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Lesson 18: "Stand Fast", Phil. 4: 1-3
May 19, 2020
Lesson 18: Stand Fast, Phil. 4: 1-3
READ TEXT, Phil. 4: 1-3. As Paul begins his final instructions to the church at Philippi, he begins with a loving appeal for doctrinal unity and an appeal to two sisters in Christ to "be of one mind."
In v. 1 Paul refers to the Philippians with four expressions of endearment. He refers to them as "my beloved". Paul loved the church at Philippi, just as all ministers should love their churches. All believers are called upon by Jesus to love each other. In Jn. 13:34, Jesus tells us, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you love one another." Love for the brethren is not optional, but mandatory.
He refers to them as "my longed for brethren." All who are in Christ are members of God's family. We have been adopted and are now "sons of God." (Eph. 3:20), (Gal. 4:5), (1 Jn. 3:1,2) Not only did Paul view them as family, but he has previously told them, "how greatly I long for you with the affection of Jesus Christ." (Phil. 1:8)
He says to them, "you are my joy." Paul delights in them. Some of them were truly his spiritual children that he had brought to faith. Some of them such as Lydia and the Philippian jailer were among those who showed their love for Christ and Paul in his short stay in Philippi.
He also refers to them as "my crown". There were two different words that meant "crown" in the common Greek language. One referred to the crown which a king or ruler wore. But the word Paul uses here refers to the green garland wreath, the "victor's crown" which was given to the winners of the Greek Olympic games. The significance of this crown is that at the end of the Games there was a feast that only the winners could attend. In order to be admitted you must be wearing the "victor's crown." The Philippians were Paul's crown, that which proved he had triumphed in his labors for Christ.
In addition to these wonderful and endearing terms that Paul uses to describe his relationship with the Philippians, there is also a call to doctrinal unity here in v.1. Here Paul tells them to "stand fast in the Lord." So what is meant by this appeal?
Verse one begins with the word "therefore" which clearly connects that appeal to what Paul has previously discussed at the end of chapter three. In Phil. 3:20, 21 he has reminded them that their "citizenship is in heaven." This proclamation is in stark contrast to the "enemies of the cross of Christ" that Paul has just warned them of in Phil. 3:18, 19. These enemies opposed the concept that a believer could be justified before God apart from keeping the Law of Moses. They rejected the idea that one was saved by grace through faith in the atoning work of Jesus Christ. They were the same group that Paul had warned them about in Phil. 3:2, 3. They taught that a Greek must become a Jew and keep the Law of Moses.
With this in mind the reason why Paul is telling them to "stand fast in the Lord" is because they unlike the enemies of the cross of Christ are "citizens of heaven". What they have believed and obeyed and are continuing in, they must remain faithful to. The Greek word rendered "stand fast" literally means "to remain stationary". It implies an uncompromising position regarding the faith which is saving them eternally.
This was the exhortation that Paul gave the church in Corinth in 1 Cor. 15:58, "Therefore my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."
This is a call to remain faithful to that body of teaching that they had previously received. This body of teaching is commonly referred to as "the faith." The word faith can be used in two ways. It can be used objectively, as in my faith, that which I believe personally. It is also used subjectively as in the actual body of teachings and practices given by Christ to His Church. This is what Paul had in mind when he tells us in Eph. 4:5, "One Lord, one faith, one baptism." It is NOT "my faith" or "your faith", but the faith; that which I must believe and "stand fast" in.
In standing fast for this faith, they must also be prepared to "contend for the faith, which was once for all delivered to saints." (Jude 3) This faith also can rightly be said to be that "which was spoken to us" by Jesus, God's Son "in these last days." (Heb. 1:1, 2) These two Scriptures affirm to us that this faith is literally God's final communication and direction for us in this life. They also affirm that this "faith" MUST be obeyed by all people!
This faith is so important that Paul instructed the church at Corinth to "examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith." (2 Cor. 13:5) So it is undoubtedly what we will be measured by one day. So we all must "stand fast in the Lord."
In vv. 2, 3, Paul addresses a contention between two women in the church at Philippi. They are Euodia and Syntyche. Apparently they are not of one mind on some matter.
I think it obvious that this is not an issue where one had sinned against the other. First, the fact that Paul refuses to pass judgment on either of them, but rather lovingly implores both of them equally, "to be of the same mind in the Lord." Paul always passed righteous judgment on those who had sinned. That was the case with the sexually immoral brother in Corinth. (1 Cor. 5: 4, 5) It was true when Peter showed partiality between Jewish and Greek brothers in Antioch. (Gal. 2:11) It was true when he called out two false teachers whose doctrine was like "cancer". (2 Tim. 2:17)
What is needed here is for both of them to have the "mind of Christ." This is the mind-set that Paul had previously urged the entire church to have in Phil. 2: 5-8. It is a mind-set that is humble to the point of emptying one's self. It is a mind-set that is obedient to God's will. It is a mind-set that is willing to sacrifice for the benefit of others.
Paul finishes by asking a "true companion" to "help these women." Who is this "true companion?" Several commentators suggest Luke, Timothy, Silas and even Lydia. I believe logic dictates that it is Epaphroditus. Their minister, the one who is carrying this letter back to the Church. After all, he is loved dearly by the brethren. (Phil. 2:25,26) If anyone can bring these two women to adopt the mind of Christ it is he; one that both love and will hear.
Study Questions:
1. When Paul tells the Philippians they are his crown, what type of crown were they?
2. In the context of what we learned in chapter three, why did the Philippians need to "stand fast?"
3. What does the Greek word for "stand fast" actually mean?
4. True or False, in the case of the Philippians, Paul was asking them to stand fast concerning their salvation by grace as opposed to works of the Law.
5. True or False, the word faith can only be used in one sense and that is objective.
6. "Therefore my beloved _____________, be steadfast, _____________, always abounding in
the work of the __________, knowing that your _________ is not in vain in the ________.
7. Whose mind-set did Paul "implore" both Euodia and Syntyche to have?