Philippians; Colossians: “I Can Do All Things through Christ Which Strengtheneth Me” (October 9-15)

Paul wrote letters to church members at Philippi and Colossae while imprisoned in Rome. Like Joseph Smith’s letter from Liberty Jail, the context adds meaning to Paul’s words. When he tells the Colossians, “Remember my bonds” (Colossians 4:18), he is talking quite literally. When he declares to the Philippians that he has learned to be content in any circumstances, they know that his circumstances are far from ideal. (See Philippians 4:11.) And when he boldly testifies, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me,” it’s meaningful that he follows up immediately with words of gratitude: “Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction” (Philippians 4:13-14). In other words, “I can endure all of these trials with the help of Jesus, but I’m also grateful for your support!”

When Paul tells the Philippians, “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice” (Philippians 4:4), they must have thought, “If even Paul can find joy in his current circumstances, then surely I can find joy in mine.” (See also Colossians 1:9-11.)

Here are some other lessons I’ve learned from these two epistles:

1. Disciples of Jesus Christ feel compassion for others deeply and intensely.

Paul encouraged church members in Colossae to “put on…bowels of mercies” (Colossians 3:12). He pleaded with the saints at Phillipi, “if there be any…bowels and mercies,” then they should be unified and kind to one another, and should “each esteem other better than themselves” (Philippians 2:1-3).

In modern English, we don’t typically use the word bowels or intestines to describe our emotions, but we do talk about feeling something “in your gut,” or having “butterflies in your stomach.” We might describe sudden, intense experiences as “gut-wrenching” or say that we feel like we’ve been punched or kicked in the gut.

So it’s significant that the prophet Abinadi didn’t just say that the Savior loves us. He said that the Savior has “the bowels of mercy, being filled with compassion towards the children of men” (Mosiah 15:9). As His disciples, we need to emulate that deeply felt compassion and empathy.

See the following blog post:

• What Are “Bowels of Mercy?”

2. God saves us by empowering us.

Paul gives an unexpected admonition in his epistle to the Philippians: “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12). How could he say that, when he had made it clear so many times before that we are saved only by the grace of Jesus Christ, not by our works? (See for example, Romans 3:20-24, Ephesians 2:8-9.)

The same admonition appears twice in the Book of Mormon. (See Alma 34:37, Mormon 9:27.)

Paul helps us to understand what he means in the following verse: “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13).

We sometimes talk about God’s grace as something that acts upon us rather than as something that empowers us. We speak of the cleansing power of the Atonement freeing us from the effects of our sins so that we are not excluded from God’s presence. But God is trying to do more than restore us to our factory settings. He’s trying to help us become better than we’ve ever been before, capable of doing things that we could never do before. That doesn’t just happen to us. We have to work at it, but with humility and trust (“fear and trembling”), recognizing that His grace will flow into our lives as we act in faith, trying to do things which we can only do with his help.

Here’s a blog post on that topic:

• What Does It Mean to “Work Out Your Own Salvation?”

3. Jesus submitted His body to the will of His spirit.

Paul tells us that Jesus was “in the form of God” before He was born, but that He willingly “took upon him the form of a servant” by entering mortality. While in this state, “he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:6-8).

The Book of Mormon prophet Abinadi used different terminology to convey the same truth. He referred to the mortal part of the Savior as “the Son” and the immortal part as “the Father.” Then, he explained, “The flesh becoming subject unto the Spirit, or the Son to the Father…suffereth himself to be mocked, and scourged,… crucified, and slain, the flesh becoming subject even unto death, the will of the Son being swallowed up in the will of the Father” (Mosiah 15:5-7).

We must also learn to subordinate our physical desires to our spiritual selves. Here’s a blog post on that topic:

• The Flesh Becoming Subject to the Spirit – Mosiah 15:2-5

4. We should seek after all good things.

Paul encourages the Philippians to focus on the good things that surround them:

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Philippians 4:8

For Latter-day Saints, these words are very familiar. Our thirteenth article of faith ends with a similar list: “If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.”

Mormon taught that “all things which are good cometh of God” and that “every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God.” Therefore, he encouraged his people to “lay hold upon every good thing, and condemn it not” (Moroni 7:12-13, 19).

That’s pretty all-encompassing and pretty liberating! We should keep our eyes open for the good which is all around us and welcome all good things into our lives. See the following blog post:

• Every Thing Which Inviteth and Enticeth to Do Good – Moroni 7:13

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