Ian & Jocelyn Barker

After exhorting them into humility through the example of Christ, and godly living as children of light, he switches to telling them of his plans to send Timothy to them. The reason that he wanted to send him was so that Timothy would be able to report to Paul how they were doing. This passage offers a helpful description of what Paul valued in friendship. |inline

After instructing us to “work out our salvation” in cooperation with His working in us, Paul now tells us a little bit of what that means. We are to “do all things without grumbling or disputing.” This command makes me think that a large part of the working out of our salvation is done in the context of community where it is the optimum environment for the exposing of sinful behavior and the accountability required to walk out of sin. |inline

With the life of Jesus in mind, Paul exhorts us to continue to walk in obedience before God. He says, “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” It is clear from this instruction that we have a part to play in our own salvation. We can all agree that faith alone gives us salvation, but there does seem to be an effort that we are to make that either keeps our salvation, or adds a greater eternal glory to our salvation (ie. rewards). As those who have been saved, we are to put on the new self and walk in our calling (cf. Eph. 4:1; Col. 3:9-10). We are not saved to be robots, but there is still real choices and real work required as we continue on our journey into righteousness and holiness of heart and action. |inline

We have seen how Paul has been encouraging the Philippians to stand firm in unity against all opposition to the gospel. Paul wants the saints to experience the same joy that he has experienced in imprisonment and assures them that suffering actually brings joy if it is done for the gospel (suffering itself isn’t good but the fruit of it is). The key to standing together in unity is humility towards one another and our prime example of this is Jesus who had every right to exert His divine attributes but chose to be a Servant. |inline

“Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

Paul is exhorting the saints to be of one mind with one another, and the road to this unity is selflessness and humility. He instructs them to consider one another better than themselves and prefer one another. He now points to Jesus as the example of the attitude that they are to emulate. |inline

As citizens of the kingdom and the gospel, we are to be united together in our stand against opponents who would seek to usurp the power and the truth of the gospel. Paul considers it a privilege to suffer for the gospel and the judgment at the end of human history will vindicate the saints and prove to be destruction for opponents of the gospel. Merely holding onto truth and not compromising our beliefs is victory for the saints. |inline

Paul has been experiencing a pull towards heaven, but assures the saints that he will stay on earth in order to complete his ministry. The shadow of eternity is present in his life to give him joy and courage. He now encourages Philippi to 1) “conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel”; 2) stand “firm in one spirit”; and 3) with “one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel” (1:27). |inline

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. |inline

After thanking God for them, and sharing his prayer for them, Paul begins to report about how he has been doing. Paul is relating how his time in jail or house arrest in Rome, has actually accelerated the progress of the gospel so that the church in Rome has more courage to preach. Paul rejoices in this even though some are preaching from wrong motives. |inline

“…so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”

Paul is in the middle of his prayer after presenting his request for the springing up of love that comes from experiencing God and understanding His model of love. Now he presents the result and reason for his request. Real love for one another works righteousness into our lives readying us for our resurrection. |inline