Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1-2 Thessalonians, Philemon by Philip Comfort & Peter Davids & Harold W. Hoehner

Author:Philip Comfort & Peter Davids & Harold W. Hoehner [Comfort, Philip]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: RELIGION / Biblical Commentary / New Testament
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
Published: 2008-03-30T16:00:00+00:00

Though these moral qualities have been presented as a list, their presentation by Paul is poetic in design, leading some to think he borrowed this section from some philosophical writing. But since no one has found such an excerpt, it stands to reason that Paul simply took over “terms that were current coin in popular moral philosophy, especially Stoicism. He wants his Philippian friends to develop those qualities which are good in themselves and beneficial to others, and so he has pressed these terms into service” (O’Brien 1991:502-503).

Paul was encouraging the Philippians to let their minds continually dwell on the positive virtues he mentioned. In so doing, they could take an active role in renewing their minds. Paul knew that right thinking precedes right action. As a man thinks, so he is. This is an important goal laid out in this epistle—namely, that the Philippians would develop a thought life like Christ’s (see 1:11; 2:2-3; 3:15).

Paul also knew that the believers needed living examples of those who were pursuing this inward transformation. In this light, Paul pointed to himself as an example to be followed. If they followed his example, they would be receiving the correct traditions of the Christian life (see note on 4:9). Before the Christian traditions were committed to writing, later forming the corpus of New Testament Scriptures, the apostles exhibited them to be learned, heard, seen, and received by the people (Martin 1987:175). Paul was a man whose mind had been renewed by Christ and whose life exhibited the virtues of one who was Christlike. As such, he was bold in telling others to follow his example and thereby live in the peace of God.

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