Philippians 1:1-11 ESV
1 Paul and Timothy, servants [slaves] of Christ Jesus,
To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers[b] and deacons:[c]
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 7 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace,[d] both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
Philippians 1:1-2 ESV
Greeting
1 Paul and Timothy, servants [slaves] of Christ Jesus,
To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers[b] and deacons:[c]
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
NOTICE:
The word ‘Christ’ is used 3 times in this prescript
Christ-centered letter
This is called a ‘Prescript’
Philippians 1:1-2 ESV
Greeting
1 Paul and Timothy, servants [slaves] of Christ Jesus,
To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers[b] and deacons:[c]
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:1 ESV
Prescript
1 Paul and Timothy, servants [slaves] of Christ Jesus,
Who is Paul?
Who is Timothy?
Acts 16:1-5 ESV
16 Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. 2 He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium. 3 Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4 As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.
Paul & Timothy identify themselves as ‘slaves’
Philippians 1:3 ESV
Thanksgiving & Affection for the recipients
3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you,
Philippians 1:4 ESV
4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 because of your partnership [sharing] in the gospel from the first day until now.
PARTNERSHIP
Lydia
Roman jailer
Philippians 1:6 ESV
6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
How can Paul be certain?
God began the work when Paul arrived in Philippi
God is the One Who began the work.
Paul is not taking anything away from what the Philippians have done
He’s giving glory to God
We are participating in the work that God began among us.
Philippians 1:7 ESV
7 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace,[d] both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.
We do life together
Philippians 1:8 ESV
8 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.
Paul expresses his deep affection
Philippians 1:9-11 ESV
Intercessory Prayer
9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
Paul prays for the Philippians
Philippians 1:9 ESV
9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment,
Love is the foundation of the Christian life
John 13:34-35 ESV
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Paul prays their love would ‘grow exponentially’
Deep love
10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
This is the result.
Spiritual Discernment
GOOD vs. BAD
GOOD vs. BETTER vs. BEST
10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,
Literally translated:
‘In order that you might be sincere & faultless until the day of Christ’
Sincere or pure
And blameless…or faultless
Integrity + innocence
11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
Fruit that is produced by righteousness
Manifesting this fruit is only possible through Jesus Christ
Jesus is the One who is creating the fruit that is produced by righteousness.
It’s His righteousness!
This righteousness is God’s righteousness…& is based on trust.
The Gospel:
Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
Philippians 1:9-11 ESV
Intercessory Prayer
9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
GRATITUDE
AFFECTION
PRAYER
Philippians 4:4-7 ESV
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness[d] be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Comments