This week, we shall begin the study
of the Book of Philippians in the New Testament.
Philippians
You may want to consult some good
commentaries as to the background of this epistle, but for those who may not
have access to commentaries or a study Bible, it suffices to point out the following:
(1) Paul wrote this letter while in a Roman prison and he most likely died as a martyr a few years after this letter was written.
(2) The church in Philippi was probably established during Paul’s visit in Acts 16:14-34 (characters mentioned there include Lydia, the converted jailor and his household).
(3) This was a rather personal letter in which less was mentioned about heresies and more about his own intense pursuit of Christ.
(1) Although many might consider the greeting one that is standard to Paul’s letters, it does represent the genuine attitude of how Paul sees himself as a “doulos” (i.e. slave) of Christ Jesus and the people of God as “saints”.
a. If you also consider yourself as a “slave” of Christ Jesus, what should be the most important marks of your life? Try to think of at least three.
b. Look at the brothers and sisters around you in the church. Why did Paul call them saints and how should you, then, treat them?
(2) Repeatedly, Paul uses terms like “every time" (v. 3), “always” (v. 4) and “long for all of you” (v. 8) in describing his intercession for the church in Philippi. In fact, it appears that Paul also prays for many other churches (as evidenced by what he wrote in other epistles):
a. Why does Paul feel obliged to intercede for all these churches which he either founded, ministered to or only heard of (like the church in Colosse)?
b. How does he find the time to do so? (Was being in jail a likely reason? Why or why not?)
c. How might you emulate Paul’s example in this respect?
(3) Paul gives one of the reasons for such bonding between him and the church in v. 5, citing that they are partners (koinonia, i.e. sharing life in common) in the gospel. Are you in real “partnership” with brothers and sisters in the gospel? To be in true partnership (i.e. koinonia) in the gospel, what would it look like?
(4) Paul says that he has the church in Philippi in his heart and the reason is because they share in God’s grace with him in gospel ministry (v. 7). What is Paul referring to? (see 4:14-19; 2 Cor. 11:8-9)
(5) Paul shared one of the major emphases of his prayer for the church in vv. 9-11.
a. V. 9 is the content of this prayer: What is it and how special is this prayer?
b. V. 10 the reason of such a prayer: What is it and how important is it?
c. V. 11 seems to be the ultimate goal of this prayer: What is this ultimate goal?
(6) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
“In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.’’ (Phil. 1:4-5)
While the letter to the church in Philippi resembles other epistles of the Apostle Paul with an exhortation about unity and caution against heresies, it is undoubtedly a very personal letter that reflects a deep love and friendship between him and this church which he founded during his imprisonment in Philippi (Acts 16:14-34). But being its founder is not the main reason for his particular love of this church: They had a continual “partnership in the gospel” with him (1:5), and Paul was very open about this continual partnership “from the first day” (1:5).
This is what he told the church in Corinth about the Philippians: “I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so as to serve you. And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed. I have kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so.” (2 Cor. 11:8-9) Macedonia is where the city of Philippi is situated.
Paul also mentions this support of their love in this letter to the church in Philippi as well: “Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need.” (4:14-16)
Indeed, from the first day, they have shared in God’s grace with him, whether he was in chains, or defending and confirming the gospel (1:7).
As a result, I am not surprised that Paul “always” prayed for them. However, when I think of other letters that Paul has written, including the one to the church in Colosse whom he has never met, he still “always” prayed for them (Col. 1:3). This speaks volumes of how he sees prayer as an integral part of the gospel ministry—we pray before we share the gospel; we pray as we share the gospel; and we pray after people have received the gospel. In Paul’s case, he prayed even for those churches with which he has not been able to share the gospel in person. What an example we need to emulate!
Paul is indeed a “man with a big heart”:
(1) Was Paul’s imprisonment his deliberate choice or an involuntary outcome? (See Acts 26:32 in which he could have been freed had he not insisted on appealing to Caesar in Rome.)
(2) How did he look at his imprisonment (v. 12)?
(3) What proof did he give to support it (vv. 13-14)?
(4) How important was it to be able to share the gospel at the center of world-power at the time?
(5) Why were the Roman believers not intimidated by Paul’s imprisonment but were encouraged to proclaim the gospel “courageously and fearlessly”?
(6) What can you learn from Paul’s attitude when it comes to looking at the trials in your own life?
(7) Before Paul’s arrival in Rome, it is likely that they already had a local church:
a. Do you think that these Christian leaders were necessarily preaching the gospel out of the wrong motive before Paul’s arrival?
b. With Paul’s reputation, even in the palace, and the likely respect that he commanded from the local believers, what impact might he have had in the ministry and status of the existing local leaders?
c. What might these leaders do with their preaching that might “stir up trouble” for Paul?
(8) Can you think of any impure motives you might have in trying to evangelize others?
(9) How could Paul rejoice seeing others zealous for the gospel for the wrong reason (and perhaps being praised as well)? How and what can you learn from Paul in this respect?
(10) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
“But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.” (Phil. 1:18)
Given the prevalence of persecution against Christians in the 1st century, whether from the Jews or from the secular authorities, I tend to believe that the local Christian leaders were preaching the gospel out of “goodwill”, i.e. with the right motive of love.
However, it appears that with Paul’s arrival in Rome—with his reputation and Spirit-filled preaching, he must have instantly gained the respect of the local believers. Therefore, during the two full years that he preached and taught from this rented house (where he was under house arrest), I can imagine that he was always preaching to a jam-packed audience.
One would imagine that the local leaders would be elated. Instead, from the words of Paul we understand that it was just the opposite! They responded with preaching the gospel out of jealousy, trying to add to the suffering of Paul, yet Paul didn’t really care; he rejoiced simply because the gospel was still proclaimed.
I would not criticize these leaders so fast!
I once served with a famous preacher who was forced into retirement because of health issues. We were all worried not only for his health, but for the immediate future of the church. As it turned out, for whatever reason, this already successful church continued to grow in number upon his departure. One day, after preaching in our church as a guest speaker, he and I had a wonderful time catching up with each other, and our subject of conversation turned naturally to that big church where we used to serve together. He said with a chuckle, “It is really humbling”, referring to the rapid growth that the church had experienced after his departure.
I can fully identify with his feeling. More than once, I was compared to other preachers and ministers who were far more successful than I was, and I have to be honest, it was not a good feeling. But I have learned from the Apostle Paul that whether it was his ministry or his life, it has never been about him, only Christ and His gospel!
(1) Paul was sensing that his death might be imminent and he was wrestling with this possibility. If you “were” facing imminent death, what might be the things that you would be wrestling with? Would you pray for life, likely healing from your sickness? Why or why not?
(2) Paul was quite sure that the eventual outcome of his situation “will turn out for... (his) deliverance” (1:19) — deliverance could mean being freed from jail or his final salvation:
a. If it is the latter, why would this still give him courage?
b. What is the source of such strength? (v. 19)
(3) Paul looked at life and death and said, “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain” (v. 21). What did he mean by that?
(4) Paul eventually appeared to prefer life to death (v. 24). What was the reason for him to prefer to “remain in the body”? (vv. 24-26)
(5) If you also prefer the same, what might your reason be? How different is your reason from Paul’s?
(6) Paul pointed out that the church did have enemies, and as a church in Philippi (an important military outpost for Rome), the church would be facing persecution from both the secular/political authorities and also from Pharisaic Jews. In the face of persecution, what were the things that Paul urged the church to do (vv. 27-28)?
(7) Why was “oneness” so hard to achieve even though they were facing persecution (see 4:2 also)?
(8) Paul pointed out that God has granted us, “not only to believe on Him”, but also to “suffer” (v. 29). Were you told that suffering came with the territory of following Christ before your conversion? If you were told at the time of your decision to believe in Christ, would you have? Why or why not?
(9) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
“(F)or I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.” (Phil. 1:19)
Paul has found true partners in the gospel in the church in Philippi. This church, born in sufferings (Acts 16), continued to support Paul not only in financial needs (4:14-16; 2 Cor. 11:8-9), but in their prayers for Paul. Both have meant a lot to Paul and in his imprisonment, the latter was especially important to him.
In his letter to the church in Philippi, we can sense that Paul genuinely anticipated his execution by the Roman authorities. However, he has no fear of death. In fact, he said, “For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain” (1:21). If there is one who is fully prepared to face death, it would be the Apostle Paul.
However, as he reflected on his situation, and saw the need of the church (v. 25) and no doubt too, the need of the gospel, he said he was “convinced” that he would be delivered this time (1:19). In so saying, he quoted directly from Job 13:16 in saying that “this to me will result in salvation (or deliverance)” (literal translation of the original).
Job also said the same, except that he was referring to his insistence on his innocence in his sufferings and his determination to present his case before the Lord, and so he said, “And this to me will result in salvation (or deliverance)” (Job 13:15; literal rendering of LXX).
However, there is a big difference between Job’s situation and Paul’s. Job’s only hope was in the Lord, while all his friends had turned against him. His only petition was his appeal to his “Advocate on high” (Job 16:19)
On the other hand, Paul had true and faithful friends in the Philippian believers. Therefore, he could count on their “prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ” (1:19) and had confidence that “this to me will result in deliverance”.
Indeed, blessed are those who, like Paul, have people who are faithful enough to pray for them always.
I wonder who God might have put on your heart to pray for today.
(1) Paul is speaking of authentic Christian fellowship in v. 1: What does it include?
(2) Paul implies that Christian fellowship can be done without being like-minded, without being in the same love and without being one in spirit and purpose. How can it be so? Examine yourself in light of Paul’s reminder here.
(3) Paul, in fact, suggests that the problem lies with wrong motives. What might they be? (v. 3a)
(4) What remedies does Paul suggest? (vv. 3b-4) How can you put his suggestions into action?
(5) Paul recognizes that the ultimate strength to achieve oneness is to adopt Christ’s attitude (the mind, in the original Greek). Read vv. 6-8 several times, reflecting on the following:
a. Jesus in nature and form is God: Can you write down 3 things or aspects of what is meant by being God?
b. Instead of holding fast to it, He emptied it: Of course, Jesus has not emptied His nature as God, but His “equality” with God. Write down 3 things concerning Christ’s equality with God that He “emptied Himself" of by becoming a man.
c. In place of this form, He took the form of a slave: Look at your notes on 1:1 about what it means to be a slave. What are three things that applied to Christ?
d. Being in fact in the likeness of man: What does taking the likeness of man mean to Christ, the Son of God?
e. He humbled himself, further, to be obedient till death: Why was death a further expression of Christ’s humility?
f. His death was not just of any form but death on the cross: For Christ, why did His death on the cross epitomize the ultimate act of obedience and humility? (Deut. 21:23; 1 Pet. 2:24)
(6) When you see Christ one day, what might be the first thing you want to tell Him and why?
(7) Vv. 9-11 is about the power of His name. What is in a name that is so important, and in His case, why does it carry so much power? How then should we treat His name, especially in our prayer to the Father? (Jn. 16:24)
(8) What is the "one thing" (the most important thing) that you should imitate of Jesus and how?
(9) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 2:5)
In urging the Philippian believers to learn from Christ’s humility, Paul expresses five aspects of Christ’s humility in a powerful poem. Allow me to reflect on these five aspects briefly with you:
(1) From God to Man: “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped”.
Since Paul has already pointed out that the “being” of Christ is God, what He has set aside in His incarnation, is not His nature, but His “equality” with God. This would point to the following aspects:
(a) His status is one that formerly caused angels to bow and worship, but now would make Him subject to the temptation of a fallen angel (Matt. 4). If Christ has maintained His equality with God in the heavenly court, Satan would not dare to come and challenge His status as the Son of God.
(b) His authority: He could have commanded angels to do His bidding, but He never did, even at the hour of His arrest (Matt. 26:53), Yes, angels had come to minister to Him, but that was the Father’s prerogative, not His (Lk. 22:43).
(c) His power: By the same token, although He did exercise His miraculous power in healing and in driving out demons, the Bible repeatedly attributes these powers as those of the Spirit of God (Matt. 4:1; Lk. 4:14, 18; Acts 10:38).
While Jesus Christ is always God, He let go of His equality with God for our sake.
(2) Being born as a Man: “being made in human likeness.”
The word for “made” is best translated as “born” (which is the same word); not only would that avoid the misunderstanding that Christ was somehow “created”, but would also point to how He has become a man—through being born from a woman. For God to become a man is a great humility already, but to be confined by time and space, to be a helpless babe who could not have survived without human help—how humiliating. What humility! Many immobile seniors live in tears and bitterness—they should think of Christ’s birth as a babe—a God who has to be dressed, bathed and fed!
(3) Taking on the nature of a Slave: “rather, He made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant.”
I do not need to belabor this point: We all know that a slave, in the olden days, owns nothing, and has no rights of any kind. As inspired by the Holy Spirit, David spoke on behalf of Christ, “But I am a worm and not a man” (Ps. 22:6). That sums up the very essence of what Christ has become for us!
(4) Submission to Death: “And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death".
While “death” itself speaks volumes of Christ’s humility in that a God who cannot die, died, but even death is an instant act, “submission” is a process, often an agonizing process, and that is what Christ was committed to at His birth and reaffirmed at His baptism and submitted to at the Garden of Gethsemane. Listen to the testimony of the author of Hebrews: “During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, He offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverent submission. Son though He was, He learned obedience from what He suffered…” (Heb. 5:7-8)
(5) Death on the cross: "even death on a cross"!
Yes, “even”, not just because it was, according to Cicero, “the most cruel and horrifying death” (Barclay, John, 250), it was the most shameful death, evidence of man’s utter wickedness that deserves the curse of God: “for he that is hanged is accursed of God” (Deut. 21:23). That, perhaps, was one of the hang-ups of the Jews; they simply could not come to believe that a man so accursed by God would be the Son of God. The truth of the matter is, they were right: Jesus Christ was accursed by God, but not for His own sins, but ours!
I wonder what word you can use to describe Christ’s humility other than the one I used for the title of my reflection: “Extreme Humility!”
(1) Paul continued here, after the marvelous hymn of praise of Christ’s obedience and exultation, and commended the church for their past obedience as well (i.e. they indeed have followed Christ), and urged them to continue to “work out” their salvation (v. 12).
a. Why do we have to still work out our salvation? Are we not saved already?
b. What is meant by “working out”?
c. Why should we be in fear and trembling? (see the world we are in v.15) Of what?
(2) The respective roles in working out our salvation (v. 13):
a. What is God’s role?
b. What is our role as far as Paul is concerned, and how should we work “with” God then?
c. What then do you understand by “salvation”? (see Note below)
(3) From v. 14 onward, Paul elaborates on the specifics of “working out” our salvation:
a. What is the ultimate goal in “working out our salvation”? (v. 12a)
b. What is its ultimate effect? (v. 15b)
c. Why then did Paul cite “without complaining or arguing” as “the” admonishment to this effect?
d. How would complaining or arguing taint our blamelessness and purity as children of God?
e. How then would such actions distinguish us from the world and cause us to shine?
(4) A personal appeal (vv. 16-18)
a. How does such a personal appeal speak to the relationship between Paul and the believers in Philippi?
b. How does such a personal appeal speak to the “attitude” or “mind” of the Apostle in being the “slave” of Christ Jesus? (1:1)
(5) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
Note:
“A great deal of ink has been spilt over this passage, as to whether ‘salvation’ has to do with the individual believers or with the corporate life of the community. But this is a false dichotomy. The context makes it clear that this is not a soteriological text per se, dealing with ‘people getting saved’ or ‘saved people persevering’. Rather, it is an ethical text, dealing with ‘how saved people live out their salvation’ in the context of the believing community and the world” (Fee, NICNT, 234-5); hence Fee’s use of the term, to “flesh it out” (Fee, 230).
“…continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling”. (Phil. 2:12)
I have already quoted Gordon Fee’s right-minded commentary in today’s Scriptural Reflection to allay our fear that we might lose our salvation or that we have not been “saved” unto eternal life upon our putting our trust in Jesus Christ alone as our Lord and Savior. As Gordon Fee puts it, the context is an ethical one in which Paul urges the believers to “flesh out their life together in Philippi” (Fee, 230).
However, Paul’s admonition carries a rather stern warning, and that is “work out your salvation with fear and trembling” (2:12). While fear and trembling in most cases refer to having to face the awesome God which some opine that it refers to 2:9-11 when one day, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord. However, that seems to denote a time of jubilant worship, and not a picture for fear and trembling.
Within the context of this admonition to “flesh out” our salvation is clearly the reality of the believers living in a “warped and crooked generation” (2:15). Just like the daughters of Lot who were living in the warped and crooked generation of Sodom and Gomorrah, we know the outcome of their ethical lives. Instead of living out the faith of their father, Lot, they succumbed to the cultural influence of their generation and ended up committing incest with their father (Gen. 19:33ff). Their deeds were not only “warped and crooked”; the result was tragic in that the girls gave birth to the ancestors of the Moabites and the Ammonites who had not only become traditional enemies of the Israelites, but also their enticers to sin against the Lord. This is sufficient cause for “fear and trembling”.
2:19-24—Timothy
(1) Why does Paul see that it is necessary to give an explanation for not sending Timothy to deliver this letter to the Philippians?
(2) When it comes to their relationship with the Philippians, in what way does Paul say that he had no one else like him among Paul’s co-workers? (v. 20)
(3) In serving with Paul, how does Timothy distinguish himself? (vv. 21-22)
(4) What appears to be the reason that Paul could not have sent Timothy away to the Philippians at that point? (vv. 23-24)
(5) What was the most admirable quality of Timothy as far as you are concerned? Why?
(6) How might you be a “Timothy”?
2:25-30—Epaphroditus
(7) Why did the church in Philippi send him to Paul in the first place?
(8) What does this say about the church in Philippi?
(9) What happened to Epaphroditus as he went to minister to Paul on behalf of the church? (vv. 27, 30)
(10) Why does Paul choose to send him instead of Timothy to be the bearer of this letter? (vv. 26 -28)
(11) What do you think happened that has caused Paul to call him his “brother, co-worker and fellow solider”? (v. 25)
(12) Based on the way the church in Philippi related to Paul and Epaphroditus, what kind of a church is the church in Philippi?
(13) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
“(B)ecause he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me.” (Phil. 2:30)
“..In this testimonial every word is carefully chosen. Epaphroditus was his brother, his fellow-worker, and his fellow-soldier. As Lightfoot puts it, Epaphroditus was one with Paul in sympathy, one with him in work, one with him in danger. He in truth had stood in the firing-line. Then Paul goes on to call him your messenger and the servant of my need. It is impossible to supply the flavour of these words in translation.
“The word Paul uses for messenger is apostolos. Apostolos literally means anyone who is sent out on an errand, but Christian usage had ennobled it and by using it Paul by implication ranks Epaphroditus with himself and all the apostles of Christ.
“The word he uses for servant is leitourgos. In secular Greek this was a magnificent word. In the ancient days in the Greek cities there were men who, because they loved their city so much, at their own expense undertook certain great civic duties…These men were the supreme benefactors of the state and they were known as leitourgoi.
“Paul takes the great Christian word apostolos and the great Greek word leitourgos, and applies them to Epaphroditus. ‘Give a man like that a welcome home,’ he says. ‘Hold him in honour for he hazarded his life for Christ.’
“…There is a word in this passage which later had a famous usage. The Authorized Version speaks of Epaphroditus not regarding his life; the Revised Standard Version uses risking his life; we have translated it hazarding his life. The word is the verb paraboleuesthai; it is a gambler’s word and means to stake everything on a turn of the dice. Paul is saying that for the sake of Jesus Christ Epaphroditus gambled his life. In the days of the Early Church there was an association of men and women called the parabolani, the gamblers. It was their aim to visit the prisoners and the sick, especially those who were ill with dangerous and infectious diseases. In A.D. 252 plague broke out in Carthage; the heathen threw out the bodies of their dead and fled in terror. Cyprian, the Christian bishop, gathered his congregation together and set them to burying the dead and nursing the sick in that plague-stricken city; and by so doing they saved the city, at the risk of their lives, from destruction and desolation.
"But there should
be in the Christian an almost reckless courage which makes him ready to gamble
with his life to serve Christ and men.”
(Barclay, DDBS, Philippians, 49-50)
(1) “Joy” appears to be one of the emphases of this letter (see 4:4). Was there a reason for the church in Philippi not to rejoice? Is there a reason for you not to rejoice in the church? Yet, Paul admonished us to rejoice. He did not appear to give us any reason, except to urge us to rejoice “in the Lord”. Is it good enough for you to rejoice? Why or why not?
(2) Paul does not even hold any grudges against those who preach the gospel out of wrong motives (1:15ff) , but he calls these people “dogs” as they apparently insisted on circumcision as part of salvation. Read Galatians 5:2-6. Can you summarize in one sentence why was Paul so bitterly against those who insisted on observing circumcision?
(3) What is meant by “confidence in the flesh”? Apart from observing circumcision, is there anything you can think of that might also amount to “confidence in the flesh”?
(4) The “credentials” of Saul — reflect also on things that we might still boast about, trust in or love as Christians other than in Christ:
a. Circumcised exactly on the 8th day. What is so special about it? (see Gen. 17:3-14) What might be our equivalent today?
b. Born as a Jew, from the tribe of Benjamin: Which king of Israel came from this tribe? (1 Sam. 10:21ff) What might be our equivalent boast today?
c. A Hebrew of Hebrews: The pride of being “pure breed”. What might be the equivalent pride you have today?
d. A Pharisee: What were the Pharisees known for? What kind of pride is this? (Jn. 3:1, 10)
e. Persecutor of the Christian church: He had a misplaced zeal for God (Acts 8:3). What might be the equivalent today?
f. Faultless adherent to the Law: Saul was proud to be a moral person. How might we exhibit the same pride today?
Why did Saul so eagerly pursue these “credentials” before he met Christ? Why did he consider these to be his “profit”? What profit was there?
(5) Honestly examine your life: What are the things that you are pursuing that you consider, consciously or subconsciously, as being profitable to you? In your soul-searching, use the following questions to gauge if you are pursuing them:
a. Do any of those credentials mentioned above happen to be a reason for pride for you as well?
b. Is there anything below that describes how you are preoccupied in your life?
- A matter that causes you to worry quite a bit
- A heavy weight on you
- Something that takes up the bulk of your time regularly
- Something that you are most afraid to lose
- Something that you do not have and yet you covet
(6) Given all this prideful past, why would God choose such an arrogant person to be His “Apostle to the Gentiles”? What does it prove?
(7) Why did Paul consider these former credentials a “loss” and even “rubbish”, now that he has “the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus”?
(8) Can you echo Paul in saying that it is a “surpassing greatness” in knowing Christ? And what should you now look at as a “loss” or even “rubbish”?
(9) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
“What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord...” (Phil. 3:8)
As I reflect on this familiar passage in Philippians 3, I cannot help but see in me still many things that I take pride in, trust in, and love even though I have come to know the Lord Jesus — my love for comfort and ease, my trust in my gifts and talents, and my pride in knowledge, both biblical and secular. The words of Dr. Houston, my former teacher, rang in my ear again, “How can we make a career out of our crucified Lord?”
In this case, it is not so much making a career out of our Lord, but not counting all things a loss and considering all my pride and boasting rubbish as I should, compared to “the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (3:8)
Ringing in my ear is also the lyric of a
hymn that accompanied many of the mornings when I walked to school in my
college years:
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.