FROM PAUL AND TIMOTHY. This is more like an ordinary letter. Paul does not assert his apostleship, but gives a friendly greeting from himself and Timothy. Timothy is described in the Introduction to First Timothy. TO ALL GOD'S PEOPLE. Christians are God's people! [_Saints:_ see note on 1 Corinthians... [ Continue Reading ]
_2._ MAY GOD. See note on Romans 1:7.... [ Continue Reading ]
I THANK MY GOD. See note on Romans 1:8. Paul, imprisoned, has much to thank his God for!!!... [ Continue Reading ]
I PRAY WITH JOY. The faith of these Christians at Philippi made him jubilant!!!... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE OF THE WAY. Paul is probably thinking of the money and gifts which they sent him at different times (Philippians 2:25; Philippians 4:10; Philippians 4:18). But it goes even deeper than this because they share a common faith in the One Lord!!!... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SO. "I have no doubt about your faith, and I know you will go on to the end!!!" THAT GOD. God began this work by sending Paul to them. Paul sees God's work in all that is done, but he also sees God and man as partners in the Christian life (Philippians 2:12-16; 1 Corinthians 3:6).... [ Continue Reading ]
YOU ARE ALWAYS! "You are especially dear to me in Christ!!!" FOR YOU. They all share a common grace in Christ, but Paul probably means the way they shared with him in sending Epaphroditus with gifts to help him while he is imprisoned and cannot work to help himself (Philippians 2:25-30; Philippians... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD KNOWS. "As God himself knows, my deep feeling for you is the same as the deep feeling Christ has for you!!!" Compare Ephesians 5:21 and note.... [ Continue Reading ]
I PRAY THAT YOUR LOVE. "I pray that your love of Christ and your fellow man will continue to grow and grow, as you gain more true knowledge and perfect judgment through your study and practice of God's word!!!... [ Continue Reading ]
ABLE TO CHOOSE. "I want you to be able to examine all things in the light of God's truth, so that you can choose what is best (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22)_."_ There was danger from the _circumcision party_ who distorted the gospel (see_ Acts ch 15),_ and it is vitally important that they be able to rec... [ Continue Reading ]
WILL BE FILLED. "And then, like trees of righteousness planted by the Lord, you will be filled with the fruit of righteousness, to the praise of God!!!" Compare Galatians 5:22-23.... [ Continue Reading ]
I WANT YOU TO KNOW. "I don't want you to be sad or discouraged because I am now imprisoned and suffering! I want you to see these things in their true light! All this has really helped to spread the gospel of Christ!... [ Continue Reading ]
AS A RESULT. "It is common knowledge that I have been imprisoned because of my religion, and this makes people curious!" See note on Acts 28:16.... [ Continue Reading ]
HAS GIVEN. "My courage at this time has set an example which has made most of the brothers more confident as they preach the message!!!" See Philippians 4:22_ and note_ for some of the results of this.... [ Continue Reading ]
OF COURSE SOME. How do we fit this in with our _idea_ of the early church??? The truth is, of course, that the early church faced every problem that the church is facing today!!! Technology does not change the basic problems, which grow out of human relationships. _Robert Rainy_ says: "Mixture of mo... [ Continue Reading ]
THESE DO SO FROM LOVE. Those who preach Christ with all good will. These viewed Paul's imprisonment in the light of truth - _as a defence of the gospel!!!_... [ Continue Reading ]
THE OTHERS. _Robert Rainy_ says: "There were, as we all know, in the Church of those days powerful sections of professed believers, who contested Paul's apostleship, questioned his teaching, and wholly disliked the effects of his work. Perhaps by this time the strain of that conflict had become a li... [ Continue Reading ]
IT DOES NOT MATTER! _Robert Rainy_ says: "It is not true that the preaching of Christ serves no purpose and yields no fruits, in cases where it is not carried on in the right or the best spirit. Now the Apostle, looking at this, is glad of it. He is not glad that any men, professing Christ, give way... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE I KNOW. Paul's enemies see his imprisonment as a source of shame and possible danger. But Paul sees _God's hand_ at work in all this! Compare Acts 23:11 and note. Paul says with confidence: _I shall be set free!_ Compare 2 Timothy 4:18.... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT I SHALL NEVER FALL. _Johnson_ says: "There is no anxiety about himself, only that he may glorify Christ.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WHAT IS LIFE? Paul's main thought is whether Christ will be honored by his life or his death. Compare Acts 21:11-13 and notes. Death would bring more to him personally, as he would escape from suffering into Paradise!!!... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT IF BY LIVING ON. Paul shows that his desire to stay and work for Christ in this world is equally as strong as his desire to go to his heavenly home!!!... [ Continue Reading ]
I AM CAUGHT. Note Paul views death as leading to a more complete life!!! See notes on Luke 16:27-31.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR YOUR SAKE. He feels a deep obligation for the Philippians and all the Gentile Christians! Compare 2 Thessalonians 2:7 and note.... [ Continue Reading ]
I AM SURE. Some think God told Paul this in a vision. Paul expects to stay in his earthly body a few more years, to add to their progress in the faith and their increased joy in Christ!!! See notes on Acts 28:30-31.... [ Continue Reading ]
SO WHEN. "My release will show I have successfully defended the gospel before my judges, and I will have a further opportunity to teach you!... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW, THE IMPORTANT THING. "You must stand firm for the truth and fight together against the _circumcision party_ who want to make you slaves to The Law, and against the heathens who try to force you back into idolatry!... [ Continue Reading ]
DON'T BE AFRAID. Both the TEV and NIV follow the _corrected Greek text._ "Your courage in the face of persecution will prove to your enemies that they must lose and that you will win!" Compare 2 Thessalonians 1:4-5 and notes.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PRIVILEGE. "Super-saints" look for some _gift_ to set them apart from other Christians - every gift, that is, except the one that is offered to all (Philippians 3:10-11).... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW YOU CAN TAKE PART. "This is the very same fight you saw me fighting in your own city, and that I am now fighting in Rome! You must expect such things yourself, and face these with courage and endurance!... [ Continue Reading ]