The city of Philippi was founded in 356 B.C. by the father of Alexander the Great, King Philip of Macedon. He drained the swamps, built infrastructure and placed settlers there to protect the local gold mine. In 44 B.C., Mark Antony and Octavian of Rome defeated the conspirators who assassinated the first Emperor, Julius Caeser, at the Battle of Philippi. Two years later, Octavian (now calling himself Caeser Augustus) defeated his now rival Mark Antony. Augustus then rewarded his Roman troops by making Philippi a Roman colony where the veterans of his army could settle tax free. Philippi quickly went from being a Greek city to being a Roman city even though it was in northern Greece. Of the 421 religious inscriptions found by archaeologists in Philippi only 60 were in Greek, while the rest were in Latin.
So Paul is writing to a church filled with converts from Roman religion. Why is that significant? Roman religion, like every other non-Biblical religion, was predicated on the assumption that you “served” the gods in order to get what you wanted out of life. The gods had their own plans which had very little regard for your welfare and therefore needed to be appeased (bribed) to get them to back your plans.
Christianity doesn’t work that way. Christianity is not about appeasing God, but rather God – in Christ – atoning for us. All the tenets of Christianity could not have been more appalling to first Century Romans: A god who became a man and allowed himself to be crucified!? And he did it to pay a debt that we owe to him!? And Christians are now commanded to take up their own cross, put aside their own plans, and live to serve God and others!!!??? Are you insane??
Yes. In the words of the Jews of Thessalonica in Acts 17:6, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also.” In Jesus’ own words, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me,” “But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve . . .” and ” . . . my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you.” And even though we’re commanded to die to ourselves daily Jesus says, “I came that they may have life, and life in abundance.” So how does that work?
Actually, the geography of the Holy Land gives us an excellent metaphorical example. The River Jordan starts in the snows atop Mt. Hermon in what is today southeastern Lebanon. It flows south into the Sea of Galilee and from there flows further south along the eastern border of Israel to end in the Dead Sea. The Sea of Galilee is actually a large fresh water lake that is rich in a tremendous variety of fish. It has made the province of Galilee a prosperous, beautiful and physically comfortable environment for thousands of years. One of the main reasons for that is that it is continually renewed and refreshed because the Jordan not only flows in but flows out as well. The Dead Sea, on the other hand receives the Jordan but there is no exit for the waters. That’s why it’s called the “Dead” Sea. There is no oxygen and no life in its waters. It is toxic to drink and dangerous to even bathe in unless you immediately rinse off with fresh water.
In the same way that the mana from heaven that fed the Israelites in the wilderness could not be stored up for the next day without spoiling, so too, the life, love and gifts of Christ that flow through us must be shared in serving God and neighbors for it to impart the abundance and joy that Jesus spoke about. For this reason, Paul says, in Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ, yet I live, yet no longer I, but Christ who lives in me.” You’ve heard the expression, “Looking out for number one.” To the world, that means putting ourselves first in order to achieve happiness. In the Kingdom of God – where God is “Number One” – that means a life of service. So while in one sense we are to be dead to ourselves, by living for Christ, we become dead men dancing with the joy of the Lord.