Continuing our recent study in the book of Philippians . . .
Introduction to the Letter
We begin our
study of the Epistle to the Philippians written by Paul, along with Timothy,
according to 1:1. They wrote a short
letter to the believers at Philippi in Macedonia upon receiving a letter from
them at the hand of Epaphroditus. (This
would be located in what is now northern modern Greece.) These people were his first converts in
Europe and had been open-handed with their hospitality to him from the
beginning (Acts 16). They had continued
that spirit of generosity with numerous financial gifts to aid his ministry in
the following years culminating in a large gift for the poverty-stricken
believers in Judea. Paul, himself had continually
held them out as an example of unparalleled sacrificial generosity. And now they were concerned about their
inability to help as much as they would like along with concerns about
opposition and a desire for that extraordinary young man, Timothy, to come and
help them. They didn’t see how they
could keep it up.
Philippians 1:1 The Humble Co-Authors’
Greeting
While most
commentaries will say Paul is the author, notice that the letter itself names
the writers as Paul and
Timothy (vs. 1). It is true that a
careful reading of the letter shows that it is basically written from Paul’s
viewpoint, but Timothy had been one of Paul’s co-workers (along with Silas and
Luke) during their initial contact with the city in Acts 16 and as this letter
proceeds we will see that one of the church’s prime interests is for Paul to
send Timothy back to them. So, Paul
writes the letter along with Timothy, so the Philippians will see that Timothy
shares Paul’s viewpoint.
In their humility-laden
greeting, Paul and Timothy call themselves “slaves (or servants) of Christ
Jesus” while the recipients are “saints in Christ Jesus,” and “overseers (or
bishops) and deacons.” This mention of
church officials helps us to see that this has become a well-organized group of
believers and that the letter is intended to recognize this clear line of local
authority. {Note: “Overseer” is the function of an “elder” according to Titus
1:5,7 and Acts 20:28].
Philippians 1:2 God’s Greeting
The greeting
in verse 2 is very similar to nearly all of Paul’s epistles and it conveys a
sense of God’s good intentions in this communication to them through His
servants. The Lord is not sending a
message of wrath or condemnation but of grace and peace. (You don’t know if you can ‘keep it up’? God sends you His grace and peace!) Peace is
the equivalent of the Old Testament “shalom” prophesied by the prophets
beginning with Moses where every family would be able to both work and enjoy
the fruit of their labor as they rested under their own fig tree—a vision
rarely realized in Israel because of covetousness and greed. And in chapter 2, Paul will share how Christ
demonstrated this other-centered life even to the death so that this vision of
peace with God might be realized. (Enjoy
some shalom, Philippi!)
Philippians 1:3-4 Paul’s Joy in
Praying for the Philippians
Then in
verses 3 and 4, Paul shares from his prayer life that this very band of
believers comes to mind every time he prays, and he thanks God for them. The very thought of the church at Philippi
makes him so happy inside that it colors his prayers. Even though he was beaten and jailed there,
his primary feelings are for the wonderful people who have come to believe and
to share in Paul’s ministry.
Philippians 1:5 The Philippian’s
Participation in the Gospel
In these
opening remarks, Paul lets them know right away how highly Paul continues to
value their “participation in the gospel” (vs. 5). As we saw in Acts 16 through the end of the
book (as well as in other epistles), Philippi has been Paul’s poster child for a
giving church. Lydia, one of the first
believers, opened her own home to the entire mission team. And wherever they traveled after that, they
continued to receive financial support from this church. This enabled Paul and the team to concentrate
on the spreading of the gospel. So, in verse 5 Paul says that the Philipian’s
“participation in the gospel from the first day until now” was what Paul
enjoyed the most. This church got the
picture that they were co-laborers with Paul and the team. This word “participation” (or fellowship)
means something shared in common. In the
New Testament, it very frequently refers to sharing financial burdens. In the Philippian context, that fits very
well.
Philippians 1:6 God’s Work in the
Philippian’s Good Work
While many
fine scholars have understood “participation in the gospel” in verse 5 to refer
to their faithful reception of the gospel message (as the Philippians did) yet
here it seems likely to have a more specific “work” in mind. (Note “work” is hardly an appropriate term
for faith anyway.) In verse 6, Paul says
that the God “Who began a good work” [Note: “work” is singular”] in them would
carry it through to its intended completion – right up until the “day of Christ
Jesus.” There are other passages in the
Bible that point to God’s ministry in transforming and perfecting us until
Jesus returns or we are called into His presence but this one here is more
likely referring specifically to the end goal of their specific ministry of
sharing in the gospel ministry through giving. The Philippian’s financial gifts helped
Paul’s ministry to be much more effective.
He could devote more of his time to preaching and teaching instead of
weaving tents like he did elsewhere.
This meant that the Philippians were Paul’s co-laborers in the ministry
of the gospel. And Paul is assuring them
that God would multiply their gifts just as He instigated them in the first
place. In fact, those gifts continue to
bless the world today whenever anybody reads the book of Philippians! (Or other Pauline epistles!) God began this work in the spirit of
generosity among the Philippian believers and He continues to multiply that
unselfish work even today!
Philippians 1:7 How the Philippian’s
Benefited Paul’s Ministry
In verse 7,
Paul continues to elaborate on how their “good work” allowed them to become
“partners” in God’s grace together with him.
This “work” continued even in Paul’s imprisonment and in his “defense
and confirmation” of the gospel. They
knew that while he was imprisoned in Rome he (and his helpers) would continue
to need financial help to continue the priority of proclaiming the gospel. [Note: Rome is the most likely place of Paul’s
imprisonment while penning this letter. Some speculate that it may have been
Ephesus, but there is no textual evidence for that.]
Philippians 1:8-9 The Philippian’s
Insightful Participation
In verse 8
and 9, Paul summarizes his opening remarks by saying that they are bound
together in the depths of his being in the same way he has experienced the love
of Christ and would dearly love to see them all again. [Note: This verse could also be understood
that Paul is joyful knowing that the Philippians are remembering his needs.] He knows that the feeling is
mutual—their sacrificial gifts prove it—and he longs to see that godly
affection continue to grow. So, he prays
to that end that their love would keep on growing because of their “knowledge
and insight.” Loving like God loves
requires knowledge and insight. It is an
informed love. This word for “insight” (or judgment) here is very
interesting. It is where the
philosophers got the English word “aesthetics”—referring to the discernment between
good, better and best. Sometimes the “good”
can be the enemy of what is “best.” Love
wants what is “best” for someone not merely something “good.”
Philippians 1:10 The Philippian’s
Preparedness for the Day of Christ
This is why
verse 10 gives the end result of “knowledge and insight” – “so that you can
decide what is best.” Not just
“good enough” or “better” but what is “best.”
The Philippians could have used their resources for local needs which
would have been “good.” Or they could
have used them to finance a local evangelistic campaign which might have been
“better.” But they were moved to send
them to Paul. How did they “know” or
have the “insight” to do this? It was
God Who began a “good work” in them and Paul is praying that this work of God
would continue in them. The result of
choosing to follow the Lord’s leading is that they would be ready (sincere or
pure) and blameless (without offence) for the “day of Christ.”
Paul uses
this phrase (“day of Christ”) in Philippians three times (here in verse 6 and
10 as well as in 2:16). While many
scholars relate this to the last judgment at the great white throne (Revelation
20), note that in Philippians (and the other six references in the New
Testament) the “day of Christ” seems to refer more specifically to an event
associated with the rapture. It never
seems to refer to condemnation but always to believers while Revelation 20
refers to condemnation of unbelievers.
This specific event called the day of Christ is elsewhere called the
“judgment seat of Christ” from the Greek word, the “bema.” [This is taught in Romans 14:10-12 and 2
Corinthians 5:9-10 and mentioned further in 1 Corinthians 3:5-15; 9:24-27; 2
Timothy 2:12; 4:6-8; and 1 John 2:28; 4:17-19].
Meanwhile, John 5:24 and Romans 8:1 clearly teach that Christians will
not experience condemnation but there is an examination of our works at the
Bema in which the bad works will be burned up and only the good works will
remain because they bring glory to God.
So here, Paul is talking about how the Philippians “good work” will
remain and not be burned up at the bema at the “day of Christ.” There are eternal rewards (beyond eternal
life which is a free gift) for faithful participation in God-prompted tasks.
Philippians 1:11 The Philippian’s
Fruits of Righteousness
Verse 11
explains why the believers at Philippi can expect to experience the thrill of
rewards at the “day of Christ.” It is because
this “good work” of participating with Paul in spreading the gospel vicariously
through their financial gifts demonstrates the righteousness of God. These works are called the “fruits of
righteousness.” Their good work bears “good fruits which are by Jesus Christ”
since it is God Who began a “good work” in the Philippians. Therefore, God gets the glory and the
Philippians can hold their head high in participating in this “good work.”
God has
revealed through Paul how pleased He is with the Philippians’ participation in
spreading the gospel through their generosity—and ultimately to all who share
through various means and participate in the spread of the gospel. And He will continue to provide them just
what they need in order to continue doing good.
Why does God
bless us after all? David, the man after
God’s own heart, said that God blesses us “that Thy way may be known upon the
earth” (Ps 67:1-2 KJV).
© Eric Thimell 2018
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