Some thoughts on Philippians, chapter 2

 


     As we read Paul’s letter to the Philippians, we can feel the tension in the apostle’s voice – on the one hand, there is his frustration with being “stuck” in prison, and unable to continue the “work of the gospel”, of evangelizing the empire of man with the good news of the kingdom of God.  We can sense this in Paul’s frequent expressions of his hope of imminent release (1.19; 2.23-24).  On the other hand, we can feel Paul’s deep inner peace, joy and contentment, accompanied by his sense of detachment from the outcome of his imprisonment, whether that be his execution by the imperial authorities or his release and continued apostolic work (1.20-26; 4.12-13).  Paul frequently uses sacrificial language as he describes his labour for the Lord as well as the generosity of the Philippians towards him (2.17; 4.18; cf. Rom. 15.16; Ps. 22.14).

     More so than in his other letters, in the epistle to the church in Philippi, we feel that Paul is corresponding with true comrades in the struggle for the propagation of the gospel (1.3-8).  Paul and the Philippians are suffering “together” (1.27-30).  From his “cell”, Paul is giving the Christians of this Macedonian imperial colony their “marching orders”.  He expects to either receive a report that they are following his instructions or to visit them and confirm their cooperation himself (1.27; 2.19-24).  Indeed, Paul believes that the Philippians’ success (or failure!) in their gospel-vocation will be the criteria by which he will be judged on “the day of Jesus Christ” (1.6; 2.16; 4.1, 5).  There is a lot on the line!

     Throughout the letter, Paul is concerned that the Philippians live “blamelessly” (1.10, 27; 2.14-16, etc.).  Paul seems to give equal, if not greater, weight to the Philippians’ behaviour as he does to their proclamation of the gospel.  Or, in the words of St. Francis of Assisi, the Philippians are to “preach the gospel by any and all means and if necessary, use words”.  Paul’s “evangelistic strategy” is thoroughly embodied.  The gospel must be lived to be credible.  This emphasis on behaviour has an inward as well as an outward focus.  While Paul refers to the Philippians as “lights” in the midst of perverse society (2.15), he also calls them to act towards each other as Jesus had towards the people of God and ultimately, the whole world (through the efforts of people like Paul).  In the “Christ-hymn” of 2.6-11, Paul describes Jesus’ self-emptying to the point of taking on the form of a slave and dying the death of a slave, namely crucifixion.  Christ’s self-humiliation resulted in his subsequent exaltation and his reception of the name that is above every other name, the name at which every knee will ultimately bow.

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