Philippians 1:1-11 Background and Introduction

Video Teaching
Verse-by-Verse Commentary
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From the Pulpit

Commentary

Overview

1. This book of the Bible is an epistle, which is the Church’s word for letters in the Biblical canon.
   1. Just because it’s a letter, it would be wrong to assume that it’s just a casual piece of communication to a particular group long ago.

   2. This is a letter inspired by the Holy Spirit by an apostle and beneficial for the whole church.

2. Philippians is from the Apostle Paul to the church at Philippi.

3. Understanding the city, the church, and why the letter was sent helps make the context of this book clearer.

The City of Philippi

1. Located in Macedonia (modern-day Greece), Philippi was a Roman colony, meaning most of the citizens living there were Roman citizens, the culture was Roman, and the institutions were especially Roman, even though it was in a region that was culturally Greek.
   1. It’s important to remember that just because an area was conquered by Romans, that didn’t make the citizens Roman citizens.  Citizenship had to be earned with service to the Empire, such as military service or large donations.

   2. Only people born to citizens were citizens from birth.

2. Philippi was especially proud of their Roman identity.
   1. Philippi was the site of the decisive battle ending one of Rome’s civil wars, the Liberators’ Civil War, roughly 100 years before this letter was written.
      1. Julius Caesar was assassinated by senators who feared his growing power.
         
      2. The Imperial forces led by Octavian (later Caesar Augustus) and Julius’s right-hand man, Mark Antony, defeated the republican forces led by the assassins Brutus and Cassius and the at Philippi.

   2. The cultural memory of  that battle shaped the identity of the city.  Imagine something like Gettysburg Pennsylvania; stars and stripes everywhere.

   3. A lot of the citizens were descended from soldiers that retired after that war and settled in the region, so that military identity would also be really strong in this area.

The Founding of the Church at Phillippi

1. The book of Acts chapter 16 gives us an account of the founding of the Church at Philippi by the Apostle Paul during his second missionary journey.

2. Paul hadn’t originally planned to go to Europe.  He planned on going to Asia, but the Holy Spirit stopped him and sent him a vision of a man from Macedonia calling for help.  Paul consequently went to Macedonia and started the first Church on the continent of Europe.

3. Paul proclaims Christ to three noteworthy people in Philippi.  These people are likely still living in the community as prominent members of the church that Paul is writing to.
   1. Lydia: A wealthy merchant of purple fabric
      1. Purple dye was extraordinarily valuable.  To produce a single ounce of purple dye, thousands of sea snails would be gathered by hand, workers would break their shells and extract fluid from their mucus-producing hypobranchial gland, and boiled for ten days with other liquids such as urine.

      2. Roman clothing had certain visual symbols based on how much imperial purple was in a garment to tell a person’s rank and social standing.  Only the emperor could wear a purely imperial purple garment.

      3. Given her trade, Lydia would have been well-connected and likely very wealthy.

      4. She and her entire household heard the Gospel and were baptized.

   2. A Slave Girl: Possessed by a “spirit of divination” Python” (associated with the god Apollo in Greek culture)
      1. The Greek text calls it, quite literally, a “spirit of python.”  Pythons were associated with the Greek god Apollo, who was especially honored in the city of Phillipi.  It’s likely that locals saw her abilities as a divine blessing, though Paul and Silas knew that it wasn’t of God.

      2. Her owners profited from her fortune-telling ability.

      3. She followed Paul and Silas declaring: “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.”
         1. Given Paul’s annoyance, one must assume this was said in a disrespectful, mocking tone.

      4. Paul cast out the demon; her owners, having lost their income, dragged Paul and Silas before magistrates where they were beaten and imprisoned.

   3. The Philippian Jailer
      1. Paul and Silas were beaten and imprisoned in the deepest cell.

      2. That night, in the darkness of their cell, they prayed and sang hymns, reflecting a faith that is truly unshakable and joyful even in the worst of conditions.

      3. A miracle occurred! An earthquake opened all the doors and broke every chain.

      4. Paul and Silas chose to stay rather than escape.  Not only did they stay, but they convinced all the other prisoners to stay too.

      5. The jailer, about to take his own life in Roman fashion (the only way to reclaim honor after such failure), was stopped by Paul.

      6. He immediately asked: “How can I be saved?” — received the gospel and was baptized.

4. These people are the foundation of the church.  Each was hungry for the news of the gospel and responded quickly alongside their families.  Imagining all three does involve a little speculation.  While the slave girl is not said to have joined the church, one has to imagine that someone freed from spiritual exploitation would remember the name by which she was saved and investigate it more as time went on.

Why did Paul write this letter?

1. Paul was writing from Roman imprisonment under Emperor Nero.

2. He was not in a dungeon but was under house arrest — in chains, guarded 24/7, while authorities decided his fate.

3. He was accruing expenses: rent, food, daily needs.

4. The church at Philippi sent a courier from the congregation named Epaphroditus to give Paul financial support upon hearing of his need.

5. Paul writes to:
   1. Thank them for their generosity

   2. Encourage and teach them

¹Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,

To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:

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

1. From…
   1. In a modern letter or email, the person who wrote the letter is listed at the end of the letter.  In this time and place, the sender was the first item in the letter, which makes a good deal more sense.

   2. Paul is with his ministry partner Timothy.  This is the same Timothy that he would later write 1 and 2 Timothy to.

   3. “Paul is accustomed, in the inscription of his epistles, to employ titles of distinction, with the view of procuring credit for himself and his ministry, there was no need of lengthened commendations in writing to the Philippians, who had known him by experience as a true Apostle of Christ.” -Calvin, Commentary On Philippians.

2. To…
   1. “All God’s holy people at Philippi”
        
      1. This is fairly standard language from Paul’s letter when addressing a congregation in a particular city.

      2. Notice the weight of the title: we are God’s holy people in whatever city where we live.  That’s not just a compliment, so much as a calling that we have to strive to live into.

      3. Could we call ourselves one of God’s holy people in good conscience?  If not, maybe we have some work to do.

3. “Overseers and deacons”
    
   1.  Paul addresses both the congregation and the church leadership.

   2. Depending on the translation, this passage may read “Bishops and deacons,” rather than “overseers and deacons.”
      1. Bishop, presbyter, and deacon are all traditional church roles and come from Greek words that mean overseer, elder, and servant.

      2. While exact roles differ from tradition, the basic pattern across Christian history is a bishop oversees churches in a region, a presbyter is a person that leads a local congregation, and a deacon is someone that serves a local church in a more limited capacity.

      3. In the biblical era, the exact division between a deacon and a presbyter had not been defined.  Paul often uses the two words interchangeably, such as here.  If they had existed as they do today, having multiple deacons in a single city and no referenced presbyters would pose significant challenges.  As it is, he appears to be addressing those in leadership roles and those in service roles.

      4. “He mentions the higher-ranking figures—saying “with the bishops,” and so forth. The question arises: why does he place the lesser before the greater? Because the people come before the prelate. Ezekiel 34:2: “Do not the shepherds feed the flocks?” For flocks are to be fed by shepherds, not the other way around.” -Aquinas, Commentary on Philippians, 1.1.6.

4. “Grace and peace”
   1. Paul uses this exact language in every one of his letters except the book of Hebrews.  Sometimes it’s more flowery, sometimes it’s simpler, but it’s usually there.  This particular example is on the shorter side.

   2. Rather than just wishing that the letter finds them well, Paul wishes that they know the grace and peace of God.
      1. Grace is God’s unearned favor resting on us through Christ.

      2. True peace that comes from knowing the one unchanging thing (God)  in a constantly changing world is available through Christ as well.

   3. “Then he mentions the good things he desires for them when he says, grace be unto you and peace. These two goods include everything: first, there is God’s grace remitting sins: for by grace you have been saved through faith (Eph 2:8); lastly, there is man’s peace: he makes peace in your borders (Ps 147:14).” -Aquinas, Commentary on Philippians, 1.1.7.

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.

1. “I thank my God every time I remember you…”
   1. Paul doesn’t say this about every church.  There are some he worries about, others that have conflicts, and some that are actively disloyal to the Gospel, but this church is a genuine source of joy to him.

   2. Notice that he thanks God, not just them.  He thanks the giver, rather than take joy merely in the gift of the church.

2. “Partners in the gospel”
   1. They are not just recipients of the Gospel, but active partners with Paul in spreading it.

   2. We are all called to be partners with one another, even across different callings.  Some are pastors.  Some are teachers.  Some are evangelists.  Some can give more time or money than others.  Every one of us can do incredible ministry, but we need people to partner with us and encourage us to be the best God is calling us to be.

   3. We have to support one another if we want to make a difference in a world where the enemy is active and would love to isolate and destroy us.

   4. “And this Paul means by fellowship. They give a share to us, he means, in carnal things, and we give a share to them in spiritual things. For if God for little and worthless things grants the kingdom, His servants too, for little and material things, give a share in spiritual things.”  -Chrysostom, Homily 1 on Philippians.

3. “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ.”
   1. Just as God taught the great prophet Jeremiah in Jeremiah 18:1-12, God molds and shapes his people through the Holy Spirit every day.

   2. That work continues until the Day of Christ Jesus, or the second coming of Jesus, when all will be made perfect: no sorrow, no pain, no disease.

   3. Paul’s confidence is rooted in the grace that he sees in the Philippians and the trust that he has in God.  He will finish what he’s obviously started.

   4. “The chief thing, indeed, to be understood here is — until the termination of the conflict. Now the conflict is terminated by death. As, however, the Spirit is accustomed to speak in this manner in reference to the last coming of Christ, it were better to extend the advancement of the grace of Christ to the resurrection of the flesh.” -Calvin, Commentary on Philippians

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

1. The Philippians did not abandon Paul when he was imprisoned.  This wasn’t his first imprisonment, but they remained faithful supporters in both good and difficult times

2. His love for them isn’t built on their material gifts or their delightful personalities, but on the affection of Christ that flows through him.

3. “He calls not God to witness as though he should be doubted, but does this from his great affection, and his exceeding persuasion and confidence; for after saying that they had fellowship with him, he adds this also, in the tender mercies of Christ, lest they should think that his longing for them was for this cause, and not simply for their own sake. “ -Chrysostom, Homily 1 on Philippians

4. We are called to love with more than our own limited human love: we’re built to allow God’s love to flow through us
   1. Though he was not a Christian, the quote from the medieval Islamic poet Havez puts it beautifully: “I am a hole in a flute that the Christ’s breath moves through—listen to this music.” -Hafiz, as translated by Daniel Ladinsky.

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.

1. “…that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best…”
   1. Paul does not simply pray that they love more — he prays that their love grows in knowledge and depth of insight.

   2. The issue is not whether we love.  Everyone loves something. The question is: what do we love, and how do we love it?

2. Our affections are disordered in this fallen world.
   1. We can love the talents that God gave us so much that we imagine that they’re products of our excellence, rather than his generosity.

   2. We can love money so much that we find joy in hoarding it, rather than in using it to further God’s kingdom.

   3. We can love food so much that we eat it just to taste it, rather than appreciating that it is God’s provision for us.

3. Augustine wrote on the need for Christians to learn to rightly order their affections, especially having experienced his own chaotic younger days before he knew God.
   1. “I loved you far too late, beauty so old and so new—far too late.  You were in me, but I was outside myself looking for you in the world.  In my ugliness, I plunged into those beautiful created things which you made. You were with me, but I was not with you. Those beautiful things kept me far from you, even though they wouldn’t have existed at all if they didn’t exist in you.  You called out to me and overwhelmed my deafness. Your radiance pierced my blindness.  I drew in your fragrance and now pant after you. I tasted you, and now I only hunger and thirst for you. You touched me, and I am on fire to have your peace.”-Augustine, Confessions, X. 38.

   2. “For he loves you too little who loves anything together with you which he does not love for your sake.” -Augustine, Confessions, X. 40.

4. Paul’s prays that that the obvious love in the church at Philippi continues to be rightly ordered so that they can see the giver’s glory shining through every good gift and love him all the more for it.

5. Someday, we’ll stand in front of Christ and look at him eye to eye.  We long to hear him say “Well done, good and faithful servant,” (Matt. 25:21).  Paul prays that they hear exactly that, as they live a life that loves well and is pure and righteous in Christ’s sight.

Full Transcript

Today, we begin a fresh undertaking as we go through the book of Philippians chapter by chapter and verse by verse. In many ways, it is not a particularly large undertaking—it is a short book of the Bible, only four chapters, so it will probably take around eight weeks to get through it all. But just because it is short does not mean there is not tremendous depth to it. Philippians is a book I recommend to new Christians all the time, as well as to people who just feel beat up, because it is like a warm hug on a cold day. It is encouraging and delightful. Even the way Paul teaches doctrine in this letter is particularly beautiful.

This book is an epistle, which is just the fancy church word for a letter. This letter was written from the Apostle Paul to the church at Philippi, which means there are some factors that might help us understand it well. For example, what was the deal with Philippi? What was the church there like, and why did Paul write them a letter? Before we dive into the content directly, let’s do a little background work so we can understand it well, as it will pay off in the long run.

Philippi was a Roman colony in the region of Macedonia. A Roman colony was a city set up by citizens for citizens, making it very Roman in its people, culture, and legal system. Outside of Italy, local cultures across the Roman Empire could vary significantly—for instance, the area surrounding Philippi in modern-day Greece might feel quite Greek—but within the colony itself, the atmosphere was distinctly and patriotically Roman.

About a hundred years before this letter was written, Philippi was the site of a civil war that ultimately ended the Roman Republic. Back when the Romans were a republic, they had safeguards against any one person getting too much power. When Julius Caesar politically maneuvered to gain more power, concerned members of the Senate assassinated him. In response, Caesar’s son Octavian and his right-hand man Mark Antony raised armies to fight the most influential assassins, Brutus and Cassius. This major war ended with the pro-imperial faction victorious and the pro-senate faction defeated. Octavian later became Caesar Augustus. Some of the residents in Philippi were descendants of soldiers from that battle, making them proud of their heritage. Much like Gettysburg today, where everything is star-spangled and deeply patriotic, Philippi was a city proud of its Roman roots.

As for the church itself, the Book of Acts records the conversions that led to its foundation, and those individuals were likely still part of the congregation since it had not been that long. In Acts chapter 16, Paul originally intended to go to Asia, but the Holy Spirit redirected him through a vision of a man from Macedonia asking for help. Paul went to Macedonia in Europe instead, founding the first European church in Philippi.

Acts highlights three conversions in particular. The first was Lydia, a purple fabric merchant. Purple dye was incredibly precious—worth more than gold—because making it required harvesting sea snails near the city of Tyre. It was so valuable that laws regulated who could wear it, reserving pure purple garments for the emperor and restricting others based on status. As a dealer in purple fabric, Lydia was likely wealthy and well-connected. After she and her household heard about Jesus and were baptized, the church gained its first converts.

Later, as Paul and his companions walked through Philippi, they were followed by a slave girl possessed by a demon—literally a “spirit of Pythonus,” an animal associated in Greek culture with Apollo. Local residents believed her fortune-telling abilities came from Apollo, and her owners made a great deal of money off her. She followed Paul’s group, shouting that they were servants of the Most High God declaring the way to be saved. Although the statement was true, Paul eventually cast the demon out of her.

This created trouble when her owners, realizing their source of income was gone, dragged Paul and Silas to court. They were beaten and thrown into the darkest, dankest cell of the prison. That night, despite their suffering, they were praying and singing hymns. Suddenly, an earthquake shook the prison, opening the doors and loosening everyone’s chains. Instead of fleeing, the prisoners stayed put. When the jailer saw the open doors, he drew his sword to commit suicide—a customary act for a Roman officer facing utter disgrace. Paul stopped him, assuring him that everyone was accounted for. Seeing this, the jailer asked how to be saved, received the gospel, and was baptized alongside his family.

Thus, the core of the Philippian church included a wealthy purple merchant, a Roman jailer, and presumably the former slave girl. This became a healthy congregation that Paul frequently cited as a positive example. They supported him regularly, which brings us to the reason for this letter.

Paul wrote this letter from a Roman prison. He was not in a dungeon; he was under room arrest in a rented space, chained and guarded around the clock while awaiting a decision from Emperor Nero. Because he could not leave, he needed financial support to pay rent and buy food. Hearing of his need, the church at Philippi sent him financial aid. Paul wrote back to thank them, encourage them, and teach them.

The opening two verses follow the standard pattern of ancient letters:

“Paul and Timothy, servants of Jesus Christ, To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

In that culture, letters began by identifying the sender, which made it immediately clear who was speaking. Paul included Timothy, his co-worker in the gospel to whom he would later write First and Second Timothy. He addressed the letter to all God’s holy people in Philippi, alongside the overseers (or bishops) and deacons. In the early church, terms like overseer and elder were often used interchangeably for leadership roles, while deacons managed specific ministries. Paul addressed the whole body—congregation and leaders alike. His greeting of “grace and peace” wished them both the unearned favor of God through Christ and the deep spiritual security that comes from resting in Him.

In verse three, Paul transitions into thanksgiving:

“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 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.”

Paul expressed pure joy over this church, referring to them as his partners in the gospel. Though Paul was an apostle, he viewed the believers as fellow workers. In the same way, Christians are called to partner with and support one another in their distinct roles, whether as pastors, teachers, or supporters. Paul was confident that God, who began this work in them like a potter shaping clay, would continue refining them until the day of Christ’s return.

He continued in verse seven:

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

The Philippians stood by Paul through good times and bad, supporting him even when he was imprisoned. Because of their faithfulness, Paul loved them not merely out of personal preference, but with the genuine affection of Christ.

Finally, in verse nine, Paul offered a specific prayer for their growth:

“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.”

Paul prayed that their love would be guided by knowledge and spiritual discernment. It is easy to misplace our affections on material blessings, wealth, or earthly comforts rather than on God Himself. Paul wanted them to love wisely and rightly so that, on the day they stand face to face with Jesus, they might hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”