How Paul Lived on Earth as a Citizen of Heaven

In this short article Aaron Dunlop shows how Paul “worked out” in his life his faith in the sovereign Lord.

In Philippians 1:27 Paul encouraged the church at Philippi to show that their “manner of life” was “worthy of the gospel.” This phrase “manner of life” means to behave as a citizen. The city of Philippi was a Roman colony. Although hundreds of miles away from Rome, it was under Roman law, received all of the privileges of Roman citizenship and protected by Rome.

“The gospel is not an idea to be nurtured, or a theology to be studied, but a life to be lived—it’s the life of Jesus.”

 

This piece first appeared in The Pastor’s Study, Vol. 5.3 (July – Sept. 2025).