In this session, Paul reveals how he is able to joyfully share the Gospel despite his imprisonment. He echoes the Old Testament figure of Job, who also suffered despite his innocence and yet believed in his ultimate vindication. Paul then artfully reworks the Greco-Roman ideals of friendship and citizenship, expanding the Philippians' understanding by calling them to the key virtue of humility, looking first to the interest of others in imitation of Christ. As you watch the video segment, consider how you may imitate the humility of Christ in a deeper way and more perfectly live the Christian ideal of loving God and neighbor.
After Paul exhorts the Philippians to live out friendship in Christ, he gives them a blueprint for exactly how to do so. St. Paul wants the Philippians to have the mind of Christ, and he paints a beautiful picture of what this means—a life lived out in humble obedience, emptying oneself for other...
In both the Old and New Testaments, God calls his people to become more like him. At Mount Sinai, the Israelites received the charge: "You shall be holy; for I the Lord your God am holy" (Leviticus 19:2). During the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus reiterated this command: "You, therefore, must be perf...
Having described Christ's self-offering and shown himself, Timothy, and Epaphroditus as examples of disciples who model the life of Christ, Paul now calls on the Philippians (and us) to model the life of Christ in their own lives. As St. Paul closes out his letter, we'll see him reiterate the min...
