Defense and Confirmation

It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. (Philippians 1:7 ESV)

For what is Paul in prison? There's a long answer and a short answer. The long answer is that Paul has appealed to Caesar and is awaiting his opportunity to appear before Caesar. He appealed to Caesar because he was about to be turned over to the Jews by his Roman captors. By "Jews" I mean specifically those Jewish rulers who intended to do him harm. His Roman captors likely would have turned him over as a political favor and then Paul likely would have died. Died for what? Paul would have been executed for teaching people that they did not need to keep the Law of Moses (or some such trumped up charge). The truth is, Paul was being persecuted for preaching Jesus as the Messiah. He had been held captive for nearly five years--an imprisonment spanning Acts chapters 21-28 and probably at least a year longer.

But there's a short answer. The short answer is Paul's answer. Paul is in prison, in his words, for "the defense and confirmation of the gospel."

In the Roman Empire the prevailing religion was a sort of pantheism. There were various deities who served a variety of purposes and every locale had its favorites. By far the most popular and the most official of Roman religions was Emperor worship. This one was promoted. Other religions were tolerated, however, and each and every conquered land was allowed to keep and maintain its own religion, as long as that religion did not get out of hand. Under this system the Jewish religion was a protected religion. It was not official, but it was tolerated, and allowed to exist as long as it did not rock the boat. Christianity was just another sect of the Jews and given the same protection as Judaism.

That is, until Paul. What Paul did was spread the faith to Gentiles and then adamantly declare that these Gentiles need not become Jews (circumcision, diet, culture) in order to become Christians. Now we have a problem. You see, it's getting harder and harder for Christianity to hide under the protection of the Jewish faith. It is becoming less and less "Jewish."

That's the way it is looked at by the Romans, anyway. That's not the way Paul looks at it. And before things get out of hand Paul wants to make his case before Caesar. Paul is a Roman citizen after all, and a Jew. Paul believes his faith is the true Jewish faith.

All of this is likely on Paul's mind as he awaits to appeal to Caesar. To him, his day in court, his day before Nero is "for the defense and confirmation of the gospel." And he holds the Philippian believers dear in his heart, at least in part, for standing with him and helping him in this endeavor.

How far would you go for the defense and confirmation of the gospel? How important to you is the message of Christ? Would you give for its support? Would you encourage others in the work? Do you pray for those who minister the gospel and proclaim it? Is your worship gospel-centered? Do you worship? Do you tell others about Christ? What is your part in the Fellowship of the Gospel?

Today, think about the focus and direction of your life. Where are your priorities? Is your life about the good news of Christ? Then dedicate the rest of your days, however many there are, toward reorienting your life around this purpose.