Many writers today emphasize the importance of love, joy, and fellowship–and rightly so. These blessings, highlighted in the New Testament, are promised to the child of God. Indeed, Paul writes of them often; his letter to the Philippians is often nicknamed “the epistle of joy.” In fact, either the noun translated “joy” or the verb translated “rejoice” appears 18 times in this short letter. Below are the verses we find in this short but encouraging letter. (Each time the English word appears below, Strong’s number will follow it in brackets.)
1:4: “Always in every prayer of mine making request for you all in joy” [5479].
1:18: “What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice [5463], yes, and will rejoice [5463].”
1:25: “And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy [5479] of faith.”
1:26: “that your rejoicing [2745] for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again.”
2:2: “fulfill my joy [5479] by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.”
2:16: “holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice [2745] in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.”
2:17: “Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad [5463] and rejoice [4796] with you all.”
2:18: “For the same reason you also be glad [5463] and rejoice [4796] with me.”
2:28: “Therefore, I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice [5463], and I may be less sorrowful.”
2:29: “Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness [5479], and hold such men in esteem.”
3:1 “Finally, my brethren, rejoice [5463] in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe.”
3:3 “For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice [2744] in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.” 4:1 “Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy [5479] and my crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.”
4:4 “Rejoice [5463] in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice [5463]!”
4:10: “But I rejoiced [5463] in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity.”
We will forego a word study of each of the Greek words translated “joy,” “rejoice,” “rejoicing,” “glad,” or “gladness.” It is sufficient to note that these 18 appearances of the concept of joy lend an upbeat and positive tone to this letter.
But other factors contribute to this effect, also: love–even personal affection. At the very outset of the letter, Paul sets the tone:
…because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you are all partakers with me of grace. For God is witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ. And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment (1:7-9).
Then there were the personal references of affection already cited, such as Paul’s calling them “my beloved and longed-for brethren” (4:1) and “your care for me has flourished again” (4:10). He also speaks of love being the proper motive for preaching the Gospel (1:17). The apostle also links love and humility together as he reminds them of the comfort of love and affection that is in Christ (2:1) and exhorts them to have love for one another and not act out of the impure motives of ambitions and conceit (2:3). Brethren are to love one another (2:2), which means to look out for each other’s spiritual welfare (2:4).
Unity is another theme of this short letter. Consider Paul’s commendation of harmony and his admonition for the church to be united.
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 (1:27).
Fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind (2:2).
Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind (3:16).
I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord (4:2).
Philippians, then, can be characterized as an uplifting letter which dwells upon the themes of love, personal affection, joy, and unity. But there is more! Paul also praises Christian maturity; he points out what is not important (fleshly concerns) and enjoins the spiritual instead: the knowledge of Christ Jesus, the righteousness of God which comes from God by faith, the power of the resurrection, and the steadfast pursuit of the prize (Phil. 3:8-14).
Even more amazing is that Paul can write all of these things against a background of his imprisonment. Outward circumstances do not affect salvation, spiritual-mindedness, knowledge, love, unity, or even contentment: “…I have learned in whatsoever state I am, to be content” (4:11). Paul did not consider himself diminished in any way: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (4:13).
The Underlying Assumption
All of the wondrous blessings discussed hitherto, however, are all predicated upon something which gives them all life: the existence of Truth. Love and affection (perhaps even a measure of joy) can exist without it; Jesus noted that even tax collectors can love one another (Matt. 5:46). But genuine joy and unity cannot exist without Truth. We can stand united against a common enemy, such as terrorism, but we are not united, period. Denominational folks can attend rallies and proclaim the unity of all Christians, but such is an illusion prompted by warm (but soon fickle) feelings.
Joy, love, fellowship, and unity, as taught in the Bible are all based upon Truth, which is clearly demonstrated in the book of Philippians by the repeated use of the word Gospel. Before we consider those passages, however, we must demonstrate the relationship between the Truth and the Gospel.
The phrase, the truth of the gospel, is found in Galatians 2:5, 14. In Colossians 1:5 Paul writes of “the word of the truth of the gospel.” But in Ephesians 1:13 Paul equates “the word of truth” with “the gospel of your salvation.” The second phrase stands as an appositive to the first, which means that the latter renames the former. Now we can return to Philippians with the knowledge that, when Paul uses the term gospel, he is referring to the Word of God, the Truth.
Often overlooked in the book of Philippians is the fact that gospel appears nine times, which are listed below:
1:5 “for your fellowship in the gospel”
1:7 “in the defense and confirmation of the gospel”
1:12 “the furtherance of the gospel”
1:17 “the defense of the gospel”
1:27 “Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel”
1:27 “with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel”
2:22 “he served with me in the gospel”
4:3 “who labored with me in the gospel”
4:15 “in the beginning of the gospel”
In each one of these verse the word the precedes the word gospel. There is only one Gospel, as Galatians 1:8-9 so plainly conveys. Someone visiting The Louvre in Paris might ask if the portrait hanging on the wall was the real Mona Lisa or a copy. If the response was, “This is the Mona Lisa,” a person would know immediately by the use of the word the that the painting before his eyes was the genuine article.
Some of the very ones who enjoy discussing or writing about love, joy, and unity are the very ones who deny that: 1) Truth exists; 2) We can know the Truth; or 3) Truth is in any way important. Yet Truth’s existence undergirds everything that Paul writes in the lofty letter of Philippians. The reason that anyone becomes a Christian is that God has sent men to preach the truth concerning salvation–the Gospel by which all people can be saved. Error or falsehood cannot save anyone; neither can ignorance. Responsible individuals must know and obey the Gospel if they are to have a hope of salvation (2 Thess 1:8).
Their obedience (repenting of sins, confessing Christ as the Son of God, and being buried in baptism with Him), will cause God to wash away their sins (Acts 22:16) with the blood of Jesus (Rev. 1:5), and they will be put into the body of Christ (Acts 2:41, 47). One of the results of being in the Lord’s body (church) is the fellowship with other saints. This blessed relationship, however, cannot exist with those who have not obeyed the gospel, who have claimed salvation by “faith only” or some other unscriptural means.
No one can be united with someone who is of a different mind. What unity can “faith only” have with those who also repented of their sins and been baptized for their remission? Paul encouraged unity amongst these brethren in Philippi, as we saw in the four passages cited earlier. Certainly, they could not have had fellowship with those who had NOT obeyed the Gospel. How can one be like-minded with one who thinks, teaches, or preaches differently?
There is one Gospel (Faith) and one church (Eph. 4:4-6). One could not be joyous and celebrate the alleged salvation of one who remains lost in sins. It matters not whether one says that he has been “confirmed,” “sprinkled,” or “baptized to obey Jesus” (as opposed to “for the remission of sins”); his sins remain with him, and he is still lost–regardless of anyone’s convincing him to the contrary.
We have a standard of Truth (New Testament doctrine) to which we must subscribe and submit. As shown earlier, we must walk by the same rule and possess the same mind. That means, obviously, that we cannot teach doctrines which conflict with each other. People would be confused if one brother teaches Fatalism and another freedom of choice. We are obligated to strive together for the faith (1:27).
Paul called the Judaizing teachers who demanded circumcision “dogs” (3:2) and said (weeping) that “they are enemies of the cross of Christ” (3:18). Anyone who advocates a doctrine that contradicts the God’s Word makes himself an enemy of the cross. The love, fellowship, and joy that we experience in the church were obtained through the blood of our Savior. We therefore love Him and steadfastly hold to the Truth.