The Sunday lectionary NT epistle for Lent 2 is Phil 3.17–4.1. It follows on from the better-known autobiographical passage—which we will discuss in three week’s time in Lent 5.
Paul uses neologisms—words that he appears to have created—to urge his readers together to imitate his example, and the examples of his co-workers, and avoid the examples of those leading them astray. Just as Philippi is an outpost of Rome, so they are to live as citizens of heaven, out of step with the world around them. Paul ends his plea with his most developed terms of affection in all of his letters.
Come and join Ian and James as they explore the issues!
The quotation from Seneca that Ian reads runs as follows:
Let us choose men who teach us by their lives, men who teach us what we ought to do and then prove it by their practice, who show us what we should avoid, and then are never caught doing that which they have ordered us to avoid. Choose as a guide one whom you admire more when you see him act than when you hear him speak. (Epistle 52.8, cited in Witherington Paul’s Letter to the Philippians p 214).
And from the Epistle to Diognetus:
But while they dwell in cities of Greeks and barbarians as the lot of each is cast, and follow the native customs in dress and food and the other arrangements of life, yet the constitution of their own citizenship, which they set forth, is marvelous, and confessedly contradicts expectation. They dwell in their own countries, but only as sojourners; they bear their share in all things as citizens, and they endure all hardships as strangers. Every foreign country is a fatherland to them, and every fatherland is foreign. They marry like all other men and they beget children; but they do not cast away their offspring. They have their meals in common, but not their wives. They find themselves in the flesh, and yet they live not after the flesh. Their existence is on earth, but their citizenship is in heaven. (5.4-9; cited in Witherington p 217).
The Grove booklet on imitiation in the NT and today by Cor Bennema can be found here.
The video on the gospel reading for this week of Jesus’ lament over Jerusalem in Luke 13 can be found here.
This is so interesting a passage in that it brings
for us a culmination of our recent posts. Viz a viz
Christ’s second self-emptying,
as a man this time, in the temptations;
Having the mind of God and the mind of Christ;
Of which some seem to have mislaid and are now “seeking”
And the questions of Justice apart from the Scriptures,
Studying Social sciences which in the end I think,
ends with Social Engineering.
Here we come to Citizenship in its essence.
What it means to be a citizen of Heaven.
Paul’s sole aim is that the saints grow to maturity
“To the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ”
What then is “the fulness of Christ”?
Is it of some vague spiritual current perfections of Christ?
Is it not the already revealed mind of Christ?
Thus His self-emptying in order for him to be filled
With the Holy Spirit mind of God.
His spirit of meekness and lowliness [we are invited to learn]
His submission to the will[pleasure] of God.
Only speaking of what God has instructed Him.
Not “crying out in the street”[ISA.42 V 2] He was never a protester.
Through all which He is now Highly exalted and sitting at rest.
As Paul urges “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ
Jesus …..who emptied Himself “only then might we be
Filled with the Holy Spirit to all fulness of joy and peace
Paul indeed does teach the “the way up is down”
And the call of God is always “upward” Praise God. Shalom.
Mark them among you who have the mind of Christ,
Paul “having the mind of Christ” exemplifies it
when he says of his feelings with when he calls attention to those. “For many walk, of whom I told you often, and now tell you even weeping.’
In this Paul echoes the words of the psalmist, “Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy Law.”
He echoes the words of the weeping prophet,
“Hear ye, and give ear; be not proud: for the Lord hath spoken.
Give glory to the Lord your God before he cause darkness,
and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains,
and while ye look for light he turns it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness.
But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride: and mine eye shall weep sore and run down with tears.”
Chrysostom says here, “Paul weeps for those over whom other men laugh and are uproarious.” It is an aggravating circumstance when men dishonor the Christian circle with which they are connected. But there is this, that Christ himself was likened to Jeremias who wept over Jerusalem. And the more that others are in a state of sin, there is only the more need for our weeping over them and desiring their emancipation from their unhappy thraldom.
Another circumstance which led to the tears of the apostle was their number. There were many who had disgraced their Christian profession. They are Professors who are not Possessors
Notice what Paul says about their god. He says their god is their belly. This is an interesting phrase that Paul uses. What does he mean when he says whose god is their belly? I believe it refers in a broad sense to physical appetites, passions and desires and not simply the stomach and gluttony but sensual desires in general.
The idea is that instead of serving God they are consumed with gratifying their own physical desires. They serve themselves. They make idols out of their own fleshly desires. Their philosophy is “if it feels good do it.” “If it brings me pleasure that’s what I’ll do and pursue in my life.”(It’s my body I can do what I like with it.) Philippians 3:18-19 Kevin A. Pierpont @ /livingtruth.cc/enemies-of-cross/
Mark those among them who manifest the mind of Christ
“Mark the perfect man,” says the psalmist. The New Testament form given to it by Paul is that we are to mark those who have, in their walk, the Christian features of Christ.
Blessed are you that mourn for you will be comforted.