwill and supporting Paul.

Paul decides that he doesn’t mind either group as long as people are talking about Lord Jesus!

So who are these selfish and jealous people?
Wright does not think of them as being like the Galatian agitators or the people Paul references in Phil. 2.
Some think they were nervous believers who did not want to face persecution from the civic authorities?
Some think it was a rival Christian group.
Chrysostom and Wright considered this group unbelievers who wanted to make life difficult for Paul by telling others what he was proclaiming about Jesus – that he had been executed and now Paul claims he is alive and the Lord.

What does Paul mean about “speaking the word”?
Paul means announcing Jesus is the world’s true Lord! (Not the Western version of getting saved so you can go to heaven when you die).
This is not a take it or leave it proposition like the Roman authorities would demand.
It was an announcement about a new reality true in the world offering a new allegiance that gives new life!

Paul echoes Job saying this will work out towards my rescue.
Philippians 1:19 quotes Job 13:16 from the Greek Septuagint translation (LXX), adapting the phrase “this will turn out for my salvation” to express hope in the face of Paul’s imprisonment.

Phil. 1:18b-26
Paul quotes the pagan culture and philosophers once again.
Paul talks about coming back to Philippi which is more evidence he is Ephesus rather than in Rome because when in Rome he is wanting to go to Spain.

Paul goes against the philosophers and acknowledges that death is the last enemy. We should grieve. Death is an affront to God’s good creation. We should not grieve as those who have no hope.

Paul offers Scriptural reflection on what death might mean for him.
He believes he will be vindicated by God in the end (much like Job was vindicated in spite of his accusers).

“Salvation” can mean being rescued from death in God’s new creation with a resurrected body or rescued in a moment of dire circumstances in the present. In light of the ongoing reality of the Gospel, we are not to become hopeless or despairing in light of difficult circumstances.
True comfort comes from Jesus and the prayers and support of our Christian brothers and sisters.
Prayer is a vital part of God’s work. Deism has confused us when it comes to prayer. Prayer isn’t just telling God what to do or what we want from time to time.
God wants to work through His Son and His Spirit in the world – more specifically through Spirit-filled followers of Jesus as we bear the image of God. We are responsible agents in God’s world, partners with Him.

Paul echoes Psalm 34, 35, and 40 in Philippians 1 because his mind and heart was saturated by the Scriptures.
Paul even believed being killed would work to advancing the Gospel message!

Phil. 1: 21-26 explains more about what Paul just said in the earlier passage.

“You see, for me to live means the Messiah; to die means to make a profit.” – Phil. 1:21

Paul gives us a glimpse of where we go immediately after we die. Paul says we are “with Jesus.” Then when Jesus’ returns we will have a new resurrected body in a new heaven and new earth. This is an intermediate state. Some think there is some sort of “soul sleep,” but “sleep” is a metaphor for death. There is a new mode being with Jesus in this intermediate state. The focus is not being with our loved ones who have passed on but being with Jesus. Paul references immortal physicality at the end of Phil. 3. Jesus references this intermediate state to the thief on the cross when he mentions “paradise.” Colossians 3 references a “life hidden with Christ in God.”

Paul does not offer many details but a level of certainty of being with Jesus. Regardless the Gospel will advance no matter what happens to Paul.

Paul is convinced staying alive “at their service” would be better for the Philippians.

The reason for celebrating and comfort is knowing that the Gospel cannot be stopped regardless of their suffering or circumstances.

The main theme is that we must learn to see everything in light of the Gospel which is this world has a new Lord and His name is Jesus.

This goes beyond shallow comfort and conventional wisdom.

Paul’s message to the Philippians and to all who follow Jesus: “You too need to make sure that your public life lives up to the Gospel!”

Exploring Philippians with N.T. Wright: Philippians 1

“The Exploring Philippians” event with N.T. Wright was organized by Admirato.org.

Philippians 1 (“Kingdom New Testament” version also known as “New Testament for Everyone” version)

From Paul and Timothy, slaves of Messiah Jesus, to all God’s holy ones in Messiah Jesus who are in Philippi, together with the overseers and ministers: 2 grace to you and peace, from God our father and Messiah Jesus the Lord.

3 I thank my God every time I think of you! 4 I always pray with joy, whenever I pray for you all, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 Of this I’m convinced: the one who began a good work in you will thoroughly complete it by the day of Messiah Jesus.

7 It’s right for me to think this way about all of you. You have me in your hearts, here in prison as I am, working to defend and bolster up the gospel. You are my partners in grace, all of you! 8 Yes: God can bear witness how much I’m longing for all of you with the deep love of Messiah Jesus.

9 And this is what I’m praying: that your love may overflow still more and more, in knowledge and in all astute wisdom. 10 Then you will be able to tell the difference between good and evil, and be sincere and faultless on the day of the Messiah, 11 filled to overflowing with the fruit of right living, fruit that comes through Messiah Jesus to God’s glory and praise.

“Agape” = “self-giving love”

Paul was grateful for their generosity in spite of their poverty (which may have been the result of losing their jobs for being Jesus-followers).

Paul presents Timothy as a co-author and endorses him later in the letter. They introduce themselves as “slaves of Messiah Jesus.” This would have been shocking as slaves were at the bottom of the social order. Paul gives the Philippians the status as “saints” or “holy ones” in Messiah Jesus. They were God’s people. They were the new example of a remnant of God’s people in a dark world.

Paul was answering the question: what does it mean to be the Messiah’s people in the place where you live?

Paul had a trans-local ministry as a church planter in many places. When Paul references “overseers” and “ministers,” he is mentioning the church leaders more than specific offices or a specific organizational hierarchy.

Too often we underestimate the power of prayer and blessing. Too often this is seen as a mere formality, but Paul sees this as an important part of his ministry as we see in Philippians 1.

The blessing actually comes from God the Father and Israel’s Messiah. Paul’s formula folds Jesus inside a characteristic statement of monotheism. The blessing works through the Holy Spirit who is strongly implied throughout this letter. When God blesses with grace and peace, He gives His blessing to His people in order to bless others through His people.

Phil. 1:3-7
Paul expresses gratitude for their koinonia and his expression of his prayers for them. (Paul most likely had 3 prayer times a day which was the Jewish tradition in that day). Over and over “all” is used to communicate his hope for unity for their church. What the philosophers pursued in joy could be found through a different route via Jesus. Rather than detaching ourselves from the world like the Epicureans or cultivating your inner soul for the Platonists. For Paul the way to joy is through the way of the cross. Paul doesn’t pretend suffering does not happen. Jesus has launched his new creation, and He will return to complete that work! Joy looks back at the cross and forward through the return of Jesus.
God is in the middle of this giving and receiving.

The Gospel is our shared business (Phil. 1:5).
Paul is not just referring to the events of the cross but an ongoing event of announcing Jesus as the One True Lord and fulfilling the Gospel prophecies of the Hebrew Scriptures.
“The Gospel” = “this whole thing we are involved in”
We are to announce Jesus as Lord and display to the world what that really meant.

They may be pure, but they are up to the challenge of supporting him.

Lydia was Paul’s partner in that work in Philippi from the very beginning. This was the beginning of the work of the Gospel in Europe. Paul had a challenging time in Asia, but the Gospel message seemed to really take off in Europe.

God is a doer and a finisher. God is reliable. We can trust Him (Phil. 1:6). Paul is reinforcing God’s divine faithfulness. If something is from God then it will really last.

When God reached out powerfully to them, He transformed them when they began to follow Jesus. His Spirit changed them! And that is not the end of the story. He will continue the work to transform their body to the new body Jesus now has.

Paul adapts the “day of the Lord” when he uses the phrase “the day of Messiah Jesus.” The present life itself becomes a signpost pointing forward to that final day. Paul’s conviction is that God will complete the work because of their heartfelt support. They are demonstrating this Jesus way of living.

“You have me in your hearts” can also be translated “I have you in my hearts”. Paul was in chains, but he was living in a way to validate the power of the Gospel. It makes sense to live the way of Jesus even though it may not be what the world is expecting. Even though we do not acknowledge Caesar as Lord, followers of Jesus are model citizens. (Phil. 1:7).

Verse 7 sums up vs. 3-6 and points towards v. 8-11

Phil. 1:8-11
“Longing for all of you” = “heart tugging longing”
Learning to think wisely is such an important part of the message of the Scriptures.
Their love leads to “astute wisdom” which means “perceptive, discerning reality beyond superficial ideas.”
How does this grow out of love?
“Agape” is the new dimension of “knowing” which comes out of the Gospel. (Phil 1:9)
Love for the Creator leads to loving His creation.
Love is a new way of seeing and knowing and understanding the world.
Love respects and celebrates all God has created – even those who are different.
Paul prays that the Philippians could see to the heart of things through love for the Father.
“Tell the difference between good and evil” = “discerning beyond the superficial to know what really matters and what does not really matter” (Phil. 1:10)
Sincerity means total commitment rather than standing with one foot in the world and one in the Kingdom. Paul is calling for serious character development. The grace which reaches us in the Gospel is meant to transform us because of the Gospel. We are to be known for “right living” which means “displaying to the watching world the rightly ordered life” so that the world will respect and praise God. (Phil. 1:11)

Concluding thoughts:
Paul’s prayers ought to invite us to similar prayers.
We ought to outpace the philosophers and the empire builders.
The joy which permeates this layer comes from living with self-giving love and expecting all will one day be made right when Jesus returns.

Exploring Philippians with N.T. Wright: An Introduction

“The Exploring Philippians” event with N.T. Wright was organized by Admirato.org.

Paul’s letter to the Philippians is short but powerful. He was in prison when he wrote this letter. Even still, the Gospel is never locked up. That belief lies behind everything Paul says and does.

Times may be tough, but the Gospel of Jesus is tougher!

Pray through the letter. Read through the letter in at least 2 different translations. Our goal is to make this little letter our own that we might live differently before the watching and hostile world.

A theme in Philippians is the public life of the people of Christ. We are to make the good news visible. (Philippians 1:27).

Society is not used to good neighbors who live differently – an alternative version to be human. Not everyone will approve, and there will be persecution. People are not used to anyone like Jesus being lifted up more than the Caesars of our societies.

Philippians was a city filled with former Roman soldiers. It was a staging post for the main East to West road.

Once Octavian Caesar won the last battle of the civil war he took the title of Augustus Caesar. They proclaimed peace and prosperity for all! Their gospel was that the New Age of Ages has arrived in the new Emperor! Most knew it was a fiction, but that was the overriding narrative.

For Paul, this vision of civic life (owing allegiance to Caesar) was a farce. The true Gospel, the true Good News, had been unveiled in Jesus Himself. Jesus was the One True Savior! Jesus was Lord! The Creator, the God of Israel raised Jesus from the dead and established Him as Lord.

This flew in the face of the Roman civic system.

When people in our world say the world “God,” they have more of a Deist version in their mind. The Christian Gospel needs to communicate the completely present God who was revealed in Jesus.

Lordship, authority, power, and rule is turned upside down by Jesus. The world’s leaders don’t like rivals; therefore, they are imprisoned or killed.

Jesus was killed but rose from the dead. Paul was imprisoned.

Often prisoners starved to death because food was not provided to those imprisoned. The Philippians sent Epaphroditus with a gift to sustain Paul while he was imprisoned.

Wright and the Philippians commentary written by Hartzinger both suggest Paul was imprisoned in Ephesus. Most scholars think it was Rome.

The theme of “koinonia” is evident throughout this letter. “Koinonia” means “fellowship.” It means being family and sharing life together. This is why the churches outside of Jerusalem raised money to help the church in Jerusalem. They were all family. God’s family is a family of kindness, grace, and love.

The form of the letter:

  1. There are several jerky transitions throughout the letter.
    As a result, some have wondered if this is a combination of a few letters from Paul. (See end of chapter 2 which has commendations which normally comes at the end of Paul’s letters). It is also very possible that Paul had to write in different chunks of time since his time was not his own.
  2. Paul wants to teach the young church what to think and how to think.
    Followers of Jesus are to think Messianically. We have the mind of Christ!
    “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus” – Phil. 2:5
    “All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. – Phil. 3:15
    Every generation faces radical new challenges; therefore, we all need to learn to think the Jesus way.
  3. Paul’s roots are in Israel’s Scriptures and his target is the larger world of paganism.
    As a result, we shouldn’t be surprised that Paul quotes lots of passages of Scriptures and quotes from philosophers.
    Messianic Covenantal Monotheism was at his core.

There is quite a bit of autobiography in this letter. Paul was aware that he was an example to the Philippians of how to live the way of Jesus. He was aware of his responsibility of modeling this new way to be human.

The challenge of Philippians to us is the role of the Church to a watching world.
Who is God calling the Church to be in this generation?
How do we demonstrate this new way of being human to the watching world. They will be intrigued and drawn to Jesus but also opposed to us and persecute us.

Paul insists on us being people of joy.
Too often we considering thinking and experiencing joy as two separate things. Paul sees them both expressed together.
“Thinking joyfully” and “thoughtful joy”