DISCOURSE WITH THE TS

Shining in a Dark World

My Philippians

Ps. Seth Asare Ofei Badu

Paul’s imprisonment experience in Rome is giving him a clearer view of the convicting power of the Gospel and he is writing to urge the church in Philippi, who have been partners with him since “the early days of the Gospel” (1:7; 4:15), to imitate the way his salvation was working out: As he walks in righteousness under involuntary restriction, the evidence of his salvation is becoming clearer both to himself and to others.

Though imprisoned under false charges, his grateful joyfulness and upright conduct has convinced everyone that he is a good man put in chains not for a bad cause, but for a different cause, which must certainly be good. He is shining in the dark imprisonment environment.

He is so peaceful with the Lord that he yearned to depart from the body, and therefore had no fear of the worst possible outcome that awaits prisoners. Indeed he would welcome death as a crown for his faithful service (2:17). Yet remaining here for awhile would still serve the Lord’s purpose as his authentic example is held up before them to imitate confidently (2:2; 3:15, 17; 4:19).

He intimates that he has a 5-fold goal – (a) to know Christ (well), (b) to appreciate the power of His resurrection (most probably, the power to walk in righteousness), (c) to share in his suffering (as should every follower of Christ, 1:29), (d) to be conformed to His death (most probably, to be prepared to die for the faith, if need be), and (e) to attain the resurrection of the dead (that is to be faithful to the end and become worthy of the resurrection of the righteous) – 3:10. Although he is already seeing the sure fruit of having such a goal, yet he presses on, avoiding complacency (3:13), and invites his “partners” to imitate him in this also.

Paul once again warns against imitating those who would rather seek ceremonial righteousness, or rely on earthly heritage, saying, compared to the knowledge and the reward of serving Christ, those are useless rubbish (3:9). Also those who glorify the satisfaction of earthly needs and needs of the flesh to the extent of even doing shameful things to attain them oppose the message of Christ and live as enemies of the cross, whose end is destruction (1:28, 3:19).

He mentions other exemplary believers worthy of emulation as Timothy, who genuinely placed the interest of other church members above his own; Epaphroditus who risked his health for the Gospel; and Euodia and Syntyche, who contended for the Gospel alongside him.

He urges that to walk in fullness of joy that shows forth Christ, members of the church must do nothing out of rivalry, conceit, grumbling, complaining or anxiety (2:3, 14; 4:6), but rather out of humility, just as Christ did not insist of His divinity when He walked among us. They must focus rather on grateful prayer and moral excellence (4:6, 8)

Written by Ps. Seth Asare Ofei Badu

Traveling Secretary, Pensa Asokwa