Ian & Jocelyn Barker

Paul has related how the gospel has gone forth in a more powerful way because of his imprisonment. The gospel has had effect on unbelievers, as well as on believers who been strengthened to preach the gospel. However, their motives are mixed as some preach out of love for Paul, while others are preaching out of envy and strife towards Paul. But still, Paul rejoices that the gospel is preached.

Though some believers are seeking to take over his ministry and discredit Paul, he is confident that God will vindicate him and not allow him to be put to shame. He talks about being delivered. What is this deliverance? He believes that he will be released from prison so that he can see the Philippians again and continue his labor of ministry (1:24-25; 2:24). But he also is confident that he will be delivered from the tactics to shame and discredit him. Prayer has a huge part in making Paul’s victory sure. We have a responsibility to our leaders to pray for them. It’s amazing that Paul trusts in the prayers of the saints and God’s intervention to vindicate himself. He doesn’t seek to “show up his critics”, but rejoices that the gospel is preached.

Verses 20-26 are one of the clearest expressions of what it means to be apostolic. Paul’s understanding of eternity effected his life on the earth because his confidence was in his inheritance in eternity rather than on his accomplishments on the earth in ministry. In Christ, life is a win-win situation because if he dies, he gains a resurrected body and an unfettered relationship with Christ, if he continues to live, he gets to pour himself out for the sake of the church. Paul’s idea of living life in the hope of eternity was not to hold on for dear life until his body gave out. Rather, he saw that it was necessary that he remain for the sake of the believers. Paul did not shrink from his duties or devalue himself in the name of humility. He arose in the confidence of who he was as a mature apostle who was able to pastor and teach believers for the progression of their faith. Living in the shadow of eternity, he continued to pour his life out for the church and saw that their is a progression between eternity and the present.