FARE YE WELL - Paul begins the letter’s final descent with a call to rejoice among a series of general exhortations. "Rejoice," appearing as it does at the end of the epistle, is open to interpretation: it can mean either as a literal injunction, "to rejoice," or it can simply be viewed as a formulaic closing-"farewell."

FRED CRADDOCK - Because the day of Christ is near and because the peace of God stands guard, the church can rejoice . . . they are to stand firm, yes, but they can be forbearing not overbearing . . . Because God’s peace is on duty, they do not have to be anxiously scanning the horizon for new threats. Alert, yes; anxious, no. [1]

JOHN CHRYSOSTOM - Here is a medicine to relieve grief and every bad circumstance and e very pain. What is it? To pray and to give thanks in everything . . . Grief comes out of the circumstances with their demands. Thanksgiving comes from a soul that has true insight and a strong affection for God. [2]

 

SPIRITUAL INTEGRATION EXERCISE - What images and impressions does the word "peace" create for you? The word peace has rich biblical connotations of reconciliation, wholeness, health and unity. The apostle Paul often greets fellow Christians with the words grace and peace. Read and ponder these words of scripture.

Make two columns on a page-in one column lists some of the things that rob you of peace. In the other column note some things that give you a sense of peace. Which column are you in most often? How can you move into greater peace? [3]

PIERRE TEILHARD de CHARDIN - Joy is the surest sign of the presence of God.

 

Determine what in this lesson you want to be heard-the Advent theme of joy or perhaps you want to explore prayer or some smaller fragment that Paul includes in his admonitions-worry, peace, the immanency of Jesus, etc.

If you choose joy as your theme, consider the context: the Philippians have plenty to worry about: threats from the outside-persecution, false motives, false teaching-and threats from the inside in the form of dissention and disagreements among prominent personalities.

Yet Paul encourages a positive, joy-filled outlook. Joy is not an ostrich with its head buried in the sand shielding the vision from all trials and tribulations in the world, but rather is an eagle that views life from a heavenly perspective.

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[1] Fred Craddock, Interpretation Series: Philippians (Atlanta: John Knox Press, 1985), page 72.
[2] Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture VIII (InterVarsity, 1999), page 282.
[3] The Spiritual Formation Bible (Zondervan, 2002), page 1551.