Monday: Paul in Chains
Daily Lesson for Monday 29th of December 2025
While in Macedonia, Paul mentions multiple imprisonments (2 Corinthians 6:5, 2 Corinthians 11:23, 2 Corinthians 7:5). The first recorded instance was in Philippi (Acts 16:16-24). Later he was imprisoned in Jerusalem briefly before being transferred to prison in Caesarea.
Elsewhere, Paul mentions being “in my chains” (Philemon 1:10,13, NKJV). Although under house arrest in Rome, he was chained to an elite Roman soldier. Ignatius, a Christian of the early second century who was chained up like this, described the soldiers as behaving like “wild beasts . . . who only get worse when they are well treated.”—Michael W. Holmes, ed., The Apostolic Fathers (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2007), p. 231.
Read 2 Corinthians 4:7-12. In this passage, what reveals how Paul was able to endure the trials he faced? What seems to be the focus of his life?
Image © Lars Justinen at Goodsalt.com
No matter how hard life got, Paul was able to see a brighter side, and that gave him courage to bear up under stress. Despite Satan hurling everything he could, Paul knew he was not forsaken.
Read 2 Corinthians 6:3-7. What spiritual resources did Paul have available to help him face these difficulties?
Often, we may be tempted to look at our circumstances, our weaknesses, or our past failures and become discouraged. It’s at times like these that we need to remember all the amazing provisions God has made for our success in battling evil. One of the most important is the Bible itself, “the word of truth,” because we can learn from others’ mistakes and also learn how these people have succeeded. Also, the Holy Spirit “makes effectual what has been wrought out by the world’s Redeemer. It is by the Spirit that the heart is made pure. Through the Spirit the believer becomes a partaker of the divine nature. Christ has given His Spirit as a divine power to overcome all hereditary and cultivated tendencies to evil, and to impress His own character upon His church.”—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 671.
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How can we, as laity or as clergy, always “commend ourselves as ministers of God” (2 Corinthians 6:4, NKJV)? What does that mean? |
In my youth my thirst for reading led me to H V Morton’s book, “In the Steps of Saint Paul”, Even then it was an old book, written in 1936, it opened a window of understanding for the writings of Paul. It made the places real – they either still exist today, or their ruins are there for us to study. So, when I read his epistles, I had a picture in my mind of where these people live and the things that were important to them. I had a quick look through the lesson pamphlet, and it gets down to the theological business pretty quickly. However, I want to take the time to say something about Phillipi and Colossae in the hope we will better understand these epistles. Paul visited Phillipi butnot Colossae. They are very different towns In this comment I will provide a description of Phillipi and tomorrow I will to a similar coverage of Colossae.
Phillipi was a very Roman town in what is now northern Greece (Macedonia). There was a big battle there in 42BC and it was settled by retired Roman soldiers who brought with them the Latin language and Roman culture. The main religion was the Imperial Cult – mainly a set of rituals honouring Ceasar. We need to understand that this was more a loyalty thing than a religion in the modern sense.
The Jewish presence in Phillipi was small. They did not have a synagogue (You need a quorum of 10 men for that). Instead, the women met for prayers by a stream outside the city gates. Lydia is mentioned in this setting. She was a seller of purple, a dye made from the murex shellfish. Interestingly she wasn’t a local, She had come from Thyatira, which was about 450km east in Turkiye. Reading between the lines I think Lydia was a very rich business woman. Tyrian purple was reserved for royalty because It was so expensive
Paul and Silas were put in prison essentially for disturbing the status quo – the veneration of Caesar. We all know the story of how they were released by an earthquake. Interestingly, Paul make use of his Roman citizenship in the aftermath pointing out that they were entitled by law to better treatment than what they received.
The ruins of Phillipi are extensive and show ancient Greek walls, a theatre, a forum, and a gymnasium; all the things you would expect in a very Roman ancient city.
Hopefully you find this background useful. Tomorrow I will continue with a similar description of Colossae.
All human beings are in some kind of chain, externally inflicted or self-inflicted. Paul was in chains imposed on him by Roman authority (external chain). On the other hand, the Bible identifies another type of chain, which is self-inflicted. This arises from our own choices. We exercise our free will, but unfortunately, we end up in chains. Misuse of freedom ends up in captivity. Bad choices lead to bondage. “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.” Sin normally begins as a voluntary act but ends up in bondage. Sin is a choice which drags its victims into shackles.“The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare them; the cords of their sins hold them fast.” (Proverbs 5:22).
As we find ourselves in our diverse chains, let us always remember that God want to set us free. In fact, the prime objective of Jesus’ coming to the planet is to set us free. “He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.” (Isaiah 61:1). Only Jesus has the power to release and restore us from the scars inflicted upon us by the chains of the devil. “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36). There is no chain which is too strong that Jesus cannot break.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30, NIV).