Category: Philippians

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Philippians 1:13b – Ralphus and Salina

A picture of Ralphus and Salina at dinner. (Grok)

[As a result] … it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.

Summary: It requires some imagination to open up the mind to what Paul means when he describes the “whole palace guard” being aware that he is in chains for Christ. 

Meditations are the playground of theology. When we meditate on a passage like this, it is okay to have some fun. For example, let’s imagine that one of the palace guards is a man named Ralphus. Ralphus is married to Salina, and the two of them live near the palace in a small apartment. 

Our scene opens late one evening as Ralphus gets home from work. 

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Philippians 1:12 – Paul’s Bad Day

Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. 

Summary: Comparing ourselves to Paul puts our own experiences in an interesting light. 

Most of us have had a bad day now and then, but very few of us have ever had bad days like Paul’s bad days. 

Imagine going to work and ending up in prison — for years! Or, you are just minding your own business, trying to do your job, and somebody stirs up a riot against you. Before you get to your first coffee break, soldiers grab you and drag you off to be flogged or beaten with rods. Then, just before you clock out for the day, an angry crowd gathers around you, physically carrying you outside the city limits while simultaneously beating you up on the way. Once outside the city, they all pick up rocks and throw them at you until, bruised and bleeding, you black out from the pain (2 Corinthians 11:21-27).

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Philippians 1:11c – The Glory of God

—to the glory and praise of God.

Summary: In this meditation, we arrive at the end of Paul’s prayer. Here at the end, Paul points us to the goal of bringing glory and praise to God. 

As we arrive at the end of Paul’s prayer, we can be forgiven if we are wondering, “Why?” 

Why do we want to discern what is best? Why do we need “depth of insight?” Why would anyone want to make an effort to be pure and blameless? 

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Philippians 1:11b – God’s Standard

[… filled with the fruit of righteousness] that comes through Jesus Christ…

Summary: Righteousness that comes through Jesus is different than human righteousness. 

As we continue through this passage, we discover that Paul is referring to a specific kind of righteousness, the kind that comes through Jesus Christ. 

The word Paul uses for “righteousness” is “dikaiosýnē,” in Greek, which Strong’s Concordance defines as “equity (of character or act)” (Strong’s G1343). 

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Philippians 1:9b – Godly Love – Part II

picture of a man sitting at the bottom of the ocean deep in though. (Grok)

… knowledge and depth of insight,

Summary: Knowledge and insight are related but different. Understanding why we need both can greatly enhance our relationship with God. 

Before we move on, we need to spend a few more minutes exploring what “knowledge and depth of insight” mean. To review, Paul starts this passage with these words: 

“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight …” 

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Philippians 1:9 – Godly Love

Picture of a large red heart overflowing with hundreds of little hearts (Grok)

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight …

Summary: Paul’s prayer is an interesting one. We don’t normally associate love with knowledge and insight. 

Have you ever wondered what Paul prayed about? Today’s passage gives us the answer.

Paul isn’t asking for the Philippians to have love or to be able to love; they already have that. He is specifically asking that the love they already have multiplies and grows “more and more” in two specific ways: in knowledge and “depth of insight.” 

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