New Testament Christians in Cork

Progress or hindrance?

In Philippians 1:12 Paul uses a word to describe his experiences in Rome as a prisoner awaiting trial before the emperor. It seems he may have intended a play on words. And because he wrote in Greek, and we read in English, that play on words is lost in translation.

These Christians from Philippi in northern Greece were concerned about Paul’s circumstances and had decided to send him some monetary help and emotional reassurance. They were not a wealthy church, not even by the standards of the first century, but they were not willing to hide behind that impediment as a reason not to support a preacher in the work of spreading God’s word. They had asked one of their number, Epaphroditus, to carry their gift to Rome and to bring Paul news of their own circumstances. And they were expecting Epaphroditus to return with news of their imprisoned friend.

It is here – in Phil.1:12 – that we read of Paul’s response to their queries. “Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel.”

These Philippians would mostly likely have understood what a Roman jail was like. We do not have to be imprisoned to understand that it is not supposed to be a pleasant experience. For the most part, we would view incarceration and the loss of personal freedom to be a hindrance on so many levels. The Philippians most likely anticipated hearing from Epaphroditus of the obstacles in Paul’s way, of the hardships that Paul was enduring and of the difficulties he faced as a Christian and a proclaimer of the gospel who was held ‘on remand’ to be tried for that faith.

The Greek word for offence or hindrance is προσκοπή, (proskope). Paul uses it in 2Cor.6:3 and says that as a servant of God in preaching the gospel, he did not want anyone to find fault with his work. He did not want his work as a preacher to be a hindrance to others accepting Jesus as their lord and them becoming Christians.

 So, Paul writes a letter of thanks to his dear friends. And knowing that they were eager to hear of his personal circumstances and how he was bearing up under difficulties, he reassures them that far from being a hindrance, his imprisonment is helping to advance the gospel. This Greek word is προκοπή (prokope). There is only one letter difference between proskope and prokope, between hindrance and progress.

 Paul had determined a long time before reaching Rome that his life’s ambition was to preach Christ. A trivial thing like imprisonment was not going to hinder him. You might say he was a prisoner with ‘form’ in this regard. In fact some of these Philippians had firsthand experience of Paul preaching in prison – they themselves had become Christians directly as a result of Paul being locked up when he was in Philippi. Then, he had taken that opportunity to preach to others – a captive audience. And now in Rome, he takes the opportunity again to proclaim Christ to his captors. To the point that the whole Imperial Guard and the household of Caesar knew of Paul, his reason for being in jail, and the lord he served (see Phil.1:13).

And furthermore, Christians in Rome who may have been anxious and intimidated about their own positions because of Paul’s offence and detainment, were now buoyed up in their faith and emboldened. They were not afraid to preach. If Paul was having such success with such limited opportunities, how much more could they with complete freedom (see Phil.1:14).

And even further, Paul hoped that the news of his preaching in prison, along with the report of other Christians preaching more and more in Rome, would be a real encouragement to these faithful Philippians to continue doing their best to “make progress and rejoice in the faith” (Phil.1:25). They too had a part to play in the progress of the gospel.

So, what about you? Is your life a proskope or a prokope, a hindrance or a progress for the gospel? Do people hear and see Jesus living in you? Are you making progress and rejoicing in your faith in Christ Jesus? Can others see that your joy and progress in faith is not determined by your outward circumstances, but by your desire to serve a risen saviour no matter what?

 Are you a hindrance or furtherance to the cause of Christ?