“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:
- 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. - 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. - 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”
