December 4th, 2021

This Sunday is the Second Sunday in Advent. And this Sunday’s epistle text is from Philippians [1:2-11]. Last week we started looking at the epistle readings from a perspective given in the book of Acts, that near the very end of the book, it is said about Christianity (in Acts 28:22) that ‘everywhere it is spoken against’. So last week we looked at how Christianity was spoken against in Thessalonica. And this week we will be looking at how Christianity was spoken against in Philippi.
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It should be said, first of all, that Philippi was a significantly different city than the ones that St. Paul and those who were with him were visiting previously (see Acts 16). The significant difference begins with St. Paul receiving a vision of a man calling to him, asking him for help in Macedonia, and this is a part of Europe. They do end up going to Macedonia, and the first city they get to is Philippi.

The city is also described in the text (Acts 16:12) as a ‘first’ city, a leading city, of that part of Macedonia. And at first something positive happens there. And then something happens that is somewhat positive. And then something definitely negative happens.
What follows is a look at the event that is somewhat positive. It could be said that Christianity is SOMEWHAT spoken against in the following text (in a somewhat-literal translation):

And it happened, we, going into the place of prayer, a certain maid, having the spirit of a python [study bibles will typically explain this word], to meet us, who brought much gain to the lords of her, fortunetelling. This one, following after Paul and us, cried out, saying, ‘These men are slaves of the God of the most high, who announce to you a way of salvation.’ And this she did over many days. But Paul, becoming greatly troubled, and turning to the spirit, he said, ‘I charge you, in the name of Jesus Christ, to come out from her.’ And it came out in that hour [Acts 16:16-18].

Much could be said about these verses. Much has been written about these verses. But just a few things will be pointed out here.

Note that this evil spirit was not stopped immediately for what it was saying. Also note that the spirit was not allowed to continue doing for an extremely long time what that spirit was doing. And the reason for the reaction being somewhat in the middle is most likely because of what that spirit was saying. Here it is again: ‘These men are slaves of the God of the most high, who announce to you a way of salvation.’

In a nutshell, at first the statement seems like something good. The ‘most high’ God is obviously in a category of his own; he is not a ‘high’ God or a ‘higher’ God. But after just having to deal with that statement for a while, it becomes obvious that something more and better could be said. It is a good start; but it is only a start.

In fact, a very similar saying to this occurs in the Book of Daniel. And a very similar outcome occurs.

In the Old Testament event of Daniel’s three friends and the fiery furnace, after the three men have been thrown into the fiery furnace and the Most High God has protected them, the king says (in Daniel 3:26; in a somewhat-literal translation), ‘Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, slaves of him who is the God, the Most High; come out, and come here!’ But he does not end the statement there. And these are the words that follow:

At then, the ones coming out, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, from inside of the fire. And ones crowding around, the satraps, the prefects, and the governors and advisers of the royalty, ones seeing to these men that the fire harmed them not to their body, and the hair of their head was not singed, and the robes of them were not scorched, and the smell of fire was not on them. Nebuchadnezzar, answering and saying, ‘Being praised, their God, of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who sent his angel and rescued to his slaves, who trusted in him, and the command of the king they defied, and they gave up their body that not they would serve, and not they would worship to any god except to their God. And from me a decree is issued that all people of the nation and language who says anything against their God, of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, will be cut into pieces, and his house will be turned into a pile of rubble, for all of that, there is no other god who is able to save like this (Daniel 3:26-29; a somewhat-literal translation).’

The true God is certainly the Most High God. Other gods are literally nothing. But more could be said than that he is simply the most high or the highest. And more IS said. His way of salvation is certainly unique. As Nebuchadnezzar said, ‘…there is no other god who is able to save like this.’ And that certainly remains true when it comes to Jesus.