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A CHURCH JUST LIKE MINE ~ Lesson 6 |
And now finally in this letter of Paul’s to the members of the church in
Philippi, we read of other ways in which our church may also be like theirs. It
was …
The People Involved
Paul assures the members of the church of his concern for their well being. He encourages them to “stay true to the Lord.” (vs. 1) But even as he does so he draws attention to the longstanding disagreement that existed between two of the members. He even goes so far as to name the two women concerned. “And now I want to plead with those two women, Euodia and Syntyche. Please, because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement.” (vs. 2) Barclay[1] offers this comment regarding the possible role of the two women in the church.
It may well have been that they were women in whose homes two of the house congregations of Philippi met. It is very interesting to see women playing so leading a part in the affairs of one of the early congregations for in Greece women remained very much in the background. It was the aim of the Greeks that a respectable woman should ‘see as little, hear as little, and ask as little as possible.’ A respectable woman never appeared on the street alone. She had her own apartments in the house and never joined the male members of the family even for meals. Least of all had she any part in public life. But Philippi was in Macedonia, and in Macedonia things were very different. These women had a freedom and a place which they had nowhere in the rest of Greece … it is well worth remembering, when we are thinking of the place of women in the early church and of Paul’s attitude to them, that in the Macedonian churches they clearly had a leading place.
In Philippi, Euodia and Syntyche seem to have had a strong voice in the affairs of the church. They continually disagreed with each other however. And now Paul appeals to them to settle the argument. No doubt he was concerned lest it spread among members and create factions within the church. Paul then calls on a person he refers to as ‘my true team-mate’ to help the two women reach agreement. Barclay[2] discusses some of the suggestions as to who this ‘true team-mate’ that Paul mentions may be.
All kinds of suggestions have been made. It has been suggested that the yokefellow is Paul’s wife, that he is the husband of Euodia or Syntyche called on to help his wife mend the quarrel, that it is Lydia, that it is Timothy, that it is Silas, that it is the minister of the Philippian church. Maybe the best suggestion is that the reference is to Epaphroditus, the bearer of the letter, and that Paul is not only entrusting him with the letter but also with the task of making peace at Philippi.
The Circumstances Of The Disagreement
Paul notes that the breakdown in fellowship between Euodia and Syntyche occurred in the course of their enthusiastic participation in Christian work. He writes of them “… they worked hared with me in telling others the Good News. And they worked with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are written in the Book of Life.” (vs. 3) A resolution of the dispute will help with Paul’s desire for them to “always be full of joy in the Lord”. (vs. 4)
The church in Philippi, as is ours today is also …
As well as talking about the walk, we are to walk as we talk. Paul reminds the Christians in Philippi that people need to see the evidence of their faith in the integrity of their life style. They are to “keep putting into practice” what they have learned. (vs. 9)
In light of all that the Lord has done for them, the riches of grace they enjoy, Paul is challenging the members of the church to live out their faith not just talk about it. Those outside of the church must perceive their faith to be genuine. Their walk with the Lord must match their talk about him. In their walk with the Lord they are to be seen as …
A Considerate People.
Paul continues, “Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do.” (vs. 5) The word Greek word ‘επιεικεια’ (epieikeia) that Paul uses here, describes a person who is reasonable, decent, yielding, forbearing, gentle, but even more than that. Barclay[3] explains something of the richness of meaning in this single Greek word.
The word … is one of the most untranslatable of all Greek words … The Greeks themselves explained this word as ‘justice and something better than justice.’ They said that epieikeia ought to come in when strict justice became unjust because of its generality. There may be individual instances where a perfectly just law becomes unjust or where justice is not the same thing as equity.
A man has the quality of epieikeia if he knows when not to apply the strict letter of the law, when to relax justice and introduce mercy …
The Christian, as Paul sees it, is the man who knows that there is something beyond justice. When the woman taken in adultery was brought before him, Jesus could have applied the letter of the law according to which she should have been stoned to death. But he went beyond justice. As far as justice goes, there is not one of us who deserves anything better than the condemnation of God, but he goes far beyond justice. Paul lays it down that the mark of a Christian in his personal relationships with his fellow-men must be that he knows when to insist on justice and when to remember that there is something beyond justice …
Justice is human but epieikeia is divine.
In their walk with the Lord Christians are also to be seen as …
People Of Prayer.
Paul reminds his readers that God’s people are not to be those who worry all the time but those who come to each new day trusting the Lord for what is to come and thanking him for what has already been . Paul’s letter continues, “Don’t worry about anything, instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” (vs. 6) Paul is echoing the words of Jesus who said …
“So I tell you, don’t worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food, drink, and clothes. Doesn’t life consist of more than food and clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t need to plant or harvest or put food in barns because your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than they are. Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Of course not.
And why do you worry about your clothes? Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won’t he more surely care for you? You have so little faith!
So don’t worry about having enough food or drink or clothing. Why be like the pagans who are so deeply concerned about these things? Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.
So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” (Matthew 6:25-34)
God’s people should also be known as …
A People At Peace With God And Themselves.
A trusting and prayerful heart is a heart at peace. It is the peace which God gives, “far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (vs. 7) Paul has much to say about peace in his letters. For example …
Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. (Romans 5:1)
If your sinful nature controls your mind, there is death, but if the Holy Spirit controls your mind, there is life and peace. (Romans 8:6)
For God is not a God of disorder but of peace, as in all the other churches. (1 Corinthians 14:33)
And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are all called to live in peace. And always be thankful. (Colossians 3:15)
And remember to live peaceably with each other. (1 Thessalonians 5:13b)
May the Lord of peace himself always give you his peace no matter what happens. The Lord be with you all. (2 Thessalonians 3:16)
Run from anything that stimulates youthful lust. Follow anything that makes you want to do right. Pursue faith and love and peace, and enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts. (2 Timothy 2:22)
And finally, Christian people ought to be …
A People Whose Thoughts Focus On What Is Pure.
As he draws his letter to a conclusion Paul writes, “And now dear friends, let me say one more thing as I close this letter. Fix your thoughts on what is true an honourable and right.” (vs. 8) Isaiah includes these lines in his song of praise to the Lord …
Open the gates to all who are righteous, allow the faithful to enter. You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, whose thoughts are fixed on you! (Isaiah 26:2-3)
Among his teaching on the occasion when “Jesus went up the mountainside with his disciples and sat down to teach them,”[4] we find these words …
“God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8)
And John writes in one of his letters …
See how much our heavenly Father loves us, for he allows us to be called his children, and we really are! But the people who belong to this world don’t know God, so they don’t understand that we are his children. Yes, dear friends, we are already God’s children, and we can’t even imagine what we will be like when Christ returns. But we do know that when he comes we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. And all who believe this will keep themselves pure, just as Christ is pure. (1 John 3:1-3)
As we continue our reading of Paul’s letter we come to something in the life of the church worth copying, for the church in Philippi was …
As this element of life in the church surfaces we notice several features of the gift which the church made to support Paul and his missionary programme.
- It was accompanied by a genuine concern for the person’s well being. Paul writes of his gratitude for the people’s support.
“How grateful I am and how I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again.” (vs. 10a)
- It was given to a person who was never demanding of support. He handled his finances responsibly, never looking for more than he needed.
“Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to get along happily whether I have much or little. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. (vs. 11-12)
- It was given to a person who looked to the Lord to provide for his needs, not to the church. But he was grateful to the church for their help.
“For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need. But even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty.” (vs. 13-14)
- The members of the church did not mind being the only ones supporting Paul at this time. They stood by him regardless of what others may think.
“As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I brought you the Good News and then travelled on from Macedonia. No other church did this.” (vs. 15)
- It was not just a one off gift. Other gifts followed.
“Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once. I don’t say this because I want a gift from you. What I want is for you to receive a well-earned reward because of your kindness.”(vs. 16-17)
- It was a gift pleasing to the Lord.
“At the moment I have all I need—more than I need! I am generously supported with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet smelling sacrifice that is acceptable to God and pleases him. (vs. 18)
- In supporting others, the members of the church will not suffer financially themselves, for as Paul reminds them …
“This same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” (vs. 19)
- Paul gives the Lord the glory for the provision of his needs.
“Now glory be to God our Father forever and ever. Amen” (vs. 20)
And finally we observe that the church in Philippi was …
It emerges from Paul’s closing comments that the church in Philippi was held in high esteem by the churches in Rome. Paul passes on their greetings to the members of the church in Philippi. Their greetings would carry with them the assurance of their prayers and support for the church. He includes those of Caesar’s household. “And all the other Christians send their greetings too, especially those who work in Caesar’s palace.” (vs. 22)
The reference to those of Caesar’s household is an indication that many who worked in government circles had become Christians. Barclay[5] notes the important position these Christians held in the government of that time.
Caesar’s household was the regular phrase for what we would call the Imperial Civil Service. It had members all over the world. The palace officials, the secretaries, the people who had charge of the imperial revenues, those who were responsible for the day to day administration of the empire, all these were Caesar’s household.
Nero was the ‘Caesar,’ the Roman Emperor at that time. Swindoll[6] makes the pertinent comment, “The message of Jesus Christ flourished right under the nose of its archenemy—Nero.”
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