A SLAVE FOR CHRIST

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

This letter is from Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus.

I am writing to all of God’s holy people in Philippi who belong to Christ Jesus, including the church leaders and deacons.

Philippians 1:1 NLT

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Today, we begin a verse-by-verse study of Paul’s letter to the Christians in Philippi, a city Paul visited during his second missionary journey. We read about Paul’s visit there in the 16^th chapter of the Book of Acts and learn that it was Roman colony and the leading city of the district of Macedonia (v. 12). A major center for trade, the city was positioned on an important Roman road called the Via Egnatia which connected Rome and Constantinople which is modern day Istanbul in Turkey. The Apostle Paul would have traveled the road to Philippi after landing at the seaport of Neapolis and the scriptures tell us he spent several days there before moving onto Thessalonica.

Of interest, it’s believed Paul visited Philippi multiple times after he first brought the Gospel there. The Book of Acts mentions other visits to Macedonia during subsequent missionary journeys and given Paul’s love for the Philippians, it’s believed he would have not visited Macedonia without going to the district’s main city.

Indeed, as we will see in this letter, Paul had an affinity for the Philippian Christians and the common theme we will see is one of gratitude as the Apostle writes to express his thanks and appreciation. Unfortunately, Paul writes these words of praise from prison as he does several other letters found in the New Testament, namely Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon. It’s believed the letter was penned between 60 and 62 A.D.

Before we get into the opening greeting from Paul, I didn’t want to pass over the initial words he writes, identifying himself and Timothy as the ones who are giving thanks. We see that the audience are the Christians of Philippi, the ones who “belong to Christ Jesus” to include “the church leaders and deacons” but note how Paul labels himself and Timothy.

He refers to them as “slaves of Christ”.

In prior writings, I have highlighted how many bible translations substitute the word “slave” in the scriptures and substitute the word “servant” when interpreting the Greek word “doulos”. This substitution waters down the inherent meaning intended as there is a big difference between being enslaved and serving.

A servant has a choice. They have the liberty to serve when they please and who they please. They even have the option to choose not to serve if they so feel like it.

A slave has no such freedom. They are owned by their master and are obligated to carry out the will of their master, whatever that will might be.

Going back to verse 1, Paul wants the Philippian believers to know that he and Timothy were enslaved to Jesus. Jesus was their Master and they were totally committed to Him. Christ dictated the way they lived, driving everything they did, said, or thought. They possessed no liberty except the freedom from death and the grave, pardoned by the shed blood of their Savior.

As we identify ourselves to others today, should we proclaim ourselves as servants of Jesus or His slaves?

I don’t know about you but I aspire to adopt the attitude of Paul and Timothy in my own life, to be a slave for Christ. I pray that every ounce of my being would be devoted to being obedient to the call of my Master Savior, the Master Savior who was perfectly dedicated to being about His Father’s business.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to Gods4all@aol.com