Philippians 1:27 – One spirit, one soul

… that whether coming and making your acquaintance, or being absent, I should be hearing of your  concerns, that you are standing firm in one spirit, one soul, competing together in the faith of the evangel.

“Worthily of the Evangel of Christ” is not a vague challenge. For it would appear when Paul would learn of the Philippians that they fight with one accord in the faith of the Gospel. Regardless of whether he would be present with them or not.

In Christendom there is always much to be said about achieving unity. Such efforts are, by definition, human work. For true, spiritual unity is there. And that unity is experienced when believers stand together on that one foundation of truth. Of lies there are many, but of truth there is only one. And therefore, if believers insist on it, in the one Gospel, they find each other. “In one spirit, in one soul”. Where ‘soul’ differences, such as culture, education, interests, often cause conflicts, such differences automatically disappear into the background in a spiritual unity.

Certainly, in the unity that Paul envisions, there is also struggle. But that struggle is not among themselves but outwardly, because one stands in the Gospel. And yes, that inevitably leads to struggle…

Delen: