Christ - The power of the Word

CHAPTER 1

I find 19 mentions of “Christ Jesus”, “Christ”, or “Jesus Christ” in Chapter 1 of Philippians. Thus Paul speaks with authority: he knows the Christ, he can identify with it, he has felt "the power of the Word"* which is Christ.

There is a question mark about where Paul is imprisoned. Most seem to think that it is not from Rome that he speaks. The NRSV says about Imperial guard in 1.13 that it is not necessarily the praitārion in Rome; it can also refer to any provincial governor's residence.

We can imagine that the Philippians were distressed to know that Paul was in prison. But Paul can see that there must be a blessing in these circumstances. My Bible has a page heading: The gospel is furthered by Paul's bonds. It doesn't matter which way it goes, Christ will be magnified whether he dies or lives. He says, “For to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Which reminds Christian Scientists of the words of Mary Baker Eddy's poem Mother's Evening Prayer; which we sing in hymns 207-212 in the 1932 Christian Science Hymnal –

O make me glad for every scalding tear,

For hope deferred, ingratitude, disdain!

Wait, and love more for every hate, and fear

No ill, - since God is good, and loss is gain.

(Verse 3)

The Philippians had first-hand knowledge of how Paul was treated in Philippi for standing for Christ. They are experiencing a similar conflict/struggle (Phil 1:30) The NRSV uses the word 'struggle' and explains that it is of athletic imagery which, it says, is frequently used in this letter.

CHAPTER 2

The NRSV prints verses 6-11 in verse form. It comments that they are widely regarded as pre-Paul Christ hymn. In the next verses Paul expounds on the hymn, using it to direct the actions and thoughts of his readers/listeners.

We have noted before that there is much borrowing and repeating of verses in the Bible. Some of those verses seem to give support to the widely held belief that Jesus is God. But Science Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy puts the record straight on that matter, e.g. “I and my Father are one,” by declaring that they are one in quality, not in quantity. (See S&H p. 361.) We are all one with God in our reflection of Deity, once again having that mind which was also in Christ Jesus.

Paul seems to see a need to send an emissary to his beloved Philippians. He would like it to be Timothy, but he needs him to be with him at this time. Epaphroditus is the next candidate. He has been ill, sick unto death, but is recovered and is coming to them. He carries this letter.

A word about Christ. This is not something which is new with the coming Jesus, though he was the highest human concept of the Christ, demonstrating its power as our Exemplar. Pages 332, 333, and 334 of Science and Health explain Jesus and the Christ.

Just so, Christian Science is not something new, thought up by Mary Baker Eddy in the 19^th Century. It is the Science of being, which has always been true but had to be discovered in a similar fashion to gravity – it was always true, but needed to be discovered.

Joyce Voysey

ed. * This phrase appears in Eddy's poem which begins "Saw ye my Saviour?"