The Jewish Background of Philippians 1:11

It's interesting to see how the failure of Israel provokes the prophetic warning of impending judgment in Amos. In particular the pride and inability to produce the fruit of righteousness result in judgment hanging over the heads of Israel. The little phrase here in the Septuagint (LXX) is used in the Greek New Testament by Paul when he writes to the Philippians. There he mentions this concept as part of his regular prayer life for the saints in Philippi. Paul taught that righteousness was not earned, but that it was a gift from God through faith in Jesus Christ. And that condition of being right with God enables believers to bear fruit for God. In Philippians 1 Paul reveals that he prayed regularly for the fruit of righteousness to mature. This is contrast starkly to the prophet Amos' accusation that Israel failed to bear the fruit of righteousness in Amos 6:12. What is the difference? The difference according to Paul is that the law of Moses bore no power to enable people to do what was right. It simply pointed out what was right. But in the law of Christ, in the gospel, the transforming power of God grants us all righteousness when we see and believe in the message of the cross! So we are able to bear the fruit of righteousness simply because this is who now are! We are righteous in Christ. Like honeycrisp apples on an apple tree, it is simply normal for believers in Christ to bear the fruit of righteousness. And it is a good thing to pray for that fruit in peoples lives as well as to let them know you are praying for this in their lives as Paul did with the saints in Philippi. So pray for those you are discipling to bear the fruit of righteousness in Christ. Pray this often as you thank God for their faith as well. 3 O you who put far away the day of disaster and bring near the seat of violence? 4 "Woe to those who lie on beds of ivory and stretch themselves out on their couches, and eat lambs from the flock and calves from the midst of the stall, 5 who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp and like David invent for themselves instruments of music, 6 who drink wine in bowls and anoint themselves with the finest oils, but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph! 7 Therefore they shall now be the first of those who go into exile, and the revelry of those who stretch themselves out shall pass away." 8 The Lord GOD has sworn by himself, declares the LORD, the God of hosts: "I abhor the pride of Jacob and hate his strongholds, and I will deliver up the city and all that is in it." 9 And if ten men remain in one house, they shall die. 10 And when one's relative, the one who anoints him for burial, shall take him up to bring the bones out of the house, and shall say to him who is in the innermost parts of the house, "Is there still anyone with you?" he shall say, "No"; and he shall say, "Silence! We must not mention the name of the LORD." 11 For behold, the LORD commands, and the great house shall be struck down into fragments, and the little house into bits. 12 Do horses run on rocks? Does one plow there with oxen? But you have turned justice into poison and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood-- 13 you who rejoice in Lo-debar, who say, "Have we not by our own strength captured Karnaim for ourselves?" 14 "For behold, I will raise up against you a nation, O house of Israel," declares the LORD, the God of hosts; "and they shall oppress you from Lebo-hamath to the Brook of the Arabah." (Amo 6:7-14 ESV) 7 因此，你們將是最先被擄去的人，宴樂享受的日子必要消逝。 8 主耶和華指著自己起誓說："我痛恨雅各所誇耀的，憎惡他的堡壘；我要把城市和城中的一切，都交給敵人。"這是耶和華萬軍的　神的宣告。 9 如果在一間房子裡剩下十個人，他們都必死亡。 10 死者的親屬和殮葬的人把屍體從房子抬走，並問那躲在屋內深處的人："還有人嗎？"那人回答："沒有，不要再說話，不可再提耶和華的名。" 11 看哪！耶和華下令，大樓就粉碎，小屋也要破裂。 12 馬能在懸崖奔馳嗎？人可在那裡用牛耙地嗎？但你使公正變為毒草，使公義的果子轉為苦堇。 13 你們以奪取羅底巴為誇耀，說："我們奪取加寧不是靠自己的力量嗎？" 14 "看哪！以色列家，我要興起一國攻擊你們，這國要欺壓你們，從哈馬關口直至亞拉巴河。"這是萬軍耶和華　神的宣告。

(Amo 6:7-14 CNV5) Paul in Philippians talks about this concept of the 'Fruit of Righteousness' (matches Amos 6:12 in the LXX perfectly and is the only perfect match to the OT for this phrase). 7 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. (Phi 1:7-11 ESV) 7 為你們眾人我有這樣的意念是很恰當的，因為你們常常在我的心裡，無論我是在捆鎖之中，或是在辯護和證實福音的時候，你們都和我一同分享　神的恩典。 8 我是怎樣以基督耶穌的心腸，切切地想念你們眾人，這是　神可以為我作證的。 9 我所禱告的，是要你們的愛心，在充足的知識和各樣的見識上，多而又多， 10 使你們可以辨別是非，成為真誠無可指摘的人，直到基督的日子， 11 靠著耶穌基督結滿了公義的果子，使　神得著榮耀和讚美。 (Phi 1:7-11 CNV5) Paul's teaching about righteousness from Jesus Christ reveals his core. In his thinking the 'indicative produces the imperative'. So he is calling the saints to bear fruit in keeping with who they already are in Christ. This is a natural by-product of a relationship with Jesus. Legalism comes when we reverse the order....and licentiousness comes when we omit the imperatives of scripture. Paul always couples the indicatives with the imperatives in his teaching.