Philippians

Saturday, 18 February 2017

I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. Philippians 4:2

There was obviously a dissension in the church between these two women, Euodia and Syntyche. Nothing more is known about these ladies than that they were known by Paul personally, that they labored with him in the gospel, and that they were not in agreement over some particular issue. Speculation as to their position, if any, in the church is without merit.

Paul implores each of them individually – “I implore Euodia,” and “I implore Syntyche.” This is especially stated so that neither is elevated above the other as if one was in the wrong and Paul was siding with the other. It could be that either one, or both, were in the wrong. No matter what, Paul was not taking sides, but was simply asking them to drop their feud and “to be of the same mind.”

These words mean that they should be united in the cause and reconciled over what has divided them. And to solidify this, he adds “in the Lord.” They should not only be united, but united in Christ Jesus. If they both had their eyes, hearts, and affections on Him, then their petty differences would fade into the background.

It is of note that the verb which is translated as “to be of mind” is found 10 times in Philippians, more than any other book. Paul uses it only 23 times in all, and so almost one half of its uses are in this little epistle. There is a high stress on unity here.

As a note: The name here is Euodia, not Euodias as some versions incorrectly state. This is clearly a female as will be seen from verse 2. If your Bible says Euodias, you can pen in the correction.

Life application: Are you a divider or one who unites? And even if you are not a divider, are you caught up in a division? It is time to put the petty aside and strive forward with Christ as your only true passion. In so doing, all other things will find their proper place.

Lord God, help each of us to evaluate ourselves and to see if we are the cause of division or unity within Your church. And even if we are not the cause of division, maybe we are still caught up in something which has divided the body. Help us to be of one mind in the Lord, and to put away the petty differences which tear apart harmony and right order. May we fix our eyes on Jesus and determine in our heart to be a uniting part of His body. Amen.

Friday, 17 February 2017

Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved. Philippians 4:1

Paul has just been speaking of the resurrection of our earthly bodies and their being conformed to Christ’s glorious body. With that thought still in mind, Chapter 4 begins with “Therefore.” As always, when encountering a “therefore,” one must go back and see what it is there for. In this case, as noted, he is summing up the thought of the resurrection. From that, he now provides practical advice concerning this issue.

In this, he is amazingly consistent. He followed the same pattern in both Romans and 1 Corinthians. Immediately after speaking of the resurrection in these books, he penned for us the following –

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. ² And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:1, 2

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:18

In this beginning of his practical application, he states, “…my beloved and longed for brethren.” It is a touching note of endearment which is all the more necessary based on what he will instruct for them in the coming two verses. They are in his heart, and they are brethren in the Lord. For this reason, it is for his comfort, and for their favor to accept his words as they will be given. The words “longed for” certainly are based on his current status as a man in chains. His inability to come to them personally has only pulled his heart strings even more. The word for “longed for” is epipothétos. It is found only here in Scripture, and it signifies “to long for with great affection.”

He next calls them “my joy and my crown.” Again, he uses words and ideas which he uses elsewhere. Two examples of such honorific words are found in 1 Corinthians and 1 Thessalonians –

“If I am not an apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to you. For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 9:2

“For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? ²⁰ For you are our glory and joy.” 1 Thessalonians 2:19

For the Philippians, they are his joy even in suffering, and his crown which awaits in glory. The work that he has done, and the fruit which has been realized through his labors make both of these things true. Because of this, and because of his hopes for this to continue in them, he next says, “…so stand fast in the Lord.”

These words certainly are given because of the hope of the resurrection (see the note on “Therefore” above), but they are exhortations based on the content of all of chapter 3. He wants them to stand in Christ and not get drawn into legalism through an insertion of the law, nor get drawn into license by assuming grace allows and promotes sin. With this in mind, he again calls them “beloved” to close out the verse. The scholar Bengel notes that, “This word is twice used with great sweetness; first as at the beginning of the period; and then, for strengthening the exhortation.”

Life application: Because of our hope in the resurrection, we should be all the more willing to stand fast in the Lord. How often this is turned completely around! We tend to think, “I am on the heavenly highway, and so I don’t need to worry about my actions as much.” This is a 180 degree turn from what is actually appropriate.

Lord God, how often do we who trust in Christ get our bearings out of whack. We assume that because we have a sure hope in the resurrection, we don’t have to be as determined in pursuing the goal as those who have no hope. But it is just the opposite. Exactly because we have this hope, we should stand even more determined to live for Christ, to emulate Christ, and to strive to finish the race as He has called us to do. Help us not to head in the wrong direction, but to demonstrate our hope in eternal life by living that hope out now. Amen.

Thursday, 16 February 2017

…who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. Philippians 3:21

Speaking of “the Lord Jesus Christ” of the previous verse, it is He “who will transform our lowly body.” The term in Greek is “the body of our humiliation.” We have a form which at this time is weak, corruptible, and corrupt. However, this body of humiliation will be transformed into another form. Paul notes that it is the Son who will accomplish this transformation into the marvelous image which He now bears. This is referred to elsewhere, such as in 1 Corinthians 15:38 where the term “God” is used –

“But God gives it a body as He pleases, and to each seed its own body.”

Therefore, this is another (of the countless such in Scripture) references to the deity of Christ Jesus. If God gives the body as he pleases, and yet it is the Lord Jesus Christ who will transform our lowly body, then He is God. This transformation is so “that it may be conformed to His glorious body.” The term in Greek is “the body of His glory.” It then is set in contrast to “the body of our humiliation” which we now bear. The form itself will be changed, and we shall be like Him. John tells us this also –

“Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” 1 John 3:2

The marvelous transformation will be from a state of humility to one of glory which is “according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.” What is now frail, easily harmed or destroyed, and which is corrupt and in a state of  humiliation, will soon be fashioned according to the same power by which Christ will subject all things, bringing them into the order and harmony which they were originally intended to be in.

Vincent’s word studies notes that, “It is more than merely subdue. It is to bring all things within His divine economy; to marshal them all under Himself in the new heaven and the new earth in which shall dwell righteousness. Hence the perfected heavenly state as depicted by John is thrown into the figure of a city, an organized commonwealth. The verb is thus in harmony with Philippians 3:20. The work of God in Christ is therefore not only to transform, but to subject, and that not only the body, but all things.”

Life application: Chapter 3 of Philippians closes out with these marvelous words of assurance, and even of great expectation of the glory which lies ahead. Joy for the believer is not merely the absence of pains and sorrow. Rather, it is the ever-present hope which we possess because of the work of Christ, and of the glory which lies ahead. Our current body may be broken, filled with pains, or incapable of standing up to the surrounding pressures we face, but what lies ahead will be whole, filled with glory, and capable of lasting throughout eternal ages. Let us not weary in anticipating the great glory which lies ahead. It is our blessed hope.

Lord God, the body we now possess is one which is fraught with pains, pressures, times of sadness, and eventually a state of death and corruption. But for the believer in Christ who has gone before us in the resurrection, we have the promise of a new and glorious body which will be ever-whole, free of stress and burdens, filled with the ability to experience eternal joy, and one which will never grow weak or weary. Let the world come against us now if that is our lot, but we shall triumph over this fallen existence and be transformed in to a body of glory. Even so, come Lord Jesus. Amen.

Wednesday, 15 February 2017

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, Philippians 3:20

This is a verse very rich in its content and meaning. First, there is an emphasis in the original of the first clause on “our” and on “is.” Secondly, the word “citizenship” is found only here in the New Testament. It is the word politeuma, and it is a noun indicating a state or a commonwealth. Rather than “citizenship,” the word appears to be speaking of an actual city which awaits us. Thus, it is probably referring to the New Jerusalem.

The emphasis in this first verse, and the reference to the state which awaits, is literally translated then as “Of us, indeed, the state of heaven exists…” The word “exists, according to Vincent’s Word Studies, “signifies ‘actually exists;’ and the reference to the appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ is obviously suggested by the thought that with it will also come the manifestation of the ‘Jerusalem which is above…’”

It is a delightful set of words, given to us to revel in as we await the glory which is ahead, and which already exists. We can now anticipate it in the fullest sense because of the work of Christ which assures us of our entry into that wonderful city. This then is in contrast to the previous verse which spoke of those whose minds are set on “earthly things.” Let them have their party now. In the end, it will all be swept away and forgotten, but our walk will be an eternal one in a land of delight and abundance.

Next he says, “from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” The words are intended to fill us with an actual longing and a great anticipation for that which lies ahead. What does this world hold that is a jillionth as wonderful as the glory which is promised to us? Instead, we should continuously fix our eyes on Jesus, and the savor in our mouths should be that of anticipation in what He has prepared for us.

Of note in the Greek is that there is no article in front of the word “Savior.” Again, Vincent’s Word Studies looks into the thoughts of Paul which are being relayed. He says “its emphatic position in the sentence indicates that it is to be taken predicatively with Jesus Christ, and not as the direct object of the verb. Hence render: we await as Savior the Lord…” Therefore, we have a dual thought to be pieced together. Our city awaits us as a city which is prepared for us, but access to that city is dependent upon the return of Jesus as Savior.  He is our Savior, and yet we await Him as Savior with all that the title implies and with all that will accompany His final salvation.

Life application: Reading verses like this one should remind us not to get too entangled in the things of the world. Instead, we should direct our thoughts, hopes, and devotions to the Lord who has promised us so much more than what we now experience.

Heavenly Father, You have promised us great things in Christ Jesus. Our citizenship is assured, our city awaits, and our Savior is coming. Help us to not get so fixated on this world that we lose sight of the great and glorious things which lie ahead. In anticipating those things, our hearts and praises will be more appropriately directed to You. May this be our daily custom and devotion, to Your glory and praise. Amen. 

Tuesday, 14 February 2017

…whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things. Philippians 3:19

Concerning “the enemies of the cross of Christ” of the previous verse, Paul now says that their “end is destruction.” This is set in contrast to the “resurrection from the dead” in verse 11, and of the right of entry into the New Jerusalem for the believer which will be noted in verse 20. Instead of an anticipation of life, these enemies of the cross will be cast into the burning pit of the Lake of Fire. Their reward is one of perdition, as the Greek reads, not salvation.

In order to explain why this is so, he next gives three descriptions of them which reflects their very character and nature. First he says, “whose god is their belly.” This is a further explanation of his words of Romans 16 –

“For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.” Romans 16:18

This same idea concerning the appetites of the belly is given in 2 Peter 2 and in Jude. These people live for the temporary, feasting themselves now on that which can never fully satisfy while forsaking the true heavenly meal which will satisfy for eternity. Paul will give a contrast of this description to that of the believer in verse 21.

He next says of them that their “glory is in their shame.” In Ephesians 5, Paul notes that there are things which are shameful even to speak of even in secret. However, these perverse people actually glory in such things . Perfectly representing this are modern homosexual pastors and preachers. They revel in their perversion, and they openly avow that they engage in such abominable practices. They glory in defying the Lord who would save them if they would simply turn and be saved. But instead of this, Paul gives the final description of them by saying that they “set their mind on earthly things.”

This state is in contrast to the thoughts of verses 13 and 21. We are to set our mind on that which is heavenly and eternal, not on that which is worldly and temporary. This contrast between the two is well described by Paul in Romans 8 –

“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.” Romans 8:5

Life application: If this life is where our hopes lie, then our hopes will die with us in this life. But if the promise of God which is found in the resurrection of Jesus Christ is where our hopes lie, then there is a great and eternal reward which awaits us. May we think reasonably and rationally concerning our eternal destiny. This life is but a temporary breath. Is it worth sacrificing eternity for such a passing moment?

Lord God, when we are young, it seems as life will go on and on, but as we grow older we realize how temporary our life really is. In this, we have but two choices. We can set our hopes and affections on You, and on the eternal ages which stand before us, or we can greedily live for all that we can grasp now, forsaking true life and filling this temporary, vain existence with earthly things. Give us wisdom to use our time rightly, and to live for the greater hope which is found in the finished work of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.