Excerpt from An Introduction to the New Testament
by D.A. Carson and Dougles J. Moo
Many of Paul’s letters were called forth by the need to set things right in a given church, to oppose false teaching, or to correct lax practice. But Philippians is that comparative rarity: a letter to a church of Paul’s own foundation with which he is well pleased. It reveals something of the apostle’s satisfaction when his converts made progress in the faith. He does oppose false teaching here as elsewhere, but the main thrust of the letter lies elsewhere. As he is writing, he makes some comments on the opponents he and the Philippian church faced, but for the most part he is taken up with more enjoyable things.
Outstanding, of course, is the hymn in Phil. 2:6-11. There has been endless controversy about the meaning of most parts of it, but even so, the passage brings readers a clear message about the greatness of Christ and his condescension in taking a lowly place to bring salvation. It we can accept the NIV ’s rendering of the opening, Paul was referring to one who was “in very nature God,” who took the lowest place and died on the cross to bring salvation. Now he is exalted to the highest possible place, and Paul looks forward to the time when every knee will bow to him and every tongue confess him as Lord. Moreover, on any reading this hymn is early—at least as early as Philippians, and maybe earlier—so it constitutes powerful evidence for the confession of a high Christology at a very early date in the church’s life.
The letter is also an encouragement to Christians who find others preaching the gospel in ways they do not like. It is of permanent value to us all to have it laid down so firmly that what matters is that the gospel be preached (Phil. 1:12-18). Paul rejoices in this, and indeed the note of joy is sounded throughout this letter (the noun “joy” occurs five times and the verb “to rejoice” nine times in this short letter; only Luke with twelve has more occurrences of the verb). That Christians are a rejoicing people is important.
Also significant is what Paul calls “partnership in the gospel” (Phil. 1:5). Throughout the letter there is a harmony between writer and readers and a series of glimpses of what it is to work together in the cause of Christ. Paul encourages his friends, assures them of his affection for them, teaches them lessons from his own circumstances, and adds to their knowledge of the Christian way. He prays for them, warns them about false teaching, exhorts them to steadfastness in the Christian life, and sends Timothy to them. In the nature of the case, we do not learn as much of what the Philippians contributed to the relationship, but it is clear that they had a concern and affection for Paul, that they sent one of their number to look after him when he was in trouble, that they sent him gifts at a time when no other church helped him, and that they obeyed his directions. It is a beautiful picture of Christian harmony.
The epistle has a notable section in which Paul emphasizes the importance of concentrating on the essentials over against “confidence in the flesh” (Phil. 3:4). He stresses the place of the cross and the resurrection in Christian salvation. The suffering of the Christian fits in with this. Paul draws attention to the way the gospel is advanced through his own sufferings (1:14-18; cf. 2:16-17), and he sees the sufferings of the Philippians, as they experience the same struggle as he, as God’s gift to them (1:29-30). The important thing is the service of Christ. Then at the end of the letter he records his magnificent assurance that “my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus” (4:19).
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