Day 19 of Journey Through Philippians: Anyone Might Accept the Gospel

Paul ends his letter to the Philippians with closing greetings and a blessing. He begins by sending his own personal greetings (Philippians 4:21). Then he passes along the greetings of those who were with him (Philippians 4:21-22). Finally, he prays for the “grace of the Lord Jesus Christ” to be with the Philippians, mirroring the blessing he bestowed upon these Christians at the opening of this letter (Philippians 4:23; 1:2). Although this closing is customary and brief, it should not be read as a mere formality. Even in these few short verses, Paul had something surprising he wanted to reveal to the Philippian readers and to us today. While passing along the greetings of those who were with him, Paul specifically identifies one group of people who wanted to greet the Philippians: “All God’s people here send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household” (Philippians 4:22). There is some debate about what Paul meant by “Caesar’s household.” This debate is related to the question of where Paul was imprisoned when he wrote this letter. What is clear to most modern scholars is that the individuals Paul is alluding to worked in some capacity for the Roman emperor, most likely as slaves, freedmen, or freedwomen. This is clear from hundreds of inscriptions archaeologists have found throughout the Roman Empire that refer to “Caesar’s household.” The significance of this greeting would not have been lost on the original Philippian readers. People who answered to Caesar, a self-proclaimed savior and lord of the universe, had come to pledge their allegiance to Jesus, the world’s true Savior and Lord. This was another reminder that nothing, not even Caesar himself, could stop the “advance” of “the gospel” (Philippians 1:12-13). This also would have been a source of encouragement for the Philippians who were suffering at the hands of those loyal to Caesar. If anyone had reason to be “frightened” that they might “suffer” for their faith, it was those who worked directly for the Roman emperor (Philippians 1:27-29). This special greeting let the Philippian Christians know that they were not alone. The significance of this greeting should not be lost on us either. If any of us have fear or concerns about how others will respond to our faith, we can find encouragement from these Christians who belonged to Caesar’s household. Others have faced this struggle before us and they found the strength to press on. Also, if we ever doubt whether a certain person or group of people could become followers of Jesus, this greeting should give us hope. Any person, no matter how unlikely, can be moved by the gospel and may come to see Jesus as Lord. PHILIPPIANS 4:21–23 FINAL GREETINGS 21 Greet all God’s people in Christ Jesus. The brothers and sisters who are with me send greetings. 22 All God’s people here send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household. 23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. Day 19 Questions Notice the repetition of the phrase “all God’s people” in this passage. How does this relate to Paul’s appeals for unity throughout this letter? Are there people in your community of faith that you view as different or you exclude? Do you ever try to avoid someone when you go to church? How could you be more inclusive in the ways you interact with others? Who in your life is like those who “belong to Caesar’s household” – people you thought might never come to believe, or people you doubt will ever believe? What would help you to have courage like Paul’s to make the most of every interaction?