Live as citizens

Paul uses the verb politeuo in Philippians 1:27, urging his readers to “conduct yourselves as citizens worthy of the gospel.” Doble points out that this same verb occurs in Acts 23:1, where Paul defends himself before the Sanhedrin by saying that he has “conducted himself with a perfectly good conscience before God up to this day.” There, he is using the verb to describe his conduct within the community of Israel; he has been a good citizen of his people. But, as Philippians shows, he is among a different people now, a different “commonwealth,” one that has different standards for its citizens.