How Did Paul Handle Shelter-in-Place?
Philippians 1 is an interesting passage to look at while we are all under the yoke of a pandemic. How can any of this be for good? We just need to get back to normal. Right? Enough dying. Enough job loss. Enough home incarceration. Certainly, Paul’s circumstances were pretty dire. His real imprisonment is unjust, and is impeding his ministry and the progress of the gospel. Some say he was handcuffed to a guard. He had the probability of execution hanging over his head. If I were Paul, I would be desperate to get out of there, and get back to normal. Albeit, a dynamic, world-saving, death-defying sort of normal. What is Paul’s actual attitude? “… my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel.” There doesn’t even appear to be any hint of disappointment. It’s as if being in prison is to be expected, as if nothing is out of order. Would I write the letter in this way? I think not. When something unjust happens to me I