Paul’s Affairs
1: 12-26
What follows Paul’s introductory words (to see link click Aj – Paul’s Introductory Matters) is commonplace in letters of friendship. The writer informs the recipient(s) about his or her own situation – often with the very words the apostle uses here. This material is usually brief, but in Paul’s case it is quite long (verses 12-26), and as with so many of Paul’s letters, he focuses on the Good News. What begins, typically for such material, as a word to relieve the Philippians of any anxiety (see Ao – Paul in Chains) thus evolves into a word about the current spread of the Gospel (see Ap – Paul’s Critics), followed by a reflection on his desires and expectations regarding his long-awaited appeal to Caesar (see Aq – Life is in Messiah, to Die is Gain). If it were to result in his death, that would mean that he had reached the goal of his life – Yeshua Himself – and if the choice were his, he would choose that route. But whatever happens Paul encouraged the Philippians to conduct themselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Messiah (see At – Walking Worthy).32
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