Tag: Paul

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Philippians 1:14b – Contagion

Picture of people proclaiming God's Word with the Lion of Judah in the background (Grok)

… most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.

Summary: Confidence in the Lord is something every true believer desires. In this life, we are engaged in a spiritual battle. Our primary weapon is to proclaim the Gospel without fear. 

Paul’s chains were made of iron. They were heavy, they bruised and chaffed the skin, and they could not be ignored. There are other chains in this life that are not as obvious. One of them is fear. 

The online dictionary defines “fear” this way:

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Philippians 1:14a – Remembering Our Heroes

And because of my chains…

Summary: Memorial Day is a special day of remembrance. We owe a special debt of gratitude to all who have fought for our country and died for our freedoms. 

Note: This meditation was written for publication on Memorial Day, 2025. 

Chains, for the person bound by them, are a constant reminder of confinement. A person who is chained is a slave to the chains. 

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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 1:11b – 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 1:7b – The Last Place

Picture of a prison door, with a sign in front that reads, "The Last Place" (Grok)

… whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me.

Summary: Paul, writing from prison, talks about sharing in the grace of God. This leads us to wonder about what “grace” is and what it means. 

Have you ever noticed that whatever you are looking for, you always find it in the last place you look? It’s funny because it is true! It is also “funny” (odd) because sometimes the last place we look is the last place we would ever think to look. 

For example, whoever thought the world would be saved by someone crucified by the Romans two thousand years ago? 

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Philippians 1:4 – The Source of Joy

Picture of a baby wearing a BIG smile! (Pixabay)

 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy…

Summary: Paul’s joy is an indicator of a special relationship with the Philippian church. 

This verse alone tells us a lot about Paul’s relationship with the Philippians. His prayer for them is filled with joy.

Paul’s other letters all convey his love for his brothers and sisters in Christ, but his relationship is different with each one. 

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Philippians 1:1a – One Voice

Picture of an old fashioned family album (Grok)

 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus…

Summary: As we begin our meditations on Paul’s letter to the Philippians, we are prompted to reflect on God’s Word as his family album. 

I often think of the Bible as God’s family album. Even without pictures, the Bible includes “portraits” of people who are important to God and who are part of his story. 

Of course, we are all important to God! He loves us without a doubt! Yet, some people play a more prominent role than others (1 Corinthians 12:18-20). 

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Colossians 4:18b – When Paul Met Jesus

Remember my chains.

Summary: When Paul asks us to remember his chains, he has something very specific in mind. When we realize what it is, we discover the life-changing power of Jesus Christ. 

As we come to the end of Paul’s letter to the Colossians, he asks one last thing: “Remember my chains.” 

Why?

Why does Paul want us to remember his chains?

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