Commentary on Philippians 2:12-18

Today’s reading follows immediately on yesterday’s hymn about the “mind of Christ”, depicted in his ‘self-emptying’ as his way to glory. Paul now exhorts the Philippians to follow the teaching he has given them, which is none other than the teaching of Jesus and the gospel. They did follow his teaching when he was with them (during visits on his second and third missionary journeys) and he hopes that they will continue to do so now that they are separated from each other.

He tells them to:

…work on your own salvation with fear and trembling…

Working on their salvation means leaving themselves continually open to the loving influence of God in their lives. Salvation is not something that one achieves by one’s own efforts; it comes from accepting the love of God into one’s life and behaving accordingly. As Paul says today:

…it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Every good thing we say and do, we say and do in him and through him—and for him.

The phrase “with fear and trembling” is a biblical cliche‚ used several times by Paul and is not intended in a frightening sense. Rather, it calls for that sense of awe and reverence which comes when we begin to grasp the transcendence and unknowability of our God.

Paul now indicates some of the areas where we ensure that we experience the saving power of God and have the mind of Christ. All that has to be done should be carried out without complaining or arguing. One senses that, in fact, there was a certain amount of complaining and arguing going on among the Philippians. Such complaining could indicate discontent with their lot, resulting in grumbling against God. The arguing could be over issues in the church, which resulted in division and disunity.

Paul wants the Philippians to be:

…blameless and innocent, children of God in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation.

He wants them to give a convincing witness of the gospel vision in the unbelieving and immoral world which surrounds them.

In the surrounding darkness of sin and immorality, they will then shine out like stars. This reflects the teaching of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount when he told his disciples to be:

…the light of the world. A city built on a hill…[letting] your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works… (Matt 5:13-16)

An invisible Christian is a contradiction in terms; and an immoral Christian is a wound on the gospel.

But if the Philippians are able to act as Paul urges, it will give him great pride on the day of judgment, for it would mean that all his efforts among them had not been in vain:

…so that I can boast on the day of Christ that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.

And he goes so far as to say that even if his present imprisonment ends in shedding his blood through a martyr’s death, it would still be an occasion for great joy and thanksgiving both for him and for them:

But even if I am being poured out as a libation over the sacrifice and the service of your faith, I rejoice, and I rejoice together with all of you…

This is another example of the mood of joy which pervades the Letter.

Libations, or the pouring out of blood, were common in both Greek and Jewish sacrifices. Paul uses this image to express his share in the overall offering that the Philippians have made and are making through the living out of their Christian faith. He may be referring to his whole ministry as one large thanksgiving sacrifice, or it is more likely he is speaking of his present imprisonment, which might well bring him a martyr’s death. His life would then be poured out as a drink offering accompanying the sacrificial service of the Philippians.

Again we see Paul’s total and unconditional giving of himself to Jesus and the work of proclaiming the gospel. In this, his own life is secondary. The only thing that matters in life or death is being close to Jesus, his beloved Lord. And if Paul loses his life, it will not only be a source of joy for Paul himself, but something over which the Philippians too should rejoice, because it is another victory of the gospel over sin and evil.

Let us reflect today on the quality of our witness to the gospel, both individually and collectively. What image do we have individually and collectively in our society? It is not a question of being loved and admired. When we are being most Christian may be a time when we will be most violently attacked. But never let it be said that we are clearly unfaithful to the vision of the gospel we claim to follow.