Reflecting on Philippians - Philippians 1:12-14

It seems clear that there is a high level of mutual respect between Paul and the Philippian church. They are concerned about him, and vice versa. I wonder how that is reflected in relationships within churches today.

They knew that Paul was in custody awaiting trial. They were worried about what that might mean, and about how Paul was coping in this adverse situation.

 

In line with the proverb that ‘every cloud has a silver lining’ Paul is keen to reassure them that, not only is he surviving reasonably well, but that there are some significant benefits to be drawn from his circumstances. As F.F. Bruce (Philippians) comments: “when the gospel became a talking point because of Paul’s presence in Rome, the Christians exploited the situation and began to bear their public witness with greater confidence and vigour.” I wonder if there are situations which we ought to exploit, but where that is not happening.

 

There are three key words in verse 14 – confident, dare and boldness (NRSVA translation) – which demonstrate the positive way in which the Christian community is speaking the gospel, that speaking, no doubt, including both action and word. I wonder to what extent such words reflect our sharing of our faith.

 

One of the challenges for today’s church is that of being confident in the gospel. We excuse ourselves saying that things are not easy for people of faith in a secular society that is largely indifferent to religion. However, things were not easy for a Christian community, one of whose key leaders was in custody. We need to learn to be confident Christians.

 

We sometimes talk of daring someone to do something. I wonder what we dare do for God. We sometimes talk about encouraging each other. That is Biblical, and good. I wonder if we should dare each other to do gospel things.

Reflecting on Philippians - Philippians 1:9-11

Paul concludes his prayer for the Philippian Christians with expressions of abundance. His clear hope is that absolutely all will be well with them. He hopes that they will be overflowing with love, that they will be incredibly perceptive, and that they will do many good things for God and in God’s name. I wonder what impact that prayer had on them and then, through them, on the world around them. I wonder how great a difference we make in the circles in which we move because we are reflecting the love and light of Christ.

This passage, and prayer, reflects the generous abundance of God’s blessings. There is no holding back. It is not about good stuff, but about the best.

What is interesting in the context of the times is that Paul, who would undoubtedly be seen as leader, is here praying for those who are under his leadership. The expectation would be of that being the other way round. This is effectively, and subtly, an example of Jesus’ reversed approach. The last will be first, and the first will be last. Paul is giving them a real role. He prays that they will discern what is best. As Elsa Tamez (Philippians) points out, “Power relations leaned towards the leader. Members of a movement could pray among themselves for their leader, but it is doubtful that they could tell him directly what they thought he needed to do.”

The kind of relationship that is indicated here demonstrates the different approach of Christianity. Paul does not relinquish his God-given leadership, but he does see it in an unconventional way, recognising the contribution of those he leads and the ways in which they engage in partnership. If and where we are called to leadership, I wonder how we exercise that leadership. I wonder how we relate to those with whom we engage. I wonder what we pray for others. I wonder how we understand the models of leadership provided by Jesus and by Paul.

Reflecting on Philippians - Philippians 1:7-8

Paul warmly expresses the good relationship that he has with the Philippian Christians. In particular, he talks about sharing in God’s grace and about feeling compassion towards them. As Roji Thomas George (Philippians) expresses it: “Paul experiences such a strong emotion for them from his very inner being – his heart, liver and lungs – which in later Jewish writings is the source of deep emotions … in a sense, Paul claims to say: “God is my witness that I feel deep within me like dying for you if it is for your good.””

Grace and compassion are both strong Gospel words expressive of that deep level of relationship to be experienced when God is involved. Paul has a very special feeling towards the Philippians, not least because of his conviction that it is reciprocated. I wonder who it is that we might regard in a similar way? I wonder where we most feel the impact of God’s grace on our lives? I wonder who is compassionate towards us, and who it is for whom we feel compassion, and whether these are the same?

Does Paul’s reference to them sharing with him God’s grace mean that they are suffering the same kind of restrictions as those to which he is subject, perhaps also imprisoned? Or is this a reflection of their sending gifts to sustain him in his difficult situation? Whatever the detail, and we cannot be sure of that, this is surely an expression of partnership. These are reliable people with whom he has a deep emotional bond. The reference to his responding to them with the compassion of Christ indicates the level of commitment within the relationship. Jesus’ modelling of compassion is one that challenges us to look beyond the people and places with whom we might expect to be concerned. I wonder how often, and in what circumstances, we look to others with the compassion of Jesus?

 

Reflecting on Philippians - Philippians 1:6

As Paul prays for the Philippian Christians, he does so with a confidence that is possible because he has his eye on God. I wonder if we keep an eye on God as we should?

Paul recognises that the good stuff within the lives of this supportive group of Christians is not something that they achieved on their own, but rather that it was initiated by God. More than that, what God has begun will not be left uncompleted. God will continue an involvement with these Christians that will enable them to develop their discipleship. As Marcus Bockmuehl (The Epistle to the Philippians) says: “This Christian confidence is rooted not in some assessment of intrinsic likelihood, but in the character of God who unfailingly accomplishes what he sets out to do.”

 

I wonder if we have the confidence that we should. Relying on God ought to come easily, and we ought to be able to cite examples of why we are confident in this – but perhaps we sometimes lack Paul’s clarity?

 

The reference to ‘the day of Jesus Christ’ provides an eschatological dimension. The early Christians believed that time might be short and that provoked an element of urgency in what they did. We may also validly suggest that time might be short, though we will likely have a different understanding of what it means to say that. However, it is always good to get on with God’s work. I wonder if we always do that as we should?

 

Regardless of that, and perhaps surprisingly, God values us and our contribution, and so we may share God’s confidence that God is at work in our world and wants us to be engaged in doing Kingdom things, be they big or small. An appropriate leaving of things with God should, as Bockmuehl points out, free us “from both self-assurance and despondency.” I wonder if it does?

Reflecting on Philippians - Philippians 1:3-5

Paul greatly values his link with the Philippian Christians. It is strong and reflected in his prayers with an emphasis on the commitment that represents. As Ben Witherington III (Paul’s Letter to the Philippians) points out: “He could hardly be more emphatic about how often he prays for his audience (always), how many of them he prays for (all of them), and in how many of his petitions they are mentioned (all).”

They mean a lot to Paul. They are a source of gratitude. I wonder who it is who mean a lot to us. I wonder for whom we would want to give thanks to God because of the good things we experience from how they relate to us. They are a source of joy to Paul. Who can we think of who gives us joy, and do we make as much of that as we could?

Paul refers to his praying for the Philippians, but the clear impression is of a mutuality. They ‘share’ in the gospel. The idea of sharing is significant. It represents a commonality of aim, motive and engagement. The gospel is something to which they are all committed. I wonder if we can see our unity in the gospel as overriding those things that divide us from other Christians. This is an expression of partnership, and it seems likely that this partnership is both theological and practical. They share a common understanding of God and the importance of the gospel, but it also seems likely that there is a practical, presumably financial, element to the partnership support that the Philippians offer to Paul. There is little point in saying the right things if our actions fail to match up to our words. People are far more likely to judge us on what we do. I wonder if there are times when what we say is undermined by what we do?

Reflecting on Philippians - Philippians 1:1-2

Paul’s letter to the Christians at Philippi begins with a greeting. I wonder whether we greet folk how and when we should or whether, sometimes, we choose to ignore that positive approach.

Paul begins by identifying himself, as would normally happen in a letter of the times. He aligns himself with Timothy and they are named as ‘servants’ of Jesus. I wonder by what designation we choose to introduce ourselves in various contexts. It might, for example, be by means of our work, through a family relationship, or linking ourselves to a particular activity. The question ‘who am I?’ is a big one, and deserves a more careful answer than we sometimes offer.

 

Paul goes on to name those to whom he is writing. They are the ‘saints’ of Philippi. We do well to remember that all God’s people are saints. It’s a description that we sometimes reserve for those whom we want to ringfence as special. But we are all special. We are all God’s people, God’s saints. He also makes reference to ‘bishops and deacons’ – or that could be translated as ‘overseers and helpers’. Everyone has a part to play in the church, but the role of leadership is an important one. Clearly, the Philippian church was sufficiently developed to have people in positions of leadership by the time Paul wrote. I wonder, for each of us, just what part God is calling us to play in the church right now.

 

Paul expresses his greeting in terms of a wish for ‘grace’ and ‘peace’ to be the experience of those to whom he is writing. Those are gifts from God. As Howard Marshall (The Epistle to the Philippians) puts it: “Grace is the loving favour of God, especially shown towards sinful people, and peace is the positive relationship between (God) and pardoned sinners in which they richly enjoy (God’s) blessings.”

 

So, Paul writes to the whole church, but recognising the importance of its leadership but, more especially, of the reliance of the people on God and God’s gifts. I wonder how aware we are, ordinarily, of the blessings, or gifts, we receive from God.

Reflecting on Mark's Gospel - Mark 16:19-20

The alternative, longer, ending to Mark mentions the Ascension of Jesus and then states that the disciples went out and proclaimed the good news. Their words were accompanied by confirmatory signs sent by God. I wonder in what ways we go out and proclaim the good news. I wonder what we have to say about God. I wonder to what, if anything, we point as indicative of God at work.

The critical point is that the story goes on. I wonder how we see it continuing in our day. I wonder what we do to tell it. This is the sheer wonder of gospel, that God participates with us. Whoever wrote this was not trying to eliminate the questions that we might see as being left at the end of verse 8, but is expressing confidence in the continuing presence of Jesus and of the story moving forward as his followers do his work and tell his good news, As Bonnie Bowman Thurston (Preaching Mark) says – “The reality of the risen Jesus and his continued involvement with his disciples provides both continuity with the resurrection account in v. 1-8 and a word of hope for today’s disciples, The Gospel continues to spread and the Lord continues to work with us (v. 20), and that is very good news indeed.”