ACC ~ Philippians 1 v27 - 30

OVERVIEW:

Paul is trying to avert the effects of pride (THEODORET). The singular corrective is good conduct that comes from life in Christ (CHRYSOSTOM, MARIUS VICTORINUs). He refrains from promising to return (CHRYSOSTOM). He hopes to drive away any fear that might detract from the Philippians’ salvation, since fearlessness is a work of God. He calls them to stand in one spirit and fight with the faith of the gospel (MARIUS VICTORINUS). God’s grace is present in suffering to chasten and to raise them (CHRYSOSTOM, AMBROSIASTER).

1:27a | A Manner of Life Worthy of the Gospel of Christ

WORTHY OF THE GOSPEL. MARIUS VICTORINUS: The summing up of one’s whole life for a Christian is this, to conduct oneself according to Christ’s gospel, to announce his grace steadily both to oneself and others, to have hope in him, to do all that one does according to his commands. For this is what it means to “conduct oneself in a manner that is worthy of Christ’s gospel.” A person can live honestly and uprightly, but this is not adequate to Paul’s meaning. Rather we are to conduct ourselves according to Christ’s gospel regardless of what happens and to do so in a worthy manner, living according to Christ’s precepts and doing what Christ wants. EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS 1.27.

ONLY DO THIS ONE THING. CHRYSOSTOM: All that he has said is for this single purpose, to exhort them to live a life worthy of the gospel. … What does only mean? This is the one thing looked for, and nothing else. Where this is, no hurt can befall us. HOMILY ON PHILIPPIANS 5.1.27.

WHETHER GREAT VIRTUE IS TEMPTED TO PRIDE. THEODORET: Paul did not write this without reason. He was aware that certain people had started to think too highly of themselves. This was indeed due to the high excellence of their own virtue. For this reason he advises them toward concord and harmony, to live a life worthy of the gospel. EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS 1.27-28.

1:27b | Present or Absent, He May Hear of Them

WHETHER ABSENT OR PRESENT. CHRYSOSTOM: He does not imply by saying this that he is changing his mind or that he is not going to come. Rather he is saying whether he comes or not, regardless of what comes to pass, they may stand firm even in his absence. HOMILY ON PHILIPPIANS 5.1.27.

1:27c | Standing Firm, Striving for the Faith

STAND IN ONE SPIRIT. MARIUS VICTORINUS: There is one Spirit that prevails when we believe the gospel wisely and live in accordance with it. This is why he calls them to “stand firm in one Spirit.” The soul’s task is to overcome contrary feelings in the body. Therefore he in effect is calling them to “stand in one Spirit and fight together with one soul with the faith of the gospel.” EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS 1.27.

1:28 | Fearing Nothing from Opponents

FEARLESSNESS A WORK OF GOD. MARIUS VICTORINUS: This work of fearlessness is part of his explanation of what it means to conduct oneself worthily according to Christ’s gospel: Never be terrified, whether by adversaries or anything else. … For this very condition of being courageous tends toward our salvation. It deals a death blow to our adversaries. Yet this too is a work of God, lest we should think it part of our own work that our not being terrified should be a cause of our salvation. “For this too is of God,” he says, “just as I have often told you that all things come about through the will, the mercy and the grace of God.” PISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS 1.28.

1:29 | Believing in Christ and Suffering for Christ’s Sake

BE READY TO SUFFER FOR HIS SAKE. MARIUS VICTORINUS: It was therefore within his purpose that he gave to us the gift of trusting in him. This was an incomparable gift. It is only by faith in him that we are blessed with so great a reward. We are to believe in such a way as to be ready to suffer for him. EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS 1.29.

THE SPECIAL GIFT TO THOSE WHO LOVE CHRIST. AMBROSIASTER: Although he extols the grace of Christ on many occasions, he offers a special kind of honor to the Philippians in this passage. He says: “God has allowed you to suffer for Christ.” He does not propose this distinction to any but true lovers of Christ. His paradoxical reasoning is that this gift “is given to you for Christ!” This means that God the Father gives this special gift to lovers of his Son. Why? That their blessings might increase correspondingly through their participation in suffering on Christ’s behalf. Paul speaks as one who himself has received this gift. EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS 1.30.

THE GIFT WHOLLY OF GOD BUT NOT DENYING FREE WILL. CHRYSOSTOM: He speaks of the gift of faith as if it were already granted. It is not given unilaterally from God but in a way that we can take a share in it. Even here the greater part of the share comes from God. But this gift is not given in such a way as to circumvent or overcome free will. Rather it is given to make us humble and rightly disposed. HOMILY ON PHILIPPIANS 5.1.29.

GRACE BOTH BEGINS AND CONTINUES. JOHN CASSIAN: Not only the beginning of our conversion but also the continuance of it through the endurance of suffering for it are gifts given to us by the Lord. CONFERENCES 3.15.2.

1:30 | Engaged in the Same Conflict

WE ARE ENGAGED IN THE SAME STRUGGLE. MARIUS VICTORINUS: This is our struggle. This is our contest, our contention and our goal. This it is that leads to the crown and the palm of victory: To do all things for him, to suffer all things for him and not to turn away. You, he says, are now “engaged in the same conflict which you saw and now hear to be mine.” It is a conflict that implies chains, prison and all the deadly hazards that Paul has suffered. “So my sufferings,” he says, “are confirmed in you by two things: what you hear and what you see.” EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS 1.30.

THEY BEAR HIS TRIBULATION. CHRYSOSTOM: Again he encourages them. He shows them that they are engaged in the very same struggle that Paul himself is engaged in. Everywhere they undergo the same struggles and contests. They are united with him in bearing these tribulations with him. “These are trials that you not only have heard about but,” he says, “are also seeing.” HOMILY ON PHILIPPIANS 5.1.30.

THE RULE OF LOVE PHILIPPIANS 2:1-5

OVERVIEW: Paul pleads with the Philippians to have the mind of Christ (CHRYSOSTOM). If they obey what he is saying, their hopes will become realities (AMBROSIASTER). They are called to be united in the same love and of the same mind. Christ elicits this love, which in turn produces the sympathies of a spiritual fellowship that tends toward unity (MARIUS VICTORINUS). Paul desires that unity in love to be complete (CHRYSOSTOM). He shows how knowledge produces love and how the two cooperate to bring about an increasing unity. All kinds of ambition, whether from one’s own volition or constraint of others, must be avoided (MARIUS VICTORINUS), as well as the temptation to become a slave to popularity (CHRYSOSTOM). The antidote is to put the interests of others before your own (MARIUS VICTORINUS). You must count others better than yourself, not merely saying this but being assured of it. The lowly way of Christ enlivens our faith (CHRYSOSTOM), inculcating humility and service (MARIUS VICTORINUS).