Thoughts on Philippians 1

     In verses 1-11 of Philippians 1, Paul’s mood seems to be exuberant.  He opens the letter by greeting the church, as customary for Paul, and then appears to go on a short rant of joyfulness and encouragement.  In verse 3, Paul tells them that he thanks God every time he even remembers them.  He also states that they are a constant source of joy to him “since I have you in my heart” (v. 7, NIV).  Paul assures the church that if they continue in their walk with Christ the way that they are, “on the day of Christ Jesus” (v. 6), they will be complete (v. 6), pure, and blameless (v. 10). 

            Through verse 12-26, Paul goes on to reveal yet another reason that he is so joyful.  At the time of this writing, Paul is in prison.  One would not think that being in jail would be a source of joy, yet Paul’s perspective is that of the Kingdom.  He truly does not seem to care about his physical state.  All Paul ever cares about is the advancement of the gospel.  As a result of his imprisonment,  the gospel is spreading through the region like wild fire.  Verse 13 says that, because of his imprisonment, “it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ”. 

            He also addresses the fact that there are some that are preaching the gospel “out of envy and rivalry” (v. 15).  Paul’s response: “But what does it matter?  The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached.  And because of this I rejoice” (v. 18).  Paul saw the situation as a ‘win/win’.  It didn’t seem to matter to him that there were some that were speaking of Christ for their own gain.  The only thing that mattered was that the subject of Christ had gotten people talking, thus the message of Christ was spreading. 

            Paul’s apparent ‘win/win’ perspective overflowed into his own life as well.   He did not even care whether he lived or died.  If he died, he would die a martyr and the reason that he was killed, the message of Christ, would travel throughout the land, thus progressing the gospel.  If he lived, however, he would simply continue spreading the message of Christ personally.  In the end, there was currently no possible way to stop the spread of the gospel.

            Paul ends the chapter my encouraging the Philippians to stand strong and to keep the faith (v. 27-30).  He warns them that the persecution that they are currently undergoing was not going to get anything but worse, yet it was “granted” to them by the will of God that they would “suffer for Him” (v. 29).  Paul instructs them to not be “frightened in any way by those who oppose” them but assures them that “this is a sign to them [their opposers] that they will be destroyed, but that [they] will be saved -- and that by God” (v. 28).