seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Philippians 3:15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
17 Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. 18 For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
Philippians 4:1 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!
2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.
Ok... starting with the commentary for Philippians 3 commentary.Join in following my example: We shouldn’t think that Paul was being egotistical here. He knew that he was not a sinless or perfect example, yet he was still a good example. He could say as he also did in 1 Corinthians 11:1 — Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.
We need concrete examples. While it is wrong to put our trust in any man, it is hypocritical for any Christian to say, “Do as I say, not as I do.”
And now tell you even weeping: The work and the end of these enemies was that they, in their disregard for God’s holiness, gave ammunition to the legalist’s accusation that Paul preached a cheap grace that required no commitment of the life. This is what grieved Paul so at their teaching.
For our citizenship is in heaven: We need to appreciate all this would have meant to the Philippians, who greatly valued their Roman citizenship. Just as the Philippians could consider themselves citizens of Rome and were under Roman laws and customs (even though they were in fact far from Rome) so Christians should consider themselves citizens of heaven.
And ending with Philippians 4 commentary.
Euodia and… Syntyche: Apparently these two women were the source of some sort of quarrel in the church. Instead of taking sides or trying to solve their problem, Paul simply told them to be of the same mind in the Lord.
To be of the same mind in the Lord: Whatever the dispute was about, Euodia and Syntyche had forgotten that they have a greater common ground in Jesus Christ. They forgot that everything else was less important than that common ground.
With Clement also: There was a notable Clement in the early church who was the leader of the church in Rome and wrote two preserved letters to the church in Corinth. Yet we don’t know if this is the same Clement. It was a common name in the Roman world.
There's generally a part to Paul's dictations that speaks to me. He was talking about his citizenship in Heaven. I think this whole section, riding over the change between two chapters, is about "Following Paul's example". That's how it's titled in chapter 3, in my On-Line Bible.
Paul uses his citizenship to its fullest advantage. The only reason he's alive is his Roman citizenship. Paul was a Roman, Greek and Jew. He debated like a Greek. He was on the Supreme Counsel, the Sanhedrin as a Jew. He lorded the law over Christians, arresting them and taking them to prison for Believing Jesus is their personal Savior. And then he used his Roman citizenship to avoid being murdered like the Jews he met before claiming to be "changed".
Then when he was arrested because he claimed to be a Christian too. [I think he was just going undercover... but hey what do I know.] His Roman Citizenship and his knowledge of the law allowed him to avoid the Capital Punishment handed out by Rome at the time.
Now Paul claims to be a citizen of Heaven. Paul claims we should all act like him, rather than bicker as Eudia, Syntythe, and Clement apparently did. He went from "Be like me... a good citizen of Heaven" to "stop bickering like old biddies".
Act like Paul... not like bickering old biddies... ah ha ha
Follow Paul's example?
