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.