Christ, his sacrificial death, and the certainty of his eventual reign over all creation. Yet these doctrines are introduced into the letter, not for their own sake but for very practical purposes. They were included first as an example of the role of obedience and humility in living the Christian life, and no sooner have they been set forth in these seven verses than Paul returns once more to practical Christianity. He writes, “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my