Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Philippians 1

“Paul and Timothy” are associated in the greeting, not because they were coauthors, but because Timothy was a well-known Christian leader, especially at Philippi, and was now with Paul. Paul alone was the author (see the singular verb and pronouns in 1:3–4 and the discussion in 2:19–23). Timothy had been present at the founding of the church at Philippi (Acts 16:1–12) and on several subsequent occasions (Acts 19:22; Acts 20:3–6). Perhaps he served as Paul’s amanuensis for the letter.

Both Paul and Timothy are designated as “servants [GK 1528] of Christ Jesus.” This word is not a technical reference to a specific office, but emphasizes submission and dependence on their Lord and characterizes their willing service for Christ.

The addressees are “all the saints in Christ Jesus” who resided in the Macedonian city of Philippi. All believers are “saints” (GK 41) through their spiritual union with Christ, a fact Paul often expressed by the phrase “in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1–2; Ephesians 2:6, 10, 13; Romans 3:6) or “in Christ” (Romans 12:5; 2 Corinthians 5:17). “Saints” here emphasizes not their personal holiness, though their conduct should correspond increasingly to their standing, but the objective status believers possess because the merits of Christ are imputed to them.

Though “overseers and deacons” were the two orders of officers in the local NT churches (1 Timothy 3:1–3), Philippians is the only letter to mention them in its greeting. The church at Philippi was organized, and this greeting endorses the officers’ authority. “Overseers” (GK 2176) denotes the chief administrative officers ina local church; the term is interchangeable with “elders” (cf. Titus 1:5, 7). “Deacons” (GK 1356) were secondary officers in the church, charged with various temporal concerns (see comments on Ac 6:1–7). Because Epaphroditus had previously been sent with a monetary gift , the deacons were equally involved in the project of aiding Paul (1:14–16).

The familiar blessing, “grace and peace,” combines Greek and Hebrew expressions but transforms them into a thoroughly Christian greeting. God’s “grace” (GK 5921) is his favor, needed by us in countless ways and bestowed without regard to merit. “Peace” (GK 1645) refers not to the cessation of hostilities between sinners and God (Romans 5:1), but to the inner assurance and tranquility that God ministers to the hearts of believers and that keeps them spiritually confident and content even in the midst of turmoil (4:7). The source of these blessings is “God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” To Paul, Jesus the Messiah is the divine Lord, ascended to the Father’s right hand and equal to him in authority and honor. Just as Christ and the Father joined in the sending of the Holy Spirit (15:26), so they jointly convey these blessings.

Paul begins his letter by thanking God for his readers—a pattern followed in all his letters except Galatians. With the Philippians Paul had a warm relationship, and this tone is established at the outset of the letter. By stating his thanks to “my God,” the author reveals his personal devotion. This was no stereotyped formula, but the natural outflow from the heart of a deeply spiritual man. The thanksgiving was prompted by the joyous memory Paul had of his Philippian friends. “Joy” (a word used five times in this letter, with “rejoice” occurring seven times) permeated his prayers even while he prayed for their needs.

Paul begins his letter by thanking God for his readers—a pattern followed in all his letters except Galatians. With the Philippians Paul had a warm relationship, and this tone is established at the outset of the letter. By stating his thanks to “my God,” the author reveals his personal devotion. This was no stereotyped formula, but the natural outflow from the heart of a deeply spiritual man. The thanksgiving was prompted by the joyous memory Paul had of his Philippian friends. “Joy” (a word used five times in this letter, with “rejoice” occurring seven times) permeated his prayers even while he prayed for their needs.

What caused Paul the deepest satisfaction was the Philippians’ “partnership [GK 3126] in the gospel.” This term denotes participation or fellowship and expresses a two-sided relation. It includes the believer’s participation in the life of God (1 Corinthians 1:9) and also the sharing of a common faith. Thus it assumes the existence of a brotherly relationship among believers (2 Corinthians 8:4; Galatians 2:9). Their partnership certainly involved the Philippians’ recent gift, but that was only one expression of it. Paul was filled with joy over the frequent evidences of their sharing in the work of the Gospel. These had been shown to him “from the first day” he had preached the Gospel in Philippi about ten years before. At that time he had experienced the hospitality of Lydia (Acts 16:15) and the jailer and his family (Acts 16:33–34). Later he had received gifts sent to him at Thessalonica and at Corinth (2 Corinthians 11:9), as well as the more recent one brought by Epaphroditus.