14
THE PRIZE OF THE HIGH CALLING
variety of subjects, there is one item that reappears at the close, and constitutes the first link in structural
correspondence.
In Philippians 1:3-5 the apostle opens the epistle with thanksgiving `for your fellowship in the gospel from the
first day until now'.
After the main argument of the epistle is presented, the apostle returns to this personal theme as he brings the
epistle to a close `now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from
Macedonia, no church communicated (same Greek word as is translated fellowship) with me as concerning giving
and receiving but ye only. For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity' (Phil. 4:15,16). In
the opening section he speaks of `gain', even though in a context of much loss for Christ's sake (Phil. 1:21), so also
in the closing section he speaks of abounding, of having all, of being full, even though at the same time he admits a
state of necessity which was relieved by the gifts sent by the Philippians. In like manner he speaks in the first
chapter of being `filled' with the fruits of righteousness, and in chapter 4 of not only being `full' himself but having
the assurance that God would `supply' (pleroo - same root word) all the needs of His people. It is evident by these
few scattered phrases, that the opening section of chapter 1 is in structural correspondence with the closing section
of chapter 4.
When we consider the next member of the epistle we are put on the track of the truth by remembering that the
word politeuo `conversation' (Phil. 1:27) is echoed by politeuma `conversation' in Philippians 3:20,21. In addition
we discover that the word steko `stand fast' occurs in Philippians 1:27 and again in 4:1. It appears therefore that we
are discovering evidence for the next pair of corresponding members in the structure. We read on and observe that
the words `with one spirit and one soul' of 1:27 find their corresponding member in 4:2 `the same mind', and we find
moreover, the words `striving together' of 1:27 and `laboured with' of 4:3 are translations of the Greek sunathleo,
which word occurs nowhere else in the New Testament.
This brings us to the central member of the epistle, and we find the sevenfold humiliation of Christ (Phil.
2:6-11), balanced by the sevenfold loss of Paul (Phil. 3:4-19).
With the material already to hand we can now set out the epistle as a whole :
PHILIPPIANS
(Introversion)
A 1:1,2.
Salutation.
Saints in Christ Jesus.
B1:3-26.
Fellowship in gospel
from the first day.
Mind of
C1:27 to 2:5. Conversation here.
Christ.
Stand fast
Example.
D 2:6-11.
Sevenfold humiliation
of Christ.
E 2:12-17.
Exhortation. Work out.
F 2:17-30.
Example of Paul,
Timothy and
Epaphroditus.
E 3:1-3.
Exhortation. Beware.
D 3:4-19.
Example.
Sevenfold loss of Paul.
C3:20 to 4:10. Conversation there.
Body of
Christ.
Stand fast
B 4:10-20.
Fellowship in beginning
of gospel.
A 4:21-23.
Salutation. Saints of
Caesar's household.