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The Epistle of Paul to the
PHILIPPIANS
1
Salutation
1 Paul and Timothy,*Paul gives recognition to his junior partner. slaves†That is right, slaves. of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus‡Paul goes back and forth between “Jesus Christ” and “Christ Jesus” with apparently no difference in meaning. who are at Philippi, together with the overseers§This term is often translated ‘bishop’; along with ‘elder’ and ‘pastor’ it refers to a single office in the church. Note that there is a plurality of both overseers and deacons. and deacons: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and Sovereign Jesus Christ.
How Paul prays for them
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 certain of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will complete it until the Day of Jesus Christ;*Amen! 7 just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the Gospel you all are partakers with me of the Grace.†That is what the Text says, ‘the’ grace. They identified with Paul and what he was doing. 8 God is my witness how I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.
9 This is what I pray: that your love may abound yet more and more in real knowledge‡The compound noun, επιγνωσις, is often rendered as ‘full knowledge’, but I consider that ‘real knowledge’ comes closer. and full discernment,§We have all heard that ‘love is blind’, but agape love is just the opposite. Lamentably, I cannot think of a single church that could be said to have “full discernment”, and many appear to have none at all. 10 for you to identify the things that really matter;*Yes indeed, “the things that really matter”—the point of identifying them is to concentrate our attention and energy on them. that you may be sincere and blameless until the Day of Christ,†In verse 6 the emphasis is on God's sovereignty, here it is on our responsibility. “The Day of Christ” is of special relevance to Christians, and the particular aspect in view here is the accounting (see Romans 14:12,14). 11 having been filled‡“Having been filled”—that is what the Text says. Since the righteousness of Christ is imputed (we cannot earn it), God gives us the best possible start; as it says in 2 Peter 1:3, “His divine power has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness”. What we do with it is up to us (see 2:12 below). with the fruits of righteousness that are through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.§The glory of God is the ultimate purpose of all creation (Isaiah 43:7).
News and Instructions
By whatever means, Christ is preached
12 Now I want you to know, brothers, that the events against me have actually turned out for the advancement of the Gospel: 13 as a result, it has become evident to the whole imperial guard, and to everyone else, that I am in chains for Christ;*Paul did not hide his light ‘under a bushel’. 14 also, most of the brothers in Sovereign have been influenced by my chains to be much bolder, to speak the Word fearlessly. 15 To be sure, some are even preaching Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of good will; 16 the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, thinking to add to my affliction while in chains,†Just a minute: how does insincere preaching (by others) add to his affliction? I suppose we all know ‘Christian workers’ who are motivated by selfish ambition, and any such would want to ‘make hay’ while free from Paul's ‘shadow’, as it were. Judging Paul by themselves, they would think he would be bothered by seeing them gaining prominence at his expense. 17 but the latter out of love, knowing that I am set here for the defense of the Gospel.‡Even in prison Paul did not lose sight of the job God had given him. Some 10% of the Greek manuscripts transpose verses 16 and 17 (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.). 18 No problem: in every way, be it in pretense or in truth,§The Bible is clear to the effect that the means, not just the end, must be appropriate to God's character, so this statement seems a bit strange. Within the community of faith deviations can be treated quite severely, but perhaps for what we might term ‘pre-evangelism’, getting people who have never heard of Him before to start thinking about Christ, there may be some leeway. Further, Matthew 20:1-16 makes clear that God is prepared to use a variety of types of worker. Christ is proclaimed, and in this I rejoice—yes, and will rejoice.
To live is Christ, to die is gain
19 You see, I know that this will turn out for my deliverance (through your supplication and the support of the Spirit of Jesus Christ)*This is presumably a reference to the Holy Spirit (see John 16:13-15). 20 according to my earnest expectation and hope that I will not be put to shame in anything but be truly bold, so that now as always Christ will be glorified in my person, whether by life or by death†Although it appears that Paul actually hoped to be freed from prison, he is prepared to die. His main concern is not to do anything that will shame his Master. 21 —to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.‡How can death be a gain? Only if you live for Christ. 22 Now if I am to live on in the flesh it will mean fruitful labor for me, so I do not know what to choose. 23 I am torn between the two: I have the desire to depart and be with Christ (far better),§This is one of a few passages that lead us to believe that when a true believer dies his spirit goes directly to be with Christ in Heaven, not to the good side of Hades/Sheol (the ‘bosom of Abraham’) as with the Old Testament saints. 24 but to remain in the flesh is more necessary, because of you.*His commitment to the Cause is more important than his personal desire. 25 So having been persuaded of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that your rejoicing over me may be more abundant in Christ Jesus, through my coming to you again.†Evidently Paul had a sincere hope that he would be released from prison.
27 Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you, or am absent, I may hear about you that you stand firm in one spirit, striving together for the faith of the Gospel with one soul, 28 and not being intimidated in any way by your opponents: to them this is an indicator of ruin,‡How shall we understand this? What is the effect of our boldness in the face of opposition—do the opponents consider that we are sealing our own fate, or do they suspect that they may be on the wrong side? Perhaps both. but to you of deliverance,§Our confidence in God assures us of deliverance, one way or another: by life or by death. and that from God. 29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe into Him,*The Text never has “believe ‘in’ Jesus”; we must believe into Him. Being on the outside we must change location. This involves commitment and a change of worldview or value system. but also to suffer for His sake,†If you were taught to expect a ‘bed of roses’, you had a bad teacher. 30 having the same struggle that you saw in me and now hear to be in me.‡They had seen him suffer when he first visited Philippi, and he was presently suffering in prison.

- Philippians
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*1:1 Paul gives recognition to his junior partner.

†1:1 That is right, slaves.

‡1:1 Paul goes back and forth between “Jesus Christ” and “Christ Jesus” with apparently no difference in meaning.

§1:1 This term is often translated ‘bishop’; along with ‘elder’ and ‘pastor’ it refers to a single office in the church. Note that there is a plurality of both overseers and deacons.

*1:6 Amen!

†1:7 That is what the Text says, ‘the’ grace. They identified with Paul and what he was doing.

‡1:9 The compound noun, επιγνωσις, is often rendered as ‘full knowledge’, but I consider that ‘real knowledge’ comes closer.

§1:9 We have all heard that ‘love is blind’, but agape love is just the opposite. Lamentably, I cannot think of a single church that could be said to have “full discernment”, and many appear to have none at all.

*1:10 Yes indeed, “the things that really matter”—the point of identifying them is to concentrate our attention and energy on them.

†1:10 In verse 6 the emphasis is on God's sovereignty, here it is on our responsibility. “The Day of Christ” is of special relevance to Christians, and the particular aspect in view here is the accounting (see Romans 14:12,14).

‡1:11 “Having been filled”—that is what the Text says. Since the righteousness of Christ is imputed (we cannot earn it), God gives us the best possible start; as it says in 2 Peter 1:3, “His divine power has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness”. What we do with it is up to us (see 2:12 below).

§1:11 The glory of God is the ultimate purpose of all creation (Isaiah 43:7).

*1:13 Paul did not hide his light ‘under a bushel’.

†1:16 Just a minute: how does insincere preaching (by others) add to his affliction? I suppose we all know ‘Christian workers’ who are motivated by selfish ambition, and any such would want to ‘make hay’ while free from Paul's ‘shadow’, as it were. Judging Paul by themselves, they would think he would be bothered by seeing them gaining prominence at his expense.

‡1:17 Even in prison Paul did not lose sight of the job God had given him. Some 10% of the Greek manuscripts transpose verses 16 and 17 (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.).

§1:18 The Bible is clear to the effect that the means, not just the end, must be appropriate to God's character, so this statement seems a bit strange. Within the community of faith deviations can be treated quite severely, but perhaps for what we might term ‘pre-evangelism’, getting people who have never heard of Him before to start thinking about Christ, there may be some leeway. Further, Matthew 20:1-16 makes clear that God is prepared to use a variety of types of worker.

*1:19 This is presumably a reference to the Holy Spirit (see John 16:13-15).

†1:20 Although it appears that Paul actually hoped to be freed from prison, he is prepared to die. His main concern is not to do anything that will shame his Master.

‡1:21 How can death be a gain? Only if you live for Christ.

§1:23 This is one of a few passages that lead us to believe that when a true believer dies his spirit goes directly to be with Christ in Heaven, not to the good side of Hades/Sheol (the ‘bosom of Abraham’) as with the Old Testament saints.

*1:24 His commitment to the Cause is more important than his personal desire.

†1:26 Evidently Paul had a sincere hope that he would be released from prison.

‡1:28 How shall we understand this? What is the effect of our boldness in the face of opposition—do the opponents consider that we are sealing our own fate, or do they suspect that they may be on the wrong side? Perhaps both.

§1:28 Our confidence in God assures us of deliverance, one way or another: by life or by death.

*1:29 The Text never has “believe ‘in’ Jesus”; we must believe into Him. Being on the outside we must change location. This involves commitment and a change of worldview or value system.

†1:29 If you were taught to expect a ‘bed of roses’, you had a bad teacher.

‡1:30 They had seen him suffer when he first visited Philippi, and he was presently suffering in prison.

© 2016 Wilbur N. Pickering, ThM, PhD