The Friday after the Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity Sunday
Posted on September 26, 2025 by under
Scripture: Philippians 1:12-18 (NKJV)
1:12 But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, 13 so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; 14 and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
15 Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill: 16 The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; 17 but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.
Devotion
St. Paul writes his letter to the Church at Philippi while being a prisoner in Rome. Surely the Philippian Christians would have been shaken knowing the most prominent and productive apostle was now in chains. What would become of Paul? What would become of them? Was the future of Christianity now in peril?
Therefore, Paul’s chief concern is to assure his readers that he is not only alive and well, but more importantly, his mission to preach the Gospel has actually been enhanced by his imprisonment. He had favorable contact with the palace guards, known as the Praetorian Guard, which was an elite imperial detachment. His story had also become known among the citizens of Rome, many of whom realized Paul was being wrongly imprisoned. This emboldened the Christians who heard about the positive reception the Gospel had received.
Paul is living proof of his words written earlier to the Christians in Rome. “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28).
Collect: Keep, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy Church with Thy perpetual mercy; and, because the frailty of man without Thee cannot but fall, keep us ever by Thy help from all things hurtful, and lead us to all things profitable to our salvation; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
