God’s Word for You

Philippians 1:27b-28 contending together as one

by Pastor Timothy Smith on Tuesday, March 3, 2026

so that whether I come to see you or hear about you while I am absent, I will know that you are standing firm in one spirit, contending together as one man for the faith of the gospel, 28 not frightened in any way by opponents. This is a sign for them about their destruction and about your salvation, and that from God.

Paul’s main concern is that he wants to hear (whether he is with them or not) that the Philippians will be standing firm in one spirit. To be one in spirit means being one in faith, as the prophet says: “Has not the Lord made them one? In flesh and spirit they are his. So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith” (Malachi 2:15). Paul, too, describes both faith and the spirit as being one (1 Corinthians 12:9). If two persons or groups do share the same faith or believe the same doctrine, then they cannot truly be one in spirit or say that they are in Christian fellowship. John says: “It gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell about your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk in the truth” (3 John 1:3). Walking together in the truth, that is, in faith and doctrine, is the very definition of fellowship. In this fellowship we worship together, distribute and receive the sacrament with one another, undertake labor in God’s kingdom together, instruct our children, teachers, ministers and missionaries together, and build new congregations and churches together.

Paul describes this joining and defending of doctrine as “contending together as one man for the faith of the gospel.” This word is synaltheo (συναθλέω, here the present participle, συναθλοῦντες), meaning to struggle alongside someone, especially in battle. He will use the word again in Philippians 4:3, and “for the faith” (dative of advantage) just as he does here. In a battle, soldiers fight for a common cause or objective. Here the battle is the survival of the faith, the cause of the Gospel, and in a sense the City of God, which is the true Holy Christian Church, the Communion of Saints, according to the Third Article of the Apostles’ Creed.

We contend together for this faith by confirming the faith in one another, and standing up for it against all adversity. It will mean shame and ridicule from the world and from the enemies of Christ. When we see our sinfulness, we are comforted that God does not treat us as our sins deserve (Psalm 103:10). We pray, “I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned, and I acknowledge my transgressions.” “And you forgave the guilt of my sin” (Psalm 32:5). And so we naturally want to respond in faith, to live according to the ways of Jesus Christ who dies for us so that by believing in his death and resurrection, we escape death. “The Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in him” (Psalm 32:10).

This fearless contention and struggle against sin and unbelief, false doctrine and hostility against the cross, is a sign to the world. Here Paul touches once again on judgment day. Scripture teaches that a conclusive judgment is passed on every person already at their death. “The spirit returns to God” (Ecclesiastes 12:7), “Today you will be with me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43), “The rich man died and was buried, and in hell where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham” (Luke 16:22-23). Nevertheless, Scripture also says that a last judgment will take place at the end of the world, which is judgment day. About this there is quite a bit that is disclosed: the judge, who is Christ (John 5:27), the nature of the judgment (“he will separate the people from one another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats,” Matthew 25:32), who will be judged, which is all mankind (1 John 4:14), the wicked angels (2 Peter 2:4), Satan (Jude 1:6; 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10), and the Antichrist (2 Thessalonians 2:12; 2 John 1:7-9). Scripture also teaches that the norm of judgment, which is the standard we are all held to, is “Be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy” (Leviticus 19:2), and failing that, there must be faith in Christ alone for our forgiveness (Romans 5:2; Ephesians 2:8). Our own Professor Hoenecke adds: “Scripture also states that this judgment is based on divine righteousness and will explain many secrets of world history and many puzzling inequalities of this time (Psalm 73:16-20; Philippians 1:28; 2 Timothy 4:8; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10).

Another point here is that the good works Paul anticipates seeing in the Philippians (as they contend together for the faith) is that this is a sign of their salvation. “For when good works are done on account of right causes and for right ends (that is, with the intention that God demands of the regenerated), they are an indication of salvation in believers” (Formula of Concord, citing Philippians 1:28).

We first put our faith in Christ. We believe the Scriptures, which have been inspired by God for our instruction and benefit. We rejoice in the fellowship and shared faith of other Christians and Christian churches. We work together for God’s kingdom, contending “as one man” for the faith, using the same punches, thrusts, parries, strokes, and defenses for the sake of the Gospel. Many of these things have been passed down to us by excellent Christians of the past, and where it is right, such as in the matter of our Catechisms and the Lutheran Confessions, we use these things together “both in memory of those who have contended in the past and also for the exercise and training of those who will do so in the future.” For our little church may be small, “and I may be small among my brothers,” but our faith is in Christ, and this is the faith, the only faith, that saves.

In Christ,
Pastor Timothy Smith

 

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