All Episodes
Displaying 21 - 40 of 64 in total
Episode 21: If
Chapter 2 begins with a long, complicated sentence that uses the word “if” four times. In English, the word often expresses uncertainty. Read that way, it can sound li...
Episode 22: Which way does your compass point?
By using the word “if” or “since” four times, Paul reminds the Philippians of who they already are. And on that basis, he pleads with them to be of the same “mind.” Th...
Episode 23: Ambition and glory
Paul is concerned about the internal unity of the Philippian church, and wants that unity to be embodied in their having a shared moral compass. But what does that loo...
Episode 24: The Lake Wobegon effect
In pointing the Philippians toward humility, Paul tells them to “Think of others as better than yourselves” (2:3). For people who already struggle with low self-esteem...
Episode 25: How would Jesus think?
In counseling the Philippians toward humility, Paul wasn’t telling them to deny their own needs. But they needed to be reminded (especially in situations of conflict!)...
Episode 26: Tragedy, comedy, fairy tale
We love stories. We live stories. And for the Philippians, Paul holds up the story of Jesus so they can point their moral compasses toward his humility. As novelist Fr...
Episode 27: Heavenly humility
Paul wants the Philippians to adopt a humble mindset toward one another, so uses the story of Jesus as an example of sacrificial service—the kind of service that requi...
Episode 28: What’s in a name?
If the story of Jesus had ended with the crucifixion, it would have been a tragic tale. But in the resurrection, the downward movement of humility is reversed; Jesus i...
Episode 29: Working out
Paul is the apostle of grace; he teaches that salvation is a freely given, unearned gift of God. But then he tells the Philippians that they should “work out [their] s...
Episode 30: With fear and trembling
The gospel emphasizes the love of God in Christ; we don’t typically think of our relationship to God in terms of fear. But the “fear of God” is an important theme in t...
Episode 31: Don’t grumble
When angry, some people will explode and argue, while others may simmer and seethe with resentment. We don’t know if these were actually happening in the church in Phi...
Episode 32: Past, present, and future
Paul, who trained as a Pharisee, knows his Scripture, and it shows in the words and images he uses with the Philippians. In his letter, we can hear references to the s...
Episode 33: Rejoicing together
The Philippians have been concerned about Paul, and part of the purpose of the letter is to reassure them that he is well. Indeed, he expects to be released from capti...
Episode 34: Guess who’s coming to dinner?
Timothy was one of Paul’s companions on the missionary trip that first brought him to Macedonia. The Philippians, presumably, already know him well, and Paul tells the...
Episode 35: Like father, like son
Paul is sending his letter to the Philippians with Epaphroditus. Soon after, Timothy will visit them too, bringing the latest news from the apostle. Paul loves Timothy...
Episode 36: Ordinary apostles
Before Timothy arrives in Philippi, Epaphroditus will have already returned with Paul’s letter. Paul seems to love Epaphroditus as much as he loves Timothy, and for si...
Episode 37: Beware of the dogs
To the Jews of Paul’s day, Gentiles were “dogs”—a horrible insult. But when Paul, at the beginning of chapter 3, tells the Philippians to “Beware of those dogs” (3:2),...
Episode 38: The thin end of the wedge
Christians share some central beliefs, but do not all believe exactly the same thing, not even with the same church. Some of these differences are on the level of “agr...
Episode 39: Bragging rights…or not?
As suggested in an earlier episode, we can’t seem to help comparing ourselves to others. Often, we see ourselves as better and look for subtle or not-so-subtle ways to...
Episode 40: Flip the script
Paul has to counter the argument of the Judaizers, and does so in two moves. First, he plays the bragging game, and shows that he has more religious cred than they do....