Philippians 4:1-9

I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women… (vv. 2-3a) I hadn’t mentioned it before when I was posting about Epaphroditus, but apparently he had come from Philippi to see Paul in prison and to bring assistance of some sort from his Philippian brothers and sisters (as we will read tomorrow). So it seems that Epaphroditus also brought word of difficulties between these two women, Euodia and Syntyche. Paul does not write that specifically, but he bids these two women “to agree” about something and he asks a Philippian friend to “help these women”. Paul does not mention the matter in which they need help, but we could readily conclude that it’s the same matter in the previous verse – their “agreement”. One wonders at the topic of their disagreement.

Paul offers another “imitation” verse: What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me… (v. 9a) He must have enormous confidence in his walk with the Lord!

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, … honorable, … just, … pure, … lovely, … commendable, … any excellence, … anything worthy of praise… (v. 8) Breaking out these words/phrases separately gives each of them more visibility. Makes it easier to think on what we should be thinking about…!!

Slava Bohu!

Philippians 3:12-21

But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. (vv. 13b-15) It’s easy for us to overlook those three words, “think this way”. So here are those same thoughts, re-stating verses 14 and 15a to give us a better sense of what Paul is asking directly of us: “Let those of you who are mature forget what lies behind and … press on toward the goal of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” This re-phrasing adds some clarity to his “think this way”.

Paul uses two powerful words/phrases in that first ESV translation above, “straining” and “press on”. Both of these words/phrases have some sense of persistence and determination. Paul wants us to be “straining forward”, not just simply looking ahead. And he wants us to “press on”, not just rest in our acceptance of our future reward. I’m thinking of the “full court press” in basketball – an intense focus on disrupting the other team. Paul is telling us not to simply rest on our forgiveness and salvation in Jesus, but to move forward with intensity. And if we’re not at that point, just wait and the Lord will deal with us on that matter!!

Finally, …hold true to what we have attained. (v. 16) Paul wants us to “hold true” to where we are – again, don’t just rest in it, embrace it! Love where we are and the life that we are living! And he follows that up with another of his “imitation” calls: Brothers, join in imitating me… (v. 17a) Paul is confident in his approach to his current state (in his case, prison) and in his future direction – so confident, in fact, that he can ask us to do likewise. It’s a worthy calling!

Slava Bohu!

Philippians 3:1-11

I haven’t mentioned Paul’s triads for a while, but we have two today that jumped off the page at me! First, as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. (vv. 5b-6) I really like the structure, the composition of this first triad, kind of a “question and answer” format: the Law? A Pharisee! Zeal? Persecutor! Righteousness? Blameless! To me, the way it’s written, it’s powerful, hard-hitting – a very good writing style.

And the second triad (in the NASB), …that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings… (v. 10a) Say that to yourself. Say it out loud. Say it again! Pray it! There’s nothing more that you want, folks! There’s nothing more in life…! GLORY!!!

Slava Bohu!

Philippians 2:19-30

It’s interesting how Paul does what he can to stay in touch with his churches even though he himself is in prison: I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. (v. 19) So Paul’s plan is to send Timothy, then have him return. Paul clearly has high regard for Timothy: For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. (v. 20) It’s so important in our Christian world that pastors have faithful parishioners who can serve in a variety of ways – the pastor himself can’t do everything!! Upon reading our St. Andrew’s Annual Report one year I counted some 30 people in leadership positions in a variety of ministries. We are well served at St. Andrew’s! Even while David is gone on Sabbatical we continue to operate, with faithful people in the pulpit and “on the ground”. One of Mark Bruner’s real problems in CZ is not having others step up into needs that arise. So sad, because Mark works so hard!

Paul does not state it clearly in today’s reading, nor did my Study Bible comment on it, but I gathered from the reading that Epaphroditus was to be the person who would hand-deliver this letter to the Philippians: I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need … So receive him in the Lord with all joy… (vv. 25, 29a). My Study Bible did comment that Philippi was Epaphroditus’ home.

Here’s an item I shared with Carol this morning that she also found interesting:

“Interestingly, Epaphroditus’s name is of pagan origin. It means “belonging to Aphrodite”—the name of the goddess is actually incorporated into the name Epaphroditus. Such is the power of the gospel that a man is set free from dead paganism to serve the living God. When Epaphroditus received the gospel, he was “belonging to Jesus,” and the idol had no more claim on him, regardless of his name. The new birth trumped the birth name.”

https://www.gotquestions.org/Epaphroditus-in-the-Bible.html

Slava Bohu!

Philippians 2:12-18

…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you… (vv. 12b-13a) I wanted to say a few words about this “fear and trembling”, but I found an online source that already has it covered:

“The Greek word translated ‘fear’ in this context can equally mean ‘reverence’ or ‘respect.’ Paul uses the same phrase in II Corinthians 7:15, where he refers to Titus as being encouraged by the Corinthians’ reception of him ‘with fear and trembling,’ that is, with great humility and respect for his position as a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul himself came to the Corinthian church in ‘weakness and fear, and with much trembling’ (I Corinthians 2:3), mindful of the great and awesome nature of the work in which he was engaged.”

https://www.gotquestions.org/fear-and-trembling.html

We “work out our salvation” simply by being obedient to Jesus’ words, growing into a mature faith. It’s not a “faith vs. works” issue; we’re not working our way to heaven. It’s simply being the person Jesus wants us to be – modeling His life and words and living in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Do all things without grumbling or disputing… (v. 14) Seven words, one complete verse, ‘nuff said…!

Slava Bohu!

Philippians 2:1-11

Today’s reading, especially verses 4-11, is probably a favorite for all of us. Certainly it is for me. Even now the refrain from “He is Lord” is running through my head. So many words that Paul wrote are so glorious, so beautiful. We are blessed to have his writings at our fingertips!

I could just leave it at that – which was my initial intention. But then something struck me in the following verse: …so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth… (v. 10) I was wondering what Paul meant when he wrote “in heaven and on earth and under the earth”. Did he mean angels, living humans, and dead (buried) humans? Or did he mean saints and angels in heaven, humans alive on earth, and souls in hell? Two verses in Revelation 5:3, 13 use the same terminology. Here’s 5:3, And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it. Looking online didn’t offer much guidance. But there is one item that is clear in that verse 10. The phrase, …at the name of Jesus… does not have a distinct time component. So wherever, whenever, Jesus’ name is mighty!

Slava Bohu!

Philippians 1:19-30

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (v. 21) I have quoted this verse so many times, especially in the context of our present COVID life! So many dead – but how many were “in Christ”? Undoubtedly, He knew them all and He called them home when it was their time. So while we are troubled by our current circumstances, we need to relax and know that God knows it all; He is allowing COVID to go on, until whenever. We just need to trust Him.

This verse also comes to mind from my time before I was born again in 1975. My friend, Jim, had been sharing with me for 3+ years, but I was resistant owing to my Catholic roots and what I saw as his Protestant message. But after some time of his sharing it was clear to me that Jim was absolutely happy in his new life in Christ. He knew where he would be spending eternity, but even if there were no God, Jim was thoroughly happy in his present life in Christ. That is, he couldn’t lose! God or no God, Jim was happy! For him, truly, to live was Christ and to die was gain! I know that this reality had some bearing on my eventual “conversion”. Glory!!

Slava Bohu!

Philippians 1:1-18

Philippians… We now embark on one of Carol’s and my favorite epistles. For me, Philippians was probably my first real connection between the book of Acts and Paul’s writings. I had read Acts well before I read any of Paul’s epistles, so I was aware of his imprisonment with Silas in Philippi (Acts 16). So when Paul writes the following sentiments to the Philippians in today’s reading, …I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel (v. 7b), on my first read of Philippians I was drawn back to Paul’s Philippian imprisonment. So way back then the seed was planted for the study we are doing this year!

I have made our reading program by following The Chronological Study Bible that we have been using since 2010. In placing Philippians here, however, I feel that the authors, editors and writers of this particular chronology have it wrong. Two questions arise – when did Paul write Philippians and where was he when he wrote it? The second question (where) is the more important. Bible scholars have offered three locations: Ephesus, Caesarea, and Rome. Since we know that Paul was in prison when he wrote this letter (see above), I rule out Ephesus. There is no indication in Acts or elsewhere that he was ever imprisoned in Ephesus. Second, in Philippians 4:10-14 there is every indication that the Philippians had supported him financially. You will recall that Paul carried funds with him to Jerusalem to support the needy there, having raised those funds from Achaia, Macedonia, Asia, and Galatia. It seems unlikely to me that the Philippians would again be raising funds to support Paul while he was in Jerusalem, having fairly recently contributed to the welfare of the Jerusalem believers. Finally, there is mention throughout this letter of frequent travels from Paul’s prison location (by his friends) to Philippi. Caesarea is much further from Philippi than is Rome – either a long overland journey or many ship crossings. Rome is only one body of water, the Adriatic Sea, and a much shorter land distance. So bottom line, I favor this letter being written from Rome. However, if Philippians is chronologically misplaced in our reading schedule, our next body of readings will finish Acts and Philippians would have been placed right after the end of Acts. So, not a big deal. A long explanation, hopefully not too confusing…!

There are so many quotable verses in Philippians. One oft-quoted from today’s reading is verse 6, but I will let you consider that on your own. For my part I was touched today by verse 18: What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. The preceding verses are important in fully understanding this verse – that not everyone surrounding Paul in his prison state is preaching Jesus from a clean heart. But still “…Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.” We have similar situations today with preachers who appear to be getting wealthy from their ministry, with people who follow them “religiously”. Still, Christ is proclaimed… There are also denominations that seem to be misguided from a lot of Biblical truth (from my perspective). Still, Christ is proclaimed… We may disagree with our Christian brothers on a number of our issues, but we agree on our fundamental beliefs as expressed in the Nicene Creed. But if people have difficulties with items in the Nicene Creed, then we are not on the same page! So today, HALLELUJAH, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice!!

Slava Bohu!

Acts 24:10-27

Felix… We’ve often heard that God’s word never goes out void. (Isaiah 55:11) So what about Felix in today’s reading? Evidently he spent a lot of time listening to Paul: (a) But Felix, having a rather accurate knowledge of the Way… (v. 22a). (b) After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. (v. 24) (c) So he sent for him often and conversed with him. (v. 26b) Makes me wonder if in the end Felix might have had a change of heart?

Paul: “It is with respect to the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you this day.” (v. 21b) Folks, we are all on trial this day, every day, with respect to Jesus’ resurrection. That thought should never be far from our minds.

Slava Bohu!