20
THE PRIZE OF THE HIGH CALLING
Paul not only assured the Philippians that he made `request' on their behalf but he made it `with joy', and this joy
was because of the continuous and unbroken fellowship that they had had with him in the gospel `from the first day
until now'.
When the apostle uses the word `joy' again in this chapter, it is in close association with similar thoughts that are
found connected with the first usage. In Philippians 1:25 there is `confidence' and `furtherance', even as in
Philippians 1:3-18 there is `confidence' and `furtherance'. `Being confident of this very thing', auto touto.
The reader's attention is especially drawn to the fact that these words form a logical link between the two
statements that flank it in Philippians 1:5,6.
A
Subject of thanksgiving with joy.
Continual, unbroken fellowship from
B
the first day until now.
A
Subject of confidence `this very thing'.
B
Continual, unbroken performance by God
until the day of Jesus Christ.
`Until now' is in the original achri tou nun. `Until the day' of Jesus Christ is achris hemeras.
The reason why we break into our exposition in order to draw the reader's attention to these facts, is that an
interpretation has been put forward of Philippians 1:6, that teaches Paul's meaning here is that something which God
had commenced, was now about to be discontinued (epiteleo). The discontinuance being necessary because it is
taught the dispensation of the mystery was imminent.
It will be seen that Paul's argument would lead in the other direction. He rejoices that the fellowship of the
Philippians had never been discontinued, but had remained constant `until now'. He is thereby the more `confident'
that the good work already commenced in them by God would continue unbroken `until the day of Jesus Christ'.
One does not need even to be spiritually minded to be able to follow a simple argument, and it is contrary to all
reasonable discourse for Paul to rejoice in the unbroken fellowship of the believer, and receive from the
contemplation of this faithfulness `confidence' that God was going to discontinue a work which He had begun!
The words `until now' and `until the day of Jesus Christ' cannot have opposite meanings in such a context, what
one means the other means, and to attempt a rendering that reads `God will discontinue until the day of Jesus Christ',
does not even make sense.
The true force of the apostle's argument however lies in the word epiteleo translated `perform', set over against
the word enarchomai `begun'. Now happily we have these two words brought together in another epistle of Paul,
where his meaning is unchallenged.
`Are ye so foolish? having begun (enarchomai) in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect (epiteleo) by the flesh?'
(Gal. 3:3).
If epiteleo here means `discontinue' Paul would have said `how wise you are', instead of `are ye so foolish'. Let us
observe the way in which Paul uses epiteleo in other contexts.
`But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints .... When therefore I have performed this, and have
sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain' (Rom. 15:25-28).
It is a matter of New Testament history that Paul did convey the offering of the Gentile Churches to Jerusalem,
and he could speak of this offering as a `seal' in consequence, just as surely as he could in Ephesians 1:13 and 4:30.
His own use of the figure of a `seal' in Romans itself shows that it referred to something accomplished.
`A seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised' (Rom. 4:11).
In 2 Corinthians 8, Paul refers to the collection for the saints again, and again uses the word epiteleo in the sense
of `performing'. Here moreover is found a similar word to that used in Galatians 3, proenarchomai.