Philippians 1:1-14 study

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Phillippians 1
Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,
To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons: [1]

The word used for 'servants' Gr. Douli doesn't refer to hired household help. This term was commonly used in those times for 'slaves'. Although it's use in the Old Testament for figures like Moses, Joshua and David was in reference to their relationshop to God, it's use in the Greco-Roman context of Paul and his readers in Philippi was that of unmistakable overtones of humility and submission. The Philippian readers would have understood the term to refer to people who were conscripted into the service of Christ, instead of service to sin. (Ref. Romans 6:16 – 23, Galatians 4:1 – 9 and Galatians 5:1.)[2]

2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul and Timothy – This epistle was written by Paul to his close friends the Christians in Phillipi. He was under house arrest as described at the end of Acts. (Acts 28:30, 31) awaiting his court appearance before Caesar.
To all God's holy people in Christ Jesus at Phillippi – This church was founded by Paul during his second missionary journey, eleven years before. It was the first to be established in Europe.
To all – Paul addressed the letter to the groups below.
To all God's holy people in Christ Jesus – To all the Christians in Philippi. Every Christian is a saint, but only in Christ Jesus.
To the overseers – Sometimes translated as 'bishops'. This meant those with leadership responsibilities. The Greek word was used to denote general leadershop before it came to describe a general office recognised by some Christian traditions.
To the deacons – To those who had recognised positions of service.[3]

Paul begins the letter in the way that people usually wrote the latter at that time. He was the author (He always used 'I'). Timothy may have been his secretary, and had been with Paul when the church at Philippi had been established. (Ref, Acts 16)
All God's holy people in Christ Jesus – Paul was writing to them all. He prays for all of them. (verse 4). He loves them all (verse 7). He would like to be with them all (verse 8). He would like to stay with them all (Verse 25). His final greetings are to them all (4:21). He''s reminding the Christians that divisions and dissentions are wrong. No one was outside Paul's interests in how they were living their Christian walk.
Holy People – Mean's people that God has set apart for Himself.
Overseers and deacons – They are there to encourage and protect the others.
Grace and peace – Gr. Charis – Mean's God's generous free gift. It is given out of His love for us. We don't deserve it, and cannot earn it. Peace – We become at peace with God because of the work and sacrifice of Jesus.[4]

3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5  because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

I thank my God every time I remember you – Paul was very thankful when he remembered what the Philippians did for him. He was grateful to the Philippians but also to Him whose kindness they showed.
The Philippians were extremely giving towards Paul. Not only when he was with them (Acts 16:15, 32-34) but also when he was apart from them (2 Corinthians 8:1 – 7, 2 Corinthians 9:1 – 4, 2 Corinthians 11:9).
In all my prayers for all of you – Paul prayed for the Philippians with joy. This was a way that he felt he could repay them for all that they did for him.
He felt joy while praying for the Philippians.
Because of your partnership in the gospel – Paul was thankful for the Philippians because they had supported him with friendship and financial support from early in his ministry.
He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ – When Paul thought of the beginning of God's work among the Philippians, he also thought of when that work would be complete. He also expressed his confidence in God's ability to bring it to completion.
It was indeed a good work that was begun in the Phillippians and is in all believers. The work of grace has it's root in the devine righteousness of the Father, planted by the self-denying goodness of the Son and is daily watered by the goodness of the Spirit. It springs from good, leeds to good and so it's altogether good.
The work in the believer will not be complete until the second coming.[5]

God either works in us or on us, but He will finish the job. It will be finished whether we want it to be done, or not. Once we know Christ, it will be done. We cannot say 'Stop the process – I want out!'[6]

7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me.

Out of Christ no one can stand before God. Without grace, there is no peace. The work of this grace won't be perfected until the day or Jesus' return. We should be confident that God will continue his good work. So also that fellow Christians should encourage each other.[7]

8 God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

It is right for me to feel this way about all of you – Paul's thankfulness, joy and desire to pray for the Philippians was right. They stood beside him in his trials for the gospel, and they had received the same grace as he.[8]

Paul emphasised his personal faith by saying 'my' God. Vs 3 and vs 5 mean that he is thanking God for two things. For the gift of money, but also for their spiritual help as they pray for him.
Although he is in Prison, Paul still has joy.
Paul had brought the gospel to Philippi, but he still realised that it was God's work. What God has begun, He will complete.
Verses 7-8 Paul writes about his great love for the Christians at Philippi. They not only share with him by sending more than one gift of money. They still pray for him and share God's grace with him.[9]

9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may 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.

Verse 10: discern – to determine what is true.
Verse 11: Paul wanted the Christians at Philippi to show the results of Christ's life in them. That is the fruits of the Spirit. Ref. Galatians 5:22. Without Jesus, we cannot produce the fruit. Ref. John 15:5.[10]

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more – The Philippians had a lot of love, which they showed to Paul. Yet Paul had no hesitation in praying that their love would abound more and more. It doesn't matter how much love for others we have, we can still have more!
That your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight – The love that Paul wanted to abound in the Philippians was not 'blind love'. It was love that could discern what was best.
Paul knew the danger of a nondiscerning love. He had rebuked the Corinthian church who seemed to glory in their 'love' and 'openess' while lacking any sense of knowledge or discernment (1 Corinthians 5: 1 – 7). [11]


12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters,[12] that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. 13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard[13] and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14 And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.

Paul's imprisonment didn't hinder the gospel in any way.
That what has happened to me has actually served to to advance the gospel – Paul was answering a concern of the Philippians. He wanted them to know that God's blessing and power was still with him, despite his imprisonment. He was still in God's will and God's work still continued.
While Paul was with the Philippians, there were amazing examples of God's sovereign power, which culminated in a devine jail-break and their vindication before civil magistrates (Acts 16: 11 – 40). The Philippians were wonding where God's power was in Paul's current imprisonment.
God wasn't wasting Paul's time during this imprisonment. God doesn't waste our time, although we may waste it by not sensing God's purpose our lives in the current circumstance.
It has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ – The circumstances around Paul's imprisonment and his manner in the midst of it made it clear to all observers that he was no ordinary prisoner, but that he was an emissary of Jesus Christ. This witness led to many, even of the palace guard, being converted.
This indicates that Paul didn't need ideal circumstances to minister effectively and bring glory to God. He could be fruitful in those circumstances.[14]

As a result of Paul's confidence while in prison the Roman Christians became more bold and began to talk about the gospel without fear.[15]


[1] NIV subnote: The word deacons refers here to Christians designated to serve with the overseers/elders of the church in a variety of ways; similarly in Romans 16:1 and 1 Tim. 3:8,12.

Romans 16:1
16 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon[a][b] of the church in Cenchreae.

[a] NIV subnote: or Servant
[b] NIV subnote: The word deacon refers here to a Christian designated to serve with the overseers/elders of the church in a variety of ways; similarly in Phil. 1:1 and 1 Tim. 3:8,12.

1 Timothy 3:8
8 In the same way, deacons[i] are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain.

[i] NIV Subnote: The word deacons refers here to Christians designated to serve with the overseers/elders of the church in a variety of ways; similarly in verse 12; and in Romans 16:1 and Phil. 1:1.

1 Timothy 3:12
12 A deacon must be faithful to his wife and must manage his children and his household well.

[2] http://www.gracepointdevotions.org/2010/06/30/philippians-1-commentary-2/

[3] http://www.studylight.org/commentaries/guz/view.cgi?book=php&chapter=001

[4] http://www.easyenglish.info/bible-commentary/philippians-lbw.htm

[5] http://www.studylight.org/commentaries/guz/view.cgi?book=php&chapter=001

[6] http://versebyversecommentary.com/philippians/philippians-16/

[7] http://www.christnotes.org/commentary.php?com=mhc&b=50&c=1

[8] http://www.studylight.org/commentaries/guz/view.cgi?book=php&chapter=001

[9] http://www.easyenglish.info/bible-commentary/philippians-lbw.htm

[10] http://www.easyenglish.info/bible-commentary/philippians-lbw.htm

[11] http://www.studylight.org/commentaries/guz/view.cgi?book=php&chapter=001

[12] NIV subnote: The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in verse 14; and in 3:1, 13, 17; 4:1, 8, 21.

[13] NIV subnote: Or whole palace.

[14] http://www.studylight.org/commentaries/guz/view.cgi?book=php&chapter=001

[15] http://www.easyenglish.info/bible-commentary/philippians-lbw.htm