How Are You?

“How are you?”

It’s a common question asked among friends. 

Typically in conversation, near the beginning, two friends exchange updates on their well-being. That is a common practice today, and it was a common practice in ancient letters such as Paul’s letter to the church at Philippi. 

The communication exchange was a bit slower back then, but it was customary in your introduction to tell the recipients of your letter how you were doing. Timothy and Epaphroditus had been tasked with bringing news about the church back to Paul, and Paul gives news about himself over the course of Chapters 1 and 2. That makes his “introduction” in Philippians longer than in most letters, but it’s only because he goes on some glorious “tangents” (see 1:19–26 and 2:1–11; cf. 2:19–30).

So then, how is Paul doing (at the time of writing this letter)?

That’s the part that makes verses 12–18 so astounding. There is what he says, which will be our focus on Sunday, but there is also what he does not say. 

Writing from a Roman prison, notorious for being inhuman, designed even to dehumanize its prisoners, and what is Paul busting at the seams to say?

The bigger question is how is Paul busting at the seams to say what he said? And what can we learn from it all?

I’ve got three things to show you on Sunday. Pray for me, and for our church.