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by Sandy Shaw
Philippians is a very warm and personal and intimate letter. Paul mentions his bonds and coupling chains in Chapter 1verse 13 .
It is a letter all about partnership in the Gospel. Romans is quite theological, and Corinthians is correcting a whole lot of issues. Galatians deals with real error. Ephesians speaks about doctrine and ethics and behaviour.
Philippians is very different and written from prison in Rome – although there was a problem over unity in the fellowship, and Paul mentions that.
Fellowship and joy are common themes in the letter, and these two characteristics go together. There was a sharing and a joy that can grow even in times of suffering
We saw how Lord Jesus Christ redirected Paul and moved him on in the will of the Father and in the power of the Holy Spirit, to minister in Philippi. He was comparatively easy to guide because he was on the move. It took very little pressure to change his direction, and Paul not only face closed doors, but doors that were opening.
Paul was in Troas and sailed over to Philippi, and after a most unpromising start, and a ministry cut short by opposition and imprisonment, he is still able to leave a vibrant Christian Fellowship in Philippi.
In Acts 20 verse 6 , we read that he was able to visit them briefly, but when this letter is written from prison in Rome some 12years later, it is written to a strong Christian Church, and there is not much wrong with it. The only danger is that of disunity. There were two women who were not getting on – ‘Odious’ and ‘Soon Touchy’.
From Paul and Timothy – this small team – to all the saints and with the bishops and deacons – to the elders and deacons. There was a plurality of leadership – the letter is written to the Episkopoi – to the overseers – the pastors – the elders and servants – the elders and helpers.
Elders are leaders. They are not positions of importance. They are foremen who oversee the work of God and who keep an eye on all that is going on, and who intervene when things are requiring re-direction – they have the authority and ability to redirect. This comes from God and not because of their office.
Paul recognises this order – elders – superintendents – bishops – shepherds – and these are the men who direct and shape the work. We know from other letters that this is not a ministry anyone should take lightly.
It is written to all the saints. We hear people say, “I’m no saint” and that may be true, but if you are in Christ Jesus, then you are.
A saint is a believer in Jesus Christ – a disciple of Jesus Christ who is separated to God and separated for God – to live a life of holiness and righteousness. The letter is written to all the saints as Paul wants to counteract any divisive or elitist spirit.
What an opening verse, but we must move on – to Grace and Peace.
Peace is harmony with God and with others and with yourself – and to enjoy peace, you need grace. We are reading here of all that God has to give to those who are His through Jesus Christ – mercy and love and forgiveness and strength and courage and boldness. If you have God’s Grace, then you have all that plus so much more.
Grace is CHARIS – which means to receive what we do not deserve. GRACE is God’s love for the unworthy revealed in the coming of Jesus Christ.
As you live in GRACE you will live in PEACE. And Grace is to help you obey, and not to escape. Peace has that echo of the Hebrew “shalom” – and we need to remember that peace is NOT the absence of conflict.
Paul is in great difficulty, imprisoned in Rome, and yet in his opening words he writes about grace and peace.
Paul knew all about conflict, but he was always filled with the love and joy and peace and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. All this comes from Jesus and flows from Jesus and is received from Jesus. Jesus is the source of grace and joy and peace and courage and tenderness and confidence. They lived in Christ at Philippi. This is no ordinary greeting!
“Gracious Father – God of peace – we thank You for these opening lines of Paul’s letter. May the people we write to, and speak with, and contact, sense something of Your grace – Your love – Your peace. Use us wherever we go and – use our words to witness to Jesus, who forgives and saves men and women from their sins. Amen.”
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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