Chapter One
The first five verses of chapter one are effectively a complete thought and in most English translations treated as a complete sentence. Because of the nature of this publication I will discuss them one verse at a time. However, I suggest that in your own study you read them first as a whole, getting a feeling of the complete message Paul is wanting to convey.
Verse 1 “Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi,”
That Paul is the author of this book is pretty much undisputed. His habit of writing to churches he had founded or visited is well documented. By the time one has finished reading the Philippian letter little doubt will arise as to why he wrote this group. Timothy, it seems was with Paul at the time of the writing. He visited the apostle more than once. There was a definite relationship between these two missionaries, much like father and son. Much later Timothy would also be put in prison (Heb. 13:23)
The term “saints” was not a special term but rather a common term. It was a name used to denote those who had been set apart by their response to the gospel. Lydia was the first Philippian to obey Christ when Paul went there. Because there wasn’t a synagogue in Philippi, Paul found the Jews outside the gates near the river. Thus, the Philippian church began outside the city. Twelve years had gone by and now the church not only had plural saints but deacons and elders, known as overseers in Paul’s letter. Paul makes sure the whole church understands that the letter is for them.
There are suggestions that the letter was written from Ephesus or Caesarea. Some evidence is apparent for both. It seems to me that the preponderance of evidence favors Rome.
Task for Today: Review Paul’s journeys briefly. Think about Paul’s hardships and the fact that this church in Philippi stood by Paul and held his hands up through it all. It must have been a great church as is attested to, I think, by this letter. Wherever you worship, encourage your congregation of believers to be a Philippian church.
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