The Early Church · c. AD 60–62
Chapter 32
Joy in Chains
Rejoice in the Lord always! Again I will say, “Rejoice!”
For parents
Paul writes in chains and speaks openly of dying (Philippians 1:20–24) and of Christ’s death on the cross (2:8); one of his fellow workers was sick nearly to death (2:25–30). He warns against “the dogs” and “the false circumcision” (its card explains the word plainly), tells how he once persecuted the assembly (3:2–6), and speaks of those whose “end is destruction” (3:18–19). Nothing is graphic.
was in chains when he wrote to the believers at . His letter says it had become plain to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that his chains were for . Some were preaching Christ out of envy, thinking they could add to the trouble of his chains. Others preached out of love. And the letter carries greetings from all the , especially those of household.
“Paul and , servants of Christ,” it begins, “to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the and : to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
“I thank my God whenever I remember you. Always, in every prayer I make for you all, I make my requests with joy, because of your partnership in moving the Good News forward from the first day until now.
“And I am confident of this very thing: he who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.
“I am right to think this way about you all, because I have you in my heart. Both in my chains and as I defend and confirm the Good News, you all have a share with me in grace. God is my witness how much I long for you all, with the tender mercy of Christ Jesus.
“This is what I pray: that your love may grow richer and richer in knowledge and in all good judgment. Then you can approve the things that are excellent, and be sincere and without offense until the day of Christ, filled with the fruits of . These come through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
“Brothers and sisters, I want you to know that the things that happened to me have in fact turned out to move the Good News forward. It has become plain to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are for Christ.
“Most of the brothers in the Lord have taken courage from my chains, and they are bolder than ever to speak the word of God without fear.
“Some preach Christ even out of envy and quarreling, and some out of good will. The first kind preach Christ insincerely, from selfish ambition, thinking they will add trouble to my chains. The others preach out of love, because they know I am appointed for the defense of the Good News.
“What does it matter? All that matters is that in every way, whether for show or in truth, Christ is being proclaimed. I rejoice in that, yes, and I will go on rejoicing, because I know that this will turn out for my salvation, through your prayers and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. This is what I watch for and hope for with all my heart: that I won’t be disappointed in anything. I hope that with all boldness, now as always, Christ will be made great in my body, whether by life or by death.
“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will bring fruit from my work, and I don’t know which I will choose. I am pulled between the two. I have the desire to leave and be with Christ, which is far better. Yet for your sake it is more needed that I stay on in the flesh.
“Since I have this confidence, I know that I will remain, yes, and remain with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith. Then your rejoicing in Christ Jesus may overflow because of me, when I am with you again.
“Only, let the way you live be worthy of the Good News of Christ. Then, whether I come and visit you or am away, I may hear how things are with you: that you stand firm in one spirit, with one soul striving for the faith of the Good News, and not frightened at all by the people against you. To them this is a proof of destruction, but to you, of salvation, and it comes from God.
“It has been given to you, for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in him, but also to suffer on his behalf. You are in the same struggle as I am. You saw me in it, and now you hear that I am in it.
“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any comfort in love, if there is any fellowship of the , if there is any tender mercy and compassion, make my joy full: be like-minded, share the same love, be agreed in heart and of one mind.
“Do nothing out of rivalry or out of conceit, but in humility let each of you count others better than himself. Each of you, don’t keep your eyes only on your own affairs; each of you, look to the affairs of others too.
“Have this in your mind, which was also in Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, yes, the death of the cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
“So then, my dear friends, you have always obeyed, not only when I was with you but now much more while I am away. In the same way, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, because it is God who works in you, both to want and to work, for his good pleasure.
“Do all things without complaining and arguing, so that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without a flaw in the middle of a crooked and perverse generation. Among them you are seen as lights in the world, as you hold up the word of life. Then I will have something to boast about on the day of Christ: that I didn’t run for nothing, or work for nothing.
“Yes, and if I am poured out on the and service of your faith, I am glad, and I rejoice with you all. And you too should be glad in the same way, and rejoice with me.
“But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon. Then I too may be cheered up when I hear how you are. I have no one else of the same mind, who will truly care about you. They all look after their own affairs, not the things of Jesus Christ.
“But you know that Timothy has proved himself. As a child serves a father, so he has served with me in moving the Good News forward. So I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it will go with me. But I trust in the Lord that I myself will come soon too.
“But I thought it necessary to send to you. He is my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your , who served me in my need. He has longed for you all, and he was very troubled because you had heard that he was sick.
“He really was sick, near to the point of death. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only, but on me too, so that I would not have sorrow on top of sorrow. So I have sent him all the more quickly, so that when you see him again you may rejoice, and my own sorrow may be less.
“So receive him with all joy in the Lord, and hold such people in honor, because he came near to death for Christ’s work, risking his life to fill in what was missing in your service to me.
“Finally, rejoice in the Lord, my brothers and sisters! Writing you the same things doesn’t tire me, and for you it is safe.
“Beware of the dogs. Beware of the evil workers. Beware of the false . We are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
“And yet I myself could have confidence even in the flesh. If someone else thinks he can have confidence in the flesh, I can even more. I was circumcised on the eighth day. I am from the family line of , of the tribe of , a of Hebrews. When it came to the law, I was a . When it came to zeal, I persecuted the . When it came to the righteousness that is in the law, I was found blameless.
“But I count the things that were gain to me as loss for Christ. Yes, truly, I count all things as loss, because the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord is greater than all of it. For his sake I have lost all things, and I count them as nothing but trash, in order to gain Christ. I want to be found in him, not with a righteousness of my own, one that is of the law, but with the one that is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith. I want to know him, and know the power of his , and share in his sufferings, being made like him in his death, if by any means I may reach the resurrection from the dead.
“Not that I have it already, or am already made perfect. But I press on, so that I may take hold of that for which Christ Jesus also took hold of me.
“Brothers and sisters, I don’t think of myself as having taken hold yet. But one thing I do: I forget the things behind me and stretch out toward the things ahead, and I press on toward the goal for the prize of God’s high calling in Christ Jesus.
“So let all of us who are perfect think this way. If you see anything differently, God will show you that too. Still, as far as we have already come, let’s live by the same rule. Let’s be of the same mind.
“Brothers and sisters, all of you together, be imitators of me, and pay attention to those who live this way, even as you have us for an example.
“I have told you often, and now I tell you again in tears: many people live as the enemies of the of Christ. They are people whose end is destruction, whose god is the belly, and whose glory is in their shame. They think about earthly things.
“Our citizenship is in heaven. From there we also wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will change this humble body of ours to be like his body of glory. He will do it by the power that makes him able even to put all things under himself.
“So, my brothers and sisters, loved and longed for, my joy and my crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my dear friends.
“I appeal to , and I appeal to , to think the same way in the Lord. Yes, I beg you too, true partner, help these women, because they worked hard with me in the Good News, with too, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the .
“Rejoice in the Lord always! Again I will say, ‘Rejoice!’ Let all people know how gentle you are. The Lord is near.
“Don’t be anxious about anything. In everything, by praying and asking, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are right, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are well spoken of: if there is anything good, and if there is anything worth praising, think about these things. Do the things you learned, received, heard and saw in me, and the God of peace will be with you.
“I rejoice greatly in the Lord that now at last your care for me has come alive again. You had been thinking of me, it’s true, but you had no opportunity.
“I don’t say this because I am short of anything. I have learned to be content whatever situation I am in. I know how to live with little, and I also know how to have more than enough. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret, both of being full and of being hungry, both of having more than enough and of going without. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
“But you did a good thing when you shared in my trouble. You Philippians know this yourselves: at the beginning of the Good News, when I left , you were the only assembly that shared with me in giving and receiving. Even in , you sent help for my need once, and then again.
“It isn’t the gift I am looking for. I am looking for the fruit that is added to your account. But I have everything, and more than enough. I am full, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the things that came from you. They are a sweet-smelling fragrance, a sacrifice that God accepts and is well pleased with.
“My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever! .
“Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you. All the saints greet you, especially those who are of Caesar’s household.
“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”