Paul’s critics advanced the gospel: (1:15-19):
It is hard to believe that anyone would oppose Paul, but there were so called believers in Rome doing just that. The churches there were divided. Some preached Christ sincerely, wanting to see people saved. Some preached Christ insincerely, wanting to make the situation more difficult for Paul. The latter group was using the Gospel to further their own selfish purposes. Perhaps they belonged to the “legalistic” wing of the church that opposed Paul’s ministry to the Gentiles and his emphasis on the grace of God as opposed to obedience to the Jewish Law.
Paul used the world selfish ambition. Paul’s aim was to glorify Christ and get people to follow Hi, but his critics’ aim was to promote themselves and win some on their own. Instead of asking, “Have you trusted Christ?” they asked, “Whose side are you? Our side or Paul’s?” Unfortunately, this kind of religious politics is still seen today. And the people who practice it need to realize that they are only hurting themselves.
When we have the single mind, we look on our critics as another opportunity for the furtherance of the Gospel. Like a faithful soldier, Paul knew that he was appointed for the defense of the Gospel (Phil 1:17). He was able to rejoice, not in the selfishness of his critics, but in the fact that Christ was being preached!
Paul’s crisis advanced the gospel: (1:20-27):
Because of Paul’s chains, Christ was known (Phil.1:13), and because of Paul’s critics, Christ was preached (Phil 1:18). But because of Paul’s crisis, Christ was magnified! (Phil 1:20) His preliminary trial had apparently gone in his favour.
How can a mere human being ever magnify the Son of God? Well, the stars are much bigger than the telescope, and yet the telescope magnifies them and brings them closer. The believer’s body is to be a telescope that brings Jesus Christ close to people. To the average person, Christ is a misty figure in history who lived centuries ago. But the unsaved who watches the believer go through a crisis, they can see Jesus magnified and brought so much closer.
The telescope brings distant things closer, and the microscope makes tiny things look big. To the unbeliever, Jesus is not very big. Other people and other things are far more important. But as the unbeliever watches the Christian go through a crisis experience, he ought to be able to see how big Jesus Christ really is. The believer’s body is a “lens” that makes a “little Christ” look very big, and a “distant Christ” come very close.
Paul was not afraid of life or death! Either way, he wanted to magnify Christ in his body. No wonder he had joy!
The imprisonment of Paul in Rome may or may not be final. He knew he could either be released or executed. However, he trusted Christ to work it out for his deliverance. Paul’s prayer was that when he stood trial, he would speak courageously for Christ and not be timid or ashamed. Whether he lived or died, he wanted to exalt Christ. As it turned out, he was released from this imprisonment but arrested again 3-years later. Only faith in Christ could sustain Paul in such adversity.
Paul confesses that he is facing a difficult decision. To remain alive was necessary for the believers’ benefit in Philippi, but to depart and be with Christ was far better. Paul decided that Christ would have him remain, not only for the “furtherance of the Gospel” (Phil. 1:12) but also for the “furtherance and joy of their faith” (Phil. 1:25). He wanted them to make some “pioneer advance” into new areas of spiritual growth and is willing to postpone going to heaven in order to help Christians grow, and also willing to go to hell in order to win the lost to Christ! (Rom 9:1-3)
Paul had no fear of death. For him it simply meant “departing.” This word was used by the soldiers which means, “to take down your tent and move on.” What a picture of Christian death! The “tent” we live in is taken down at death, and the spirit goes home to be with Christ in heaven. Paul had a purpose for living when he served the Philippians and others. We also need a purpose for living that goes beyond providing for our own physical needs. We need to examine “what is our purpose of living?”
Then how to live?: (1:27-30):
Paul encourages the believers to live in unity and stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith. It is very sad when Christians lost their time in the fights between the churches. The church must resist in-fighting and must maintain the common purpose of serving Christ. Paul considers it as a privilege to suffer for Christ. When we suffer, we faithfully represent Christ, our message and example affect us and others for good. Suffering has some special blessings or benefits:
- It hinders us from earthly comforts.
- It weeds out superficial believers.
- It strengthens the faith of those who endure.
- It serves as an example to others who may follow us.
- It verifies that we have been faithful and builds our character. (Taken from NIV study Bible)
Paul says that “it has been granted for all believers not only to believe on Christ, but also to suffer for Him” (1:30a). It is true that every true believer will be definite sufferings and these sufferings makes us perfect and complete to face the Lord without shame when He comes in the air.