Greetings from Paul

by: Geoffrey Cox

What you say about others says a lot about you. This very cheerful, positive letter from Paul to the Christians in Philippi tells us as much about him as it does about them. Paul is lit by the light he shines on others, so we can see enough to copy him as he asks: “What you have . . . heard and seen in me – practice these things” (4:9); “join in imitating me” (3:17).

ln Acts 16:8-40, Luke describes the founding of the Philippian church. Philippi was a busy and important city in northern Greece (Macedonia). It was very proud of its status as a Roman colony and the privileges that carried.

Paul could have introduced himself as “the apostle,” claiming both status and privilege. But instead, he puts himself on a level with the ordinary Christians at Philippi by calling himself (and Timothy) “servants of Christ.” Then he puts them on a level with him by calling them “saints in Christ Jesus.” We are all both servants and saints. Finally, Paul concludes his introduction by combining Greek and Hebrew greetings: grace (God’s love freely given) and peace (the fruit of Christ’s atoning work), both rooted in “God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Wouldn’t it make a difference if we greeted our friends this way? Or if we made this our prayer for all whom we meet?