Paul, a Prisoner for Christ

GOLDEN TEXT: “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” —Philippians 3:13,14

PHILIPPIANS 3:4-17

WHEN Paul first learned of the great mistake he was making in persecuting the church, Christ said, “I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.” (Acts 9:16) He had already endured much of this suffering, yet courageously he wrote from prison of his determination to continue in the course which had resulted in so much ignominy and pain, “If by any means,” he avowed, “I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.”

Paul was a high ranking citizen among his own people, “a Hebrew of the Hebrews,” and a Pharisee. He was not a Hebrew in name only, but willing to spend and be spent in promoting the Hebrew faith. He thoroughly believed that Jesus was an impostor, and that the followers of this false Christ were doing grave injury to the Hebrew cause, so he manifested great “zeal, persecuting the church.”

When his eyes were opened to the great mistake he was making, and he discerned that Jesus was indeed the Messiah of promise, he did not hesitate to take a stand for the truth, and this at once cost him the loss of his reputation among his former religious associates.

He had a wonderful philosophy concerning the things which he gave up in becoming a Christian; that is, those things which he had formerly considered as “gain” or as having value. Now, he says, I consider them as “loss.” In the Greek text the word used by Paul means “detriment.” (Dr. Strong) What an utter change of viewpoint this represents! No wonder he was glad to forget those things which were behind, for now he considered them to be detrimental to his best spiritual interests.

But Paul suffered more than the loss of his reputation as a Pharisee! His faithfulness led to weariness and physical suffering all along the way; and thus he wrote, “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.”

Paul is alluding to the great doctrinal truth of the divine plan, that it is the privilege of every true Christian to share in the sacrificial work of Christ, to be planted together in the likeness of his death, inspired by the hope of sharing in the likeness of his resurrection. It is this that he writes about in Romans 6:3-11.

But this vital doctrine must become more than merely a teaching or philosophy in our lives, if we are to attain the “prize of the high calling.” Paul realized this, and did not hesitate to undertake any service for his Master regardless of how much suffering might be involved. In this he was a wonderful example of true Christian faithfulness, and we can do no better than to take his advice to follow him as he followed Christ.

By divine providence Paul was given one opportunity to follow the example of Christ in a very literal way. That was when, through Agabus, the Holy Spirit testified that bonds and imprisonment awaited him at Jerusalem. (Acts 21:10,11) Paul was then on his way to Jerusalem, and he might well have construed this testimony of the Holy Spirit as a warning not to continue his journey, but to look for the Lord’s leadings elsewhere.

Indeed, the brethren associated with Paul did take this view, and they pleaded with him not to go to Jerusalem. His answer to them was, “What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” (Acts 21:13) Those who gave him the advice to take the safer, easier course, finally said, “The will of the Lord be done.” (vs. 14) Evidently he had convinced them that his interpretation of the Holy Spirit’s testimony was the correct one.

In reaching this decision Paul had the example of Jesus to guide him. Being led by the Holy Spirit’s testimony through the prophecies of the Old Testament, Jesus knew that death awaited him at Jerusalem, and he so informed his disciples. Peter tried to persuade Jesus to stay away from Jerusalem, even as Paul’s friends did with him. Jesus’ reply was, “Thou savorest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.”—Matt. 16:23

Peter’s viewpoint was purely a human one, as was that expressed by the friends of Paul under similar circumstances. But how prone we all are to permit the mind or the flesh to govern our decisions when the opportunities of sacrificing and suffering in the Lord’s service are presented to us. If we know in advance that a certain opportunity of service will involve great hardship, the natural tendency is to conclude that the Lord’s will is for us to go in another direction. Ease and tranquility along natural lines may not necessarily be evidences of the Lord’s blessing. They might indicate a measure of unfaithfulness in carrying out the terms of our consecration.

It was Paul’s insistence on going to Jerusalem despite the Holy Spirit’s testimony of what the result would be, that finally led to his prison home in Rome; but he rejoiced in the privilege of having “fellowship” in Christ’s sufferings. Certainly Paul was aware of Jesus’ experiences in Jerusalem, and that the Lord went there knowing in advance what the consequences would be; and it seems reasonable to conclude that this example of the Master helped to guide Paul in the decision he reached under circumstances so similar.

It was a courageous decision, and if we are following Paul as he followed Christ, we should not overlook this example in our interpretation of the providences of God. Basic to every decision made by a consecrated Christian is the fact that he has entered into a covenant with the Lord by sacrifice, agreeing to suffer and to die with the Master. (Ps. 50:5) If suffering looms up in the way which lies ahead, it probably means that the Lord is testing the sincerity of our consecration, rather than indicating that we should seek an easier way in life. Even from a natural standpoint, one seldom escapes trouble by trying to run away from it.

In this letter, Paul says that he did not count himself as having “apprehended.” Later, when imprisoned the second time and awaiting execution, he wrote to Timothy, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” (II Tim. 4:7) Evidently Paul now considered that he had apprehended that for which also he had been apprehended of Christ Jesus.—vs. 12

His statement in the Philippian letter might be viewed more as one of humility than of uncertainty. There were indications that he would be released from prison and continue in the service of the Master. In this event, he would have further testings; and while he knew that divine grace would be sufficient for him, he also realized that it was not advisable to take one’s standing with the Lord for granted. In writing to the Philippians as he did, Paul was simply following his own advice, “Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”—I Cor. 10:12

But the situation was different when he wrote to Timothy. Then he had reached the end of the way, or very nearly so. He knew that soon he would be executed. The knowledge of this was a final test, and he had reacted to it rejoicingly, and with the steadfast resolution to be faithful even “unto death.” Now he was in the position of one who was not just putting on the “harness,” or armor, but as one who had gained the victory and was ready to take the armor off, and therefore did not hesitate to express himself with full assurance.—I Kings 20:11; 22:34

QUESTIONS

Why is suffering essential in the experience of a Christian?

What does it mean from the standpoint of the divine plan to have fellowship in the sufferings of Christ?

What is to be our guide as we seek to know the meaning of God’s providences?

Relate an incident in Paul’s life which was similar to an experience in Jesus’ life. How can Paul’s attitude in this be a guide to us?

Why did Paul say that he did not count himself to have “apprehended”?

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