07/16/2017
Philippians 1:12-26
Dr. Richard B. Hays
Songs for Today’s Worship Gathering:
Leave it There by Tindley
Rejoice the Lord is King by Wesley/Darwall
Hail to the Lord’s Anointed by Montgomery/McCracken
Jesus, What a Beautiful Name by Riches
Take My Life and Let it Be by Havergal/Herold
We Are Not Overcome by Heiskell/Wardell
Doxology
This Week’s Memory Scripture: Philippians 1:20-21
Go further:
Epistle to the Philippians by Karl Barth
Paul’s Letter to the Philippians (NICNT) by Gordon Fee
Exploring a missional reading of Scripture: Philippians as a case study (article) by Dean Flemming
Celebration of Discipline, chapter “The Discipline of Celebration” by Richard Foster
Philippians (Two Horizons NT Commentary) by Stephen Fowl
Becoming the Gospel: Paul, Participation, & Mission by Michael Gorman
Surprised by Joy by C.S. Lewis
Theology and Joy by Jürgen Moltmann
Joy and Human Flourishing ed by Miroslav Volf and Justin Crisp
Philippians 1:12-26 (Richard Hays’ Translation):
Brothers and sisters, I want you to know that the things that have happened to me have been for the progress of the gospel. It has become known throughout the Praetorian Guard, and to everyone else, that my chains are in Christ, and many of the brothers and sisters have been made confident in the Lord by my chains. And so they now dare to speak the word more boldly and without fear.
To be sure, there are some who proclaim Christ through rivalry and strife, but others proclaim Christ though goodwill. These proclaim him out of love, knowing that I lie here [in prison] for the defense of the gospel. But some proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not out of pure motives, thinking to stir up even more suffering for me in my chains. But what does it matter? Either way Christ is proclaimed, whether out of false motives or in truth, and in this I rejoice.
And indeed I will rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my salvation. It is my eager longing and hope that in no way will I be ashamed; instead, I hope that even now, as always, with all boldness Christ will be magnified in my body, whether through life or through death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, this would mean fruitful work for me; so what I would choose, I don’t know. I’m hard pressed between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, (for that is better by far), but for me to remain in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. Since I am persuaded of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you, for the sake of your progress and joy in the faith, so that your boasting may abound in Christ Jesus on account of me, when I come to you again.
