Phillipians Chapter 1

Introduction: Paul visited Philippi on his second missionary journey in 51 or 52 AD. The visit is recorded in Acts 16:14-34. This visit was by divine providence---God gave Paul a vision where a man begged him to come help them. Paul wrote this book from a Roman prison in about 62 AD. So, about 10 years had elapsed since Paul visited the Philippians.

This is a book of “reproof” (II Tim. 3:16). All of Paul’s books can be designated in one of these categories. Romans is “doctrine”; I & II Corinthians is “reproof” (it is different reproof than Philippians in that the Corinthians were rebellious saints and the Philippians were cooperative saints); Galatians is a book of “correction”; Ephesians is a book of “doctrine”; Colossians is a book of “correction”; the remaining books are “instruction in righteousness”.

Vs. 1…Paul writes this letter to the lowliest member of the Body of Christ---servants. William Tyndale was being burned at the stake. He prayed this prayer while dying--- "God, open the Kings eyes, and put the Word of God in every plowboy’s hand in England." How much education did those plowboys have? Not much, just enough to read some, but yet they were capable of handling the Word of God. So this Bible is not just for the highly educated or theologians or the Clergy, but rather it’s for everybody regardless of status.

Paul’s writings make the rest of the Bible make sense. We are told this in 2 Tim. 2:7... “Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.” While God's grace has been extended to men and women in every dispensation, we (the Church, the Body of Christ) are the recipients of "the riches of His grace" (Eph. 1:7 & 2:7). To see the things that the Holy Spirit through Paul explained to us in the books of Romans through Philemon is to be greatly graced.

The assembly at Philippi was divided (chapter 4:2). We are not told what they were arguing about but Ephesians 4:1-6 stresses the importance of unity and oneness in Christ’s body. Philippians is a book of reproof because they were not walking according to the doctrine of Ephesians. Colossians is a book of correction because they were not thinking correctly about doctrine. Paul wants to teach us how to resolve differences in the body of Christ. He does this by highlighting the fact that he and Timothy were servants of the Lord Jesus Christ. I think that is a direct response to the two women who were dividing the assembly---they were not conducting themselves as Servants!! In addition to serving, Paul mentions the word “joy” 19 times in the book. In other words, the way to find joy is through serving Jesus. (Acts 16:17)

Paul uses the word “all” throughout the book of Philippians. He does this to let everyone know that he is not taking sides. He writes to all saints. I am sure some said, "If Paul was here he would be on our side." Now the saints at Philippi were not conducting themselves like Christians. It probably would shock you to know that the word “Christian” is used only three times in the Bible. The most common name the Bible refers to those who are saved in the dispensation of grace is "saints". Saints is a word that reminds us of “sanctification”. Sanctification has a positive and negative definition.There are things we ought to do and things we ought not to do! If you put a sponge in the water, pretty soon the water is in the sponge. If you put wood in a fire, pretty soon the fire is in the wood. If you put your mind in the word of truth rightly divided, pretty soon the word of truth will be in your mind.

Remember that God directed Paul to go to Macedonia (Philippi) (Acts 16:9) because God knew that the Gospel would take off there. God actually guided Paul away from other cities to send him to Philippi. It is interesting that in the vision God gave Paul, he saw a man begging him to come over and help us. Philippi was a shining city in the Roman Empire; but in God’s view it was spiritually tarnished.

Paul writes this letter to the bishops, deacons and the saints. The bishops were the teachers and the deacons were those who assistants to the bishops. Paul does not mention these leaders in any other book. Perhaps Paul is suggesting that the saints should look to these leaders to settle the conflict.

Vs. 2… Grace is the answer to any problem you and I face. It was the answer to the problems the assembly at Philippi was facing. As we walk out our lives as Grace Believers we ought to be producing fruit (Gal. 5) rather than exhibiting flesh. God and Jesus were the Ones who should have been offended at what mankind had done. Yet grace was being extended from them. Probably the two ladies who were arguing were doing so because someone had offended them or one of their loved ones.

The word Jesus Christ is mentioned in this book 31 times out of the 104 verses of the book. So another way to find joy and settle problems is to keep your focus on Jesus.

Vs. 3…Paul thanked God for every remembrance of the Philippians. Do you know what that included? Paul was arrested there and beaten and thrown in prison without a trial. Did Paul thank God for the nasty stuff also? Yes! Because it led to the salvation of the jailer and his family; it resulted in devils being cast out of a young woman there and Lydia got saved. God worked spiritual good even from the nasty stuff.

In this book the word "mind" or "think" is used 16 times. Here he talks about “remember”. An important lesson to learn is if we want joy, we must guard our mind. Numbers 23:10 Balaam says…let me die the death of the righteous (but he did want to live the life of the righteous). We must guard our thinking if we would have joy. We all want joy but we don’t want to go through the effort to get it.

Vs. 4… Paul prayed for the Philippians with an attitude of joy. Most of the time we pray about our requests with an attitude of urgency and grief. Keep in mind that Paul was chained to a Roman soldier when he made this request. His eyes were not on himself and his conditions.

Vs. 5… Paul is talking about a particular way that the Philippians fellowshipped with him---financially!

Vs. 6… What good work is Paul talking about? Salvation!!! Salvation is not by good works but it is a good work of God. If the world creation in Genesis was “good”, His work in saving us is also a good work; that is why He calls us a new Creature. (Eph. 2:8-10) Paul was confident that the “good work” would continue till the day of Jesus Christ. (II Tim. 2:13) This is about our eternal salvation. Paul is telling us that even if we deny the Lord, He abides faithful. Your faith is not what your salvation is based on. Sometimes our faith gets weak. Our salvation is not based on our performance; it is based on His performance. God has got a good track record on performing what He says He will perform. What about Lucifer and Adam. Did God keep them saved? First of all, Lucifer and Adam were not saved when God broke fellowship with them. There are no conditions on this work of God in vs. 6; there are no “if’s” to our salvation. God did make a conditional covenant with Israel. God made an unconditional covenant with Abraham. We are secure in Christ because we are told we are already seated in the heavenlies with Christ.

If you don’t believe that once a Christian is saved they are always saved then carefully think about the fellow Christians who believe that a Christian can get saved, lose it by sinning and get saved again. How is that any different from those who say if you teach once saved always saved a Christian would just go out and sin all the time. Well, those who believe that a Christian can "lose their salvation" believes the same thing ultimately. Think about it!

What is the day of Christ Paul refers to here? (Phil. 2:16) This is about the Bema Seat Judgment of Christ. I do believe there is evidence to support the idea that Paul believed Jesus would come back in the rapture before they (Paul and the Philippian Christians) would die. (I Cor. 5:5)

Vs. 7… The word “meet” here means appropriate. Paul was glad that they participated in his jail time and the Gospel. (Acts 17:5-9) Jason suffered as a result of befriending Paul and the Gospel. Anybody in jail is typically concerned about his own rights and defense. Paul was concerned about defending the Gospel. This is what it means to participate in “Paul’s Grace”.

Mark 16:16-18 says that there would be signs to confirm the Gospel that they preached. So, how do we confirm the Gospel that we preach as grace believers? Paul did it by happily and joyfully enduring his imprisonment at Philippi. Maybe you think that that is not as convincing and impressive as the Twelve Disciples were able to minister the Gospel of the Kingdom. Our steadfastness, our tenacity in the midst of suffering and adversity will confirm what we preach!

Vs. 8-9…The average Christian today is so ignorant (I do not mean they are stupid) of God's message to the Church, the Body of Christ. I hope you have noticed that Paul is constantly praying that believers would increase in knowledge...."Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; 17. That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him” (Ephesians 1:16-17). But you don’t gain knowledge of the Word unless you study it.

Paul is praying that the Philippians could get a little better grasp of who Jesus really is. Ephesians 1:17b-19 "...may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: 18. The eyes of your understanding bring enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19. And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power.”

Vs. 10… Most commentaries tell us that this means we have to determine the difference between right and wrong. That is certainly true but Paul is telling us here that we are to approve things that are different. Law and Grace are things that are different. The Philippians understood that. They understood that they were under the Grace of God. But there are millions today that still don’t know that difference. They think that somehow or other we’re still connected to the Jewish program, and we have to keep the commandments, repentance and baptism, and have to do this and have to do that or we’re lost. So the whole concept here in this verse is that these Philippians and Paul is still encouraging us the same way, that we can discern the difference between God’s dealing with Israel under the Law and His dealing with us Gentiles under Grace.

Chapter 3:1 tells us it is hard to move people from the emotional to the doctrinal. Accepting Pauline truth is difficult; we want a God that intervenes in all our difficult situations. The fact of the matter is that in the dispensation of grace, God is silent. He has told us all he wants us to know in the Word.

Vs. 11... Romans 7:4…"Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.” We are to become “cross-eyed” believers. That is what it means in 1:5 “the fellowship of the Gospel”. People will do anything with you---sing in the choir, teach Sunday School, attend fellowship meetings, etc. but it is difficult to get them to fellowship in the Gospel

Vs. 12-13… Philippians 4:22---"All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar’s household." Here Paul is chained to Roman soldiers who rotated day in and day out. They were hardened veterans of the war campaign, and evidently many of them as a result of being chained to Paul for maybe 12 or 24 hours became believers. He must have had a tremendous power of witnessing. Now if you were in Paul’s shoes, and you were suddenly realizing that your witnessing actually bearing fruit among these hardened Roman soldiers who were in turn bearing fruit in the very palace of one of the most wicked persons that ever lived in Nero, what would it do to your emotions. Wouldn’t it just encourage you?

Consequently even though he’s in prison and chained, what is the key word to the book of Philippians? "REJOICE!" This man was literally bubbling over with joy in spite of his circumstances. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to get a letter from someone who actually worked in the White House? I think I’d get pretty excited, and I think you would also. Just to think that somebody right up in the upper echelons of our government are hearing you teach the Gospel, and getting saved, and spreading it around the Capitol?

Vs. 19…Works, endurance and suffering is generally tied in with salvation and the result is heretical teaching. A good rule of Bible interpretation is truth in a particular verse can be determined by the immediate context usually. If not, then truth in a more remote context will give you the meaning of the verse; but don’t cross dispensational lines unless it is to learn history or a spiritual application. In these verses Paul gives us immediate commentary on what he is trying to tell us. Verse 21 is a commentary on verse vs. 19 and 20. We have an immediate comment. We also have a “more remote” context that helps us with understanding these verses also---Phil. 4:13

Before we examine these verses specifically, let me suggest what Paul is telling us as an overriding theme of this passage of Scripture:

I need to learn from this passage how my mind ought to be working; how we can discipline our mind to think correctly when dealing with the circumstances of life. As a Saint, it is my duty to glorify Christ no matter the circumstances---good or bad; by life or death. Paul is not being flippant here. He is telling us that our circumstances should not dictate our mindset. Don’t be so oriented to your changing circumstances that it drives you to despair. According to II Cor. 9:8, I am able to do what I am supposed to do, if I will just get up and do it. He is not telling us to deny that we have problems or to ignore them. He is saying that no matter the circumstances I am going to press on! Our circumstances will change for either good or bad but my standing in Christ will never change. Therefore preach the Word---that’s my job.

“For I know that this”…”This” is what Paul just referred to in vs. 18…preaching the right message of Christ whether by envy or strife or good will (vs. 18). Paul was bound in prison and suffering as he wrote the book of Philippians; however, he reminds us in II Tim. 2:9 the Word of God was not bound or suffering.

“Shall turn to my salvation”…The salvation that is being discussed here is not of Paul’s soul. Paul is talking about getting saved out of his prison conditions; the perils he is facing there. The meaning of the word salvation in Scripture is determined by the context of the verses in which it is mentioned. Sometimes salvation is talking about your conditions, sometimes about the great tribulation, sometimes specific wrath and finally salvation of your soul.

Paul is not telling us that his suffering or our suffering will always be used of God to bring someone to (soul) salvation. Many Bibles leave out the word “my” before the word salvation in vs. 19 to teach this heresy. You can hear this unscriptural thinking stated commonly today among Christians, particularly when someone experiences a tragic, untimely death. The thought is that God allowed the death of a baby or teenager as a means of getting someone saved. While I agree that an unsaved man or women can be emotionally shaken by the death of a loved one and cause them to consider the issues of life and death more soberly, the only death that God “allowed” in history to confront us with is the death of Jesus Christ. The death of a baby or teenage is not what brings us to salvation; the death of Christ is what must grip your mind and touch your soul.

“through your prayer”…the saints prayer did not cause Paul’s shackles to fall off and he be miraculously set free. Paul is locked up in Caesar’s house at the writing of this letter. Rather he is saying that as the saints at Philippi were praying to God about the one true message of grace and Paul’s bad circumstances, it resulted in grace doctrine getting stirred up in them and they decided to stand with Paul in his sufferings. They came to the conclusions that they could supply his needs in prison. Their intercessory prayers resulted in them rousing to action in Paul’s behalf. It was through their prayer that the saints saw that God was not going to directly be the solution to Paul’s circumstances (although He could, as in time past)---they were!!! So they got busy answering their own prayers. They learned that God is not our “go-for”. This is an important truth about prayer in the dispensation of grace.

“and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ”… This does not mean you will get more of the Holy Spirit if you pray through as the Pentecostals teach. Paul is saying that in addition to what the saints at Philippi are doing to relieve his bad circumstances in prison, the Holy Spirit, as the Divine Comforter, would take care of his salvation from the prison circumstances.

Vs. 20…Paul talks about the fact that he doesn’t want to be ashamed in nothing. The doctrines of the grace of God, the revelation of the mystery, dispensational teaching had gotten Paul thrown in prison. He assures the Philippians that he is not ashamed of one single thing he has taught. In fact, he boasts of his boldness to teach these unsearchable riches of Christ. Paul’s reason for living was to get these truths to a lost and dying world. If he could not carry out this ministry, he would rather die and go to be with Christ. Paul knew that a saint has two wonderful choices: to live and serve Christ and His message of grace or to die and go be with the Christ of grace. Are you ashamed of the message of grace?

Vs. 21… The only way we can honestly say that whether we live or die is no big deal is to experience what Paul had experienced as a new creature. Gal. 2:20…I am crucified with Christ. Rom. 6:3-4…I have been buried with Christ into death. II Cor. 5:1…if our earthly tabernacle be destroyed, we have a house not made with hands. Rom. 14:8…whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.

In these verses I am learning from Paul how to train my mind to think according to the doctrines of grace regardless of my circumstances.

Vs. 22-24…”I wot not”…I don’t know what I will choose. What was his choice? Apparently the Lord was going to allow him to make the choice about when He was going to call him home. That would truly be grace extended to Paul by the Lord. Paul is in prison and everyone has left him. Paul had a selfless purpose even while in terrible conditions. He would be far better if he went on to be with the Lord; but for the sake of others he should keep on keeping on. Paul’s service to people with the revelation of the mystery is needful. Therefore he is willing to fill up the suffering of Christ (Col. 1:23) because he knows that Satan blinds the minds of people to the message of God in all dispensations. He is acknowledging the work is hard but needful.

He is in a “strait”; that means a narrow place or hard place. When you are living for yourself, you are not in a strait; you are having fun focused on self. Paul didn’t see a big difference in living or going to be with the Lord. In fact, with the Lord is far better. Ministering the Word of God to the church is hard work. How much more difficult is it to reach the lost.

“Betwixt two”…note that Paul says he has two not three choices. There is no purgatory to go to. It is either heaven or hell.

“having a desire to depart”…from where Paul was standing in prison, going to heaven would be far better. Paul says that to “depart” is far better…annihilation or soul sleep is not far better than living.

“to die is gain”…that is hard for us to see. Death to the “husk” of a man is an ugly thing.

This is a whole mindset on circumstances, the world, the church, death and life---the mind of Christ. Learn to evaluate how I’m doing not by how it looks, but how I’m doing by what I’m doing!!!

Vs. 27…The book of Philippians is built around vs. 9-11 of chapter one. “Only let your conversation be…” Paul gives several examples in the book of Philippians how he let his “conversation” become the gospel of Christ. In verses 12-26 he looked at his circumstances in prison in Rome but he did not allow Satan’s policy of evil cause him to give up or get discouraged. What the adversary intended to shut down Paul’s ministry actually resulted in the furtherance of the gospel. So Paul is detailing how he had let his “conversation” be a demonstration of faithfulness to the gospel. He wants them to live their lives in this same manner. Paul is the pattern for them and us.

In Phil. 3:20 the word conversation is used to show who we are as saints. It is not limited to our speech only. Our talk should reflect who we are in Jesus Christ. The reason we talk about the things that we talk about is because of our position in Christ. So the word conversation is more than our speech. It includes speech but our speech should be flavored by our position in Christ. The Philippians were going through trouble and Paul reminds them to be on guard spiritually because we can make a mess of our lives when the pressure is on. This is verified in vs. 29. The Philippians are going through afflictions and he wants them to learn from him as he suffers in prison at Rome. The doctrines of grace were being sufficient for him in Rome and the Philippians are to let them work in them also.

“as it becometh the gospel of Christ…” the Philippians are encouraged to let the doctrines of grace reflect well who they are in Christ. Don’t let the circumstances of life bring out the worst in us.

“that whether I come and see you, or else be absent…” over in 2:12 Paul talks about this idea of being with them or absent from them. He is telling them that they are to exhibit grace not just when he is around and act like carnal pagans when he is not around.

“I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind” Paul wants to get a good report about them. He wants to hear that they are living out the “unity of the faith”. (Ephesians 4:1-7)

“striving together for the faith of the gospel” Striving together is not a bad thing, it is a good thing. Every assembly goes through this. When we get our eyes off of the gospel and get them on ourselves we will strive against one another. When we strive together for the gospel, that is a good thing.

“And in nothing terrified by your adversaries” Satan wants to intimidate the Philippians and thereby cause them to abandon the unity of the faith. When you are terrified, you can not think correctly. This tactic of Satan was employed in the assemblies of Galatia when he tried to get them to abandon grace for law (Gal. 1); he tried to intimidate Timothy to abandon the ministry of grace (II Timothy 1:6-14); and he tried to get the Thessalonians to abandon the doctrine of the “Rapture” (II Thess. 2:1-2). Paul warned them not to be “shaken in mind”. This is a very interesting phrase in that Paul is contrasting having a “shaken mind” vs. having “one mind”. Paul puts us on notice of how our “adversaries” attack us: 1. spirit (spirit of this world) 2. word (false teaching) 3. letter (counterfeit writings). Please keep in mind that the more faithful you are the more you become a special object of attack. The Philippians were faithful.

“To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; [11] Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his device.” (II Cor. 2: 10-11) The context of this passage is how important it is for saints to extend forgiveness. Satan can get an advantage of us if we become divided and carnal. We have to be careful that we do not allow our emotions or inner man struggles to divide the fellowship of grace and disrupt the “one body”. We must walk by faith and not by feelings. (Rom. 1:17)

“which is to them an evident token of perdition” When the saints stand fast in one spirit and with one mind that is a sign, picture or demonstration (token) of perdition to unbelievers because it shows the unbelievers that the doctrine is real and because the doctrine is working in them. The saints are proving vs. 9-11 are being fulfilled. What the unbeliever is trusting in is wrong and it isn’t the answer. Now the word “perdition” never has a good meaning in the Bible. Judas is called the “son of perdition” in John 17:12.

“but to you of salvation, and that of God.” When saints take vs. 27 seriously, it is also a sign/token to the saints that God is working in you. There is a sense in which God is using “signs” today. The “sign” is the saints preaching the faith of the gospel. If God is not working in you, you will not endure afflictions with a proper spirit. If you don’t believe the “faith of the gospel” you have no sign that you yourself are not headed for perdition. This is why Eph. 3:9 is so important for saints to “see” the fellowship of the mystery. Both unity of mind and spirit in the midst of suffering is essential in order for unbelievers to have the proper sign. If the true gospel is not preached it means “perdition” for people.

Vs. 29…“For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him” This verse is a fulfillment of vs. 9-11 once again. What is the “it is” Paul is talking about here? When you and I walk by faith in the doctrine that is the “it is” (present tense, not “was given”). This verse is not talking about our justification as the Calvinists would have us believe. The believing on Him is not something that took place in eternity past. We are to allow His Word to work in us right now. We have the doctrine, we have the Word right here and now as we choose to believe that Word. Let the Word work in you right here and right now to produce the unity of the spirit.

“but also to suffer for his sake” Because you are “in Christ” you are a threat to the adversary; especially if you are an effective saint. If you choose to live like a grace believer, you are an effective saint. Paul taught the saints early on in the edification process about suffering (Rom. 5:3-4).

Vs. 30… “Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.” They were experiencing the same kind of conflict that they had seen in him eleven years ago. In Acts 16 Paul went to Macedonia (Philippi) which was the stronghold of Satan. When the grace message infiltrated Philippi it caused him to be beat and thrown in jail (vs. 22). Before he went to jail, he had encountered a girl possessed with a demon who said these men are the servants of the most high who show us the way of God. So why did Paul silence the girl? Paul does not want an unclean spirit, even if he is saying the same thing as Paul. Paul and the Holy Spirit would not allow a competing spirit in Philippi even if they were saying the same thing. Satan tried to join with Paul as opposed to killing him. Satan did not like Paul coming into his domain with the message of grace. This was a token of perdition to unbelievers and a sign to the saints. The Philippians had personally witnessed this in Paul’s life. Suffering will either cause us to run to the doctrine or to run from it.

If you live in the doctrine, you are going to suffer some kind of persecution.