Book of Philippians

Click here for the previous book, Ephesians.

CHAPTER 1

Paul wrote this letter while in prison.  OK, we know he was in prison near the end of his day – which would make this one of his last letters.  But we can’t say for sure the letter was written then.  Paul kept running into problems – it might’ve been a more minor, temporary arrest by local authorities.

But it reads like a Paul letter.  The passion and theology both are reminiscent of the Corinthians, Galatians, and Romans.  That said, I didn’t get as much out of this one as those.  In part it’s because we’ve already covered the main parts of Paul’s theology.  Not only have the main points already been noted, but since the letters get shorter as we go along, the points read like less elaborate statements that we’ve already heard. 

In this chapter, Paul does the typical greeting, and talks of faith and all that.  He notes he’s in prison, and thanks the Philippians for their encouragement.  Apparently, his arrest has caused people to rally together instead of splintering apart.  That much be true, for if they hadn’t rallied, there is no way that Christianity, as we know it – a religion heavily influence by Paul – would still be around.

One interesting part is this – Paul writes, “I long to depart this life and be with Christ, for that is far better.  Yet that I remain in the flesh is more necessary for your benefits.”  He sounds pretty depressed in that first sentence – but his sense of mission is stronger than his yearning for death.  Also, this flips the notion of martyrdom on its head.  Sure, he’d rather die – but he’ll go on living for the sakes of those around him.  Paul always has had a strong martyrdom streak – surviving beatings and stonings and ostracism and the like – but it sounds like the bigger act of martyrdom he ever did was ….to just keep on truckin’.

He tells everyone to stay steadfast in faith.

CHAPTER 2

This is just general stuff. Paul advices people to be humble and obedient.  He tells people the travel plans of some of his aids.  Oh, and he breaks into poetry for a bit.  I don’t think it’s a quote of any prophet either.  I think it’s the first bit of non-quoting poetry in any of Paul’s letters so far.

CHAPTER 3

Not-so-great-moments in Bible chapter breaks present – the break between Chapters 2 and 3 in Philippians!  That first verse of this chapter clearly belongs in the previous chapter.  Paul begins by saying “Finally” and gives some closing thoughts; thoughts that go much better if attached to the travel plan stuff at the end of Chapter 2.

Immediately after that, Paul launches on a totally separate tirade.  It seems like the most natural location in the world for a chapter break – but it’s one stinking verse off the actual chapter break.  Go figure.

The tirade reads like it’s coming out of an entirely different letter, though.  In fact, my Bible’s introductory notes say just that – a common theory is that Philippians is actually a combination of multiple letters.  That’s the most sensible thing to me.

In the apparently different letter, an emotionally charged Paul begins, “Beware of the dogs!  Beware of the evil workers!  Beware of the mutilation! For we are the circumcision.”  Yeah, he’s really got his dander up about something.   That’s why I figure this has to come from a separate letter.  If it was all one letter, he wouldn’t idly discuss typical matters and travel plans before launching out here – and he certainly wouldn’t say “finally” midway through (which would be the case if this was one letter).  True, it could be that he was given new info just on the verge of sending the letter and added on a second part, but more likely to me is that multiple letters to one community were combined in the copying and recopying. 

It’s pretty clear what’s going on here.  It’s Paul’s all-time bugaboo – people are being told they must be circumcised (mutilation, as Paul calls it).  It doesn’t sound like the threat comes from the apostles or anyone from the Jerusalem Gang themselves.  If that were the case, the danger to Paul would be more acute and he’d go on longer than he does here.  Paul doesn’t feel the need to justify himself here, just batter down the opposing viewpoint.  Also, “We are the circumcision,” sounds odd when I first heard it, but it grows on me.  It’s makes a nice, if unorthodox, rally cry. 

Paul does go over his personal history for a bit – he persecuted Christians before seeing the light.  Paul notes that when he persecuted Christians, “in righteousness based on the law, I was blameless.” 

That’s a very interesting point – and one that strikes right to the heart of Paul’s entire take on Christianity.  He believes in faith, not the law, as the way to reach holy salvation.  Sure, back in the day when he was about the law, he persecuted those of faith.  Paul’s emphasis on faith is directly tied to his own experience.  Not only was his revelation on the road to Damascus all about faith, not the law, but his persecution of the Christians was about the law, not faith.  Thus Paul prioritizes faith over all else due to his own life experiences.

He flatly calls his old approach “rubbish.”  That’s Paul for you.

CHAPTER 4

There isn’t much going on here.  Paul notes two women who are important in the Philippians congregation. (That’s more evidence that Paul didn’t really write the line in Chapter 14 of Corinthians I about women shutting up in church).  He also thanks the Philippians generosity in giving him aid recently.  Then the book ends.

CONCLUDING THOUGHTS

This book isn’t one of the Bible’s highlights, but it isn’t really a lowlight, either.  It doesn’t break much new ground, but it isn’t a complete waste of time.  That said, aside from Chapter 3 it damn near is a complete waste of time.

Click here for Colossians.