11/15/2020 – day 182 – Phillipians 1-2 – Paul identifies as a “doulos” (slave) of Christ.
In Paul’s journey, it is fascinating how he appears to progressing always into “evermore humble” as time goes on. Philippians is the 10th chronological Epistle of Paul out of a total of thirteen, so Paul is getting close to the end of his journey for the Lord. At the bottom of this post is a categorical and chronological breakdown of his epistles. But I have a link to a cool chart that gives the years and order of the epistles justaposed against his three missionary journeys and his two imprisonments. I recommend printing this page and keeping it in a small quick reference file in your lifelong biblical study. Paul is in his first imprionment by the Romans in Philippians so his travels, first through the third missionary journeys , have been completed. His ministry began around 45 a.d. until the end of his life around 68 a.d. and his final epistle – 2nd Timothy.
Barclay noted that Paul first introduced to Phillipi in his 2nd missionary journey around 52 a.d. We do not see in the intro Paul’s usual defense for his qualifications to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. Barlay notes this is because perhaps more than any other community, he was amongst friends at Philippi.
My quotes today are from my William Barclay commentary book covering Philippians, Colossians and Thessalonians. (footnotes denoted “*” at the end)
I am really struck by the apparent superior descriptive of the Old Greek over the English language. So, I will concentrate my comments around this theme. On top of that, God chose Paul to deliver these Epistles, an intensely educated Pharisee under the tutelage of Gamaliel. I think of him as perhaps the first apostle with a comprehensive Christian worldview, a very deep dive if you will into exploring God’s majesty and giving Him the praise with the mind integrated with the spirit. (Romans 12:2) He integrates the body into the triad with his metaphors of intense athletic training as to our Christian journey.
I start out of Philippians 2: 5-11, out of order, but I will try to stay chronological after that. Please keep your bible close at hand as I will not be quoting the full verses I reference.
“Verse 6: Being in the form of God; he was by nature in the very of God. The word which the Authorized Version translates being is from the Greek verb hyparchein which is not the common Greek word for being. It describes that which a man is in his very essence and which cannot be changed. It describes that part of a man which, in any circumstances, remains the same. So Paul begins by saying Jesus was essentially and unalterably God.
He goes on goes on to say that Jesus was in the form of God. There are two Greek words for form, morphe and schema. They must be translated form, because there is no other English equivalent, but they do not mean the same thing. Morphe is the essential form which never alters, schema is the outward form which changes from time to time and from circumstance to circumstance.. The word Paul uses for Jesus being in the form of God is morphe; that is to say, his unchangeable being is divine. However his outward schema might alter, he remained in essense divine. (Jimmy note: We are created in God’s image, our morphe soul)
Jesus did not think it robbery to be equal with God; he did not regard existence in equality with God as something to be snatched at. The word used for robbery, which we have translated a thing to be snatched at, is harpagmos which comes from a verb meaning to snatch, or to clutch. The phrase can mean one of two things, both of which are at heart the same. (a) It can mean that Jesus did not need to snatch at equality with God, because He had it as a right. (b) It can mean that he did not clutch at equality with God, as if to hug it jeolously to himself, but laid it willingly down for the sake of men. However we take this, it once again stresses the essential godhead of Jesus. (Jimmy note: recall in Ephesians this week, I noted that God designed marriage and the family around the Trinity. So, we can subordinately but accurately substitute as follows: “The wife did not think it robbery to be equal with God; she did not regard existence in equality with her husband as something to be snatched at.” No?)
Verse 7: He emptied himself; he made himself of no reputation.
The Greek is the verb kenoun which means literally to empty… Here Paul uses the most vivid possible word to make clear the sacrifice of the Incarnation.
He was made in the likeness of men; he became like men. The word which the Authorized Version translated made and which we have translated became is a part of the Greek verb gignesthai. This verb describes a state which is not a permanent state. The idea is that of becoming, and it describes a changing prase which is completely real but which passes. That is to say, the manhood of Jesus was not permanent; it was utterly real, but it passed.
verse 1:6: The verb epitelein which Paul uses here for to complete. Paul’s whole sentence moves in an atmosphere of sacrifice. Paul is seeing the life of every Christian as a sacrifice ready to be offered to Jesus Christ…
http://www.biblecharts.org/newtestaament/achronologyofpaulswritings.pdf
THE CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER OF PAUL’S EPISTLES
1. Eschatological (Coming Of Christ)
a. I Thessalonians
b. II Thessalonians
2. Soteriological (Salvation Of Christ)
a. Galatians
b. I Corinthians
c. II Corinthians
d. Romans
3. Christological (Attributes Of Christ)
a. Colossians
b. Philemon
c. Ephesians
d. Philippians
4. Ecclesiological (Body Of Christ)
a. I Timothy
b. Titus
c. II Timothy