Wednesday 7 August 2024
I want you to know, beloved that what has happened to me has actually helped to spread the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to everyone else that my imprisonment is for Christ. (vs 12-13)
Background
Today’s passage begins with a bold statement by Paul that the events he has experienced (opposition, trial and imprisonment) have helped rather than hindered the spread of the gospel. It calls to mind the contemporary adage ‘There’s no such thing as bad publicity’!
Firstly, the entire Roman guard is aware of the gospel because it is the reason for their dealings with this particular prisoner. Furthermore, Paul’s readiness to demonstrate that his imprisonment is ‘for Christ’ has given confidence to the wider Church. Perhaps there is a suggestion here that what is happening to Paul is helping others to understand that apparent setbacks or opposition need not be signs of the mission having gone wrong – far from it. Certainly Paul is seeking to encourage the young Church and to deflect their concern for him into positive channels of joy and the recognition of God’s working both despite and through human activity.
From reading the Acts of the Apostles and other letters by Paul, we know that one of the challenges faced by the Early Church was discerning how much of the Jewish law applied to non-Jewish (Gentile) converts to Christianity. At various points in this letter, Paul mentions opposition, which may include those known as ‘Judaizers’, who advocated that Christians must be circumcised and adhere to the Jewish law.
In verses 15-18 Paul goes on to define some of the ways in which God has worked through the activity of others, whether their motives were good or bad. It seems that while some, recognising Paul’s calling to preach the gospel have wanted to build on and add to that, others have, he claims, preached only in order to upset or harm Paul himself. We do not have enough detail to know whether these who "proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition" are preaching a particular take on the gospel that they know Paul would disagree with, or are setting themselves up in opposition to Paul as a focus for the new, developing Church. Alternatively, they are simply imagining that their freedom to preach will itself aggravate Paul’s frustration at his loss of liberty. Whatever, Paul’s ability to rise above such small-minded opposition and see it all for the greater good may be one of the reasons he was such a towering figure of 1st century Christianity.
To Ponder:
- Do you think all stories about the Christian Church in the media today in Paul's words 'only help spread the gospel' or are the circumstances too different?
- Reflect upon apparent setbacks you have experienced or known about which have, ultimately, increased your confidence in the gospel of Jesus.
- Are there circumstances in your life now which you need to be able to rise above? How might the example of Paul encourage you in this?
Prayer
Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and shield. Our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you. (Psalm 33:20-22)
Bible notes author: Jill Baker
Jill is glad to be part of the small Methodist Church in Scotland. She is a local preacher and tutor in the Strathclyde Circuit, and lives in Glasgow.