Philippians 4, Joy & Contentment

Paul has emphasized his citizenship in Christ and his eagerness to see the Messiah, once his imprisonment is completed.

Philippians 4: 1, Stand firm
Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!

Paul's appeal is emotional, one of love and concern.  As one tired and in chains, Paul certainly understands what "stand firm!" means.

Philippians 4: 2-3, Fellowship in humility

I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

It is not clear in verse 3, where Paul uses the word "Syzygus", if he means a "yokefellow" ("close companion") or if this is the proper name of a particular individual.  (Similarly, in the US, sometimes Buddy is a proper name.)

Paul is specifically urging certain individuals in the church to put their disputes to rest.  That Paul mentions these two feuding women is a reminder that this is a personal letter, not intending to be worshiped as "Scripture."

Philippians 4: 4-7, Rejoice and be at peace!

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Paul repeats his message about "Joy" or "Rejoicing".  Others have pointed out that the peace of God, described here, is a result of presenting one's requests to God.

Philippians 4: 8-9, Concentrate on things that are true and right

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.

Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

How we think, how we speak, what "voices" we listen to -- these are important decisions for good spiritual health and good mental health.

Philippians 4: 9-13, I am content

I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Paul can be content in everything, whether poverty and need, or even with a full stomach, because he relies on the Messiah for his mission, goals, needs.  (I suspect some of this wisdom also comes from experience and age.)

Philippians 4: 14-18, Thank-you!

Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need.  Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account. I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.

Paul appreciates the giving nature of the church in Philippi.  They repeatedly reached out to support him during his travels in Greece.  Not only were their gifts helpful, but they were spiritual acts, sacrifices rising up as if incense to God.

Philippians 4: 19-20, Coda

And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Just as God as met Paul's needs, he anticipates that the Philippians will also be supported and strengthened.

Philippians 4: 21-23, Fellowship in humility

Greet all the saints in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send greetings.  All the saints send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar's household.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

Some manuscripts do not have "Amen" at the end of this letter; it is possible that is an addition by a scribe.

Long before the Roman empire took notice of Christianity, there were believers in Caesar's household!

Tomorrow we move on to Paul's letter to the Colossians.

Acts 16, Paul, Silas (and Luke!) reach Philippi

Paul has embarked on another missionary journey, this time with Silas in place of Barnabas.

Acts 16:1-4
He came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was a Jewess and a believer, but whose father was a Greek. The brothers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area,  for they all knew that his father was a Greek.

As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey. So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.

In Lystra, Paul picks up a young Gentile/Jew convert, Timothy.  The circumcision of Timothy seems strange, given Paul strong opposition to circumcision of adults in his letter to the Galatians, most likely written before this event.

Acts 16:6-10
Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas.

During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

Suddenly, in verse 10, we are speaking in first person, not third person.  Luke is along!

Acts 16:11-15
From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day on to Neapolis. From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days.

On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message. When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. "If you consider me a believer in the Lord," she said, "come and stay at my house." And she persuaded us.

An early convert in Philippi is a young merchant, a woman, Lydia.

Acts 16:16-21
Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved." She kept this up for many days. 

Finally Paul became so troubled that he turned around and said to the spirit, "In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!"  

At that moment the spirit left her. When the owners of the slave girl realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities. They brought them before the magistrates and said, "These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice."

Luke records the real reasons why Paul and Silas are arrested: the owners of the slave girl have lost their means of making money!  But the public accusation is essentially that these two are Jews.

Acts 16:22-31

The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten. After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody's chains came loose. 

The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, "Don't harm yourself! We are all here!"

The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"

They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved--you and your household."

The result of the attack on Paul and Silas is an immediate jailing, apparently for being troublemakers. The two missionaries respond by praying and singing hymns to God (surely from the Psalms) and Luke records that the other prisoners were listening.  And then there is an earthquake....

The question the jailer asks, and the answer given by Paul and Silas, has, through the centuries, become a standard short salvation quote. But I don't think the jailer is asking for spiritual salvation. He is most likely asking, "What can I do to live?" since if the prisoners all run away, his life is over. But Paul and Silas answer a different question (or a deeper one?)

Acts 16:32-36
Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God--he and his whole family.

When it was daylight, the magistrates sent their officers to the jailer with the order: "Release those men." 

The jailer told Paul, "The magistrates have ordered that you and Silas be released. Now you can leave. Go in peace."

Luke records here, as in other places, that the Good News brings joy. 

In the morning the jailer gets the message he needs, that he can now release his prisoners.

Acts 16:37-40
But Paul said to the officers: "They beat us publicly without a trial, even though we are Roman citizens, and threw us into prison. And now do they want to get rid of us quietly? No! Let them come themselves and escort us out."

The officers reported this to the magistrates, and when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, they were alarmed. They came to appease them and escorted them from the prison, requesting them to leave the city. After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia's house, where they met with the brothers and encouraged them. Then they left.

Roman citizenship has certain privileges.  One of them is (apparently) a right to due process before jailing.

In the next chapter, Paul and Silas travel further into Greece, eventually reaching Athens. But they leave Luke here in Philippi, as the first person account disappears for a time, reappearing in chapter 20 when Paul returns to Philippi.