Philippians 1:12-30 (Wednesday Evening Bible Study)

Philippians 1:12-30

• Philippians 1:12-14
• 12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually advanced the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard, and to everyone else, that my imprisonment is because I am in Christ. 14 Most of the brothers have gained confidence in the Lord from my imprisonment and dare even more to speak the word fearlessly.
  • Paul was a prisoner but far from his imprisonment ending his ministry, it actually expanded it for himself and others
    • In fact, the chains of his imprisonment actually destroyed the barriers
    • The word Paul uses for the advancement of the gospel is prokope; it is specially used for the progress of an army or an expedition. It is the noun from the verb prokoptein, which means to cut down in advance. It is the verb which is used for cutting away the trees and the undergrowth, and removing the barriers which would hinder the progress of an army. Paul’s imprisonment, far from shutting the door, opened the door to new spheres of work and activity into which he would never otherwise have penetrated
    • Paul, seeing that there was no justice for him in Palestine, appealed to Caesar, as every Roman citizen had the right to do. When he had arrived in Rome, he had been handed over to the captain of the guard and allowed to live by himself under the care of a soldier who was his guard. Ultimately, although still under guard, he had been allowed to have his own rented lodging which was open to all who cared to come see him
    • “Imperial guard” praitorion, “A body of people
      • The Praetorian Guard were the Imperial Guard of Rome. They had been set up by Augustus and were a Boyd of 10,000 select troops. Augustus had kept them supersede throughout Rome and neighboring towns. Tiberius had concentrated them in Rome in a specially built and fortified camp. Vitellius had increased their number to 16,000. They served for 12 and later 16 years. At the close of their term of service, they received the citizenship and a financial payment
        • They also became pretty much the emperor’s private bodyguard, and in the end they became a significant problem. They were concentrated in Rome, and there came a time when they became nothing less than king-makers; for it was their nominee who was made emperor every time, since they could impose their will by force if necessary. It was the captain of this imperial guard that Paul was handed over to when he arrived at Rome
  • Paul repeatedly refers to himself as a prisoner or being in chains.
    • He tells the Roman Christians that although he had done no wrong, he was delivered a prisoner into the hands of the Romans. In Philippians, he repeatedly speaks of his imprisonment. In Colossians, he speaks of bing in prison for the sake of Christ, and tells the Colossians to remember his chains. In Philemon, he calls himself a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and speaks of being imprisoned for the gospel. In Ephesians, he again calls himself the prisoner for Jesus Christ
  • There are two passages in which his imprisonment is more closely defined. In Acts 28:20, he speaks of himself as being bound with this chain; and he uses the same word in Ephesians 6:20, when he speaks of himself as an ambassador in chains
    • It is in this word (halusis) that we find our key. Halusis is a short length of chain by which the wrist of a prisoner was bound to the wrist of the soldier who was his guard, so that escape was impossible
    • Paul had been delivered to the captain of the guard to wait trial before the emperor. He had been allowed to arranged a private lodging for himself; but night and day in that private lodging there was a soldier to guard him, a soldier to whom he was chained by his halusis all the time
    • These soldiers would be rotated and assigned the duty of guarding Paul and in the two years one by one the guardsmen of the Imperial Guard would be on duty with Paul. These soldiers would hear Paul preach and talk to his friends. Paul would open up a discussion about Jesus with the soldier to whose wrist he was chained
  • His imprisonment had opened the way for preaching the gospel to the finest regiment in the Roman army. No wonder he declared that his imprisonment had actually been for the furtherance of the gospel. All the guard knew why Paul was in prison; many of them were touched for Christ; and the very sight of this gave the Christians at Philippi courage to preach the gospel and to witness for Christ
  • Paul’s chains had removed the barriers and given him access to the finest section of the Roman army, and his imprisonment had been the medicine of courage to the Christian men and women at Philippi
• Philippians 1:15-18
• 15 To be sure, some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of good will. 16 These preach out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; 17 the others proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, thinking that they will cause me trouble in my imprisonment. 18 What does it matter? Only that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is proclaimed, and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice
  • Here Paul is speaking from the heart. His imprisonment has been an incentive to preaching. That incentive worked two ways
    • There were those who loved him; and when they saw him in prison, they doubled their efforts to spread the gospel, so that it would lose nothing because of his imprisonment
    • But others were moved by what Paul calls eritheia, and preached for their own biased motives
      • Originally, it simply meant working for pay. But anyone who works solely for pay works from a low motive. Such a person is out solely for personal benefit. The word came to describe someone who was chiefly interested in developing a career, seeking office merely for self-improvement; and so it came to be connected with politics and to mean canvassing for office. It came to describe self-seeking and selfish ambition, which was out to advance itself and did not care to what methods it stooped to achieve its ends. 
      • So there were those who preached even harder now that Paul was in prison because they viewed it as a heaven-sent opportunity to advance their own influence and prestige and to lessen his
  • There is a lesson for us here. Paul knew nothing of personal jealousy or of personal resentment. As long as Jesus Christ  was being preached, he did not care who received credit and the honor
    • I think that’s one of the biggest reasons this temporary combination between Common Ground and North Boulevard has worked as well as it has. There’s no ego between R-Kay and I. As long as Christ is being glorified and preached, that’s all we really care about.
• Philippians 1:19-20
• 19 because I know this will lead to my salvation through your prayers and help from the Spirit of Jesus Christ. 20 My eager expectation and hope is that I will not be ashamed about anything, but that now as always, with all courage, Christ will be highly honored in my body, whether by life or by death.
  • It is Paul’s conviction that the situation in which he finds himself will result in his salvation. Even his imprisonment, and even the almost hostile preaching of his personal enemies, will in the end turn out to be his salvation. What does he mean by his salvation? The Greek is soteria, which has three possible meanings
    • It may mean safety, in which case Paul will be saying that he is quite sure that the matter will end in his release. But that can hardly be the meaning here, since Paul goes on to say that he isn’t sure whether he will live or die
    • It may mean his salvation in heaven. In that case, Paul would be saying that his conduct in the opportunity which this situation provides will be his witness in the day of judgement
      • In any situation of opportunity or challenge, we are acting not only for the present time but also for eternity. Our reaction to every situation in time is a witness for or against us in eternity
    • Soteria may have a wider meaning than either of these
      • It can mean health, general wellbeing. Paul may well be saying that all that is happening to him in this very difficult situation is the best thing for him both in the present and in eternity
      • In this situation Paul knows that he has two great supports
        • He has the support of the prayers of his friends
          • Paul was never too full of his own importance to remember that he needed the prayers of his friends. He never talked to people as if he could do everything and they could do nothing; he always remembered that neither he, nor they, could do anything without the help of God
          • When people are in sorrow, one of their greatest comforts is the awareness that others are bearing them to the throne of grace. When they have to face some back breaking effort or some heartbreaking decision, there is new strength n remembering that others are remembering them before God. When they go into new places and are far from home, they are upheld in the knowledge that the prayers of those who love them are crossing continents to bring them before the throne of grace. We cannot call people our friends unless we pray for them (Toes stepped on)
        • Paul knows that he has the support of the Holy Spirit
          • The presence of the Holy Spirit is the fulfillment of the promise of Jesus that He will be with us to the end of the world
          • In all this situation, Paul has one expectation and one hope. The word he uses for expectation is vivid and unusual; no one uses it before Paul, and he may well have coined it
            • Apokaradokia
              • Apo means away from
              • Kara means the head
              • Dokein means to look
              • Together, apokaradokia means the eager, intense look, which turns away from everything else to fix on the one object of desire
            • Paul’s hope is that he will never be shamed into silence, either by cowardice or by a feeling of ineffectiveness. Paul is certain that in Christ he will find courage never to be ashamed of the gospel, and that through Christ his labors will be made effective for all to see. To speak the truth with boldness is not only the privilege of the servants of Christ; it is also our duty 
  • So, if Paul courageously and effective seizes his opportunity, Christ will be glorified in him
    • It does not matter how things go with him. If he dies, he will receive the martyr’s crown; if he lives, he will have the privilege of still preaching and witnessing for Christ
    • Here is the terrible responsibility of all Christians; once we have chosen Christ, by our lives and our conduct we bring either glory or shame on HIm. Leaders are judged by their followers; and Christ is judged by us
• Philippians 1:21-26
• 21 For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 Now if I live on in the flesh, this means fruitful work for me; and I don’t know which one I should choose. 23 I am torn between the two. I long to depart and be with Christ—which is far better— 24 but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. 25 Since I am persuaded of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that, because of my coming to you again, your boasting in Christ Jesus may abound.
  • Since Paul was in prison waiting for his trial, he had to face the fact that it was quite uncertain whether he would live or die—and to him it made no difference
    • To live is Christ; For Paul, Christ had been the beginning of live, for on that day on the Damascus road it was as if he had begun life all over again. Christ had been the continuing of life; there had never been a day when Paul had not lived in his presence, and in the scary moments Christ had been there to tell him not to be afraid. Christ was the end of life, for it was toward His eternal presence that life always led. Christ was the inspiration of life; He was the dynamic of life
      • To Paul, Christ had give the task of life, for it was He who had made him an apostle and sent him out as the missionary to the Gentiles. To him, Christ had given the strength for life, for it was Christ’s all sufficient grace that was made perfect in Paul’s weakness. For him, Christ was the reward of life, for to Paul the only worthwhile reward was closer fellowship with his Lord. If Christ were to be taken out of life, for Paul there would  be nothing left
    • To die is gain: Death was entrance into Christ’s nearer presence
      • Paul thought of death as an immediate entry into the presence of his Lord. If we believe in Jesus Christ, death for us is union and reunion, union with Him and reunion with those whom we have loved and lost
  • The result was that Paul was wavering between two desires
    • I am torn between the two; The word he uses is senechomai, the word which would be used of a traveller in a narrow passage, with a wall of rock on either side, unable to turn off in any direction and able only to go straight on. For himself, he wanted to depart and to be with Christ; for the sake of his friends and of what he could do with them and for them, he wanted to be left in this life. Then comes the thought that the choice is not his but God’s
  • I long to depart and be with Christ: The word he uses for depart is analuein
    • It is the word for breaking up a camp, loosening the tent ropes, pulling up the tent pegs and moving on
      • Death is a moving on. Each day is a day’s march nearer home until camp in this world s finally dismantled and exchanged for permanent residence in the world of glory
    • It is the word for loosening the anchor ropes, pulling up the anchors, and setting sail
      • Death is a setting sail, a departure on that voyage which leads to the everlasting haven and to God
    • It is the word for loving problems
      • Death brings life’s solutions. There is some place where all earth’s questions will be answered and where those who have waited will in the end understand
  • It is Paul’s conviction that he will remain and continue with them
    • There is a word play in the Greek that can’t be reproduced in the English
      • Remain in menein, and to continue is paramenein
      • The point is this: menein simply means to remain with; but paramenein means to wait beside a person, always ready to help. 
    • Paul’s desire to live is not for his own sake, but for the sake of those whom he can continue to help
  • So if Paul is spared to come see them again, they will have in him grounds to boast in Jesus Christ. That is to say, they will be able to look at him and see in this a shining example of how, through Christ, they can face the worst standing tall and unafraid. It is the duty of every Christian to trust in this way so that others will be able to see what Christ can do for those who have given their lives to Him
• Philippians 1:27-30
• 27 Just one thing: As citizens of heaven, live your life worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or am absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit, in one accord, contending together for the faith of the gospel, 28 not being frightened in any way by your opponents. This is a sign of destruction for them, but of your salvation—and this is from God. 29 For it has been granted to you on Christ’s behalf not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are engaged in the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I have.
  • One thing is essential—no matter what happens either to them or to Paul, the Philippians must live in a manner that is worthy of their faith and the belief they declare
  • Live your life worthy of the gospel of Christ: Paul uses a word he very rarely uses in order to express his meaning. The word he would normally use for living in the ordinary affaires of life literally means to walk about. Here he uses the word which means to be a citizen.
    • Paul was writing forms eh ver center of the Roman Empire, from Rome itself; it was the fact that he was a Roman citizen that had brought him there. Philippi was a Roman colony; and Roman colonies were little bits of Rome planted through the world, where the citizens never forgot that they were Romans
    • What Paul is saying is; “You and I know full well the privileges and responsibilities of being a Roman citizen. You know full well how even in Philippi you must still live and act as a Roman does. Well then, remember that you have an even higher duty than that. Wherever you are, you must live as a citizen of the kingdom of God”
  • What does Paul expect from them?
    • He expects them to stand fast. The world is full of Christians on the retreat, who when things become difficult, play down their Christianity. True Christians stand fast, unashamed in any company
    • He expects unity; they are to be bound together in one spirit
    • He expects a certain unconquerability; Often evil seems invincible; but Christians must never abandon hope or give up the struggle
    • He expects a cool, calm courage; In times of crisis, others may be nervous and afraid; Christians will still be serene, in control of themselves and the situation
  • If they can be like that, they will set such an example that those who are not Christians will be disgusted with their own way of life, will realized that the Christians have something they do not possess, and will seek out of a sense of self preservation to share it
  • Paul doe not suggest that this will be easy
    • When Christianity first came to Philippi, they saw him fight his own battle. They saw him beaten and imprisoned for the faith. They know what he is now going through.
    • But let them remember that a general chooses the best soldiers for the hardest tasks, and that it is an honor to suffer for Christ
    • There is a story about a veteran French soldier, who in a desperate situation, found a young recruit trembling with fear. “Come son,” said the veteran, “and you and I will do something fine for France.”
    • So Paul says to the Philippians; “For you and me the battle is on; let us do something fine for Christ.”