“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.
