Philippians Chapter 1
1:1. Paul and Timothy, the servants of Jesus Christ: The definite article might imply that these men though of
themselves as Christian workers par excellence, but since the Greek text does not have the definite article (the), it
should be rendered "servants [lit., 'bond-servants' or 'slaves'] belonging to Christ Jesus." Saints is a technical term
referring not to the spiritual elite, but to all Christians. The word means "separated ones." Believers are "separated
from all that is profane and set apart or reserved for God and His use; and (2) because they are separated from evil,
they are morally pure and holy. Bishops are overseers, those leaders having the spiritual oversight of a local church.
Their duty is to nurture, protect, and care for the flock of God. From Acts 20:17, 28 and Titus 1:5-7, we see that
"elders" and "overseers" are identical, the former title being one of status, the latter one of function. Deacons are
church officials whose responsibilities were mainly administrative in nature.
1:5. For your fellowship in the gospel could also be stated, "because of your participation in the gospel." Paul thanks
God (v. 3) because of the Philippians' mutual faith in the gospel, their working with him to spread this good news,
their sympathy and prayers for him, and their financial support to him. He thanks God because they share with him in
the gospel and his ministry. From the first day until now: From the day of its birth to the present, the Philippian
assembly had shared with Paul in the gospel and its ministry. At conversion, Lydia opened her home to Paul and his
evangelistic team (Acts 16:14, 15); and her home later became a church (Acts 16:40); the repentant jailer washed
their stripes and fed them (Acts 16:19-34); and the church sent money to Paul while at Thessalonica (4:16), Corinth
(2 Cor. 11:9), and now at Rome (4:14-18).
1:6. Will perform it is said "will finish it." Paul is convinced that the work of grace that God began in the Philippians at
conversion will be divinely continued until the day of Jesus Christ. That is, the Lord will keep working in these
believers until Jesus returns to earth, at which point He will finish His work, bringing it to completion. This speaks of
the Christian's eternal security. For God had a purpose in view when He began His saving work in the Philippians,
and that purpose will neither be abandoned nor unrealized.
1:7. Meet means "right." I have you in my heart is an idiom meaning "I love you." Ye all are partakers of my grace
indicates that the Philippians shared in all aspects of Paul's ministry, both the good and the difficult.
1:8. Bowels in Greek refers to the nobler human entrails or organs-the heart, liver, and lungs. By a figure of speech
one word ("bowels") is changed for another ("love") only remotely connected with it; that is, as man's entrails are
located deep within his body, so his strongest passions (e.g., love) come from deep within. For Paul to say that he
longs for the Philippians with the "entrails of Christ" is to say that he longs for them with the love of Christ.
1:10. Things that are excellent means "things that really matter." This refers to important issues. As the Philippians'
love increases in knowledge and discernment (v. 9), they will be able to accurately distinguish the vital and
worthwhile things in life from those that are not. Contextually, the readers' love for Paul vexes them as they are
anxious over his imprisonment as being among those "things that really matter" because of the good that God will
bring out of it. The purpose for such discrimination is that ye may be sincere [or, morally pure] and without offense till
the day of Christ.
1:11. This verse could be translated, "Filled with the fruit that is righteousness, which comes through Jesus Christ for
the purpose of glorifying and praising God." The believer who is pure and without offense before God (v. 10) has
divinely developed in him a practical "righteousness" is to glorify God.
1:12. Things ... have fallen out means " have occurred." Paul tells the readers that his imprisonment has occurred for
the purpose of furthering or spreading the gospel. The word rather suggests that the Philippians were anticipating
the reception of bad news as a result of Paul's captivity. He informs them rather to the contrary. In His wisdom and
sovereignty God had deliberately designed His servant's present circumstances, as undesirable as they may be, for
the gospel's benefit. Two positive results of Paul's imprisonment are given in verses 13, 14: (1) Caesar's palace
learned the gospel from him (v. 13); and (2) many Roman Christians were stirred to preach the gospel during his
bondage (v. 14).
1:13. This verse is better translated, "So that my imprisonment has been recognized as being because of my
commitment to Christ, in all the palace and in all other places." All eventually realized that Paul was no criminal, but
an evangelist with a pure and blameless life. They also perceived that his incarceration was caused by no crime on
his part, but because he was representing the good news of Christ's death and resurrection.
1:14. Waxing confident means "depending on." The whole verse could be rendered, "And the majority of the
brethren, depending on the Lord, because of my imprisonment have much more courage to speak the word
fearlessly." The Roman believers were aroused by Paul's bonds and, relying upon the Lord for enablement, were
more courageous than before to spread the gospel in and around Rome. The whole church, thus stirred, did more in
spreading the Good News than Paul could have done by himself had he not been in jail.
1:15-17. Contention here means "selfish ambition." Some of those sharing the gospel were doing so with the proper
motive, but other believers were preaching for the wrong reasons. The right motivation is love- love for God, for Paul,
and love for unbelievers. Improper motives are envy, strife (v. 15), and selfish ambition. Some egotistical Christians
were jealous of the apostle and rejoiced over his imprisonment, for it gave them opportunity to be in the limelight.
Supposing to add affliction to his bonds: They hoped that when Paul learned of their being the center of attention,
his chains would become particularly galling to him.
1:18. Whether in pretense, or in truth refers to the two kinds of motives for preaching. "Pretense" concerns those
pretending to witness for the right reason, but really doing so because of envy, strife, and selfish ambition. "Truth"
means sincerity, and it refers to those who were sincere in their motivation for preaching. Paul was so selfless and so
concerned for Christ that, whether the preaching came from proper or improper motives, he rejoiced in the truth
being proclaimed. To be sure, he was grieved over the wrong motives of some, but to him motivation was secondary,
while propagation of the truth was primary.
1:19. This shall turn to my salvation is the same as, "this will lead to my deliverance." The word "this" refers to "Christ
is preached" in verse 18, but in that verse the preaching is being done by others. Here it refers to Paul's future
preaching. He believes, then, that the preaching God has for him still to do will lead to his "deliverance" from prison.
Supply of the Spirit (or, "the help given by the Spirit"): Paul's release from confinement will not come automatically,
but will be obtained through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.
1:20. Paul's probable release from prison (v. 19) is according to or in line with his own heart's desire (earnest
expectation and my hope). His hope is, negatively, that he may not be ashamed of Jesus, and, positively, that Christ
shall be magnified. When Christ is "magnified," He is brought into larger, clearer focus (understanding) on the part of
others. They better understand Him, His ways, and His will. The Lord is then better loved, obeyed, served, and
glorified. As a prisoner, Paul remembers that Caesar's verdict may well go against him, resulting in his execution. So
he adds, whether it be by life, or by death. His objective, to magnify Jesus, is of paramount importance; whether it be
accomplished by living or dying is immaterial.
1:21. For explains why Paul is just as happy to magnify the Lord by death as by life (v. 20). It is because to hum, to
live is Christ. He means that living consists in serving and glorifying the Son of God; apart from this his life has
neither meaning nor purpose. But why is Paul just as content to magnify Christ by death? Because to him to die is
gain; that is, even though living and serving God are good, death is a graduation to something better: it is a
promotion to the heavenly presence of Christ and perfect fellowship with Him.
1:22. Read the verse thus: "But should I continue living in the flesh, this will result in fruit [gain, profit] from my labor;
yet which [of the two] I will prefer, I know not." In verse 21 Paul speaks of two desirable possibilities- living and dying.
Living is attractive, since it affords possibilities to increase fruit or spiritual gain in his apostolic labors. But because
dying is "gain," he is unsure of which of the two he prefers.
1:23. I am in a strait betwixt two, or "I am hard-pressed between the two." As in a tug-of-war, Paul is torn between the
two desirable possibilities of living and dying. To depart is a euphemism for dying. To be with Christ signifies to be
forever with Christ. Of the two options, dying is far better.
1:24. In this verse the writer turns from his own wishes to his responsibility, from what he wants to do what he must
do. While he personally yearns to be with the Lord, Paul senses it would be to the advantage of the Philippians for
him to remain on earth awhile longer in order to minister to them.
1:25. This confidence refers to his conviction in verse 24 that he will continue to live for their benefit. For your
furtherance and joy of faith means "for the purpose of your progress and joy with regard to the faith." Paul believes
that God will preserve his life so that he can help the readers progress spiritually.
1:26. This could be translated, "That your confidence in Christ may continue to abound because of me, by my
coming again to you." Paul's future ministry to the Philippians should increase their confidence in the Lord.
1:27. Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel means "only conduct yourselves worthily of the
gospel." That ye stand fast in one spirit with one mind: That ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind: That is, the
church was to look and act as though she possessed but "one mind" and one way of thinking. To achieve this the
assembly must put away their many petty grievances, jealousies, and disunity. The manner in which the Philippians
are to stand fast in one spirit is by their striving together for the faith, that is, by their standing up for the Christian
faith. Like Paul they, too, are to expend their lives for the good of the gospel. But proper conduct on their part and
unity in the church are essential if they are to benefit the gospel.
1:28. One of the ways in which the readers' proper conduct benefits the gospel (v. 27) is mentioned here: not being
terrified by their adversaries. the lack if intimidation is a twofold sign: (1) to unbelievers it is evidence of their lost
condition; (2) to believers it is an assurance of their salvation.
1:29. For reinforces the assertion that the proof of the believers' salvation, provided through their courage in
persecution, comes from God. This justification lies in the fact of the Philippians' being divinely granted the dual
privilege of believing in Christ and suffering for Him. Thus the assurance of their salvation is from God, just as is their
suffering for Jesus, for the latter was the occasion providing the former.
1:30. Some of the recipients' persecution was of the same nature as they witnessed in Paul when he was beaten and
imprisoned in Philippi 10 years earlier, and similar to what they now hear him to be currently experiencing in Rome.
Philippians Chapter 2
2:1. Therefore resumes the thought begun in 12:7, 28, namely, that the Philippians are to be "worthy" and steadfast
in unity, striving together for the gospel's progress. The word if, occurring four times in this verse, denotes fact, not
doubt; it might then be translated "since." Paul is thus affirming that in Christ there exist consolation
(encouragement); comfort of love (solace furnished by love); fellowship of the Spirit (partaking of the Holy Spirit's life
and sharing in His gifts, ministry, help, values, etc.); bowels (affection); and mercies (sympathy). This verse forms the
basis for Paul's appeal in verse 2: "Fulfill ye my joy." His thinking is this: Since these five benefits or virtues exist in
Christ, and since you are Christians, then exercise these virtues toward one another as you contend for the gospel
and face opposition.
2:2-4. Fulfill ye my joy (or "Make my joy complete"): Paul rejoiced over the Philippians (1:3), but his happiness was
incomplete, owing to some disunity and lack of total harmony among them. The Greek equates what, to Paul,
consistent "complete joy" with the readers being likeminded. This means "living in harmony" with one another. That
is, the Philippians can "fulfill" the writer's "joy" by living in harmony among themselves. But what does such
harmonious living entail? Beginning in verse 2 and continuing through verse 4, six participles spell out and clearly
define what it means to "live in harmony": (1) having the same love toward one believer as shown toward another,
without partiality; (2) being of one accord; that is, they are to be united in spirit; (3) of one mind; that is, the whole
church is to have the same values, and goals; (4) let nothing be done through strife or vainglory, for selfish ambition
or conceit; (5) let each esteem other better than themselves; that is, each is to regard his fellow Christian as more
important than himself; and (6) look ... every man also on the things of others; that is, each is to be just as concerned
for the needs and problems of his brother as he is for his own affairs.
2:5. Let this mind be in you means literally, "keep thinking this," that is, constantly maintain this attitude within
yourselves. The "mind" or attitude the Philippians are to maintain is spelled out in verses 2c-4, which constitutes
harmonious living. Paul informs his readers that the same attitude of verses 2c-4, which they are to retain within
themselves, was also in Christ Jesus.
2:6-8. These famous verses substantiate the assertion of verse 5b that Jesus did indeed have within Himself the
same attitude of verses 2c-4 which the readers of Paul's letters are also to maintain within themselves. Verses 6-8
may be translated as follows: "For He, though eternally possessing the divine nature, did not regard His
existing-in-a-manner-equal-with-God [i.e., His heavenly existence or divine life-style] as something to be [selfishly]
maintained, but He emptied Himself in that He assumed a servant's nature and appeared in the likeness of men; and
having been recognized in outward form as a man, He humbled Himself in becoming obedient unto death, even death
by crucifixion." Being in the form of God signifies that Christ has eternally possessed the very nature of God. To own
the nature of God is to be God and to be equal with the other personalities of the Godhead (namely, the Father and
the Spirit). Thought it not robbery to be equal with God means that Christ decided not to continue enjoying His
heavenly existence; He enjoyed the same divine life-style in heaven that God enjoyed. Though the Son could have
lawfully maintained this heavenly existence, He did not. Rather He assumed a servant's position and appeared in the
likeness of men. Consequently, being judged by His fashion (outward appearance) He was recognized by many
people as a mere man. But He was much more than that- He was still the Son of God, who continued to possess the
divine nature. Why did Jesus willingly give up His divine existence with all its benefits and advantages? Because He
had within Himself the attitude of verses 2c-4: He regarded sinners as more important than Himself (v. 3), and was
just as concerned with their needs as with His own affairs (v. 4). So the Philippians were to cultivate within themselves
this same attitude and express it to one another.