REJOICING IN SUFFERING--Philippians 1:22-2:4

I. THE CONFLICTING OF  DESIRE--l:12-26
     A. The Preference--vv. 22, 23
          1. To live in the flesh--v. 22
               a. If  I live on
                    (I) Literally, if  to live.
                    (II) Paul, as you and I, did not know how much longer he would live.
                    (III) Thus, we must be prepare for whatever comes.
               b. The fruit of  his labor
                    (I) "He reckoned his labour well bestowed, if  he could be instrumental to advance the honour and interest of
                         the kingdom of  Christ in the world." (Henry, VI:729)
                    (II) "It is worth while for a good Christian and a good minister to live in the world as long as he can glorify
                         God and do good to his church." (Ibid.)
               c. The difficult choice
                    (I) He does not know what to choose.
                         (A) Wot is old word for know.
                         (B) "If  I am assured that my continuing to live is most fruitful for the church, then I say nothing as to my
                              personal preference.  I do not declare my choice.  It is not for me to express a choice." (Vincent,
                              III:424)
                    (II) "If  I have reason to believe that there will be greater advantage from my life than from my death, I do not
                         see which of  them I ought to prefer." (Calvin, 42)
          2. To depart for heaven--v. 23
               a. I am in a strait between two
                    (I) "Paul was in a strait between two blessings--living to Christ, and being with him.  Here we have him
                         reasoning with himself upon the matter." (Henry, VI:729)
                    (II) "Paul did not desire to live with any other object in view than that of  promoting the glory of  Christ, and
                         doing good to the brethren.  Hence he does not reckon that he has any other advantage from living than
                         the welfare of  the brethren." (Calvin, 43)
               b. I have the desire to depart and be with Christ.
                    (I) "His inclination was for death.  See the power of  faith and of  divine grace; it can reconcile the mind to
                         death, and make us willing to die, though death is the destruction of  our present nature and the greatest
                         natural evil.  We have naturally an aversion to death, but he had an inclination to it." (Henry, VI:729)
                    (II) Death by itself is not desirable--"What Paul now says is this; 'I desire to die, because I will, by this means,
                         come into immediate connection with Christ." (Calvin, 43)
                    (III) Cf. I Thessalonians 4:14-17
                    (IV) "It is being with Christ which makes a departure desirable to a good man.  It is not simply dying, or
                         putting off  the body, it is not of  itself  and for its own sake a desirable thing; but it may be necessarily
                         connected with something else which may make it truly so.  If  I cannot be with Christ without departing, I
                         shall reckon it desirable on that account to depart." (Henry, VI:729)
     B. The Proposal--vv. 24-26
          1. The need--v. 24
               a. The word nevertheless simply means but.
               b. To abide in the flesh
                    (I) The idea is to continue in the flesh .
                    (II) "To advance the interest of  Christ and his church, he chose rather to tarry here, where he met with
                         oppositions and difficulties, and to deny himself  for awhile the satisfaction of  his reward." (Ibid.)
               c. More needful for believers
                    (I) This was not boastful on Paul's part as if they could not get along without him.
                    (II) "It is needful for the church to have ministers; and faithful ministers can ill be spared when the harvest is
                         plenteous and the labourers are few.  Observe, Those who have most reason to desire to depart should
                        e willing to continue in the world as long as God has any work for them to do." (Ibid., italics are his.)
          2. The continuance--v. 25
               a. Had confidence
                    (I) "What a great confidence Paul had in the divine Providence, that it would order all for the best to him."
                         (Ibid.)
                    (II) ". . . the saints are accustomed to regulate their expectations according to the word of  God, so as not to
                         promise themselves more than God has promised.  Thus, when they have a sure token of  God's will, they
                         in that case place their reliance also upon a sure persuasion, which admits of  no hesitation." (Calvin, 44)
               b. He shall abide and continue.
                    (I) "To remain, means here, to stay for a little while: to continue, means to remain for a long time." (op. cit.,
                         45; italics are his.)
                    (II) "Whatsoever is best for the church, we may be sure God will do.  If  we know what is needful for building
                         up the body of  Christ, we may certainly know what will be; for he will take care of  its interests, and do
                         what is best, all things considered, in every condition it is in." (Henry, VI:729)
               c. For your furtherance and joy of  truth
                    (I) "Observe what ministers are continued for: for our furtherance and joy of  faith, our further
                         advancement in holiness and comfort." (Ibid.; italics are his.)
                    (II) "For promoting your faith and your joy in believing." (Vincent, III:426)
                    (III) "What promotes our faith and joy of  faith is very much for our furtherance in the way to heaven.  The
                         more faith the more joy, and the more faith and joy the more we are furthered in our Christian course."
                         (Henry, VI:729-30; italics are his.)
          3. The rejoicing--v. 26
               a. The instance of  it
                    (I) "Paul’s presence is the immediate cause of  their christian joy; hence in me." (Vincent, III:426; italics are
                         his.)
                    (II) "The continuance of  ministers with the church ought to be the rejoicing of  all who wish well to the church,
                         and to its interests." (Henry, VI:730)
                    (III) Thus it is not wrong to rejoice over a servant of  God but more important is next thing.
               b. The basis of it
                    (I) "Their rejoicing in Paul is in Christ--a joy evolved within the sphere of  life in Christ, and peculiar to those
                         only to whom to live is Christ." (Vincent, III:426; italics are his.)
                    (II) "All our joys should terminate in Christ.  Our joy in good ministers should be our joy in Christ Jesus for
                         them; for they are but the friends of  the bridegroom, and are to be received in his name, and for his
                         sake." (Henry, VI:730; italics are his.)

II. THE STRIVING IN SUFFERING--1:27-30
     A. Our Conduct--v. 27
         1. Worthy of  the gospel
              a. Let you conversation
                   (I) The word conversation
                        (A) Means manner of  life
                        (B) Includes
                             (1) Our walk
                             (2) Our talk
                   (II) "Those who profess the gospel of  Christ should have their conversation as becomes the gospel, or in a
                        suitableness and agreeableness to it.  Let it be as becomes those who believe gospel truths, submit to
                        gospel laws, and depend upon gospel promises; and.with an answerable faith, holiness, and comfort.  Let it
                        be in all respects as those who belong to the kingdom of  God among men, and are members and subjects
                        of  it.  It is an ornament to our profession when our conversation is of  a piece with it." (Ibid.)
               b. Whether or not I come
                    (I) "Whether, when I shall come and see you, or whether I shall, when absent, hear respecting your condition,
                         I may learn in.both ways, both by being present and by receiving intelligence, that ye stand in one spirit."
                         (Calvin, 46; italics are his.)
                    (II) "He had spoken in v. 26 of  his coming to them again, and had spoken it with some assurance, though he
                         was now a prisoner; but he would not have them build upon that.  Our religion must not be bound up in the
                         hands of  our ministers: 'Whether I come or no, let me hear well of  you, and do you stand fast.'  Whether
                         ministers come or no, Christ is always at hand." (Henry, VI:730)
                    (III) Whether or not the pastor or other believers see you, order your life rightly, for the Lord is always with
                         you.
          2. Steadfast in the Spirit
               a. Standing fast
                    (I) "Stedfastness becomes the gospel:  stand fast in one spirit with one mind.  Be stedfast and immovable
                         by any opposition.  It is a shame to religion when the professors of  it are off and on, unfixed in their minds,
                         and unstable as water: for they will never excel.  Those who would strive for the faith of  the gospel must
                         stand firm to it." (Ibid.; italics are his.)
                    (II) 1 Corinthians 15:58
               b. In the one spirit and mind
                    (I) Paul gives a twofold unity.--"The first is that we have like views; the second, that we be united in heart."
                         (Calvin, 46; italics are his.)
                    (II) Doubtless the human spirit is here in view, but on the other hand, this unity can only be accomplished in
                         and through the Holy Spirit.
                    (III) Cf. Ephesians 4:3, 4
          3. Striving in the faith
               a. The striving together
                    (I) "The figure is that of  an athletic contest, and is in keeping with stand fast." (Vincent, III:426; italics are                              his.)
                    (II) "Striving together, not strive one with another; all of you must strive against the common adversary.”
                         (Henry, VI:730)
                    (III) "This is the strongest bond of  concord, when we have to fight together under the same banner, for this
                         has often been the occasion of  reconciling even the greatest enemies.  Hence in order that he may confirm
                         the more the unity that existed among the Philippians, he calls them to notice that they are fellow-soldiers,
                         who, having a common enemy and a common warfare, ought to have their minds united together in a holy
                         agreement." (Calvin, 46)
               b. For the faith
                    (I) The faith--"For the teaching of  the gospel." (Robertson, IV:441); but it is more than the gospel.
                    (II) The faith of  the gospel is the doctrine of  faith, or the religion of  the gospel which is worth striving for.
                         If  religion is worth any thing, it is worth every thing." (Henry, VI:730; italics are his.)
     B. Our Adversaries--v. 28
          1. Your foes prove their damnation
               a. Don't be terrified by them.
                    (I) "Whatever oppositions we meet with, we must not be frightened at them, considering that the condition of
                         the persecuted is much better and more desirable than the condition of  the persecutors." (Ibid.)
                    (II) "Terrified (. . .). Only here in the New Testament. Properly of the terror of a startled horse." (Vincent,
                         III:427; italics are his.)
               b. Your adversaries
                    (I) "These men who were line up against (. . .) may have been Jews or Gentiles or both." (Robertson, IV:442)
                    (II) Those who oppose you because you are trying to obey the Lord
                    (III) Satan is our chief adversary--Cf. 1 Peter 5:8.
               c. Evidence of  judgment
                    (I) The phrase evident token--"Lit., a pointing out. Used in Attic law of  a writ of  indictment.  A
                         demonstration or proof." (Ibid.; italics are his.)
                    (II) Proof of  their judgment
                         (A) "Those who oppose the gospel of  Christ, and injure the professors of  it, are marked out for ruin."
                              (Henry, VI:730)
                         (B) "For the wicked, when they wage war against the Lord, do already by a trial-fight, as it were, give a
                              token of  their ruin, and the more fiercely they insult over the pious, the more do they prepare
                              themselves for ruin." (Calvin, 47)
                         (C) Cf. John 3:36
          2. Your foes prove your salvation.
               a. Cause of  salvation not in view.
                    (I) "The Scripture, assuredly, nowhere teaches, that the afflictions which the saints endure from the wicked are
                         the cause of  their salvation." (op. cit., 47-8)
                    (II) Cf. Ephesians 2:8, 9
               b. Proof of  salvation is in view.
                    (I) "But being persecuted is a token of  salvation.  Not that it is a certain mark; many hypocrites have suffered
                         for their religion; but it is a good sign that we are in good earnest in religion, and designed for salvation,
                         when we are enabled in a right manner to suffer for the cause of  Christ." (Henry VI:730)
                    (II) That is, if  you have professed to be saved by grace through faith in Jesus the Christ and you suffer for it,
                         then, the suffering is proof that you are saved.
                    (III) Cf. 2 Timothy 3:12
               c. Proof of  salvation is from God.
                    (I) It has been said about salvation:  God did it, I believe it, that settles it.
                    (II) Salvation is from God and God alone.
                    (III) "This is restricted to the last clause, that a taste of  the grace of  God may allay the bitterness of  the
                         cross.  No one will naturally perceive the cross a token or evidence of  salvation, for they are things that
                         are contrary in appearance.  Hence Paul calls the attention of  the Philippians to another consideration that
                         God by his blessing turns into an occasion of  welfare things that might otherwise seem to render us
                         miserable.  He proves it from this, that the endurance of  the cross is the gift of  God." (Calvin, 48)
     C. Our Suffering--vv. 29, 30
          1. The common suffering--v. 29
               a. It is given in behalf of  Christ.
                    (I) James 1:17
                    (II) But all gifts are through or in the behalf of  Jesus Christ.
               b. To believe on Him
                    (I) Faith itself, or the ability to believe on Christ is a gift from God.
                    (II) "To believe in him.  Faith in God's gift on the behalf of  Christ, who purchased for us not only the
                         blessedness which is the object of  faith, but the grace of  faith itself: the ability or disposition to believe is
                         from God." (Henry, VI:730)
               c. To suffer for His sake
                    (I) "Suffering in behalf of  Christ is one of  God's gifts to us." (Robertson, IV:442)
                    (II) "Suffering was the marriage-gift when they were espoused to Christ: the bounty when they enlisted in His
                         service.  Becoming one with Him they entered into the fellowship of  His suffering (ch. iii. 10).  The gift
                         was not suffering as such.  Its meaning and value lay in its being  for his sake.  The Macedonian churches,
                         and the Philippian church especially, were preeminently suffering churches." (Vincent, III:427-8; italics are
                         his.)
                    (III) Cf. Matthew 5:11
                    (IV) "To suffer for the sake of  Christ is a valuable gift too:  it is a great honour and a great advantage; for we
                         may be very serveabled to the glory of  God, which is the end of  our creation, and encourage and confirm
                         the faith of  others." (Henry, VI:730-31)
          2. The common conflict--v. 30
               a. The term conflict
                    (I) An athletic contest
                    (II) Fits with the striving together in v. 27
               b. They have the same contest.
                    (I) "'. . ., suffering in the same manner as you saw and now hear of  me that I suffer.'  It is not simply the
                         suffering but the cause, and not only the cause, but the spirit, which makes the martyr.  A man may suffer
                         in a bad cause, and then he suffers justly; or in a good cause, but with a wrong mind, and then his
                         sufferings lose their value." (op. cit., 731)
                    (II) "He confirms also, by his own example what he had said, and this adds no little authority to his doctrine.
                         By the same means, too, he shews them, that there is no reason why they should feel troubled on account
                         of  his bonds, when they behold the issue of  the conflict." (Calvin, 49)

III. THE UNITING THROUGH HUMILITY--2:1-4
     A. The Like-mindedness--vv. 1, 2
          1. The basis--v. 1
               a. Therefore
                    (I) Whenever you see the word therefore, you should give careful attention to what it is there for.
                    (II) It refers to what was said previously--"Paul has spoken, in ch. 1.26, of  the Philippians' joy in his
                         presence.  Their joy is to find expression in duty--in the fulfillment of  their obligations as members of  the
                         christian [sic] commonwealth, by fighting the good fight of  faith and cheerfully appropriating the gift of
                         suffering (ch. i 27-29). Ver. 30, alluding to his own conflicts, marks the transition from the thought of
                         their joy to that of  his joy." (Vincent, III:428; italics are his.)
                    (III) In that light--"Therefore, since such is your duty and privilege, fulfil my joy, and show yourselves to be
                         true citizens of  God's kingdom by your humility and unity of  spirit." (Ibid.; italics are his.)
               b. The four conditions
                    (I) These are first class conditions which assume the statements to be true--thus, "since."
                         (II) The conditions themselves
                              (A) Consolation
                                   (1) Means persuasive address, or exhortation
                                   (2) In Christ--"'. . . . Have you experience consolation in Christ?  Evidence that experience by
                                        loving one another.'  The sweetness we have found in the doctrine of  Christ should sweeten our
                                        spirits.  Do we expect consolation in Christ?  If  we would not be disappointed, we must love
                                        one another.  If  we have not consolation in Christ, where else can we expect it?  Those who
                                        have an interest in Christ have consolation in him, strong and everlasting consolation." (Henry,
                                        VI:731)
                              (B) Comfort
                                   (1) Means--"A word which comes to the side of  one to stimulate or comfort him." (Vincent,
                                        III:428; italics are his.)
                                    (2) Of  love--"If  there is any comfort in Christian love, in God's love to you, in your love to God,
                                         or in your brethren's love to us, in consideration of  all this, be you like-minded.  If  you have
                                         ever found that comfort, if  you would find it, if you indeed believe that the grace of  love is a
                                         love is a comfortable grace, abound in it." (Henry, VI:731)
                              (C) Fellowship
                                   (1) Means communion with or partnership in.
                                   (2) Of  the Spirit
                                        (a) "If  you take into view that fellowship of  the Spirit, which ought to make us all one; if  any
                                             feeling of  humanity and mercy resides in you, which might stir you up to alleviate my
                                             miseries, fulfil ye my joy." (Calvin, 50; italics are his.)
                                        (b) "If  there is such a thing as the communion with God and Christ by the Spirit, such a thing as
                                             the communion of  saints, by virtue of  their being animated and actuated by one and the
                                             same Spirit, be you like-minded; for Christian love and like-mindedness will preserve to us
                                             our communion with God and with one another." (Henry, VI:731; italics are his.)
                              (D) Bowels and mercies
                                   (1) The word bowels refers to tender affections, that is, the higher emotions.
                                   (2) Mercies--"The feeling which expresses itself in the exclamation . . . oh! on seeing another's
                                        misery." (Vincent, III:290; italics are his.)
                                   (3) "If  you expect to benefit of  God's compassions to yourselves, be you compassionate one to
                                        another.  If  there is such a thing as mercy to be found among the followers of  Christ, if  all who
                                        are sanctified have a disposition to holy pity, make it appear that way." (Henry, VI:732)
                                   (4) Cf. Matthew 5:7
          2. The action--v. 2
               a. Fulfill my joy
                    (I) Fill full or complete my joy.
                    (II) "Paul's cup of  joy will be full if  the Philippians will only keep on having unity of  thought and feeling."
                         (Robertson, IV:443)
                    (III) "It is the joy of ministers to see people like-minded and living in love.  He had been instrumental in
                         bringing them to the grace of  Christ and the love of  God.  'Now,' says he, 'if  you have found any benefit
                         by your participation of  the gospel of  Christ, if  you have any comfort in it, or advantage by it, fulfil the                             joy of  your poor minister, who preached the gospel to you.'" (Henry, VI:732; italics are his.)
               b. Be like-minded
                    (I) "Lit., think the same thing. The expression is a general one is defined in the two following clauses."
                         (Vincent, III:429; italics are his.)
                    (II) The clauses
                         (A) Unity of  affection
                              (1) The same love
                              (2) We need that among believers.
                         (B) Unity of  sentiment
                              (1) Of  one accord
                              (2) Having the same views; thus, agreement on doctrines
                    (III) The repetition
                         (A) Of  one mind
                         (B) "The general expression is then repeated in a stronger form, thinking the one thing." (Ibid.; italics are
                              his.)
     B. The Selflessness--vv. 3, 4
          1. The basis--v. 3
               a. The negative
                    (I) Not by strife
                         (A) Do nothing nor think nothing.
                         (B) Literally, according to faction,.
                         (C) "There is no greater enemy to Christian love than pride and passion.  If  we do things in contradiction
                              to our brethren, this is doing them through strife; if  we do them through ostentation of ourselves, this is
                              doing them through vain-glory: both are destructive of Christian love and kindle unchristian heats."
                              (Henry, VI:732)
                    (II) Not by vain-glory
                         (A) Means empty opinion or pride
                         (B) "Vain-glory tickles men's minds, so that everyone is delighted with his own inventions.  Hence the only
                              way of  guarding against dissensions is--when we avoid strifes by deliberating and acting peacefully,
                              especially if  we are not actuated by ambition.  For ambition is a means of  fanning all strifes." (Calvin,
                              52; italics are his.)
                         (C) You and this writer have nothing to be proud of--cf. I Corinthians 1:31
               b. The positive
                    (I) Lowliness of  mind
                         (A) Example of  Christ--Matthew 11:29
                         (B) The definition of  it is given in the next phrase.
                    (II) Each esteem others better than themselves--"We must esteem others in lowliness of  mind better than
                         ourselves, be severe upon our own faults and charitable in our judgment of  others.  We must esteem the
                         good which is in others above that which is in ourselves; for we best know our own unworthiness and
                         imperfections." (Henry, VI:732; italics are his.)
          2. The action--v. 4
               a. The negative
                    (I) Meaning --"Attentively: fixing the attention upon, with desire for or interest in." (Vincent, III:430)
                    (II) A negative attitude toward our own concerns.
               b. The positive
                    (I) Keeping an eye out for the good of  others.
                    (II) "We must interest ourselves in the concerns of  others, not in a way of  curiosity and censoriousness, or
                         as busybodies in other men's matters, but in Christian love and sympathy:  Look not every man on his
                         own things, but every man also on the things of  others." (Henry, VI:732; italics are his.)
                    (III) Selfishness destroys Christian love--"We must be concerned not only for our own credit, and ease, and
                         safety, but for those of  others also; and rejoice in the prosperity of  others as truly as in our own.  We
                         must love our neighbor as ourselves, and make his case our own." (Ibid.)

     This web page has covered REJOICING IN SUFFERING, Philippians 1:22-2:4; it has included "The conflicting of
desire--1:22 -26," "The striving of  suffering--1:27-30," and "The uniting through humility--2:1-4."
     If  you are saved, you should desire to be with the Lord, but realizing it is needful to remain here.  You should strive in suffering allowing it to help you to live the Christian life better.  We should be united with one another through being humble.
     If  you are not a believer, you are at odds with God and with us who are believers.  You need to trust Jesus Christ as your own personal Lord and Savior (See How to be Saved).  DO IT NOW before it is too late!