“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:
- Selfish and jealous messengers.
- 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!”
