Paul’s Letter to the Philippians
Paul’s Thanksgiving & Prayer
Philippians 1:1-11
Greeting
1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus:
To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons.
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Thanksgiving and Prayer
3 I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, 4 always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. 7 Indeed, it is right for me to think this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart, and you are all partners with me in grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how deeply I miss all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And I pray this: that your love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment, 10 so that you may approve the things that are superior and may be pure and blameless in the day of Christ,11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.
Author of the Letter
- The Apostle Paul while he was under house arrest in Rome while awaiting to appear before Caesar. (Acts 28:30-31)
- Timothy is mentioned as a cowriter. We’re not sure of why other than Timothy joined Paul and Silas on the second missionary journey (Acts 16:11:40) when they went through Lystra and was with Paul when he established the church in Philippi. He also longed to send Timothy to them.
Recipient & Reason for the Letter
- Paul writes this letter to all the Christians, bishops, deacons of the Church in Philippi.
- Philippi is a Roman colony in Macedonia on the coast of the Aegean Sea that was made a Roman Colony by Phillip, his son we know as Alexander the Great. It’s a colony known for it’s patriotic nationalism.
- The majority of inhabitants of Philippi are Greeks and retired Roman soldiers who are loyal to Nero, the Caesar at the time.
- The letter was written partly in response to a financial gift that was sent by way of Epaphroditus (a Philippian congregant) to Paul.
- Paul wanted to ensure them that Epaphroditus was doing well and that Paul longed to send hi and Timothy back to Philippi to be examples to them.
- Paul wanted to encourage them in their advancement of the gospel despite their persecution.
Paul’s Opening Prayer
Philippians 1:7-8
7 Indeed, it is right for me to think this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart, and you are all partners with me in grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how deeply I miss all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
As followers of Christ what can we glean from this opening prayer?
1. Our should be evident in every circumstance.
Philippians 1:3-5
3 I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, 4 always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.
2. Our is faithful to what He .
Philippians 1:6
6 I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
The Good Work of Grace
3. Our should more & more.
Philippians 1:9-11
9 And I pray this: that your love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment, 10 so that you may approve the things that are superior and may be pure and blameless in the day of Christ,11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.
John 15:4-5
4 Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me.