Philippi was the chief city of Macedonia. It took its name from Philip, the father of Alexander the Great – which title of “Great” is actually a misnomer, for such characters as he are little indeed, according to the testimony of Scripture; truly, that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God! It was near the city of Philippi that the battle was fought between Antony and Brutus – names like the more ancient Sennacheribs and Nebuchadnezzars, which would have been little known except for their connection with the history of the people of God. And however mortifying it may be to the pride of human nature, it is certain that the memoirs of the rise and fall of such ungodly characters and their kingdoms and empires – whether ancient or modern – are described no further than is necessary to set the backdrop for the history of the Church. Although they themselves never imagine nor intend to do so, yet all their labors are orchestrated by God for this one purpose; and when that purpose is accomplished, they will be taken down and destroyed, like the scaffolding on a building after the construction is finished.
It was in this city of Philippi that the Lord Jesus established a Church, and Paul was the highly honored instrument that He used to do so. We will recall from the history in the Book of Acts (chapter 16) how Paul and his friends were directed by the Lord, in a vision by night, to go to Macedonia. And the Holy Spirit, in the persons of Lydia and the jailer, formed the Church in these humble beginnings. And afterwards, we find the Apostle making a second visit to the Church in this city, on his way to Jerusalem (Acts 20:6).
This Epistle that was written to the believers in this Church is very short, but it is sweet indeed. Paul wrote it while he was a prisoner in Rome. It has been very well observed that those Scriptures which have been penned while their writers were in tribulation have more than an ordinary savor of Jesus in them. David was in the wilderness when he wrote his golden Psalms – the 63rd and the 142nd. John was exiled on the island of Patmos when the Book of Revelation was written for the Church. And Paul was in prison at the time when he wrote this Epistle to the Philippians, as well as his Second Epistle to Timothy. Even if tyrannical men shut the Lord’s faithful ones in, they cannot keep Jesus out! How sweet and sure is that promise of the 91st Psalm: “I will be with thee in trouble!”
After the salutation, the first thing that Paul expresses in this Epistle is a warm utterance of his feelings and his desires which he habitually cherished in relation to his converts at Philippi. This is expressed in verses 3-11. As often as he remembered them in prayer, he was cheered with the feeling that he could make requests for them joyfully; for he could rejoice over mercies that had already been given. These believers were bound together with Paul in a peculiar manner, and touched his heart with a glow of tender love and gladness. Trials and losses had indeed befallen them in their Christian life; but despite them all, they were found still caring for the cause of the Gospel, for their brothers and sisters in Christ, and for their spiritual father who first taught them the good news of salvation.
Having poured out his feelings about his dear friends and spiritual children in Philippi, the Apostle recognizes corresponding feelings on their part toward him (verses 12-20). Clearly they had feelings of anxiety to know how it fared with Paul in body and spirit, and how far he had been protected and sustained amidst the dangers and sorrows of a prisoner’s lot. On this account, then, he is glad to be able to give them good news. And the reason he can do so is because he is in the hands of a wonder-working Lord, Who turns the shadow of death into the morning sunrise.
Here we see the care that the Apostle takes to prevent their being offended at his sufferings. He was now a prisoner at Rome, and this might be a stumbling-block to those who had received the Gospel by his ministry; for they might be tempted to think, “If his doctrine were indeed from God, then God would not allow one who was so active and instrumental in preaching and propagating that doctrine to be thrown away into prison, like a despised and broken vessel.” And then they might be shy of confessing this doctrine, for fear of becoming involved in the same trouble themselves. Therefore, in order to take away this possible cause of stumbling, Paul expounds upon this dark and hard chapter of his sufferings; he makes it very easy to understand, and he reconciles it to the wisdom and goodness of God Who employed him.
It was true that Paul suffered at the hands of those who were sworn enemies of the Gospel, who threw him into prison and endeavored to take away his life; but there was no reason why the Philippians should stumble at this – for good was indeed brought out of it, and it resulted in the furtherance of the Gospel (verse 12). It was truly a strange outcome of Providence to extract such great goodness as the wider proclamation of the Gospel out of such great evil as the confinement of the Apostle! “I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even unto bonds,” Paul said to Timothy in another passage; “but the word of God is not bound” (2 Tim. 2:9). No tyrant can imprison the Word of God; it will always have its free course, even though its ministers may be unjustly con-fined.
But just how did it come to pass that Paul’s imprisonment resulted in the Gospel being spread even more? First, it alarmed those who were unbelievers and outside of the Church (verse 13). “My bonds in Christ,” says he, “are manifest in all the palace and in all other places.” The courtiers, the magistrates, and even the emperor himself were convinced that Paul did not suffer as an evildoer; but rather, as an honest man with a good conscience. They know that he suffered for the sake of Christ, and not for any wickedness. And this knowledge might even lead some of these persons to enquire after the Gospel for which he suffered, which they might otherwise have never heard about.
Secondly, Paul’s sufferings emboldened those who were believers within the Church. Just as his enemies were startled at his sufferings; so also, his friends were encouraged by them. “Upright men shall be astonished at this, and the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite. The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he who has clean hands shall be stronger and stronger” (Job 17:8-9). Such was the case here. Many of the brothers and sisters in the Church grew confident by Paul’s bonds (verse 14). The expectation of trouble for the sake of their faith might have disheartened and discouraged some of them; but when they saw Paul imprisoned for Christ, they were so far from being deterred from preaching Christ and praising his name, that it made them even more bold – for they could gladly suffer in Paul’s company! If they were to be hurried from the pulpit to the prison, they would be reconciled to it because they would be in such good company there. Besides the comforts which Paul had in his sufferings, his extraordinary consolations that he received from Christ during those sufferings greatly encouraged them. They saw that those who serve Jesus serve a good Master, Who can and does bear them up in their sufferings for Him. Observe here the power of Divine grace, for that which was intended by the enemy to discourage the preachers of the Gospel was actually overruled for their encouragement! They grew much more bold to speak the Word without fear; they saw the worst of it, and were not afraid to take the risk. Their confidence gave them courage, and their courage preserved them from the power of fear.
In verses 21-26, we have a summary of the whole life and death of the blessed Apostle: his life was Christ, and his death was gain! And indeed, it is the character of every Christian that for them to live is Christ. The glory of our Savior ought to be the purpose of our life, His grace ought to be the principle of our life, and His Word ought to be the rule of our life. And for all those whose entire purpose is to live for Jesus, death will also be a gain to them – a great gain, a present gain, and an everlasting gain. Death is truly a great loss to a carnal and worldly person, for he loses all his comforts and all his hopes; but to a child of God, it is gain – for it is the end of all his weakness and misery, the perfection of his comforts, and the accomplishment of his hopes! It delivers him from all the evils of life, and brings him to the possession of the chiefest good.
Those who profess the Gospel of Christ should live as is fitting for those who believe Gospel-truths, submit to Gospel-laws, and depend upon Gospel-promises (verses 27-30). In the faith of the Gospel, there is much that is worth striving for. There is much opposition, and so there is a necessity for striving. A person may sleep and go to hell, but he who desires to go to heaven must look around him and be diligent. And if we suffer reproach and loss for Jesus’ sake, we are to reckon them as gifts, and prize them accordingly. However, salvation must not be ascribed to bodily afflictions, as if the suffering and enduring of afflictions and worldly persecutions deserved it; for it is from God alone that salvation comes. Faith and patience are His gifts.
Lord Jesus, we pray for grace so that our daily life and lifestyle may be more in accordance with Your Gospel – for Your sake, for our own sakes, and for the sakes of others. We beseech You also for grace and strength to rejoice as Paul and the other saints of old did, when they were suffering shame and reproach for Your name’s sake! Amen.
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