Bible Version: New International Version (NIV)
Application Notes: Life Application Study Bible (NIV)
PHILIPPIANS 1
1 Paul 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.
Thanksgiving and Prayer
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.
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.
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.
Paul’s Chains Advance the Gospel
12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. 13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14 And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.
15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16 The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. 18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.
Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. 20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.
Life Worthy of the Gospel
27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel 28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. 29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.
Application Notes
1:1 This is a personal letter to the Philippians, not intended for general circulation to all the churches as the letter to the Ephesians was. Paul wanted to thank the believers for helping him when he had a need. He also wanted to tell them why he could be full of joy despite his imprisonment and upcoming trial. In this uplifting letter, Paul counselled the Philippians about humility and unity and warned them about potential problems they might face.
1:1 On Paul's first missionary journey, he visited towns close to his headquarters in Antioch of Syria. On his second and third journeys, he travelled farther away, crossing from Asia Minor into Macedonia and Greece. Philippi was one of the first towns he visited in Macedonia. Because of the great distances between the new Christian communities that Paul founded, he could no longer personally oversee them all. Thus, he wrote letters such as this one under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to teach and encourage the believers. Fortunately, Paul had a staff of volunteers (including Timothy, Mark, and Epaphroditus) who personally delivered these letters and often remained with the congregations for a while to teach and encourage them.
1:1 For more information on Paul, see his profile on page 1899. Timothy's profile is on page 2103.
1:1 The Roman colony of Philippi was located in northern Greece (called Macedonia in Paul's day). Philip II of Macedon (the father of Alexander the Great) had taken the town from ancient Thrace in about 357 BC, enlarged and strengthened it, and given it his name. This thriving commercial centre sat at the crossroads between Europe and Asia and was highly loyal to Rome. In about AD 50, Paul, Silas, Timothy, and Luke crossed the Aegean Sea from Asia Minor and landed at Philippi (Acts 16:11-40). The church in Philippi consisted mostly of Gentile (non-Jewish) believers. Because they were not familiar with the Old Testament, Paul did not specifically quote any Old Testament passages in this letter.
1:1 Overseers (bishops or pastors) and deacons led the early Christian churches. The qualifications and duties of the overseers are explained in detail in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9. The qualifications and duties of deacons are spelled out in 1 Timothy 3:8-13.
1:2 Paul wasn't offering something new when he started his letters to churches with greetings of grace and peace. He was reminding his readers of what they already possessed--an inexhaustible treasure of God's daily presence in their lives. With the high value people tend to place on things like power and wealth, grace and peace may appear insignificant in comparison. But they convey the wonderful way God interacts with us. Thank God for his grace to live in a world unfriendly to the gospel and the peace to deal with the pressures of life every day.
1:4-5 The Philippians had first heard the gospel about ten years earlier, when Paul and his companions had visited Philippi during Paul's second missionary journey and founded the church there.
1:4 Paul uses the word joy many times in this letter. He remembered the Philippians with joy and thanksgiving whenever he prayed. By helping Paul, they were helping Christ's cause. The Philippians were willing to be partners with Paul in whatever God wanted them to do. When others think about you, what comes to their minds? Do they think of you with joy? Do your acts of kindness make them happy and thankful?
1:5 When Paul said that the Philippians were his partners in spreading the gospel, he was remembering how they gave him practical help when he was in Philippi and contributed financial support when he was in prison. As we help our ministers, missionaries, and evangelists through prayer, hospitality, and financial gifts, we become their partners in spreading the gospel message.
1:6 God initiated our salvation, continues his transforming work in us throughout our lifetimes, and will finish it when we meet him face-to-face. God's work for us began when Christ Jesus died on the cross in our place. His work in us began when we first believed. Now the Holy Spirit lives in us, enabling us to be more like Christ every day. Paul is describing the process of becoming more like Jesus that began when we accepted him and will continue until we are united with him forever.
1:6 Do you sometimes feel as though you aren't making enough progress in your spiritual life? When God starts a project, he completes it! As with the Philippians, God will help you grow in grace until he has completed his work in your life. When you are discouraged, remember that God won't give up on you. When you feel incomplete, unfinished, or distressed by your shortcomings, remember God's promises and provision. Don't let your present, imperfect condition rob you of the joy of knowing Christ Jesus or keep you from growing closer to him.
1:7-8 Have you ever longed to see a friend with whom you share fond memories? Paul had a longing like this to see the Christians at Philippi. His love and affection for them were based not merely on past experiences but also on the unity that comes when believers draw upon Christ's love. All who follow him become part of God's family and thus share equally in the transforming power of his love. Do you feel a deep love for fellow Christians--friends and strangers alike? Let Christ's love for you motivate you to look at other Christians through the eyes of Jesus and to express his love in the way you treat them.
1:7 When he said, "in chains," Paul was probably referring to his imprisonment in Philippi (see Acts 16:22-36). In Philippians 1:13-14, Paul speaks of his Roman imprisonment. Wherever Paul was, even in prison, he faithfully preached the gospel. Remember Paul's inspiring example when hindrances, small or large, slow down your journey with God.
1:9 Often, the best way to influence other people is to pray for them. Paul's prayer for the Philippians was that they would be unified in love. Their love was to result in greater knowledge of Christ and deeper insight (moral discernment). Their love was not based on feelings but on what Christ had done for them. As you grow in Christ's love, your heart and mind must grow together. Are your love and insight growing?
1:10 Paul prayed that the Philippian believers would "discern what is best"--in other words, that they would have the ability to differentiate between right and wrong, good and bad, vital and trivial, healthy and infirm. We ought to pray for moral discernment so we can maintain Christ's perspective on what really matters. In every situation, consistently choosing the best course of action will yield tremendous benefits for us and those around us. Always think about what will be of lasting value. (See Hebrews 5:14. which also emphasises the need for discernment.)
1:10 "The day of Christ" refers to the time when God will judge the world through Jesus Christ. We should live each day as though he might return at any moment. If you knew it would be tomorrow, how would that knowledge affect how you live today?
1:11 The 'fruit of righteousness· includes all the character traits flowing from a right relationship with God. When we love Christ rightly, he produces godly actions in us. This fruit of righteousness involves more than kindness to other believers. It requires integrity in such areas as our financial matters. our speech, family conflict, and relationships with all kinds of people. (See Galatians 5:22-23 for the "fruit of the Spirit")
1:12-14 Being imprisoned would cause many people to become bitter or to give up, but Paul saw it as one more opportunity to spread the Good News of Christ. Paul realised that his current circumstances weren't as important as what he did with them. Turning his bad situation into a good one, he reached out to the Roman soldiers who made up the palace guard and encouraged Christians who were afraid of persecution. We may not be in prison, but we still have plenty of opportunities to be discouraged-times of indecision, financial burdens, family conflict, church conflict or the loss of our jobs. How we act in such situations will reflect what we believe. Like Paul, look for ways to demonstrate your faith even in bad situations, when your emotional reserves are almost depleted. Whether or not the situation improves, your faith will grow stronger.
1:12 In the past, missionaries--those who spread the gospel-would board ships to go to foreign lands and would not expect to see their homeland shores again. Their goodbyes were final, in terms of earth time. There was no turning back. While air travel, digital messaging, and other technologies have made worldwide separation much easier, pioneering with the gospel still requires a high sacrifice. Paul passionately wanted others to discover the Good News of eternal life through Jesus Christ, no matter what the cost would be. Pressing through frontiers of spiritual darkness still requires pathfinders and pioneers today-people who will reach neglected people or new people groups. Pray for missionaries; support them; join them.
1:13 How did Paul end up in chains in a Roman prison? While he was visiting Jerusalem, some Jews had him arrested for preaching the gospel but he appealed to Caesar to hear his case (Acts 21:15-25:12). He was then escorted by soldiers to Rome, where he was placed under house arrest while awaiting trial-not a trial for breaking civil law, but for proclaiming the Good News of Christ. At that time, the Roman authorities did not consider this to be a serious charge. A few years later. however. Rome would take a different view of Christianity and make every effort to stamp it out of existence. Paul's house arrest allowed him some degree of freedom. He could have visitors. continue to preach. and write letters such as this one. A brief record of Paul's time in Rome is found in Acts 28:11-31. The "whole palace guard" refers to the Praetorian Guard, the elite troops who served at times as bodyguards for Roman emperors.
1:14 We don't know what special gifts Paul had in prison, but we do know that he used every opportunity to share the gospel of Jesus. When we speak out for Christ or live faithfully for him during difficult situations, we encourage others to do the same. Be an encouragement to others by the way you live.
1:15-18 Paul had an amazingly selfless attitude. He knew that some were preaching to build their own reputations. taking advantage of Paul's imprisonment to try to make a name for themselves. Regardless of the motives of these preachers. Paul rejoiced that the gospel was being preached. Some Christians serve for the wrong reasons. Paul wouldn't condone-nor does God excuse-their motives, but we should be glad if God uses their message regardless of their motives. Have you been judgmental about some preacher's style or approach? Take another look to see if God has used that person to bring others to Christ
1:16-19 Paul could have become depressed. discouraged. or disillusioned. He could have wallowed in self-pity and despair. Instead, he regarded his imprisonment as being appointed by God. In fact, God had used Paul's imprisonment in Rome to bring the gospel to the center of the empire. as well as to give Paul time to write letters that would one day end up in the New Testament and give us much teaching and encouragement The prayers of the Philippians and the Holy Spirit helped Paul see his difficulties through new eyes. Do you have difficulty accepting your station in life? Do you resent where God has placed you? Although education and effort may enable us to take a new role or find a new job, often God puts us in a certain place because that's exactly where he wants us to serve. Whether it is an actual prison or a place that feels like one. God wants you to serve him faithfully and joyfully, exactly where you are until it is time to move on to your next assignment of service.
1:19-21 This was not Paul's final imprisonment in Rome, but he didn't know that Awaiting trial he knew he could either be released or executed. He trusted Christ, however. because he knew Christ would deliver him, dead or aLive. Paul's desire was that when he stood trial he would speak courageously for Christ and not be timid or ashamed. Whether he lived or died. he wanted to exalt Christ As it turned out, he was released from this imprisonment but arrested again two or three years later.
1:20-21 Those who don't believe in God think that life on earth is all there is. Therefore, it is natural for them to strive for what this world values: prosperity, popularity, power, pleasure, and prestige. For Paul, however, to live meant to tell others about Christ, who alone could help them see life from an eternal perspective. Paul's whole purpose in life was to speak out boldly for Christ and to become more like him. Thus. Paul could confidently say that dying would be even better than living, because in death he would be removed from worldly troubles, and he would see Christ face-to-face (1 John 3:2-3). Either way, Paul would be giving his life as a sacrifice to God. If you're not ready to die, then you're not ready to live. Make certain of your eternal destiny; then you will be free to serve-devoting your life to what really counts, without fear of death.
1:24 Paul had a purpose for living when he served the Philippians and others. We also need a purpose for living that is greater than ourselves and goes beyond providing for our own physical needs. Why are you here? What is your purpose for living?
1:27 Paul encouraged the believers to be firmly united in the face of attacks from within the church and from the hostile world around them. They needed spiritual solidarity to be of one mind. Paul may have been recalling the image of the Roman phalanx, a military formation where soldiers would fight shoulder to shoulder as a unit. How sad that much time and effort are lost in some churches by fighting against one another instead of uniting against the real opposition! It takes a courageous church to resist infighting and to maintain the common purpose of serving Christ.
1:29 Paul considered suffering for Christ to be a privilege. We don't naturally consider suffering a privilege. Yet when we suffer, if we faithfully represent Christ, our message and example affect us and others for good. Suffering has these additional benefits: (1) it takes our eyes off of earthly comforts, (2) it weeds out superficial believers, (3) it strengthens the faith of those who endure, and (4) it provides an example for others who may follow us. When we suffer for our faith, it doesn't mean that we have done something wrong. In fact, the opposite is often true--it may be verifying that we have been faithful. Trust God and believe that he has a purpose in it. Paul and his fellow apostles considered it a high honour to be identified with Christ in suffering (see Acts 5:41). Use suffering to build your character and draw you close to your Saviour. Don't resent it or let it tear you down.
1:30 Throughout his life, Paul suffered for spreading the gospel (see 2 Corinthians 11:23-27 for a list of many of Paul's sufferings). Like the Philippians, we are in conflict with anyone who would discredit the saving message of Christ. All true believers are in this fight together, uniting against the same enemy for a common cause.
Paul never urges Christians to seek out suffering, as if experiencing pain were a virtue. But we should not forget those who do suffer. If your cupboard is full, share your food. If you control the wheels of power, work for justice and mercy. If you are wealthy, give generously to those who are poor. When life is comfortable, willingly take a share of the suffering being experienced by others, find a way to help them, and so demonstrate to the world that the gospel is true.
Taken from Life Application Study Bible - Third Edition - (NIV)