12 Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened
to me has really served to advance the gospel.
13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole
palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.
14 Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have
been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.
29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ
not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him,
30 since you are going through the same struggle you saw I
had, and now hear that I still have.
Paul began this letter with
thanks and joy for Philippian Christians. Even from prison, he encouraged and
praised them. Paul recognized that he could die and that would be all right
with him, but to live was better for these people and others so they could hear
the Gospel of Christ and mature in it, bearing the fruits of the Spirit.
Paul explained that his
imprisonment turned out for the good. Many of the Roman guards then had the
opportunity to hear the Gospel, which might not have occurred if he was not imprisoned.
So when he said he was in chains for Christ, it was not a lament, but a joy and
praise that God used him there even if he had to endure the hardships of
prison.
Paul continued this passage
by adding another benefit to his being in prison. He said that his imprisonment
in chains encouraged others of his brothers and sisters in Christ to tell the
Gospel without fear and with boldness. Because in Paul’s imprisonment Christians
saw the grace God gave him and the boldness of his proclamation that led many
to become followers of Christ, this gave courage to others to increase their proclamation
of the Gospel without fear.
At the end of this chapter,
Paul told them because of their great faith, people came to see them as strong
Christians worthy of receiving persecution. His brothers and sisters in Christ
should be proud they were counted as one of Jesus’ followers. They stood strong
and bold for Christ and were seen as His followers. Not only did this mean they
endured suffering because of their faith, but they could know for sure the hope
of Christ Jesus – His promise of strength now and eternal life for the future. In
addition to this, they could have the hope of making it through the earthly
suffering because Paul expressed his joy and assurance that God was not
finished with him yet. If Paul could do it, they thought, they could go through
persecution and suffering, too.
Paul’s endurance in prison
by God’s grace and his continued proclamation because of his hope and faith
encouraged other Christians not to let the threat of imprisonment stop them
from proclaiming the Gospel. It increased their desire to tell the Good News boldly
and fearlessly. Do we feel this when we hear of fellow brothers and sisters in
Christ being persecuted by intimidation, imprisonment, and death? Do we react
to their persecution to be more determined to share the Gospel?
Another thing we need to
ask ourselves is, if we were imprisoned, would our testimony in prison cause
our guards to become Christians? Would it cause those who hear about us to be
encouraged and emboldened to share the Gospel more, in the face of fear and
possible persecution?
Paul was an evangelist,
apostle, teacher, encourager, and model to the people of his time. He continues
to be these now. We can be encouraged to be bold in the face of persecution. We
can continue to stand strong and proclaim our faith knowing that when we
proclaim the Gospel of it will be heard and more people will know about Him.
Our standing strong and continuing to proclaim can encourage others to be and
do the same. We can become "Pauls" for someone else so that more
people hear the Gospel.
Are you bold and fearless
in proclaiming the Gospel? Do you speak no matter what? Do you hold on to the
joy and hope of your salvation no matter your circumstances? Can people look up
to your life and model themselves after you because of your boldness and
fearlessness in telling the Good News? If you are a Christian, then you have
the hope only Christ can give – life and strength while on the earth and
eternal life with God the Father and the Son. Nothing can separate us from the
love of God. What will it take for you to have this boldness and fearlessness
so others will hear the Good News and so other Christians are encouraged and
emboldened?
