Saturday 07 June 2008

Background

The letter to the Christians at Philippi (in modern-day northernGreece) is usually dated to the early years of the 60s AD. It waswritten by Paul as a thank you to the church there for a gift ofmoney sent to him. How appropriate, therefore, that its key note isone of gratitude and rejoicing. The idea of being joyful andrejoicing appears at least 16 times throughout the shortepistle!

"The Lord is near" refers to Paul's expectation that Jesus wouldsoon return to the earth. This does not make Paul disengage fromlife, but gives him the confidence and peace to live for Christeven in times of great uncertainty. He is writing this letter fromprison, probably in Rome, where it is thought he was executed a fewyears later under the Emperor Nero.

Like others before him Paul asks his followers to be faithful towhat they have learned from him and seen in him. There is here anallusion to the struggles Paul had with rival teachers and aninvitation to others to imitate his own life. As in other letters(eg 1Corinthians 15) the need to be true to the tradition we havereceived is given prominence. There is an emphasis here onperseverance, fidelity and an active living out of the faith.

To Ponder

In what ways do you think of the Lord beingnear?

"Whatever is true, honourable, just, pure,pleasing, commendable ... think on these things" (v. 8). This is afavourite passage of many people, but is it particularly Christian?Does it need to be? Why?