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chapter. In 2: 2 he expects the Philippians to "look" (skopeo) on the things of others,
but his own `look' is according to a "mark" (skopos) for a prize (3: 14). What is the
answer to these apparently contradictory ideas?
The difficulty comes about when the `nature' of reward for service is not appreciated.
If `prize' conjures up in our mind the picture of a man proudly displaying his trophies to
be admired by all, "prizes" which he has won for himself, then we have not grasped the
Scriptural conception. Similarly, if `reigning' suggests idly sitting on a throne to be
admired by underdogs, the same shallow thinking on our part is apparent. What then is
the Scriptural conception?
Beginning with the Lord Himself, His `mind' was set on "the joy lying before Him".
What was this joy? It was certainly connected with His exaltation to the right hand of
God, and was won by His endurance of, and obedience to, the death of the cross
(Hebrews 12: 1, 2; Phil. 2: 8, 9). He was faithful unto death, enduring the cross to
secure the joy set before Him.
By comparing Heb. 12: 1, 2 with Psa. 16: 11 (note that Peter quoted this Psalm of
the resurrection and exaltation of Christ, verses 8-11; Acts 2: 25-33) note the parallels:
"race" ("path"), "the right hand of God", and "fullness of joy". The word "fullness"
(soba) is related to "satisfied" (sabea), and by observing its usage in Isa. 53:, some idea
of what the Lord's "joy" included may be gained:
"He was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my
people . . . . . He shall see the fruit of the travail of His soul and be satisfied" (verses 8,
11 R.S.V.)
The Lord's satisfaction (fullness) of joy involved seeing the fruit of His service;
"the joy that was set before Him is not something for Himself alone, but something to
be shared with those for whom He died" (F. F. Bruce on Heb. 12: 2). Compare
John 17: 24.
Similarly with Paul, his "joy" and "crown" involved others; in seeking "the things of
others", he sought the prize, the joy set before him. The Philippians, won from the
human standpoint by his labour, were his "joy and crown" (Phil. 4: 1). So too the
Thessalonians:
"What is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of
our Lord Jesus Christ at His Coming? For ye are our glory and joy" (I Thess. 2: 19, 20).
Paul's joy and crown lay in the fruits of service presented before the Lord in that day;
this was a reward in itself.
But these thoughts do not exhaust the idea of "crown" and "reigning" in Scripture, for
Paul expected (together with all who have loved His appearing) the "crown" of
righteousness" in "that day" (II Tim. 4: 8). He had fought a good fight and finished
the course, his "endurance" surely guaranteed for him the privilege of "reigning"
(II Tim. 2: 12). But what is "reigning"? It is simply higher service for Him.