It Helped to Spread the Gospel

Scripture

Phil. 1:12   I want you to know, beloved that what has happened to me has actually helped to spread the gospel, ¹³ so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to everyone else that my imprisonment is for Christ; ¹⁴ and most of the brothers and sisters, having been made confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, dare to speak the word with greater boldness and without fear.

Observation

As Paul continues in his letter he gives the Philippians an update on his own condition. They know that he is imprisoned in Rome because they sent one of their church members to be of assistance to Paul. Now, Paul lays out for them an example from his own life. He is constantly drawing the Philippian church toward transformation and participation in the gospel. 

Later in this letter Paul will remind the Philippians to think on good things, and that’s why he sets himself out as an example. In the midst of his imprisonment, good things are happening. Paul’s desire is for the spread of the gospel and therefore, he wants to emphasize how this has continued during his imprisonment. While under arrest, he is probably physically chained to a member of the imperial guard every day. The full guard would have consisted of up to 9000 troops; a group of people to whom Paul would never have been invited to preach. Instead, day by day, chained to one soldier and then another, Paul preached and lived the good news of Jesus Christ. He was faithful to his calling and as the soldiers were rotated, they would return to the guard, telling others what they had learned in the presence of Paul. He could say with confidence that the entire imperial guard was now well aware that he was in prison for the sake of Jesus Christ. 

To make the sentence more readable in English, verse 13 says, “for Christ” — but the real preposition here is “in” Christ. Paul wasn’t just in prison because he was doing something “for” Christ but because he was living his life “in” Christ. Again, this is a reminder to the believers in Philippi that they too are to live “in” Christ — participating in the full life of Christ, his joys and his sufferings. 

Next he refers to the “brothers and sisters,” a Greek term, “Adelphoi” — which for much of time has been translated “brothers” — but was a specific term of endearment for all those who had become a part of the family of God. This was the community of believers, those who were now Paul’s brothers and sisters because of Christ — and specifically, those in Rome. The Roman Christians were emboldened by the results of Paul’s imprisonment. Because of the spread of the gospel because of his chains, they were speaking with “boldness and without fear.” 

Application

We are not in chains, but many of us may feel that we are under house arrest. I’m in my eighth week of being at home, barely leaving the neighborhood to go to a grocery store. All of my connections with people outside of my family are now through digital means. It feels like almost everything has changed in this season of COVID19, and maybe especially for those of us who have been working in and through the church. We are people - people! What we do is with people and now, we cannot physically be with people. 

This social distancing can either drive us further apart, or allow us to see new opportunities for the spread of the gospel. Paul never allowed his circumstances to keep him from the mission. As God’s people we are to remain on mission, no matter the circumstances of life. Much like Paul’s situation, our current situation is being used by many to spread the gospel. The church, being forced outside her walls, is being filled with holy creativity as she ministers in new and different ways. Instead of a physical diaspora as occurred because of persecution in the first century, we are being forced into a digital diaspora that is sending the good news to communities down the street and around the world. 

Our attitude in our circumstances will change everything. Participation in the entire life of Christ is transformational from the inside out, producing fruit in all situations — even those which seem to be impossible. 

Prayer

Lord, participation with you is a privilege. Please, use every circumstance for your glory. Amen.