Philippians Chapter 1

From The Open Bible Project

Paul's Letter to the Philippians

1:1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Jesus Christ; To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the [1] overseers [See Philippians Footnotes 1] and [2] servants [See Philippians Footnotes 2]:

• (1) The Paul’s point in writing this epistle, is to strengthen and encourage the Philippians by all means possible, not to faint, but more than that, to go forward. And first of all he commends their former deeds, to exhort them to go forward: which thing he says he fully hopes they will do, and that by the testimony of their abundant charity. But in the meantime he refers all things to the grace of God.
• (a) By the bishops are meant both the pastors who have the dispensation of the word, and the elders that govern: and by deacons are meant those that were stewards of the treasury of the Church, and had to look after the poor.

1:2 Grace to you, and peace from God, our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

1:3 I thank my God whenever I remember you,

1:4 always in every request of mine on behalf of you all making my requests with joy,

1:5 for your [3] partnership [See Philippians Footnotes 3] in furtherance of the Good News from the first day until now;

• (b) Because you also are made partakers of the Gospel.
• (c) Ever since I knew you.

1:6 being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.

• (d) The Spirit of God will not forsake you to the very latter end, until your mortal bodies will appear before the judgment of Christ to be glorified.

1:7 It is even right for me to think this way on behalf of all of you, because I have you in my heart, because, both in my bonds and in the defense and confirmation of the Good News, you all are partakers with me of grace.

• (e) A true proof of a true knitting together with Christ.
• (f) He calls his bonds "grace", as though he had received some singular benefit.

1:8 For God is my witness, how I long after all of you in the tender mercies of Christ Jesus.

• (2) He declares his good will towards them, in addition showing by what means they may chiefly be strengthened and encouraged, that is, by continual prayer.

1:9 This I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment;

• (3) He shows what thing we ought to chiefly desire, that is, first of all that we may increase in the true knowledge of God (so that we may be able to discern things that differ from one another), and also in charity, that even to the end we may give ourselves to truly good works, to the glory of God by Jesus Christ.

1:10 so that you may approve the things that are excellent; that you may be sincere and without offense to the day of Christ;

1:11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

• (g) If righteousness is the tree, and good works the fruits, then the papists are truly deceived indeed, when they say that works are the cause of righteousness.

1:12 Now I desire to have you know, [4] brothers, [See Philippians Footnotes 4] that the things which happened to me have turned out rather to the progress of the Good News;

• (4) He prevents the offence that might come by his persecution, by which different ones took occasion to disgrace his apostleship. And to these he answers, that God has blessed his imprisonment in such a way, that he has by that means become more famous, and the dignity of the Gospel by this occasion is greatly enlarged, although not all men are happy with it, yet it has enlarged indeed.

1:13 so that it became evident to the whole praetorian guard, and to all the rest, that my bonds are in Christ;

• (h) For Christ’s sake.
• (i) In the emperor’s court.

1:14 and that most of the brothers in the Lord, being confident through my bonds, are more abundantly bold to speak the word of God without fear.

• (k) The Gospel is called the word, to set forth the excellence of it.

1:15 Some indeed preach Christ even out of envy and strife, and some also out of good will.

1:16 The former insincerely preach Christ from selfish ambition, thinking that they add affliction to my chains;

• (l) Not with a pure mind: for otherwise their doctrine was pure.

1:17 but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the Good News.

1:18 What does it matter? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed. I rejoice in this, yes, and will rejoice.

• (5) He shows by setting forth his own example, that the end of our afflictions is true joy, and this results through the power of the Spirit of Christ, who he gives to those that ask.
• (m) Under a false pretence and disguise: for they make Christ a cloak for their ambition and envy.

1:19 For I know that this will turn out to my salvation, through your supplication and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,

1:20 according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will in no way be disappointed, but with all boldness, as always, now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life, or by death.

• (6) We must continue even to the end, with great confidence, having nothing before our eyes except for Christ’s glory alone, whether we live or die.

1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

1:22 But if I live on in the flesh, this will bring fruit from my work; yet I don't know what I will choose.

• (7) An example of a true shepherd, who considers more how he may profit his sheep, than he considers any benefit of his own whatsoever.
• (n) To live in this mortal body.

1:23 But I am in a dilemma between the two, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.

1:24 Yet, to remain in the flesh is more needful for your sake.

1:25 Having this confidence, I know that I will remain, yes, and remain with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith,

1:26 that your rejoicing may abound in Christ Jesus in me through my presence with you again.

1:27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the Good News of Christ, that, whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your state, that you stand firm in one spirit, with one soul striving for the faith of the Good News;

• (8) Having set down those things before in manner of a preface, he descends now to exhortations, warning them first of all to consent both in doctrine and mind, and afterward, that being thus knit together with those common bonds, they continue through the strength of faith to bear all adversity in such a way, that they allow nothing unworthy of the profession of the Gospel.
• (o) The word signifies to stand fast in, and it is proper to wrestlers, that stand fast and do not move their feet back at all.

1:28 and in nothing frightened by the adversaries, which is for them a proof of destruction, but to you of salvation, and that from God.

• (9) We ought not to be discouraged but rather encouraged by the persecutions which the enemies of the Gospel imagine and practise against us: seeing that the persecutions are certain witnesses from God himself both of our salvation, and of the destruction of the wicked.

1:29 Because it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in him, but also to suffer on his behalf,

• (10) He proves his statement that persecution is a token of our salvation, because it is a gift of God to suffer for Christ, which gift he bestows upon his own, as he does the gift of faith.

1:30 having the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear is in me.

• (11) Now he shows for what purpose he made mention of his afflictions.