Citizens of Heaven | Philippians

Prof. Wright calls Philippians 3:20 one of the most misunderstood verses in all of Paul’s letters. All too often, the phrase ‘citizen of heaven’ allows believers to ignore the problems and realities of this world. The context of Roman citizenship in Philippi can help us better understand what Paul meant, and how we can apply his words to our own lives.
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[@rehr2]

Incredible! Such a paradigm shift from modern western Christian teachings. So encouraging. So refreshing to hear these words!

[@NTWrightOnline]

Thank you for your kind words! We're grateful for our community. Thank you for your encouragement and support. --NTW Online Team

[@TeslaandAirbusesarewaytoofun]

Thank you Bishop Wright for having a passion for God, pouring your life into understanding God, and pouring what you have learned into all of us who hear you.

[@NTWrightOnline]

Thank you for your kind words! While Bishop Wright doesn't personally monitor this channel, we appreciate your support. We are grateful to our donors and supporters who make Bishop Wright's teachings easily accessible to all. --NTW Online Team

[@suewenger4499]

I found this enlightening. For years I have lived in the knowledge that 'this world is not my home, I'm just a passing through ' and now I see citizenship as us being agents. It really helps me to understand more about heaven but would love to hear more. Too much to say here but thank you so much for your explanation .

[@NTWrightOnline]

Glad you enjoyed it. If you're interested in a deeper dive in this area, you might check out 'Surprised by Hope' or our online course, www.udemy.com/course/surprised-by-the-god-of-hope/?src=sac&kw=surprised+by

[@parksmithjr3335]

Oh Lord Jesus, help me to latch on to these contextual truths, and free me from all error!

[@claudettedavis4113]

Thank you for that transformative teaching. Bless you

[@NTWrightOnline]

Your words mean a lot to us! N.T. Wright does not personally monitor this channel, but we're grateful for your encouragement and support. Blessings to you as well. --NTW Online Team

[@christianfrommuslim]

It is always interesting and important to understand scripture with the context of its time. NT reframes so much of what we have understood. I don't see the total coherence yet, but some definitely fits better than the dispensational approach. knowing and respecting Christians with various divergent opinions helps me see that Christians should be less dogmatic about their theology and eschatology than the Great Commission.

[@NTWrightOnline]

So true! Understanding scripture in its historical context often does reshape perspectives, and listening to diverse Christian opinions encourages humility in theology and eschatology. Thank you for the shared wisdom!

[@paullatif4092]

Fascinating !! to acknowledge a renewal "on earth as it is heaven" !!

[@louise1887]

Thank you for this wonderful reminder. God bless you.

[@jawajab5173]

I thank God for Dr. Wright, who has opened my eyes and heart to grasp things I otherwise would have thought and taught differently, if not mistakenly. Read some of his works, but the podcasts are like streams in the desert. Thank you, Dr. Wright😂

[@simontemplar3359]

Amen! And also all the best to Newcastle United! (at least until they play Liverpool) Rev. Dr. Wright, sir you are a treasure! Thank you for your amazing work!

[@NTWrightOnline]

Depending on the outcome of Saturday's match we might need a Monday devotional on lament!

[@virginiashroyer2279]

Thank you brother Wright for sharing so many truth’s to us. You are so enlightening, and fresh!

[@maddym.r.7795]

❤

[@mtc4him201]

Your teaching has been such a blessing to me. I was always bothered by most of what I was being taught as it didn't make sense it light of Scripture.

[@Leadeshipcoach]

Amen! And Amen!! Thank you Dr. Wright!

[@Maumau21]

Can't wait

[@telgraLainweb]

Thanks for watching and commenting. You have been selected in my draw✨Winners should text on telegram to claim prize. (Only Winners), God Bless You..❤❤

[@IorgaArtStudio]

🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@keelanenns4548]

Based

[@keelanenns4548]

You should 100% collaborate with Redeemed Zoomer (Richard Ackerman). He started a movement to retake mainline Protestantism based on your understanding of the Kingdom of Heaven. He gave guys like me something to fight for.

[@panteamaddah82]

Amen, lovely morning devotions 🙏☕️ thank you

[@telgraLainweb]

Thanks for watching and commenting. You have been selected in my draw✨Winners should text on telegram to claim prize. (Only Winners), God Bless You..❤❤

[@lorifast5496]

This is a much more attractive view of heaven than what I grew up with, more robust and fitting better with the world as we know it. I am so grateful for your teaching on heaven and resurrection - it has changed my life. Thank you!

[@NTWrightOnline]

We're are encouraged to hear of the growth you've experienced. Would love to hear more about what that has been like in your life.

[@lorifast5496]

@@NTWrightOnline Where to start…! I grew up with the Hal Lindsey stuff, very focused on leaving earth behind and going to heaven, so I never could square that with how much I loved nature and animals and being out in the world. Coming to understand that resurrection is the goal, not “heaven,” helped me integrate my care for creation with theological understanding. Coming to believe that this body, the one I am now, will be resurrected changed how I think about bodies and material things in general. It has helped me truly understand that God created, and it was good.

[@NTWrightOnline]

Wonderful stuff! Drop us a note at [e-mail] if you'd like to share more.

[@vivianevans8323]

It's yet another reminder by Paul that it's about the here and now, not about something somewhere, somewhen, above in the skies, because we are already citizens of Heaven and are expected to act as such. This - forgive me the slight flippancy! - gives a lovely new meaning to the expression 'Foreign Agent' ...

[@telgraLainweb]

Thanks for watching and commenting. You have been selected in my draw✨Winners should text on telegram to claim prize. (Only Winners), God Bless You..❤

[@no42arak-st-floor44]

🫖this is a jewel! Thank you for your wisdom.

[@no42arak-st-floor44]

I appreciate your prayers for my departed beloved Eunice, as you wrote few months ago....Louisiana!

[@NTWrightOnline]

Glad you enjoyed the videos--good to see you here again!

[@no42arak-st-floor44]

Thank you professor! BTW The KZbin ID is very similar to my email address, just sent you a short message to your (office email) for your reference. Very grateful!

[@NTWrightOnline]

The email address to contact us is [e-mail]

[@no42arak-st-floor44]

@@NTWrightOnline I want to take this opportunity to write you back right after my prayers for Eunice! I'm really honored and feel privileged for sharing the information and I will be in touch either through KZbin to compliment your great work or from time to time email regarding your benevolent contributions to the entire universe! respectfully, Majid Asgari. The sowrd of reality is the saint's protection! (Rumi)

[@cindychurch335]

Awe, my good friend was a Sunderland fan. As an American woman, I had no knowledge of “footie” as he so lovingly referred to it. I was fortunate to see a Newcastle/Sunderland match in October 2013. 😊 Dr. Wright, you are a blessing to me with your wise insight to scripture. I’m a new subscriber and look forward to listening to all your episodes. You bring peace to my heart.

[@NTWrightOnline]

Thanks for your email encouraging words. We're glad you're here.

[@PeterAlmenar]

This presentation is one of Dr. Wright’s central themes in his writing. If we are agents or representatives of Heaven it behooves us to act like it. It seems that many Christians don’t care about creation or their fellow human beings (because they think they’ll escape to heaven somewhere). We really need to do the opposite and be caring and self-giving.

[@NTWrightOnline]

Indeed! To live as 'angled mirrors' reflecting God's love for creation into the world and the praises of creation to God is a wonderful vocation.

[@humancatbag]

Amen. Thank you for this encouragement.

[@janetotto9321]

Prof. Wright, I love your teaching! Have followed you online for years! Your Rev. study & Beale's commentary were so helpful in studying Rev.!

[@London_miss234]

I believe the Bible.

[@telgraLainweb]

Thanks for watching and commenting. You have been selected in my draw✨Winners should text on telegram to claim prize. (Only Winners), God Bless You..❤❤

[@annschwarz3727]

This was a lovely reminder of our job here and now. Thank you.

[@judytheobald8704]

Wonderful exposition

[@DavidSmith-sl2dl]

Thank you - very clear. It matches perfectly with that passage in Hebrews where it says 'we seek a heavenly country' - but it will be here on earth when the kingdom of heaven is established !

[@NTWrightOnline]

Indeed! And, perhaps another resonance is what it might mean to both to live as foreigners and strangers in the world, and to empathise with the experience of others who are on the 'outside'.

[@berememberedfortheloveyoug244]

Thank you Sir. I have always considered the fact that most people concentrate on a sort of Heaven as if it is somewhere out there in the sky above the earth on pillars of clouds floating in a celestial reality, when on the contrary scripture teaches us the Kingdom of God will be here on earth. Prophet Isaiah spoke about this where the lion and the lamb will eat straw together. There will be a new transformed earth as the New Jerusalem comes and the Kingdom of God through Christ our Lord is setup once and for all.

[@NTWrightOnline]

Indeed, and the emphasis of Jesus inaugurating the Kingdom of God as a present reality and foretaste of what is to come brings hope and purpose for today !

[@berememberedfortheloveyoug244]

@@NTWrightOnline Amen

[@omegaminus1]

There are many hymns, songs and prayers that seem to indicate the misunderstanding highlighted in this excellent presentation. We are so fortunate to have Prof Wright's teaching to help demonstrate the Biblical truth.

[@NTWrightOnline]

Interesting observation-- the ways in which our theological commitments undergird familiar songs or prayers and yet often go unnoticed!

[@robbieendris3948]

Very helpful! Thank you, Prof. Wright!

[@telgraLainweb]

Thanks for watching and commenting. You have been selected in my draw✨Winners should text on telegram to claim prize. (Only Winners), God Bless You..❤

[@bettyh7586]

Great explanation. I have heard the going home instead of the new Kingdom coming here.

[@telgraLainweb]

Thanks for watching and commenting. You have been selected in my draw✨Winners should text on telegram to claim prize. (Only Winners), God Bless You..❤

[@national_superbike]

I think Paul alludes to both realities in several of his letters. Just before Phil 3 he says in Philippians 1:21-24 " For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account." He was hard pressed because heaven is a real place where Christians go to be with Christ- at least until He returns. Certainly there is some mystery surrounding all this. But at least we can say that as long as we are here on earth, we need to live like Paul did- expecting Christ's return and pointing others to Him.

[@juliegiddings9123]

That was very good, Understand that more clearly now.

[@telgraLainweb]

Thanks for watching and commenting. You have been selected in my draw✨Winners should text on telegram to claim prize. (Only Winners), God Bless You..❤

[@marknoonan5566]

Thank you for correcting my view of eternity. that was helpful.

[@NTWrightOnline]

Was there a particular insight that was most useful?

[@marknoonan5566]

@@NTWrightOnline It's easy to think about just preparing for Heaven, and forget about being the agent of heaven here ready for the new heavens and new earth.

[@NTWrightOnline]

A good reminder for today!

[@thomascurran4323]

Excellent!!! I had to listen to this several times to understand our citizenship of heaven while on earth, this despite having a solid grasp on the transformational property of our journey passing through this life. I look forward to each video to expand/ meditate on my ( limited) understanding of God. Thank you ever so much.

[@NTWrightOnline]

We're glad to be reading (and listening!) to Scripture together!

[@andrewgraham7659]

I'll join you with a mug of tea.

[@kyleighperry8691]

Thank you! I’ve always wondered how it works, especially because Jesus said He is going to prepare a place for us. My understanding is that when He returns, Heaven and earth will “merge” and earth will be made new? Fascinating stuff

[@NTWrightOnline]

And, could it be that the church--formed by a collective body of individual believers--form the new temple where heaven and earth now overlap...?

[@peterward6625]

Indeed as citizens of the Kingdom on Earth, we are also it's ambassadors (cf 2Cor5:20)....and in a similar sense could the Church be considered the Embassy of the Kingdom?

[@NTWrightOnline]

Is it possible the idea of the Church being considered as the 'Embassy' of the Kingdom might connote a building or a 'compound', which may lessen the fact that the 'Church' is the people of God (who are in various places at various times). Yet, every image breaks down at some point and there are some elements of 'Embassy' that are good metaphorically.

[@magnusalphonce8553]

Greetings from Sweden! This is so good! Something that puzzels me slightly is this: While I love the idea of working out certain aspects of God's realm here on earth already now (justice, equality, freedom, peace, multi-cultural fellowship etc) I find other aspects more challenging. If there are no marriages in "heaven", how do we become agents of that reality here and now? And, worst of all, what if the vegetarians are right?! No meat in heaven so you probably shouldn't enjoy bacon here! :) Not sure how to debate with that. I do love me an occasional burger... :)

[@NTWrightOnline]

Warm greetings from the US! So glad you enjoyed the videos. There are so many things that we have questions about regarding life after the New Heavens and New Earth materialise. Fortunately, we know of God's loving intent that we enjoy a purified and rectified existence. There are aspects of our future hope that are part of our present reality, which we embody today. Many unanswered questions for now. But at least Easter has shown us the reality and truth of our future destiny. One way of working out and wrestling with these tough questions is by learning together in community. If you're interested in a deeper dive into some of the exegetical questions, we've got online courses--in particular the Gospels of Mark and Luke regarding the passage you mentioned. You can find browse all the courses at www.ntwrightonline.org/courses

[@johns1590]

Sir as I understand the rapture one of its purposes is to take he who restrains out of the way so the man of sin may be revealed. I have always heard that one who restrains is the holy sprit through the church. What do think?

[@telgraLainweb]

Thanks for watching and commenting. You have been selected in my draw✨Winners should text on telegram to claim prize. (Only Winners), God Bless You..❤

[@drezhilarasi]

Tea😊

[@NTWrightOnline]

Do you have a favourite?

[@drezhilarasi]

I also like tea,so I was thrilled, when a Bible teacher like u,have similar taste,thank u sir

[@tresbienjustice6369]

What is a Man and a Woman? Is it defined by Anatomy? What about Men, who identify as Female? What about Women, who identify as Males?

[@sherrywebber4013]

THAT is what I've been talking about!! How can we POSSibly get understanding 🤔 with the history of the times that go with the writing. I studied with Wycliffe Biblical Encyclopedia next to me. But in my younger years when I purchased it ... I wanted to know the Jewish history to seek Jesus .... and got a whole new view of what man teaches. Thank you sir for setting this passage straight for me (finally) I'm not particularly good with Roman history during that time & your explanation was crystal clear!! 👍 much respect & blessings to you 🙏 🙌 sir. You are ever in my prayers. Sherry Webber

[@NTWrightOnline]

Thanks for your comments. We're glad to see you here each week, and very grateful for your prayers!

[@davidanzalone6601]

From which version is Prof. Wright reading? Blessings!

[@NTWrightOnline]

It is the Kingdom New Testament. OT passages are from the NRSV.

[@PhilGeissler]

What does "Then I saw 'a new heaven and a new earth,' for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away," from Revelation 21:1 mean?

[@NTWrightOnline]

Perhaps, it is John's echo of creation in Genesis and the vision of the ultimate fulfillment of God's New Creation (which is happening now!) What do others think?

[@michaelkistner6286]

​@@NTWrightOnline I think it's a problem. What exactly does passing away mean? If what John describes is a second ex nihilo creation, the world will be annihilated. That's incompatible with your perspective. But it's also possible to take it along side the Genesis account and view new creation as deliverance from the Chaos into which God's creation has descended. In that case new creation is a reordering of the world into the paradise (or at least potential paradise) intended by the Creator from the beginning. What I don't know is how to "prove" either view based on exegesis alone. It seems we are confronted yet again with the inescapable need for a canon within the canon by which we interpret those challenging portions of the text that refuse to sit comfortably inside our system.

[@teresasupernault1789]

What does it mean when Jesus says that He is going to prepare a place for you .. and that there are many rooms in my Father’s house

[@NTWrightOnline]

We might imagine Jesus preparing for his body--the church--to be formed by a collective of Spirit-filled believers, which shapes the new temple where heaven and earth now overlap. What do others think?

[@teresasupernault1789]

@@NTWrightOnline good question .. I think I will bring it up in our small group and see what people say. Thank you for answering it gives me something to think about

[@michaelkistner6286]

Perhaps I'm making this too simple, but for me the key phrase in the passage you cite is 'that where I am you may be also'. We go to be with him while we wait to return with him. For me the two come together in the image of the new Jerusalem coming down to the renewed earth.

[@voltrondefender1174]

I think it is more marriage illustrations from Jesus. When a Jewish couple was betrothed, the groom would often leave and go prepare a place, (add on room)with his father for the new couple to reside. When he returned the marriage would be consummated and the bride would return home with her husband. My best guess is that Jesus is intimating that we are betrothed, promised, etc.. and promising to return for his bride so that we can live in full intimacy with him.

[@jongottenbos532]

Sadly 99% of Christian's will never understand this and that is why Christianity will never be able to fully blossom. The modern teachings of heaven holds back the Church and does not help it 😢

[@NTWrightOnline]

We understand and appreciate your perspective on the challenges within Christianity. While it is sad that these concepts have not been as widely taught in Western Christianity, God's grace is greater than our understanding. God's Spirit is with his people, even when our knowledge is incomplete. We have good reason to remain hopeful as we pray for every opportunity to share the hope within us.

[@scottkozinski6199]

While I understand your main intent, and agree that we can and should make incursions (in our case bless those around us as Jesus would) I don't know that I favor your comparison to Roman solders. It seems to me you've not painted the whole picture, or perhaps you've left it rosier than it truly is. While our citizenship may indeed be in Heaven, it still seems to me our location or occupancy is in very hostile territory. It is still ruled and predominantly populated by enemies of Heaven, who hated our master and certainly hate us. To say otherwise is to deny all sense and observation. The Roman soldiers were conquerors living in a conquered land. They imposed their will and rights. Frankly, we're more like the resistance. Yes, he lives, and he will return for us, and, he will certainly take us out of this occupied territory. To describe it as "scooping us out of here" is not far fetched. Wouldn't you say that Paul describes that event as the Rapture or taking up? To say that we're removed forever is not so, in that, we will return with him, claim what is his, and he will rule and reign; albeit, with a rod of iron (a very necessary rod of iron for a millennium). Ultimately, Heaven and Earth are unified, but that is not yet the case. As lord of both, Jesus still delays, and for whatever reason, chooses not to exercise his right, his authority over the earth part...yet. So, then, how shall we live? I believe you address this, but unless he does scoop us out of here, it may be God honoring, but still a God-honoring death. Bravery is action in the face of realized risk.

[@NTWrightOnline]

Hi, Scott. Thank you for your response. I want to let you know that N.T. Wright is semi-retired and doesn't actively monitor this channel. I believe incorporating the concept of "now and not yet" would be a helpful piece to add to your reflections. Here is a video of N.T. Wright explaining this idea: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hGKWeZiaeLGCpsk I hope you'll let us know what you think. ~Charleen at N.T. Wright Online