Charles Ellicott Commentary Philippians 1:3-4

"I thank my God upon all my remembrance of you, always in every supplication of mine on behalf of you all making my supplication with joy," — Philippians 1:3-4 (ASV)

I thank my God . . .—These verses, rendered more accurately, are as follows: I thank my God in all my remembrance of you at all times, in every prayer of mine for you all, uttering that prayer with joy—that is, with joyful confidence. The meaning, however, is not materially altered. The emphatic earnestness of thanksgiving is seen in the reiteration throughout the passage, and its absolute universality of scope is just as clearly marked. The closest parallel is again in the Epistles to the Thessalonians (see 1 Thessalonians 1:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:3), although every Epistle, except the Epistle to the Galatians, includes an opening of thanksgiving.

On verses 3-8:

In these verses, St. Paul strikes the keynote of joy and confidence that is dominant throughout the entire Epistle. This is particularly remarkable when we remember the circumstances under which it was written: in captivity, during an enforced absence from the familiar and well-loved scenes of his apostolic work. Furthermore, he was aware that faction and jealousy were taking advantage of his absence. The words “joy” and “rejoice” occur no fewer than thirteen times in this short Epistle; they express his own feeling and what he desires theirs to be.