Philippians 1:5

For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; Cause for his 'thanking God' (as marks the object on which his thanks rest, and when he gives thanks). FOR YOUR FELLOWSHIP (i:e., real spiritual participation) in (literally, 'in regard to,' or 'into:' Greek, ) THE GOSPEL FROM THE FIRST DAY (OF YOUR BECOMING PARTAKERS IN IT) UNTIL NOW (; ). Believers have the Gospel fellowship of the Son () and of the Father ...

5_For your fellowship_. He now, passing over the other clause, states the ground of his joy — that they had come into the _fellowship of the gospel_, that is, had become partakers of the gospel, which, as is well known, is accomplished by means of faith; for the gospel appears as nothing to us, in respect of any enjoyment of it, until we have received it by faith. At the same time the term _fellowship _may be viewed as referring to the common society of the saints, as though he had said that they had been associated with all the children of God in the faith of the gospel. When he says, _from the first day_, he commends their promptitude in having shewn themselves teachable immediately upon the doctrine being set before them. The phrase _until now _denotes their perseverance. Now we know how rare an excellence it is, to follow God immediately upon his calling us, and also to persevere ste...

1-7 The highest honour of the most eminent ministers is, to be servants of Christ. And those who are not really saints on earth, never will be saints in heaven. Out of Christ, the best saints are sinners, and unable to stand before God. There is no peace without grace. Inward peace springs from a sense of Divine favour. And there is no grace and peace but from God our Father, the fountain and origin of all blessings. At Philippi the apostle was evil entreated, and saw little fruit of his labour; yet he remembers Philippi with joy. We must thank our God for the graces and comforts, gifts and usefulness of others, as we receive the benefit, and God receives the glory. The work of grace will never be perfected till the day of Jesus Christ, the day of his appearance. But we may always be confident God will perform his good work, in every soul wherein he has really begun it by regeneration;...

Verse 5. _FOR YOUR FELLOWSHIP IN THE GOSPEL_] if we consider κοινωνια as implying spiritual _fellowship_ or _communion_, then it signifies, not only their attention to the Gospel, their readiness to continue it, and perseverance in it, but also their _unity_ and affection among themselves. Some understand the word as expressing their _liberality_ to the apostle, and to the Gospel in general; for the term may not only be applied to communion among themselves, but to _communications_ to others. This sense, though followed by _Chrysostom_ and _Theophylact_, does not appear to be the best; though we know it to be a fact that they were liberal in supplying the apostle's necessities, and, no doubt, in ministering to the support of others....

FOR YOUR FELLOWSHIP IN THE GOSPEL - “For your liberality toward me, a preacher of the gospel.” - Wetstein. There has been, however, no little difference of opinion about the meaning of this phrase. Many - as Doddridge, Koppe, and others - suppose it refers to the fact that they participated in the blessings of the gospel from the first day that he preached it until the time when he wrote this Epistle. Others suppose that it refers to their constancy in the Christian faith. Others - as Pierce, Michaelis, Wetstein, Bloomfield, and Storr - suppose it refers to their liberality in contributing to the support of the gospel; to their participating with others, or sharing what they had in common with others, for the maintenance of the gospel. That this is the true sense seems apparent: (1) Because it accords with the scope of the Epistle, and what the apostle elsewhere says of their benefaction...

EXPOSITION PHILIPPIANS 1:1 PAUL AND TIMOTHEUS. St. Paul does not assume his official title in writing to the Macedonian Churches, Philippi and Thessalonica; it is used in all his other Epistles, except the short letter to Philemon. His relations to the Philippians and Thessalonians were those of the deepest personal affection; there was no need of a formal introduction, especially in an Epistle which has so little of an official character as this to the Philippians. He joins the name of Timothy with his own, as in 2 Corinthians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, and Philemon. Thus Timothy is associated with St. Paul in every Epistle in which another name is found except 1 Corinthians, where Sosthenes only is mentioned; this shows the intimate affection that bound St. Paul to his "own son in the faith." There was a special reason f

FOR YOUR FELLOWSHIP IN THE GOSPEL,.... Or "for your communication unto the Gospel"; that is, to the support of it. These Philippians were one of the churches of Macedonia the apostle so highly commends for their liberality in 2 Corinthians 8:1; they had been very communicative to him, and those that were with him, from the beginning of the Gospel being preached to them: as the instances of Lydia and the jailer show, and which are taken notice of in this epistle, Philippians 4:15; And this same generous spirit still continued, of which their present by Epaphroditus was an evidence; and for this the apostle gives thanks, not only that they had an ability to support the Gospel, and assist Gospel ministers, but that they were willing to communicate, and did communicate, readily and cheerfully, la

ANALYSIS AND ANNOTATIONS I. CHRIST, THE CONTROLLING PRINCIPLE OF THE BELIEVER'S LIFE CHAPTER 1 _ 1. The introduction (Philippians 1:1)_ 2. The fellowship in the gospel (Philippians 1:3) 3. The apostle's prayer (Philippians 1:9) 4. Paul's victory (Philippians 1:12) 5. Paul's life and confidence (Philippians 1:21) 6. Exhortation to walk worthy of the gospel (Philippians 1:27

PHP_1:3-11. THANKSGIVING AND INTERCESSION. Paul usually begins his letters with congratulations and thanksgivings, even when he has to follow with complaints and rebukes. In writing to Philippi he has no fault to find with the church, so that his opening sentences are especially glad. At once he sounds a dominant note, the note of joy, which recurs again and again throughout the epistle. He is especially thankful for the fellowship of his readers, their affectionate association for the spread of the gospel; and he is always praying that this may continue, as it has been from the first a period of ten years. This is a matter of confident prayer because he is sure that He who began the good work in them, that is, God, will go on perfecting it until the day of Jesus Christ the day of the return or manifestation of Christ, the Parousia. This was eagerly expected by the early Christians. The...

A FRIEND TO HIS FRIENDS (Php_1:1-2)...