First let's get something clear about erroneous notions of Paul and his founding a new religion, which he didn't. True, the halakhah of his Judaism switched from the Pharisaic oral law to the Ruach Hakodesh, but his religion was still one of the Judaisms of the time, not a new non-Judaism Gentile religion.

MOSHIACH'S LETTER THROUGH THE SHLIACH SHA'UL TO THE BRIT CHADASHA KEHILLAH IN PHILIPPI

The place is probably Rome around C.E. 61. Here is a prisoner in

a possible "death row" situation with the nerve-racking

possibility that the Roman executioner will come bursting in and

drag him off to his death by beheading at any moment. His

co-worker has recently almost died as well (2:27). And yet,

despite the precarious nature of this uncertain life-or-death

situation, Rav Sha'ul is so filled with joy that he is bursting

with it as he writes a "thank you note" for a love offering the

Brit Chadasha kehillah at Philippi has sent him. Who but

Yehoshua can give this kind of peace to us? It is not mere human

bravery but the peace of G-d that transcends all understanding

(4:7)

Every cross-cultural minister has to send thank you notes from

time to time. Often a fund-raising letter must be written as

well. II Corinthians 8 and 9 should be studied as an excellent

example of how to write a letter soliciting funds, while

Philippians should be seen as a model of a thank you letter

(which is also a powerful stimulus to further giving).

Shliach Sha'ul had received regular support from this

congregation (see 4:15 and II Cor. 11:8). One of the Philippians,

Epaphroditus, had carried an offering to Rav Sha'ul from the Brit

Chadasha kehillah and in the process had become ill and almost

died, but was now recovered. From him Shliach Sha'ul learns about

the divisions in the congregation focussing around two women who

can't see eye to eye (4:2-3). 1:17-2:18 are aimed at that

problem, since if the Philippians will contemplate the self-

emptying humility of G-d the Word in the Incarnation, each will

surely be able to empty his or her own self and work for

Moshiach-minded unity in the congregation. The critique of "envy

and rivalry in 1:15 may be an indirect message to the ladies as

well. Shliach Sha'ul writes this letter to deal with that

potential "Brit Chadasha kehillah-split" situation and to warn

about the Judaizing legalists whom he calls the "mutilation"

party, because they were the Jews who went about Rav Sha'ul's

field of ministry insisting on circumcision and legalistic ritual

and rule-keeping as the condition for one's being saved (see

3:2-11).

What is the immediate source of Rav Sha'ul's joy as he writes

this letter? He is filled with awe at how G-d has taken his

adversities and his chains and made them a spotlight to get more

and more of the palace guard and everyone else around the city to

begin to see and notice the dying and suffering yet risen

Moshiach that Shliach Sha'ul preaches! Also, Rav Sha'ul's

fellow preachers in the city are starting to preach with more

boldness, too, though some with a spirit of rivalry (possibly

distancing themselves from Shliach Sha'ul as preachers outside of

jail sometimes do toward preachers inside of jail). These latter

anti-Rav Sha'ul preachers are operating from an angry and

contentious and malevolent motivation, which usually happens when

a few preachers in one city notice that one preacher (in this

case Rav Sha'ul) is getting all the attention and they aren't.

But Shliach Sha'ul doesn't care that these people want to hurt

him with their attitude and thus add to his afflictions. He isn't

thinking about himself (he's like Timothy--2:20-21). He is

rejoicing that the Besuras Hageulah is going out in greater

power. Shliach Sha'ul is looking on the good side of the picture

instead of the bad (4:8). And he is not focussing on the human

righteousness through religious works (3:9) of any preacher,

including himself. Shliach Sha'ul is looking at the righteousness

of the Moshiach. As far as his witness is concerned, Shliach

Sha'ul knows that only by dying to self can he be in fellowship

with the sufferings of Yehoshua. For Moshiach Yehoshua makes the

power of his resurrection known only to those who are conformed

to his righteous witness in death (3:10), to those who work out

their salvation with fear and trembling (3:11; 2:12).

Now Shliach Sha'ul turns a wrathful eye toward a scourge in the

early Brit Chadasha kehillah that we will hear more about from II

Shliach Kefa and Yehuda and Revelation. These are the libertines,

those "followers of our Moshiach" who refuse any suffering or any

denial of their sensual appetites and gross indulgences (which

they think are their due as the liberty of a true believer).

These are the drunkards and fornicators and wife-swappers and

homosexuals and swindlers and thieves and adulterers and greedy

businessmen and hate-filled causers of discord who claim to be

"followers of our Moshiach" but are, as far as the Brit Chadasha

kehillah is concerned, causing trouble within and a bad testimony

without. Shliach Sha'ul has warned in several places that these

people, if they don't repent of living this way, are going to

hell (see Gal. 5:19-21; I Cor. 6:9-11; see also II Cor. 5:10;

Gal. 6:7-9 about being judged according to deeds done "in the

body."). Now Shliach Sha'ul deals with antinomians (lawless

disciples) again in Phil. 3:17-21. They are enemies of the

suffering of the Aitz of Moshiach that all believers must

maintain a share in. Their true G-d is their appetite and this

they serve religiously while making a false profession at

Messianic worship services. Their destiny is destruction (3:19),

because G-d, increasingly furious, isn't fooled by them.

Those who aspire to leadership in G-d's house had better live

like Rav Sha'ul (3:17) and make very certain that there is no

libertine tendency in their lives. This is why one's G-d-given

ability to control sexual appetite and abstain from liquor and

materialism and greed and thievery and slander and immorality or

unfaithfulness are all key qualities that a minister must have

(see I Tim.3:2), and--if he doesn't--he'd better roll up his

sleeves and go look for another profession. If G-d graciously

calls you to his work, he will graciously give you the

qualifications for the job. If he hasn't given them to you, don't

apply. Not many should be teachers (Ya'akov 3:1). When Shliach

Sha'ul speaks of Timothy as a son who faithfully serves his

father in the Besuras Hageulah, he may be alluding to the kohen's

father-son ministry formation we see in places like Lv. 8 where

father and son are both ordained as kohanim and the son continues

the ministry after the father's death.

Philippians at a glance: Shliach Sha'ul exhorts the believers at

Philippi and especially two feuding women members of the Brit

Chadasha kehillah, Euodias and Syntyche, to become like Moshiach

Yehoshua. These ladies must avoid being blameworthy on the Day

of Moshiach (1:10). They must learn to agree in the L-rd (1:27)

and to think the same thing in all humility (4:2; 1:27; 2:3,20)

and peace (1:2; 4:7,9) without eris (strife, discord, contention)

or eriteia (selfish ambition or rivalry--1:15-17; 2:3) or

grumblings and arguments (2:14) and so preach the Besuras

Hageulah purely, with pure motives (agnos 1:17). Look at

Moshiach Yehoshua. He humbled himself and became obedient unto

death. So must we become conformed (take on the same form,

summorfizo) conformed to his death, as far as pride or

self-seeking is concerned (2:6; compare 2:3), like Timothy

(2:21-22) or "your shliach" Epaphroditus who risked his life and

nearly died (2:27-30) or Shliach Sha'ul himself whose life is

presently hanging in the balance (2:23) in a life or death

struggle for the defense of Besuras Hageulah (1:12-13, 16,

29-30). By turning their back on their life in this world and by

risking death for the Besuras Hageulah, these men are being

conformed to Moshiach in his death. These are models (3:17) of

what a minister or a ministry is (2:17,25,30; 4:18) and what all

of us must press on to become (3:12-16) as we all do the same

thing, which is to contend for and defend the Besuras Hageulah

(1:7,16,27) with deep affection, compassion, high esteem, and

sympathy for all who share or participate or become ministry

partners in this same struggle and affliction (1:5,7-9, 16,

30:2:1,10; 4:14), including the necessary matter of giving and

receiving (4:15,16-17) and the (spiritual) profit accumulating in

one's (heavenly) account (4:17-18).

In the face of all the sorrow of this dying, persecuting,

anti-G-d world (2:27), let us take our minds off of earthly

things (3:19)and let us look on the bright side (1:18; 3:20;

4:5,8,13) and rejoice (1:4,25; 2:17-l9,28-29; 3:1; 4:1,4,9). This

is our safeguard (3:1). What is the bright side? Even the worst

that can happen to Shliach Sha'ul is actually getting people in

Nero's household saved! (See 4:22; 1:12-13.) And what else is the

bright side? Think of it! Whatever happens turns out for our

deliverance (1:19) since living is Moshiach and dying is gain

(1:21), since what we've lost in this life for His sake is

kenodocia vainglory (2:3) and profasis pretense (1:18) and

skubalon refuse (3:8) but what we gain is far better, to go and

be with Moshiach (1:23). Only let us live this life In a manner

worthy of Moshiach, being courageous and fearless no matter what

happens (1:14,20,28; 2:12; 4:6).