Being the Church 5

Paul the prisoner

Phil 1.12-30

Paul explains his current situation and the reasons for it.

He was in prison. People might assume that if one of the leading lights of the church was held in custody by the authorities – in fact the greatest human authority around in those times: the Roman Emperor – then the church was in trouble. The Christians might have thought that they had made a mistake to be so confident that Christ was at work building his kingdom, when the Roman Kingdom was exerting so much pressure on them. So Paul encouraged the Philippians by giving them good reasons why God had permitted his imprisonment. He did not want them to think that his imprisonment was somehow outside Christ’s plan or that there was any danger that the church might fizzle out.

So, Paul asserts that his arrest in Jerusalem, his imprisonment by the Roman authorities in Ceasarea and later his dangerous sea voyage to Rome and his incarceration there while awaiting a trial date – all of this has happened, under Christ’s supervision, for the advancement of the gospel! These circumstances have ‘served to advance the gospel’ he says.

Paul is encouraging the Philippian Christians, and us, that circumstances are not random, inexplicable and hazardous to Christians or the Church. All things work together for the good of those who love God and have been called according to his purpose. Rom 8.28. Even circumstances that involve Christians suffering serve the gospel. They can’t help but serve the gospel, because Christ is managing them. Who do you know that is suffering right how – cancer, rebellious children, financial crisis, critical parents, lying rumours, abusive partner… Paul says that under Christ’s management, will both serve to advance the gospel AND work together for the good of those who suffer them.

Paul then explains exactly how his imprisonment in Rome is advancing the gospel. He says the major benefit is that everyone knows that this has happened to Paul because of Christ (v13 ‘it has become known – by everyone – that my imprisonment is for Christ’). The consequence was that everyone was talking, not so much about Paul, but about Christ. Paul is excited that his imprisonment is causing publicity for the gospel and most importantly, Christ. This has happened in a number of ways:

- The Christians in Rome have become more confident to share the Word of God. They are ‘much more bold to speak the word without fear.’ Why would that be? Well it seems that Paul’s imprisonment had stirred up their courage. His example of not being disheartened or crushed by the persecution has strengthened their faith. They were able to see in Paul that suffering for the sake of the gospel was not as dreadful as they imagined. He was enduring it joyfully and courageously – so they became less fearful of it. Every time you endure trouble as a Christian without complaint, anxiety or bitterness – you strengthen the church.

- They became more confident in the Lord through Paul’s imprisonment, because it crystallised for them the difference between the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Rome. The gospel is not the same thing as the ‘values’ or the institutions such as education that secular kingdoms espouse. Paul showed by his life through word and example that faith in Christ produced a goodness, a power and wisdom that put the world’s kingdoms to shame. They were jealous and offended by this and tried to shut him down.

- Among those who were sharing the gospel more vigorously, many were doing it out of love for God and for Paul. They wanted to do on the ‘outside’, to make up for what Paul was not able to do while he was ‘inside’.

- And then there were those who were speaking out about Christ while Paul was in prison, in the hope that they might draw people away from Paul to follow themselves. But Paul was not worried. He saw even this, under God, was simply increasing the amount of interest in and talk about Jesus Christ. And so the gospel was advanced.

Paul wanted the Philippian Christians who knew that he was imprisoned in Rome, to understand that Christ was not somehow working around his suffering, but in it and through it. It was a means of advancing the gospel and growing the Church. Paul’s sufferings were not just about him, it was for the Church, too.

How will we know that Christ can overcome our troubles if we don’t go through some troubles and share in others’ troubles? Jesus said: John 16.³²"But a time is coming, and has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me. ³³"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."