DAILY DEVOTIONAL, TUESDAY, MARCH 01, 2022

CPH LOGO Founded 2005 - 03

Please Help Us Keep These Thousands of Blog Posts Growing and Free for All

$5.00

Satan BLESSED IN SATAN'S WORLD_02 HEROES OF FAITH - ABEL

Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To be writing the same things to you is no troublesome (thing) to me, and for you, it is a safeguard. (Philippians 3:1)

As we enter chapter 3, we find Paul saying, “finally.” The Greek word (λοιπός loipos) carries the meaning of “for the rest, or the remaining.” Paul may have meant only to write a short thank-you note to the Philippian believers for their gift and for Epaphroditus’ coming to serve him. But in the process, he saw the need to continue with what he had started.

The apostle Paul used this term frequently to conclude his letters by introducing practical advice, thus making a transition. He is continuing to encourage the Philippian believers to be joyful Christians, and he maintains that this is by focusing on the Lord – focusing on Jesus.

Paul would encourage us today the same way.  We are to rejoice, or find joy, in adverse circumstances. He had just given us examples of three men, Timothy, Epaphroditus, and himself. They had the mind of Christ and were able to rejoice even in sickness and imprisonment. Therefore, the church at Philippi could rejoice even in the midst of the trials they were going through.

To keep on writing about the same things to them was not a bother (Greek okneros, which means to be timid or delay), we could say it as “I do not hesitate.” Paul was not timid in his words and did not feel any hesitation in what he was about to share with them because it was essential to their safety and assurance in the church.

AN ENCOURAGING THOUGHT_01

More in-depth Insights

Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. Paul is sharing the idea that it is a pleasure of Christians to rejoice in the Lord Jesus Christ. What reasons could there be for this rejoicing? They have a Savior in Jesus. We can rejoice in that kind of Savior that we have. He is the same as the father, merciful, patient, and kind. He is the second Adam who does more than cover our sins; he removes them. He has pardoned us from Adamic sin. He has made us one again with the Father. We need not be excessively anxious over our sinful nature; we can live in  peace. He is there to support us when many humans abandon us. He is our guide in this fark world of which Satan is the ruler, filled with imperfect humans mentally bent toward evil, with treacherous hearts. Therefore, it is the honor of a Christian to rejoice in the Lord.

To be writing the same things to you. Here Paul is having to repeat the same truths and warnings and corrective counsel that he had given them when he was with them, covering the same issues that he is now addressing in this letter to them. A written record of these things is a permanent reminder that will be available to them after Paul is no longer with them and can be shared with other congregations.

Is no troublesome (thing) to me. It is not difficult or depressing for Paul to be repeating these corrective counsels in this format. Writing letters was no easy task, but Paul had professional secretaries at his disposal. It might be that the congregations in Philippi would have thought they were simply adding onto Paul’s burdens. And he was dispelling them of this notion.

And for you, it is a safeguard. This letter will serve as a safeguard for the Christians in Philippi, and as a whole, ready thoughts from the Holy Spirit by way of Paul and cautious counsel as a permanent record. The Christians do not know it now, but dangers were on the horizon. The apostles right now are serving as a restraint against the great apostasy that was coming, but once that restraint was moved, they would still have their guidance. Historian Will Durant states: “Celsus [a second-century enemy of Christians] himself had sarcastically observed that Christians were ‘split up into ever so many factions, each individual desiring to have his own party.’ About 187 A.D. Irenaeus listed twenty varieties of Christianity; about 384 A.D. Epiphanius counted eighty.”—The Story of Civilization: Part III—Caesar and Christ.

SCROLL THROUGH DIFFERENT CATEGORIES BELOW

BIBLE TRANSLATION AND TEXTUAL CRITICISM

The Complete Guide to Bible Translation-2
The Reading Culture of Early Christianity From Spoken Words to Sacred Texts 400,000 Textual Variants 02
The P52 PROJECT THE NEW TESTAMENT DOCUMENTS 4th ed. MISREPRESENTING JESUS
APOSTOLIC FATHERS Lightfoot APOSTOLIC FATHERS
English Bible Versions King James Bible KING JAMES BIBLE II
9781949586121 BIBLE DIFFICULTIES THE NEW TESTAMENT DOCUMENTS
APOSTOLIC FATHERS Lightfoot

BIBLICAL STUDIES / INTERPRETATION

CALVINISM VS. ARMINIANISM
How to Interpret the Bible-1 INTERPRETING THE BIBLE how-to-study-your-bible1
israel against all odds ISRAEL AGAINST ALL ODDS - Vol. II

EARLY CHRISTIANITY

THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST by Stalker-1 The TRIAL and Death of Jesus_02 THE LIFE OF Paul by Stalker-1
THE LIFE OF Paul by Stalker-1 Paul PAUL AND LUKE ON TRIAL
APOSTOLIC FATHERS Lightfoot APOSTOLIC FATHERS I AM John 8.58

CHRISTIAN APOLOGETIC EVANGELISM

The Epistle to the Hebrews PAUL AND LUKE ON TRIAL
Developing Healthy Churches
REASONING FROM THE SCRIPTURES APOLOGETICS CONVERSATION EVANGELISM
AN ENCOURAGING THOUGHT_01
Young Christians
INVESTIGATING JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES REVIEWING 2013 New World Translation
Jesus Paul THE EVANGELISM HANDBOOK
REASONING FROM THE SCRIPTURES REASONING WITH OTHER RELIGIONS APOLOGETICS
REASONABLE FAITH FEARLESS-1
Satan BLESSED IN SATAN'S WORLD_02 HEROES OF FAITH - ABEL
is-the-quran-the-word-of-god UNDERSTANDING ISLAM AND TERRORISM THE GUIDE TO ANSWERING ISLAM.png
DEFENDING OLD TESTAMENT AUTHORSHIP Agabus Cover BIBLICAL CRITICISM
Mosaic Authorship HOW RELIABLE ARE THE GOSPELS
THE CREATION DAYS OF GENESIS gift of prophecy

TECHNOLOGY

9798623463753 Machinehead KILLER COMPUTERS
INTO THE VOID

CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY

Why Me_ Explaining the Doctrine of the Last Things Understaning Creation Account
Homosexuality and the Christian second coming Cover Where Are the Dead
CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY Vol. CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY Vol. II CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY Vol. III
CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY Vol. IV CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY Vol. V MIRACLES
Human Imperfection HUMILITY

CHILDREN’S BOOKS

READ ALONG WITH ME READ ALONG WITH ME READ ALONG WITH ME

PRAYER

Powerful Weapon of Prayer Power Through Prayer How to Pray_Torrey_Half Cover-1

TEENS-YOUTH-ADOLESCENCE-JUVENILE

THERE IS A REBEL IN THE HOUSE thirteen-reasons-to-keep-living_021 Waging War - Heather Freeman
 
Young Christians DEVOTIONAL FOR YOUTHS 40 day devotional (1)
Homosexuality and the Christian THE OUTSIDER RENEW YOUR MIND

CHRISTIAN LIVING

GODLY WISDOM SPEAKS Wives_02 HUSBANDS - Love Your Wives
 
WALK HUMBLY WITH YOUR GOD THE BATTLE FOR THE CHRISTIAN MIND (1)-1 WAITING ON GOD
ADULTERY 9781949586053 PROMISES OF GODS GUIDANCE
APPLYING GODS WORD-1 For As I Think In My Heart_2nd Edition Put Off the Old Person
Abortion Booklet Dying to Kill The Pilgrim’s Progress
WHY DON'T YOU BELIEVE WAITING ON GOD WORKING FOR GOD
 
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE Let God Use You to Solve Your PROBLEMS THE POWER OF GOD
HOW TO OVERCOME YOUR BAD HABITS-1 GOD WILL GET YOU THROUGH THIS A Dangerous Journey
ARTS, MEDIA, AND CULTURE Christians and Government Christians and Economics

CHRISTIAN COMMENTARIES

CHRISTIAN DEVOTIONALS
40 day devotional (1) Daily Devotional_NT_TM Daily_OT
DEVOTIONAL FOR CAREGIVERS DEVOTIONAL FOR YOUTHS DEVOTIONAL FOR TRAGEDY
DEVOTIONAL FOR YOUTHS 40 day devotional (1)

CHURCH HEALTH, GROWTH, AND HISTORY

LEARN TO DISCERN Deception In the Church FLEECING THE FLOCK_03
The Church Community_02 THE CHURCH CURE Developing Healthy Churches
FIRST TIMOTHY 2.12 EARLY CHRISTIANITY-1

Apocalyptic-Eschatology [End Times]

Explaining the Doctrine of the Last Things Identifying the AntiChrist second coming Cover
ANGELS AMERICA IN BIBLE PROPHECY_ ezekiel, daniel, & revelation

CHRISTIAN FICTION

Oren Natas_JPEG Sentient-Front Seekers and Deceivers
Judas Diary 02 Journey PNG The Rapture

Leave a Reply

Powered by WordPress.com.

Up ↑

%d