Wednesday, August 29, 2012

An Unusual Favor

For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me. (Philippians 1:28-30)
The stakes have ratcheted up and every day brings another “click,” another reminder that this is serious business Paul is talking about. That is why the Jesus believers at Philippi need to be of one heart and mind, in sync with the Holy Spirit and each other and working as a team in announcing the good news of Jesus and His kingdom.

“For to you it has been granted … to suffer for His sake.” At first glance, the word “granted” might seem out of place here. The Greek word speaks of a gift or favor, something bestowed as a kindness. The favor they have been given is to suffer for the sake of making King Jesus known. For Paul, it is part of the honor of believing in the Messiah.

In the Beatitudes, Jesus said, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:10). Later, He promised the disciples a hundredfold return for whatever they gave up for His sake and the gospel’s, but added that there would also be persecutions (Mark 10:29-30).

Persecution for the sake of King Jesus is not a means of entering into the kingdom of God but is a sign that one belongs to it. So, when Peter and some of the other apostles were hauled before the Sanhedrin and commanded to stop preaching that Jesus is the Messiah, they went away rejoicing that they were “counted worthy to suffer shame for His name” (Acts 5:41).

Paul’s ministry has been filled with all kinds of persecutions, and as his partners in the gospel, the believers at Philippi are well aware of the conflicts he has endured.
  • The beating and imprisonment he received for Jesus’ sake, and theirs, when he first came to Philippi (Acts 16:22-34).
  • The riot he was at the center of in Thessalonica (Acts 17:5-9).
  • The ridicule he received at Athens (Acts 17:18, 32).
  • The opposition he faced at Corinth. It was intense enough that the Lord Jesus appeared to him a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; for I am with you; for I have many people in this city” (Acts 18:9-10). Perhaps this was in reference to the “messenger of satan” Paul speaks about in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10.
  • The uproar he and his team experienced at Ephesus (Acts 19:23-41).
  • His violent arrest at the temple in Jerusalem (Acts 21:26-36).
  • His trial before the Sanhedrin (Acts 22:30-Acts 23:10), after which the Lord Jesus came again to him and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome” (Acts 23:11).
  • The conspiracy at Jerusalem to kill him (Acts 23:12-22).
  • His trial at Caesarea on charges of sedition (Acts 24-26).
  • His house arrest at Rome, where he awaits further trial, and from which he writes this letter (Acts 28:17-31).
Paul recognized that the things he endured for Jesus’ name actually turned out to be useful for advancing the good news announcement about Messiah and His kingdom. Whatever the Philippian believers were going through, and would continue to go through, were signs that they are truly part of that kingdom.

Focus Questions
  1. What is your gut reaction to the idea that suffering persecution for Jesus’ sake is an honor?
  2. Do you think it was an encouragement to the believers at Philippi that Paul also went through these conflicts?
  3. Many Christians are going through these same persecutions around the world — how are you praying for them?




There is Always Joy!
There is Always Joy!
Paul’s Letters to the Jesus Believers at Philippi
Bite-Sized Studies Through the Book of Philippians
by Jeff Doles

Preview with Amazon’s “Look Inside.”

Available in paperback and Kindle (Amazon), epub (Google and iTunes) and PDF.

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Just One Thing

Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God. (Philippians 1:27-28)
Remember Lt. Colombo, the homicide detective from the TV show back in the 70s and 80s? Just when the prime suspect thought he was going to get away clean, Colombo would turn and say, “Just one thing.” That’s when we knew the lieutenant was about to set the hook and reel in the bad guy.

That’s a bit like what Paul has done here, except he is not dealing with any “bad guys.” He has declared his confidence that he will be delivered and will be able to continue his ministry to the Jesus believers at Philippi, to help them move forward in their faith and know the joy of it. But then he throws in a “just one thing.” Here, it is translated as that lonely word “only,” but the HCSB puts it the way Colombo would: “Just one thing.” There is something very important Paul wants to add, something vital to the mission and message, and that is this: “Let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ.”

The Greek word for “conduct” is politeuomai, a word used of citizens in a free country, about getting along together in community. Roman citizenship is a big deal in Philippi, which is one of only five cities in Macedonia that enjoys special status from Rome. But Roman citizenship is not what Paul has in mind, he is thinking much bigger than that: “Our citizenship is in heaven” (Philippians 3:20). The way we live, then, should reflect that new reality, giving the savor of heaven on earth and demonstrating how good the good news about Jesus the Messiah really is. The way we say it around my home church is, “Jesus looks good on you.”

Paul plans on coming to see them again, but even if he is far away, he fully expects to hear that the Lord Jesus is being faithfully represented in all they say and do. Particularly, he looks forward to hearing that they …
  • Stand fast. Solidly in place and unmovable, fixed and focused.
  • In one spirit. Not only their human spirits in sync with each other but, more than that, all of them in sync with the Holy Spirit.
  • With one mind. The Greek word is psyche, which is elsewhere translated as “soul.” So, with “one soul,” having the same attitude, the same heart, the same desire.
  • Striving together. The Greek word is a compound, synathleo. You can almost hear the meaning in its parts. Syn is a common prefix that means “together.” And athleo … well, that is where we get the word “athlete.” It speaks of contending in the competitive games. The idea of synathleo is about teamwork, everyone functioning together for the same goal.
  • For the faith of the gospel. This is the goal, the good news about King Jesus, and the faith that results from it. “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).
  • Not in any way terrified by your adversaries. The Greek word for “terrified” was used of horses that had somehow been “spooked” into a panic.
Yes, there will most certainly be adversaries and firm opposition against their message. This stands to reason — in a culture where Caesar is considered supreme, they are declaring that Jesus, not Caesar, is the Divine King. That is exactly why they need to be one in spirit and heart and purpose, not backed down by opposition. Because the truth is still the truth and Jesus is still Lord, King over heaven and earth, and the truth must eventually prevail. Even if Paul is martyred, Jesus is still King, and Paul will simply go to be with him. Even if there is persecution, the good news of Jesus and His kingdom still marches forward.

The firmness of their stand, the togetherness of their striving and the oneness of their spirit in the declaration that Jesus is King demonstrate that His kingdom cannot be stopped. This is a sign of ruin for those who oppose it but an assurance to those who receive it that salvation has truly come into the world in Jesus the Messiah.

Focus Questions
  1. What does citizenship mean to you, and how to you view your own citizenship?
  2. Are you part of a close-knit team? What is its purpose and how does it work together?
  3. How strong is your confidence that Jesus is King over every adversary?



There is Always Joy!
There is Always Joy!
Paul’s Letters to the Jesus Believers at Philippi
Bite-Sized Studies Through the Book of Philippians
by Jeff Doles

Preview with Amazon’s “Look Inside.”

Available in paperback and Kindle (Amazon), epub (Google and iTunes) and PDF.

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Far Better, or More Needful?

For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith, that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again. (Philippians 1:21-26)
In “The Man Who Came to Dinner,” there is a character named Banjo, who is played by Jimmy Durante. He is not “the man who came to dinner” but when he shows up, he goes to the piano and sings, “Did you ever have the feeling that you wanted to go, but still had the feeling that you wanted to stay?”

That’s where Paul is. A moment ago, he spoke of Messiah being magnified in his body, “whether by life or by death.” That “by death” might have shaken up some of his partners, the Jesus believers at Philippi, so now he goes on to explain:
  • To live is Christ. If all goes well and Paul lives, his life will ever and always be about Jesus the Messiah, to know Him, proclaim Him, and serve Him and His people. It means more “fruit” from his labor, and he wants to bear as much fruit as he can for the Lord. Jesus said, “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be my disciples” (John 15:6). Paul’s highest purpose is to give God glory.
  • To die is gain. On the other hand, if Paul is put to death, he will simply go and be with the One his life has been all about. He has a deep desire to do that, and it only gets deeper with each passing day. The more we understand “to live is Christ,” the better we will understand “to die is gain.”
For Paul, it is all win/win, but it has still been a tough choice: His growing desire to be with the Lord Jesus (“which is far better”) and his desire to serve the people of the Lord (which is “more needful for you”). Imagine him pacing his room, his Roman guard looking on as he talks it over with the Lord. Of course, by the time he writes this letter, he has already made up his mind — and the believers at Philippi can breathe a sigh of relief: Paul chooses to stay.

Now, it is quite interesting that he speaks of this, almost casually, in terms of a choice. Is this really in his hands to decide? But he has a confidence about this, being persuaded that God still has work for him to do, that he will be delivered from his present circumstances and will be returning to minister to the believers at Philippi again: “I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith.”

The Greek word for “progress” is prokope, which is the same word he used earlier concerning the “furtherance” of the gospel. Not only is the gospel moving forward but God’s plan is for believers to progress in it as well. As we saw earlier, what God has begun in them He will bring through to completion.

Here again we find joy, the “joy of faith.” As they grow in faith, joy increases. And of course, their rejoicing will be all the greater when they see Paul once again.

Focus Question
  1. “To live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Do you find one of those easier than the other?
  2. What is the level of confidence you have about what God has for you to do?
  3. Do you find that when your faith increases, your joy does, too?

Now, just for fun, here is Banjo (Jimmy Durante) singing in this clip from “The Man Who Came to Dinner.”




There is Always Joy!
There is Always Joy!
Paul’s Letters to the Jesus Believers at Philippi
Bite-Sized Studies Through the Book of Philippians
by Jeff Doles

Preview with Amazon’s “Look Inside.”

Available in paperback and Kindle (Amazon), epub (Google and iTunes) and PDF.

Thursday, August 23, 2012

With All Boldness

For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. (Philippians 1:19-20)
Paul is under house arrest in Rome, but the gospel is being preached and the Lord Jesus is being exalted now more than ever. And Paul is very happy about that. Of course, he still desires to be released from his chains, to make a good case for the gospel and win a favorable verdict, not only before the Roman courts but also in the hearts of people everywhere. But he is not particularly concerned about his personal fate. He is ready to die, if need be, for the sake of the Messiah being proclaimed throughout the world.

What would be a tragedy for Paul is if he were somehow backed down from preaching the good news about Jesus. His desire is that, whatever happens, he will be completely bold in dealing with it. He has always been outspoken for the gospel and he does not want to be any less so now. “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). What matters most to him is that Messiah be magnified by his life, or if he dies, by his death. But Paul has every confidence that he will indeed be delivered both from shame and a poor outcome, and he is encouraged in this by three things:
  • Messiah is being preached with boldness. That is what matters above all, that the Lord Jesus be magnified in every way.
  • The believers at Philippi, his partners in the gospel from the beginning, are praying for him. Prayer is key. “Be anxious for nothing,” will be his instruction, “but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6).
  • The Spirit of Jesus the Messiah, that is, the Holy Spirit, is supporting and supplying him with everything he needs. Perhaps Paul has in mind the instruction Jesus gave to the disciples for when they would find themselves in such a situation as Paul now faced: “But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit” (Mark 13:11).
Because of these, then, Paul is watching and waiting in confident expectation that everything will come out well.

Focus Questions
  1. Can you think of a difficult time when you were truly encouraged because you knew someone was praying for you?
  2. What supply do you think Paul might have received from the Holy Spirit? Do you believe that supply is available to you, too?
  3. Does the preaching of the gospel, the announcement that Jesus is Lord over all, fill you with expectation and confidence?



There is Always Joy!
There is Always Joy!
Paul’s Letters to the Jesus Believers at Philippi
Bite-Sized Studies Through the Book of Philippians
by Jeff Doles

Preview with Amazon’s “Look Inside.”

Available in paperback and Kindle (Amazon), epub (Google and iTunes) and PDF.

Monday, August 20, 2012

Sorting Out Motives

Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill: The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice. (Philippians 1:15-18)
Paul is bold for the gospel even when he is in chains for preaching it. Instead of causing other Christians to back off from proclaiming King Jesus, it has challenged them to become even bolder. This response, however, turns out to be something of a mixed blessing because, for some, there is a partisan spirit. Not all are like this, of course, but some are.

Paul has run into this kind of thing before. He dealt with it in the church at Corinth, where the division appeared to be along ethnic lines. Some said, “I am of Paul” (the Roman citizen), others countered, “I am of Apollos” (the Greek), still others said, “I am of Cephas” (Peter, the Jew), and some declared, “I am of Christ” (as if the rest were not). But Paul would have none of it, not even from the ones who claimed to be “of” him. “Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?” (1 Corinthians 1:13). “Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1Corinthians 1:10).

Now the partisan spirit has come up again. Paul does not name names or identify where this is taking place, but he does recognize some distinct differences:
  • Some preach from envy and strife, selfish ambition, in pretense, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to Paul’s chains or somehow show him up. There may even be some who are talking about the gospel as part of the chatter on the street, spreading it as the news of the day.
  • Others preach from goodwill, out of love and in truth, knowing that Paul has been divinely placed in this situation not for his own aggrandizement or reputation but for the sake of the gospel.
Yet, however different their motivations, they are all proclaiming the same thing, the good news about Jesus the Messiah. The good news is getting around, and for Paul, that is a definitely a cause for rejoicing.

Surely Paul thinks of the believers at Philippi as part of the latter group, who preach Jesus out of love and sincerity. After all, they have been partners with him in the gospel since they first learned it from him many years ago. But perhaps they have heard of some of that things that are happening with the former group, and Paul is assuring them that, overall, the gospel is being preached, so there is still something to rejoice about.

However, it is good for the Philippian believers to be aware of how such distasteful and “grubby” motives can slip in. So perhaps Paul is hinting to them to take care that they do not become like that. He is aware of some tensions among them that need to be remedied (for example, in Philippians 4:2) and he will soon be laying before them the example of the Lord Jesus, who did not do anything out of envy or rivalry or selfish ambition but He made Himself of no reputation (Philippians 2:1-11).

Focus Questions
  1. What role do you think motivation plays in proclaiming Jesus in such a way that is persuasive to others?
  2. Are some people more susceptible to selfish motives than are others?
  3. How can we cultivate the better motives in our lives?



There is Always Joy!
There is Always Joy!
Paul’s Letters to the Jesus Believers at Philippi
Bite-Sized Studies Through the Book of Philippians
by Jeff Doles

Preview with Amazon’s “Look Inside.”

Available in paperback and Kindle (Amazon), epub (Google and iTunes) and PDF.

Friday, August 17, 2012

An Unexpected Turnaround

But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. (Philippians 1:12-14)
When all the principalities and powers conspired to put the Lord Jesus on the cross on Friday afternoon, that seemed to them a good idea at the time. But then Sunday morning rolled around, when God raised Jesus from the dead. That’s when they realized God had turned it around on them.

Something similar happened with the gospel when Paul was put in chains at Rome for preaching the good news about Jesus the Messiah and the kingdom of God. I expect the Roman authorities figured that would flatten his tires and put a crimp in his ministry and message.

But there was an unexpected turnaround, and Paul wants the Jesus believers at Philippi to know about it. They were partners with him in the gospel and the grace of God ever since Paul first preached it to them years earlier. They were standing with him now during his time of imprisonment, and anxious to know what was happening. What they would have expected to be an impediment to the ministry actually turned out to be an advantage that advanced the gospel, and that was good news in itself.

The word for “furtherance” literally means to “cut forward.” Perhaps that is the meaning Paul has in mind in this context, the idea being that of preparing the way for an army to move forward. The gospel is “on the march,” and Paul identifies two specific benefits and the “armies” he has in mind (one of which is literal).
  • “It has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ.”
  • “Most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.”
In his house arrest at Rome (about which, see Acts 28:16-31), Paul is always guarded by a Roman soldier, so he always has a captive audience and an opportunity to talk about the Lord Jesus. When a new guard comes on duty, there was a new opportunity. Over the two years Paul is in this situation, he has gotten to know the guards quite well, and they him. It is no real stretch to suppose that some of them, perhaps even many of them, have become believers themselves. Imagine the discussion in the barracks as they speak of Paul and the good news he brings. They are used to hearing that Caesar is Lord (that is, the divine king), but Paul is proclaiming that Jesus, not Caesar, is Lord. This announcement is electric and runs through the whole praetorian guard (Caesar’s own guards).

Also during this time Paul has many visitors, and his message to them is exactly the same has always been. He has not let up on it one bit because of his circumstances. In fact, he has leveraged his circumstances to advance the gospel in a new stage of his ministry — he is not going to the people, they are coming to him.
So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging, to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening. And some were persuaded by the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved …

Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him. (Acts 24:23-24, 30-31)
Here is Paul, then, under arrest but as bold as ever. Though he is in chains, his message cannot be bound. Some of his visitors believe and come away with the good news about Jesus the Messiah and the kingdom of God. Others have probably visited Paul to encourage him, but they come away encouraged themselves. Seeing the confidence of Paul, even in his chains, makes them much bolder to go and spread the good news around themselves. For Paul, it is win/win, and reason to rejoice.

Focus Questions
  1. Do you think Paul was surprised by this turnaround?
  2. Do you think Paul was being unrealistically optimistic about this?
  3. When you hear of Christians around the world who are being persecuted for their faith, yet they rejoice, does that encourage you to be bolder in your witness about King Jesus?



There is Always Joy!
There is Always Joy!
Paul’s Letters to the Jesus Believers at Philippi
Bite-Sized Studies Through the Book of Philippians
by Jeff Doles

Preview with Amazon’s “Look Inside.”

Available in paperback and Kindle (Amazon), epub (Google and iTunes) and PDF.

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

That Your Love May Abound

And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:9-11)
Paul spoke earlier of praying with thanks and joy for the Jesus believers at Philippi. Now he reveals the substance and purpose of those prayers:

  • That your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment.
  • That you may approve the things that are excellent.
  • That you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ.
This is not just about their love for God or for Paul, though those would certainly be included. But more than that, it is about their love for each other — and for everyone. The Greek word for “love” here is agape, a love that keeps on giving. “God so loved [agape] the world that He gave His only Son” (John 3:16).

We need to keep growing in love, but not in a sentimental or abstract way. Love has a purpose, a focus and a tangible expression. It is not a feeling, but a willful commitment to the welfare of another. We need to know how best to do that, however, so Paul prays for a love that acts according to “knowledge and all discernment.” This is not about the love of knowledge but the knowledge of love. In its richest form, it is the knowledge of God Himself, for He is love.

The word Paul uses for “knowledge” here is epignosis. It is not theoretical or about gaining information. It is a fullness of knowledge, an experiential, personal knowledge. It is not merely knowing about God but knowing God Himself. In his letter to the believers at Ephesus, Paul prayed that God would give them the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, that they may “know” (epignosis) God more and more (Ephesians 1:17). This can come only because God reveals Himself to us in Jesus the Messiah and by the Holy Spirit.

Discernment is the exercise of good judgment, moral perception and wise understanding. Love has a value system. To love well, we must discern between good and bad, true and false, wise and foolish. This requires a depth of insight that helps us “approve what is excellent,” that is, to choose what is the best way. In his letter to the believers at Rome, Paul said, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2). The word for “prove” there is the same as the word for “approve” here. This transformation is not our own work but comes about by the renewing of our minds. Even that is not our own work but comes from God. Our part is to let Him do the work in us.

Love must be “sincere and without offense,” which means that we must be “sincere and without offense.” To be “sincere” means to be genuine, without hidden motives or evil intent. To be “without offense” means that we are not to become a stumbling block that causes others to falter or fall. Some may be offended because of the truth of the gospel but we must be careful that we cause no one to stumble because we have failed to live in honesty and love.

The “day of Christ” is the day King Jesus comes again to judge the world and set things right, so Paul’s prayer is that believers be filled with the “fruits of righteousness.” In a different context, he speaks of the fruit of the Spirit — love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). That would not be much different from what he has in mind here. This fruit manifests the love of God and the righteousness of the Lord Jesus.

When we show excellence in our love, and do not give offense, we demonstrate the goodness of God and bring praise to His name. And that is the ultimate purpose of this prayer — that God may be glorified in the life of every believer.

Focus Questions
  1. How does knowing God more help our love abound for others?
  2. How does the example of the Lord Jesus help our love abound for others?
  3. How does being filled with the Holy Spirit help our love abound for others?



There is Always Joy!
There is Always Joy!
Paul’s Letters to the Jesus Believers at Philippi
Bite-Sized Studies Through the Book of Philippians
by Jeff Doles

Preview with Amazon’s “Look Inside.”

Available in paperback and Kindle (Amazon), epub (Google and iTunes) and PDF.

Saturday, August 11, 2012

Fellow Partakers of Gospel Joy and Grace

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace. For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:3-8)
Every time Paul thinks about the Jesus believers at Philippi, it brings a smile to his face and he is thankful. He prays for them regularly, and it is quite a joyful thing. “Always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy,” he says. He greatly values their “fellowship in the gospel.”

The word for “fellowship” is koinonia and speaks of “partnership,” which is how the HCSB translates it. They share the same interest, the same focus, the same concern — the same joy as Paul. He recalls how they have partnered with him in the ministry of the gospel from the very first day He preached it to them, when Lydia and her household embraced King Jesus, and the Philippian Jailer soon became a believer, too. The church at Philippi has continued as Paul’s partners in the gospel ever since, supporting him with their prayers (Philippians 1:19), with personal assistance (Philippians 2:25) and generously with their finances (Philippians 4:15-18, see also, Out of the Abundance of Joy). Now Paul was in jail again and awaiting trial for preaching the gospel, and he had no doubt that they would be there for him.

God began a work in them on that very first day. Paul is confident of this, and just as certain that God will keep working in them, bringing them to maturity. On the day King Jesus returns to judge the world, He will find that God’s work in them is complete. As the apostle John said, “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2).

How could Paul be so sure that there was a work of God going on in them? Just this: He has them in his heart, and every remembrance he has of them gives the evidence. Even now in his present imprisonment, he knows they have not forgotten him, but are pulling for him all the way, especially as he prepares for his “defense” and the “confirmation” of the gospel.

Those are legal terms. The Greek word for “defense” is apologia and refers to answering charges and presenting one’s case in court. It is the word Peter uses in his letter to Jesus believers scattered abroad.
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense [apologia] to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. (1 Peter 3:15-16)
The word for “confirmation” is bebaios. Where apologia is about presenting the case, bebaios is about establishing the case and winning a favorable verdict. The “defense and confirmation” Paul has in mind is not for his own sake but for the sake of the gospel. It is not his own freedom he seeks but that the good news about King Jesus the Messiah might circulate throughout the Roman Empire.

In all of this, Paul says, “You are partakers with me of grace.” The word for “partakers” is sugkoinonos (the prefix sug with the word koinonos), which means “fellow-partakers.” The same grace that is available for Paul is available for them, too. They are joined up together in this grace with Paul and benefit from it just as Paul does. They are “fellow-partakers of grace.”

The Vulgate, Jerome’s Latin version of the Greek New Testament, has this as “partakers of joy,” apparently mistaking the word charitos (a form of charis, grace) for a form of chara (joy). This translation does not go too far afield, though, since there is, after all, a connection between charis and chara. Thayer’s Greek Definitions has charis as “that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness.” Given how prominent “joy” and “rejoicing” is in Paul’s letter to the Philippian believers, “fellow-partakers of joy” would be just as true as “fellow-partakers of grace.” They share in the same joy with Paul, as well as the same grace.

“God is my witness,” Paul says, about the love he has for these believers, his partners in grace and the gospel. It is a love full of “the affection of Jesus Christ,” that is, the same kind of love and tenderness that the Lord Jesus has for them. Paul’s feeling toward them is more than he can say — but God knows.

Focus Questions
  1. How would you describe the level of your passion for the Lord Jesus and His kingdom?
  2. How would you describe the level of your joy in the good news?
  3. Who partners with you in this, and how would you describe your affection for them?



There is Always Joy!
There is Always Joy!
Paul’s Letters to the Jesus Believers at Philippi
Bite-Size Studies Through the Book of Philippians
by Jeff Doles

Preview with Amazon’s “Look Inside.”

Available in paperback and Kindle (Amazon), epub (Google and iTunes) and PDF.

Friday, August 10, 2012

Divine Favor and Total Well-Being

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:2)
Paul offers the Jesus believers at Philippi a benediction, as he does so often in his letters. A benediction is a prayer of blessing. Literally, a benediction is a “good word.”

A common Jewish salutation in Paul’s days was “Greetings and peace.” The Greek word for “greetings” is chairein, but Paul has replaced that with a related word, one that is, theologically, much more potent: charis — grace! Grace is the favor of God, who opens up all the resources of heaven on our behalf.

The Greek word for “peace” is irene, but Paul, being Jewish, no doubt has the Hebrew word shalom in mind, which is, again, more theologically profound. Shalom speaks of wholeness and restoration. It is total well-being, with nothing missing or broken. The shalom of God is the wholeness that comes from being in right relationship with Him.

The divine favor and wholeness of which Paul speaks comes from “God our Father.” Fatherhood speaks of family, household and inheritance. A good father blesses his children with good things. God our Father blesses us with the inheritance of grace and peace, and we share in it together (there are no Second Class saints). It comes to us through King Jesus the Messiah, who He is and what He has done for us. We receive this divine inheritance of favor and total well-being through faith in Him. “The LORD be exalted, who delights in the well-being of his servant” (Psalm 35:27 NIV).

Focus Questions
  1. Do you believe God looks on you with favor and desires for you to be made whole?
  2. Do your words to yourself speak God’s favor and well-being for your life?
  3. Do your words to others minister God’s grace and peace to them?



There is Always Joy!
There is Always Joy!
Paul’s Letters to the Jesus Believers at Philippi
Bite-Size Studies Through the Book of Philippians
by Jeff Doles

Preview with Amazon’s “Look Inside.”

Available in paperback and Kindle (Amazon), epub (Google and iTunes) and PDF.

Thursday, August 9, 2012

No Second Class Saints

To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons. (Philippians 1:1)
Paul addresses his letter to “all the saints in Christ Jesus” at Philippi, by which he means every believer in Jesus who is at Philippi. The Greek word for “saint” is hagios, which speaks of what is holy and consecrated, set apart for God. In this case, it is about being set apart by God, as His own. They are holy because they are in Jesus the Messiah, who is holy — set apart and anointed by God . Through their faith in the Lord Jesus, God sees them as in Jesus, every one of them. There are no levels of distinction in this, no division of saints into First Class, Second Class, etc. All who belong to God through faith in Jesus the Messiah are equal before God.

Yet Paul does recognize that there are various roles among the saints, so he addresses those among the saints who are bishops and deacons. These are positions of oversight and service. The Greek word for “bishop” is episkopos and is often translated as “overseer,” one who watches over.

When we speak of the church at Philippi, or anywhere else for that matter, we are not talking about a building but a people. In the early days, the church did not meet in public structures but in private homes. The church at Philippi probably first met in Lydia’s home. As more people came to faith in Jesus the Messiah and the church grew, there would be additional homes for them to meet together in for worship. Overseers would be established to direct the affairs of the church. In his letters to Timothy and Titus, Paul lists the qualifications for those who would watch over the house churches (1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9).

The Greek word for “deacon” is diakonos . Like doulos, “bondservant,” it speaks of one who serves. The distinction is that doulos refers to one’s relationship to his master while diakonos speaks in regard to the work or service one performs. As with the qualifications of overseer, Paul also lists the qualities of a good deacon (1 Timothy 3:8-13).

It is unusual that Paul includes specific greetings to the overseers and deacons in his opening — he does not do that in any of his other letters to the churches. Some have suggested that Paul’s earlier letters were to churches not yet developed enough as to require overseers and deacons, while the church at Philippi was now established. But that hardly seems likely, since deacons were introduced fairly early in the church at Jerusalem (Acts 6:1-7), and Paul recognized overseers of the church at Ephesus (Acts 20:28), which was after the church at Philippi was established.

Perhaps the reason Paul especially greets the overseers and deacons here is the same reason he identifies himself as a doulos. Though the church at Philippi was well established by now, it was not without problems. There was some tension and a lack of humility among some of the believers, and this may have included overseers and deacons. The example of Jesus the doulos in Philippians 2 would then be a word intended for all the saints, including the leaders.

Focus Questions
  1. Do you think of holiness as more about what one does, or about what one is?
  2. How does one become holy?
  3. If there is equality among all believers in Jesus, where does pride come from and how does it come in?



There is Always Joy!
There is Always Joy!
Paul’s Letters to the Jesus Believers at Philippi
Bite-Size Studies Through the Book of Philippians
by Jeff Doles

Preview with Amazon’s “Look Inside.”

Available in paperback and Kindle (Amazon), epub (Google and iTunes) and PDF.

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Paul the Doulos


Today — finally! — we begin in Paul’s letter to the Jesus believers at Philippi.
Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:1)
About a dozen years have passed since Paul and Timothy, along with Silas and Luke, first came to Philippi. On that visit, Paul and Silas ended up in jail just before they left. Now Paul is under arrest again, probably house arrest in Rome, as described by Luke in Acts 28:23-31. He is under guard and awaiting trial, but he does have some limited freedom to receive visitors and teach them about Jesus the Messiah and the kingdom of God.

Timothy is with him, at least nearby, and Paul includes him in the greeting. Paul would like to send Timothy to them, that he may find out more particularly how they are doing (Philippians 2:19), but he cannot at this time. Indeed, Paul would like to come himself but, of course, he cannot. This letter will have to suffice for the time being.

Paul does not identify himself as apostle, as he does in so many of his other letters, but as a doulos, a “bondservant” of Jesus the Messiah. The believers at Philippi certainly know Paul as apostle — he is their apostle, the one who came and established them in the faith. But what they need to understand more than that is that he is a servant — a bond slave! — to the Lord Jesus.

Paul writes to them for many reasons, each important in its own way. But there is one matter in particular in which they need the example of the Lord Jesus. There has been a lack of humility, and Paul will address that in what we know as Chapter 2 (Paul’s original letter, of course, was not divided into chapters and verses). There he will exhort them to allow the mind of the Messiah to be at work in them, the mind of the one who humbled Himself and became a doulos, a bondservant for the sake of others (Philippians 2:5-8).

So Paul identifies himself and Timothy as “bondservants of Jesus Christ.”

Focus Questions
  1. What sort of authority do you suppose an apostle has?
  2. What sort of authority do you suppose a bondservant has?
  3. What sort of authority do you suppose Jesus, the Lord who became a bondservant for our sake, has?



There is Always Joy!
There is Always Joy!
Paul’s Letters to the Jesus Believers at Philippi
Bite-Size Studies Through the Book of Philippians
by Jeff Doles

Preview with Amazon’s “Look Inside.”

Available in paperback and Kindle (Amazon), epub (Google and iTunes) and PDF.

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Out of the Abundance of Joy


One last bit of backstory before we get into Paul’s letter to the Jesus followers at Philippi.
Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God. (2 Corinthians 8:1-5)
Earlier we saw how Paul received a course correction by the Holy Spirit. It was a dream of Macedonia, a vision of a man of that region who stood before him and pleaded, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” Paul and his team set sail for that region and began preaching the good news about King Jesus at Philippi, then on to Thessalonica and Berea. Though there was resistance to the message of the gospel in all those places, and persecutions, those who came to the Lord Jesus there were very excited about following Him. So going to Macedonia at that time proved to be very fruitful for the gospel.

Now, about six years later, Paul was taking up a collection for the followers of Jesus who were at Jerusalem, and in economic need. It would be a show of solidarity between the churches that were composed mostly of Gentile believers to the church at Jerusalem, which was mostly Jewish believers.

In 2 Corinthians 8-9, Paul encourages the Jesus believers at Corinth to give bountifully in this undertaking. He begins with the example of the churches in Macedonia, who did not have an abundance of material resources. Quite the opposite, they had very little. “Deep poverty,” Paul calls it. On top of that, they were being severely persecuted for following King Jesus.

But there was one thing they did have in abundance, and that was joy. They loved the Lord Jesus and what He was doing in their lives and in the world, and they wanted to be part of blessing the saints at Jerusalem. Their joy and excitement would let them do no less.

So they begged Paul to receive their offering — apparently Paul was reluctant about accepting such a gift from those who were in great need of it themselves. But they would not take no for an answer, so Paul relented. And what they gave was far beyond what Paul expected. Out of the abundance of their joy, they dug down deep and brought up an amazing wealth of generosity, giving with open hands.

The secret to the joy of their generosity was that they “first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.” Jesus taught us to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). When we give ourselves to the Lord, we are freed up to give to others, knowing that the Lord will take care of us. That’s what happened with the Macedonian believers. First, they gave themselves to the Lord, then they gave themselves to assist Paul however the Lord led them.

This was the grace of God that was bestowed on them, the grace of giving generously and without reserve. And it came forth out of their abundant joy in King Jesus.

Focus Questions
  1. Can you imagine this kind of joyful, sacrificial giving apart from the grace of God?
  2. Do you suppose that this grace was just for the believers at Macedonia, or does God have this same grace available for all His people?
  3. How do grace and faith and love and joy work together here?



There is Always Joy!
There is Always Joy!
Paul’s Letters to the Jesus Believers at Philippi
Bite-Size Studies Through the Book of Philippians
by Jeff Doles

Preview with Amazon’s “Look Inside.”

Available in paperback and Kindle (Amazon), epub (Google and iTunes) and PDF.

Monday, August 6, 2012

Paul’s Ministry Team at Philippi


We should probably take a moment to identify who was part of Paul’s ministry team at Philippi. Paul was never a one-man show.

  • Paul. His conversion story, the original “Damascus Road Experience,” is told in Acts 9, and again in Acts 22 and 26, how he encountered the risen Lord Jesus. He comes to prominence in the last half of the book of Acts, where his ministry shifts more and more from the Jews to the Gentiles. We will learn a bit more about his biography when we get to Philippians 3.
  • Silas. We first meet Silas in Acts 15, when the apostles and elders of the church at Jerusalem sent him and Judas Barsabbas, both of them prophets, to Antioch along with Paul and Barnabas. He ended up in itinerant ministry with Paul when Barnabas took John Mark and departed to Cyprus. He is also known as Silvanus (of which, Silas is probably a shortened form) and is mentioned by that name in Paul’s letter to the believers at Corinth (2 Corinthians 1:19) and Thessalonica (1 Thessalonians 1:2; 2 Thessalonians 1:1). He also ministered with Peter and served as the amanuensis (secretary) for the book of First Peter.
  • Timothy. When Paul and Silas came to Derbe and Lystra, “a certain disciple was there named Timothy, the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek. He was well spoken of by the brethren who were at Lystra and Derbe” (Acts 16:1-2). Paul was apparently impressed with the young man, because he decided to bring him with them on their mission. Paul mentions him in many of his letters. In Romans 16:21, Paul calls him, “my fellow worker;” in 1 Corinthians 4:17, “my beloved and faithful son in the Lord;” and in 1 Thessalonians 3:2 “our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ.” And of course, Paul’s final letters were to Timothy, to encourage and instruct him in pastoral matters. Paul calls him, “a true son in the faith” (1 Timothy 1:2).
  • Luke. Luke was a Gentile who came to faith in Jesus the Messiah. He is mentioned only a few times by name. Paul calls him, “Luke the beloved physician” (Colossians 4:14). In Philemon 24, he is identified as a “fellow laborer.” And yet, what we know of Paul’s ministry, we know from Luke. He is the author of the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts. Luke apparently became a member of Paul’s team at Troas. We know this because the pronouns in the narrative shift from “they” (in Act 16:8) to “we” (in Acts 16:11). When Paul, Silas and Timothy moved on from Philippi to Thessalonica, the pronoun shifts back to “they” (Acts 17:1), indicating that Luke stayed behind to help with the new church at Philippi.



There is Always Joy!
There is Always Joy!
Paul’s Letters to the Jesus Believers at Philippi
Bite-Size Studies Through the Book of Philippians
by Jeff Doles

Preview with Amazon’s “Look Inside.”

Available in paperback and Kindle (Amazon), epub (Google and iTunes) and PDF.

Saturday, August 4, 2012

Phil the Jailer


Okay, so his name wasn’t really Phil. We don’t actually know what his name was, and though his story has often been told, he has always been referred to simply as The Philippian Jailer. But I like “Phil,” for short. Phil was likely a Roman soldier who retired to Philippi, a prominent Roman colony in Macedonia, and was made “keeper of the prison.” He was the warden. The jailer.

When Paul and Silas had been stripped and beaten for preaching about King Jesus the Messiah and for casting a demonic spirit out of a slave girl and destroying the profit potential for her masters, the magistrates threw them into prison, giving Phil strict orders to “keep them securely” (Acts 16:23). So Phil took them into the deepest part of the prison, where they were placed in stocks.

He went to sleep that night secure in the knowledge that his prisoners would have no chance of escape. But a little after midnight, he was awakened by a tremendous shaking. An earthquake (v. 26).

Phil dashed down to see what had happened (his house was probably joined next to the prison). When he got there he saw that all the doors had been shaken open and the chains busted loose. Surely all the prisoners had gotten away, including Paul and Silas. That would not just be a career ender — there would be severe penalties to follow. Severe. So, like a good Roman soldier, Phil thought to do the “honorable” thing, the least distasteful thing. He drew out his sword and was about to end his life with it (v. 27).

“Do yourself no harm,” a voice from the dark called out, “for we are all here” (v. 28). Phil called for a light, went in and saw Paul and Silas — his two most important prisoners. They did not run, after all. They did not even try.

Earlier that day, the slave girl with the python spirit had identified them as those who proclaimed “the way of salvation” (Acts 16:17). Phil would have known of this since it was what got them thrown into his prison in the first place. And he most likely heard some of the things they were singing and preaching in their dungeon cell — the good news that Jesus the Messiah and the kingdom of God had come into the world. Now he connected the dots and realized that they had something he desperately wanted. So he went for it. He led them out of the dungeon and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (v. 30). It was a direct question, a “big picture” question: How do I get in on this King and this kingdom you’ve been announcing?

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved, and your household” they said (v. 31). A direct question deserves a direct answer. It would need some unpacking, of course, so Phil brought Paul and Silas into his house, where they spoke “the word of the Lord” to him and his whole household (v. 32).

What does it mean to “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ”? It is not merely giving intellectual assent to a proposition, it is a call to believe on a person. What does it mean to believe on this person? It means we are entrust ourselves to Him — all of who we are entrusted to all of who He is. Who, then, is this person to whom we are called to entrust ourselves? The Lord Jesus Christ — and every part of that reveals who He is.
  • He is Lord. That is, He is God, the Son. He has been “declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness” (Romans 1:4 NASB).
  • He is Savior. The name “Jesus” literally means “Savior.” That is why the angel of the Lord spoke to Joseph, concerning Mary, “She will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).
  • He is God’s Anointed King. “Christ” is the Greek equivalent for the Hebrew word “Messiah.” Both literally mean “Anointed.” We see the significance of this in Psalm 2, where God speaks of His Son as the one He has anointed to be King over Israel and all the nations.
To believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, then, is to entrust ourselves to Him as God and Savior and King. The promise for this is that “you will be saved.” King Jesus the Messiah came into the world to deliver His people, Israel, reconcile us all to the Father and put things right in the world. We enter into that by receiving Him, entrusting ourselves to Him.

“You will be saved,” they said, “and your household.” This promise of salvation is not just for some elite group or certain kinds of people. It is offered to everyone — Jew or Gentile, male or female, rich or poor, slave or free, old or young. So there they were, Paul and Silas, telling everyone in the Jailer household about King Jesus.

Then Phil took them out by the water, where he washed all their wounds from the beating they had received the day before. That must have got them talking about baptism because the next thing that happened was that Paul and Silas baptized Phil and his family in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (v. 33). Phil brought them into his home and gave them some food, “and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household” (v. 34).

Phil rejoiced. The Greek word is agalliao, which literally means to “jump for joy.” Hours earlier, he was ready to kill himself, but now he was full of joy — wild, exuberant joy. As we go on to study Paul’s letter to the Jesus believers at Philippi, we will see that joy is a common theme. With Jesus, there is always joy.

So Phil the Jailer and his household joined Lydia the Seller of Purple and her household, and possibly several prisoners and the slave girl who was delivered from a demonic spirit, to become the first fellowship of King Jesus followers at Philippi and in Macedonia.

Focus Questions
  1. Paul added, “and your household.” He did not do that with Lydia, though her whole household came to the Lord. So why did he add it here?
  2. At what point in this progression of events do you think Phil began to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ?
  3. How do you suppose Phil’s life changed after this? In his home? In his work? In his city?



There is Always Joy!
There is Always Joy!
Paul’s Letters to the Jesus Believers at Philippi
Bite-Size Studies Through the Book of Philippians
by Jeff Doles

Preview with Amazon’s “Look Inside.”

Available in paperback and Kindle (Amazon), epub (Google and iTunes) and PDF.

Thursday, August 2, 2012

The Blessed Sheep and the Cursed Goats

I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. (Genesis 12:2-3)
There is something interesting I realized about this promise that God made to Abraham. It is eschatological. That is, it speaks of the judgment that is to come at the end of the age. When God says to Abraham, “I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you,” that is judgment talk. And it will be based on how the world treats Abraham and his seed. God’s purpose in all this is that all the families of the earth should be blessed.

Understanding this as eschatology, now I can see how it will be fulfilled when King Jesus comes again. He told us about it in the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats:
When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.”

Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, “Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?” And the King will answer and say to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.”

Then He will also say to those on the left hand, “Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.”

Then they also will answer Him, saying, “Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?” Then He will answer them, saying, “Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.” And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matthew 25:31-46)
This is a passage that has often been misunderstood. With the very best of intentions, of course, but misunderstood nonetheless. It has been supposed that Jesus is teaching us to be kind to the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick and the imprisoned in general. As if they are the “brethren” of Jesus merely by virtue of the fact that they are hungry, thirsty, strangers, naked, sick or in prison.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m all for taking care of the poor, the needy and the stranger. And the Scriptures repeatedly teach us to do what we can for them. But that is not what this parable is about. It is talking specifically about the “brethren” of Jesus. So, who are these “brethren”? Well, Jesus has already identified them for us, as we can see in an earlier portion of Matthew’s Gospel:

While He was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him. Then one said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You.”
But He answered and said to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.” (Matthew 12:46-50)
Those Jesus identifies as his brothers (and sisters and mother) are those who do the will of God the Father. And what is that will? Jesus said, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent” (John 6:29). All those who receive Jesus are his disciples. At a certain point in His ministry, Jesus sent out the Twelve to preach the good news about the kingdom of God.
He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward. (Matthew 10:40-42)
Receiving Jesus’ disciples and the message of the gospel was the same thing as receiving Jesus Himself. Rejecting His disciples and message of the gospel the same as rejecting Jesus Himself.

At the end of Matthew, Jesus commissioned the disciples to go into the world and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them everything that Jesus Himself taught. This commission extends to all who have become His disciples ever since. These are the brothers and sisters of Jesus, the seed of Abraham. Those who bless them, who believe the good news, will be blessed, and they will inherit the kingdom of God and enter into eternal life. Those who reject them, who reject the gospel, will be subject to chastisement in the age to come.