"Mason's
Notes"|
Understanding The Bible |
BY THE AUTHOR
Dr. Clarence E. Mason, Jr.
Philadelphia College of Bible
1968
EXPOSITORY ANALYSIS
THEME: Unity and Joy through having "the Mind of Christ" (2:5)
INTRODUCTION 1:1-11
Salutation 1-2
Note prominence of the so-called "laity" (1)! Actually "the saints"
comprised the church at Philippi; some of the saints were also bishops
(overseers, i.e., elders) and deacons (ministers of the needs of its
members). Among charter members of the church were probably Lydia (and her
household); the girl delivered from demonic possession, and the jailer (and
his household), Acts 16:12-36.
Thanksgiving 3-8
This church was very dear to Paul. They were the first to give toward his
support. Paul's remembrance of them is always a cause for joy. Immediately
upon being saved, the converts ministered to Paul's need.
Prayer 9-11
The petition of the prayer: an enlightened growing love 9-lOa "that your life may be more and more accompanied by clear knowledge and keen perception for testing things that differ" (Weymouth) or "enabling you to have a sense of what is vital" (Moffatt).
The prospect of the prayer: a genuine
approved life lOb-11 "so that ye may be pure (men of transparent
character) and blameless--without cause for stumbling--until (in
preparation for) the Day of Christ, your life covered with that harvest of
righteousness which Jesus Christ produces to the glory and praise of God."
THE BELIEVER'S ALL-SUFFICIENCY IN CHRIST 1:12-4:19
Christ's LIFE in us (or Christ our LIFE) 1:12-26
1. Victory in adversity 12-18
Contrary to what one would expect, my imprisonment has helped rather than
hindered the spread of the gospel. God's way wais better than mine for:
"Throughout the whole Praetorian guard,
elsewhere it has become plain that these chains of mine are for the sake
of Christ."
This is the only way these soldiers would have ever heard the gospel.
They would not have listened to a little Jewish street preacher.
Paul's very chains had set dozens of people
to work right there in Rome who would have just sat and listened to the
"great Paul."
Paul's example of courageous witnessing right among the palace guard has
spurred others to action.
Others are preaching Christ who would not otherwise do so, because they think they are adding bitterness to my bonds (as though I would envy their success!). But what of it! Christ is preached! Amen!
Paul's interpretation, of life and definition
of death 19-26
Some think verse 19 means that he believes he will be released from
prison. Others, that "turn out to my salvation" (quoted from Job 13:16)
means that Paul sees in this enforced "playing second fiddle" a graciously
designed way of saving him from the pride or self-interest so natural to
one being greatly used of God; all of which helps toward the goal Paul
ever had before him, namely, glorifying God and being acceptable to Him,
whether in life or death (20; cp. 2 Cor. 5:8-9; 6:4; Acts 24:16). Thus
Paul welcomes anything that helps him keep free from whatever would make
him ashamed. "Thank you, Lord, I was needing a lesson." "I care not what
path God leads me, life or death, just so Christ is magnified (made big)
in my body."
In the light of verse 21, if we were honest before God, how would we have
to finish the sentence which begins "For to me to live is..."? Would we
have to say?:
"To me to live is ... the good opinion of others" Jn. 5:44 the crowd
"To me to live is ... pleasure" 1 Tim. 5:6
"Only one life -- twill soon be past."
"To me to live is ... my business" Mk. 8:36-37
"To me to live is ... my ambition" Jer. 45:5a; Mt. 6:33
"To me to live is ... my sweetheart" 1 Jn. 5:21
"To me to live is ... money" 1 Tim. 6:6-11,17-19
"To me to live is ... my family" Mt. 10:37
"To me to live is ... sorrow" Phil. 4:4; Isa. 61:3,10
"To me to live is ... myself" Lk. 9:23
"Paul's interpretation of life" is "Christ living over again His life in
me. "
To me to live is to do His will; to me to live is to think His thoughts;
to me to live is to live His way, to love His way. He is the Sun about
whom the universe of my life revolves.
His "definition of death" is revolutionary--not "loss, " says he, but
"gain"! "Very far better" it is to be "with Christ. " He is in a
quandary between the two. But because of their need of him, he feels God
is going to keep him from death at present.
Christ's LOWLINESS in us (or Christ our MEEKNESS) 1:27-2:30
Exhortation to Philippians to walk worthy of the gospel 1:27-2:16
In "one mind" 1:27-2:2
"Only"--this is the important thing.
All your preaching and work for God will amount to nothing if there is
not unity and love among you. But united your testimony will have
tremendous force.
Make me happy here in prison by favorable reports "of your affairs."
"In lowliness of mind.. .Christ's mind"
2:3-11
This is the secret of being of one mind (unity).
This pleased the Father, who exalted our Lord. First comes
self-humbling, then glory. This is not the day of our glorification;
that will come, But NOW God calls upon us to humble ourselves as Christ
did.
Compare the four Gospels: v.6 = Christ's self-humbling as King in
Matthew; v.7a = Christ's self-humbling as the Servant in Mark; v.7b =
Christ's self-humbling as Man in Luke; v.8 = Christ's self-humbling as
God manifest in the flesh in John.
Solve your problems at Philippi by
practically applying this principle! 2:12-16
Work out your own. deliverance from the problem that faces you at
Philippi, and so much the more in my absence! I put you on your honor!
If you cannot do a thing without murmuring, don't do it at all (1 Cor.
10:10). Do you think Christ murmured when He took the lowly place and
washed feet (Jn. 13) or as He climbed Calvary?
A light doesn't make any noise at all. Just be so different that they
can't help but see you. Then you can hold forth the Word of life. But
there is no use if you are not shining. People will say: "Who wants to
belong to that church? They're always scrapping or getting hurt or
grumbling about something."
Example of apostles who walked worthy of the gospel 2:17-30
Paul's example 17-18
Willing to be poured out as a drink offering!
Timothy's example 19-23
What a solemn indictment (20-21) of the average Christian worker! One
can serve Christ and yet miss the point of service like His! What a
compliment to Timothy! "A son with a father"--like me!
Epaphroditus' example 24-30
What self-effacing service! Grieved because they heard he was sick!
Regrets anything that would in any way burden them! Most people are
angry because you didn't know they were sick!
Verses 29-30 have not been fulfilled by the Church, especially in the
case of worn-out missionaries. They have been ignored and shunted onto
relatives, many times unbelieving relatives, who begrudge their
existence. This condition breaks the spirit and the heart of returned
warriors, especially because they are usually in ill health, which has
caused their return.
We should make some honorable provision for those who give their lives
for Christ, Every nation in the world pensions its veterans; why not the
Church?
| Philippians 2 (& 4) THE MIND OF CHRIST "Let this mind be in you" (v. 5) |
Galatians 5:22-23 THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT "Let this mind be in you" |
| Self-humbling (6-8a) | "meekness" |
| Obedience (8b) | "longsuffering and faithfulness" |
| Yieldedness (12-13) | "Self-control" |
| Peacefulness -- suggested by the opposite (14) (4:5-6) | "Peace" |
| Joyful sacrifice (17) (4:4) | "Joy" |
| Selflessness ("things that be Christ's instead of "one's own") | "Love" |
| Consideration for others (25-26) | "gentleness, goodness" |
Christ's RIGHTEOUSNESS in us (or Christ our RIGHTEOUSNESS) 3:1-9
The Christian's peril of pollution 1-7
From false teachers--"dogs" 1-3
b. From false teaching 4-7
If it were a question of "confidence in the flesh" as the false teachers
falsely teach, I could now (and did) far outstrip them. There are seven
supposed gains indicated in these verses (cp. supposed advantages of
modern religiosity). Twenty-five years ago, however, I threw all that a
Jew holds dear on the junk heap for Christ.
The Christian's priceless possession 8-9
The KNOWLEDGE of Christ as Saviour and the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God! What a
priceless treasure! In comparison with this, all that the world looks upon
as valuable (good standing in religious circles, etc.) are but garbage.
And it is all mine--as a gift--through faith, not works!
I "counted" (7), and still "I count" (8) after 25 years; my sufferings and
"losses" (humanly speaking) have not caused me to reverse my decision, but
rather to realize more of the value of Christ!
Christ's FELLOWSHIP with us (or Christ our
LOVER) 3:10-16
Taking a slightly different viewpoint, chapter 3 might be called "Christ,
the Believer's Prize": of Salvation (1-9); of Fellowship (10-12); of Reward
at His Second Coming (13-21). But we will follow the scheme which Paul has
started within 1:12.
The Christian's passion for Christ's person
10-11
The treasure of salvation is not an end in itself, but a means to an end,
namely, constant fellowship with Jesus, the Lover of our Souls, the
Fairest of Ten Thousand, the Altogether Lovely One.
We are saved in order that we may fellowship with Him, entering into His
very heart experiences, sharing His sufferings, His shame, but also His
life and power, now (10) and later (11).
Compare the home at Bethany with verse 10:
Martha - "to know Him"
Lazarus - "and the power of His resurrection"
Mary - "and the fellowship of His sufferings"
We get to know people by conversation and association with them.
Thus we get to know Christ!
The Christian's progress toward the prize
12-14
Paul was not shooting at random, but at a target. He did not want to miss
the purpose for which Christ saved him.
Paul accomplished so much because he did not try to do everything, but
just "one thing." Let us not spread ourselves too thin.
The Christian's program of peace 15-16
To fail to "get along" with fellow Christians is to advertise one's lack
of Christian maturity (16).
If we guide our steps by the standard we have, God will make clear His
mind in cases of "honest difference of opinion" (15).
Christ's PATTERN for us (or Christ our
VICTOR) 3:17-4:9
Paul is Christ's own pattern for our walk, as witnessed by His preserving
and placing in the NT such a large proportion of its epistles from his pen.
In verse 17 he says: "Copy me, brothers, one and all" (Moffatt); "Brethren,
vie with one another in imitating me" (Weymouth); "Brothers, be comrades in
imitating me and study those whose life and walk is according to the pattern
I have set you" (Centenary). And in 4:9 he says: "Practice.. .what you heard
me say and what you saw me do."
Only one who could say, "To me to live is Christ," could afford to say such
things as these! "But I can't live like this!" "Yes, you can. Christ is your
Victor, your Victorious Life!"
Copy me in my compassion for those who damn
themselves 3:17-19
Pity them, weep for them, pray for them; but do not fellowship with them!
These are not men of the world, but professing Christians; some of them
are teachers of error (3:2).
Put your mind on Christ in heaven, not on appetites and things on earth.
He does not say they steal and get drunk, etc. They may be very moral and
cultured, but they serve self, mind earthly things, and are therefore
enemies of the cross, though they may talk about it and claim to be its
friends. A Unitarian wrote "In the Cross of Christ I Glory" and "Nearer My
God to Thee."
One can come SO near and yet miss SO far! One should not glory in the
shame of coming near to a cross on which hangs one who was not God
manifest in the flesh but a man who was a noble martyr. No, we are saved
by the blood of GOD (Acts 20:28)!
Modernist unbelief glories in that of which it should be most ashamed!
Copy me in my steadfastness produced by the hope of Christ's return 3:20-4:3
Christ, the coming Victor 3:20-4:1 "But we";
"We, however, are free citizens of heaven, " as contrasted with those
who mind earthly things.
The New Translation says: "But we are a colony of heaven!" This was
significant in that in Philippi was a colony of Rome; Romans were there
to demonstrate the language, food, clothing, family life, and loyalty to
the emperor of Romans.
He is able to subdue and to change and to fashion. I shall be beautiful
some day!
What a cause for steadfastness (4:1)!
The application to Euodias and Syntyche 4:2-3
Steadfastness produced by the hope of the Lord's return, especially
remembrance of our heavenly citizenship, cannot permit childish
stubbornness. Life is too short; Christ's coming is too soon; the work
is too pressing; the comradeship of the gospel is too dear; and souls
are too precious to allow little personal differences to continue. (Play
on English words: Euodias, "you're odious, " and Syntyche, "soon
touchy"!)
Copy me in my peace of mind, produced by
casting all my care on Him who careth for me 4:4-7
Here we have: The Cure for Care; The Antidote for Anxiety.
"Be cheerful, unselfish, calm, prayerful," and the peace of God will
garrison your hearts and thoughts like a cordon of sleepless sentinels in
Christ Jesus!
Resort to prayer to bring peace where there has been friction before (in
the church).
Copy me in thinking on the "bright side"
4:8-9
"Thoughts weave the web of deeds." "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is
he"!
There is so much that is sordid and sinful. Think on God's side about
everything; about one another. Euodias and Syntyche! Think the things "of
good report"; isn't there "any praise"? This is the Cure for Criticism.
Think (8), and then do (9).
Christ's SUFFICIENCY for us (or Christ our
PROVIDER) 4:10-19
Paul rejoices in their gift, not primarily because it supplies his need (for
he is a "learned" man; he has learned to be CONTENT with whatever the Lord
provides), but because of two things: (1) because the gift is a fresh
reminder of their love (10,14-16); and (2) because it is glorifying to God
and will lay up treasure in heaven for them (17-18).
When Paul says in verse 13 that he can do things through Christ, he does not
mean that he can make two and two equal five or make black white, etc.; but
as always the context determines. He is saying, "I can do all (these
necessary) things (of verses 11 and 12) through Christ who strengtheneth
me." He will never take me into a situation or allow a privation that He
will not provide the strength and courage to endure!
Verse 19 has been interpreted in three ways:
Some think it means that God promises to supply the financial need of every Christian to save them from privation, and that all that is required is to plead this promise for exemption from want. We shall not hunger nor thirst. This certainly is not taught in the context. And why have godly Christians, e.g., Captain Gardiner, etc., who knew how to pray far better than we, starved to death or died in utter poverty? Certainly Paul's own experiences (2 Cor. 11:27;-1 Cor. 4:11-12; etc.) do not warrant the idea that we shall not go hungry, or even starve, if it be God's will.
Some, seeing this difficulty to the common interpretation, have said that God promises to "supply all our need" in the sense that God may see we need privation and testing sometimes, and money other times, and physical strength other times; that whatever be our need (as GOD interprets it) at any time, He will supply. But this does violence to the plain emphasis of the context that a as they had supplied "things for the body" for Paul, so God would supply their financial need.
What I believe to be the correct
interpretation has been hinted at in the last sentence. We are accustomed
to waving handkerchiefs to missionaries going away on a boat or plane, and
occasionally hearing some zealous brother call out for their
encouragement, "Philippians 4:19." But this is just the opposite of the
passage. In 4:19 we see a missionary whose needs HAVE been supplied by a
church saying to that church: "Because you have been faithful to God in
ministering to me His missionary (in caring for my financial need), He
will supply YOUR financial need, and that according to the heavenly riches
of God obtainable through countersigning a check in the name of Christ
Jesus. " Thus I believe the verse is applicable only to those who have
faithfully provided the needs of God's servants. (But, even then, "all our
need" does not mean all our desires or wants, but that money which GOD
knows we need to accomplish His present will for us.)
CONCLUSION 4:20-23
The gloria 20
The greeting 21-22
If one could live for Christ in Nero's palace, no one need ever say he
cannot live for Christ in his environment!
The grace 23
They will need it to live above their own little pettiness!
EPISTLES OF PAUL AFTER HIS RELEASE FROM
IMPRISONMENT
Arthur S. Way in The Letters of St. Paul
For the events of the life of Paul after the close of the narrative of the Acts, our only direct source of information is his own letters. It is the unanimous tradition of the Church that he was tried at Rome and acquitted, and that for some two years he was a free man. As to his movements during that time there is no certainty and little agreement. He may possibly have carried out his intention, expressed in the letter to the Romans, of carrying the glad-tidings to Spain; but there is no trace of such a journey to be found in the letters which follow. He probably fulfilled his promise of visiting Philemon at Colossae; he speaks of leaving Ephesus for Macedonia; he refers to going with Titus to Crete, and to leaving him there on his departure. It may well be that he went around to all the churches he could visit in the time. We find him asking Titus to join him at Nicopolis, a flourishing seaport in Epirus on the East Coast of the Adriatic. Here it was, perhaps, that he was re-arrested, and sent to Rome to stand a second trial, with far less chance of acquittal. During his absence the great fire of Rome had occurred. Nero, charged with having caused it for his own amusement, was glad to shift the blame onto the shoulders of the Christians, whom (no doubt from their lack of sympathy with the heathen festivities which played so large a part in social life) popular prejudice had come to regard as "the enemies of the human race." The tolerance or favor with which the government may have been inclined at first to regard them had given place to ruthless hostility, and the "ringleader of the sect" had small chance of escape.
"Mason's
Notes"
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