Holiness and Excellence
How would our understanding of holiness be different if we reflected more deeply on Paul’s prayer in Philippians 1:9-11
NRS Philippians 1:9 And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight 10 to help you to determine what is best, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, 11 having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.
I posted some thoughts on this on July 2 as A Prayer for a Missional Community: Phil 1:9-11.
I want to refocus on v. 10. Paul’s prayer in summary form is for the love of the Philippian followers of Jesus to grow in bountiful ways. Verse 10 connects with v. 9 in terms of purpose. What is the purpose/end of having a love that overflows? It is to be able to determine (and act) on what is best/excellent. What is the end of this? Being found pure and blameless on the day of Christ’s appearing. It is vital to see this connection. A love shaped by knowledge and insight is the means to being able to discern (and act) on best practices. The discernment of best practices (what is best/excellent) is a means to holy living.
This is a new insight for me. I have read and taught Philippians multiple times, but the link between excellence and holiness has grabbed me.
How does our understanding of holiness need to enlarge or shift in light of this text?
1) Moves us from a static view of holiness to a more dynamic view
Holiness is not merely a destination; it is a journey. It is a moment by moment relationship of grace with the God who sent Jesus Christ to die and be raised on the third day so that we may truly live and who unleashed the Holy Spirit to empower Jesus’ followers to live as the people whom God created them to be. It involves an ongoing active engagement with the people, problems, and challenges of every day life. Holiness is not simply the substantial victory over bondage to sinful practices-it is a life lived for God in which love overflows from our lives as we act in line with God’s purposes and what is best.
2) Pushes us beyond mediocrity or a tendency just to settle for the status quo
Living pure and blameless lives is not an excuse for a quietism or for an addiction to mediocrity. It is profound that an ability to discern what is excellent (implied is that one acts on these items once they are discerned) is the means to a “pure and blameless”life.
3) Fuels the missional side of holiness
Throughout Philippians, it is clear that mission is central to the thinking/intention of Paul. Discerning “best practices” is in keeping with living a life that demonstrates the truth of the Gospel. From the opening verses, Paul commends the Philippians for their “partnership for the gospel.” The ability to act in line with God’s best is the means to a holiness in which followers of Jesus serve as “blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine like stars in the world” (2:15).
What do you think?
© 2007 Brian D. Russell
[...] “Holiness and Excellence”, a reflection on Paul’s prayer in Philippians 1:9-11, at Real Meal Ministries. Sola Scriptura Considered at Pseudo-Polymath. [...]
[...] Russell from the Real Meal blog wrote ”Holiness and Excellence.” This brief post reflects on Paul’s prayer in Philippians [...]