Reference: Philippians, Epistle To
Easton
was written by Paul during the two years when he was "in bonds" in Rome (Php 1:7-13), probably early in the year A.D. 62 or in the end of 61.
The Philippians had sent Epaphroditus, their messenger, with contributions to meet the necessities of the apostle; and on his return Paul sent back with him this letter. With this precious communication Epaphroditus sets out on his homeward journey. "The joy caused by his return, and the effect of this wonderful letter when first read in the church of Philippi, are hidden from us. And we may almost say that with this letter the church itself passes from our view. To-day, in silent meadows, quiet cattle browse among the ruins which mark the site of what was once the flourishing Roman colony of Philippi, the home of the most attractive church of the apostolic age. But the name and fame and spiritual influence of that church will never pass. To myriads of men and women in every age and nation the letter written in a dungeon at Rome, and carried along the Egnatian Way by an obscure Christian messenger, has been a light divine and a cheerful guide along the most rugged paths of life" (Professor Beet).
The church at Philippi was the first-fruits of European Christianity. Their attachment to the apostle was very fervent, and so also was his affection for them. They alone of all the churches helped him by their contributions, which he gratefully acknowledges (Ac 20:33-35; 2Co 11:7-12; 2Th 3:8). The pecuniary liberality of the Philippians comes out very conspicuously (Php 4:15). "This was a characteristic of the Macedonian missions, as 2Co 8 and 2Co 9 amply and beautifully prove. It is remarkable that the Macedonian converts were, as a class, very poor (2Co 8:2); and the parallel facts, their poverty and their open-handed support of the great missionary and his work, are deeply harmonious. At the present day the missionary liberality of poor Christians is, in proportion, really greater than that of the rich" (Moule's Philippians, Introd.).
The contents of this epistle give an interesting insight into the condition of the church at Rome at the time it was written. Paul's imprisonment, we are informed, was no hindrance to his preaching the gospel, but rather "turned out to the furtherance of the gospel." The gospel spread very extensively among the Roman soldiers, with whom he was in constant contact, and the Christians grew into a "vast multitude." It is plain that Christianity was at this time making rapid advancement in Rome.
The doctrinal statements of this epistle bear a close relation to those of the Epistle to the Romans. Compare also Php 3:20 with Eph 2:12,19, where the church is presented under the idea of a city or commonwealth for the first time in Paul's writings. The personal glory of Christ is also set forth in almost parallel forms of expression in Php 2:5-11, compared with Eph 1:17-23; 2:8; and Col 1:15-20. "This exposition of the grace and wonder of His personal majesty, personal self-abasement, and personal exaltation after it," found in these epistles, "is, in a great measure, a new development in the revelations given through St. Paul" (Moule). Other minuter analogies in forms of expression and of thought are also found in these epistles of the Captivity.
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I have coveted no man's silver or gold or apparel. Yea, you yourselves know that these hands have ministered to my needs, and to those who were with me. read more. I have shown you all things, that working in this way we ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
that in much testing of trouble, the overflowing of their joy, and the depth of their poverty, abounded to the riches of their generosity.
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of His calling, and what is the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, read more. and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us, the ones believing according to the working of His mighty strength which He worked in Christ in raising Him from the dead, and He seated Him at His right hand in the heavenlies, far above all principality and authority and power and dominion, and every name being named, not only in this world, but also in the coming age. And He has put all things under His feet and gave Him to be Head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
For by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God,
and that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world.
Now therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God,
even as it is righteous for me to think this of you all, because you have me in your heart, inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you are all partakers of my grace. For God is my witness how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ. read more. And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in full knowledge and in all perception; that you may distinguish between things that differ, that you may be sincere and without offense until the day of Jesus Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. But I desire that you should understand, brothers, that the things which happened to me have fallen out rather to the furtherance of the gospel; so that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places.
For let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, read more. but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God has highly exalted Him, and has given Him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of heavenly ones, and of earthly ones, and of ones under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
For our citizenship is in Heaven, from which also we are looking for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as regards giving and receiving, except you alone.
who is the image of the invisible God, the First-born of all creation. For all things were created in Him, the things in the heavens, and the things on the earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers, all things were created through Him and for Him. read more. And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist. And He is the Head of the body, the church, who is the Beginning, the First-born from the dead, that He may be pre-eminent in all things. For it pleased the Father that in Him all fullness should dwell. And through Him having made peace through the blood of His cross, it pleased the Father to reconcile all things to Himself through Him, whether the things on earth or the things in Heaven.
Hastings
PHILIPPIANS, EPISTLE TO
1. The Church of Philippi.
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and from there to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, a colony. And we continued spending time in that city some days.
and from there to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, a colony. And we continued spending time in that city some days. And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was usually made. And we sat down and spoke to the women who came together there. read more. And a certain woman named Lydia heard us, a seller of purple of the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God; whose heart the Lord opened, so that she attended to the things which were spoken by Paul. And when she was baptized, she and her household, she begged us, saying, If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay. And she constrained us. And as we went to prayer, it happened that a certain girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much gain by divining. The same followed Paul and us and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the Most High God, who are announcing to us the way of salvation. And she did this many days. But being distressed, and turning to the demonic spirit, Paul said, I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her! And it came out in that hour. And when her masters saw that the hope of their gain went out, having seized Paul and Silas, they dragged them to the market before the rulers. And bringing them near to the judges, they said, These men, being Jews, are exceedingly troubling our city. And they teach customs which are not lawful for us to receive nor to do, being Romans. And the crowd rose up against them. And tearing off their clothes, the judges ordered them to be flogged. And after laying on them many stripes, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailor to keep them safely; who, having received such a command, thrust them into the inner prison and made their feet fast in the stocks. And toward midnight Paul and Silas prayed and praised God in a hymn. And the prisoners listened to them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened and all the bonds were loosened. And being awakened, and seeing the doors of the prison being open, drawing a sword, the jailer was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul called out with a loud voice, saying, Do yourself no harm, for we are all here. Then asking for a light he rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. And leading them outside, he said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved, and your household. And they spoke the Word of the Lord to him, and to all who were in his household. And taking them in that hour of the night, he washed from their stripes. And he was baptized, he and all his, immediately. And bringing them up to the house, he set a table before them and rejoiced, believing in God with all his household. And day coming, the judges sent the floggers, saying, Let those men go. And the jailer spoke these words to Paul: The judges have sent to let you go. Now therefore depart, and go in peace. But Paul said to them, Having beaten us publicly, men who are Romans and uncondemned, they threw us into prison. And now do they put us out secretly? No indeed! But coming themselves, let them bring us out. And the floggers reported these words to the judges. And hearing that they were Romans, they were afraid. And coming they begged them. And bringing them out, they asked them to depart out of the city. And going out from the prison, they entered into the house of Lydia. And seeing the brothers, they comforted them and departed.
And after the days of Unleavened Bread, we sailed away from Philippi and came to them at Troas in five days, where we stayed seven days.
who also attempted to profane the temple, whom we took and would have judged according to our Law.
Defending himself, Paul said, Neither against the Law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I offended in anything.
that in much testing of trouble, the overflowing of their joy, and the depth of their poverty, abounded to the riches of their generosity.
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, for your sakes He became poor, in order that you might be made rich through His poverty.
Or did I commit sin in humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you without charge?
Paul and Timothy, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons.
Paul and Timothy, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons. Grace to you, and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. read more. I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making my request for you all with joy
always in every prayer of mine making my request for you all with joy for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;
for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ,
being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ, even as it is righteous for me to think this of you all, because you have me in your heart, inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you are all partakers of my grace.
even as it is righteous for me to think this of you all, because you have me in your heart, inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you are all partakers of my grace.
even as it is righteous for me to think this of you all, because you have me in your heart, inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you are all partakers of my grace. For God is my witness how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.
For God is my witness how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ. And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in full knowledge and in all perception; read more. that you may distinguish between things that differ, that you may be sincere and without offense until the day of Jesus Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. But I desire that you should understand, brothers, that the things which happened to me have fallen out rather to the furtherance of the gospel;
But I desire that you should understand, brothers, that the things which happened to me have fallen out rather to the furtherance of the gospel; so that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places.
so that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places.
so that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places.
so that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places. And most of the brothers in the Lord, becoming confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the Word without fear.
And most of the brothers in the Lord, becoming confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the Word without fear.
And most of the brothers in the Lord, becoming confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the Word without fear. Some indeed even preach Christ because of envy and strife, and some also of good will.
Some indeed even preach Christ because of envy and strife, and some also of good will. Those, indeed, preach Christ out of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds.
Those, indeed, preach Christ out of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds. But these others preach in love, knowing that I am set for the defense of the gospel.
But these others preach in love, knowing that I am set for the defense of the gospel.
But these others preach in love, knowing that I am set for the defense of the gospel. What then? Nevertheless, in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached. And I rejoice in this. Yet, also I will rejoice.
What then? Nevertheless, in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached. And I rejoice in this. Yet, also I will rejoice. For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,
For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope that I shall be ashamed in nothing, but as always now Christ shall be magnified in my body with all boldness, whether it is by life or by death.
according to my earnest expectation and hope that I shall be ashamed in nothing, but as always now Christ shall be magnified in my body with all boldness, whether it is by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labor. Yet I do not know what I shall choose.
But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labor. Yet I do not know what I shall choose. For I am pressed together by the two: having a desire to depart and to be with Christ, which is far better.
For I am pressed together by the two: having a desire to depart and to be with Christ, which is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.
But to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. And having this confidence, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all, for your advancement and joy of faith,
And having this confidence, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all, for your advancement and joy of faith,
And having this confidence, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all, for your advancement and joy of faith, so that your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.
so that your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again. Only let your conduct be as becomes the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you, or else am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, striving together with one mind for the faith of the gospel,
Only let your conduct be as becomes the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you, or else am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, striving together with one mind for the faith of the gospel, and terrified in nothing by your adversaries. For this is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. read more. For to you it is given on behalf of Christ not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake, having the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me.
If there is therefore any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tendernesses and mercies, then fulfill my joy, that you may be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord and of one mind. read more. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves. Do not let each man look upon his own things, but each man also on the things of others. For let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God,
who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.
but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God has highly exalted Him, and has given Him a name which is above every name,
Therefore God has highly exalted Him, and has given Him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of heavenly ones, and of earthly ones, and of ones under the earth;
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of heavenly ones, and of earthly ones, and of ones under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
so that you may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation. Among these you shine as lights in the world, holding forth the Word of Life, so that I may rejoice with you in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain nor labored in vain.
And you also rejoice in the same, and rejoice with me. But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy shortly to you, so that I also may be of good comfort when I know your state. read more. For I have no one who is like-minded, who will naturally care for your state.
For I have no one who is like-minded, who will naturally care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are of Jesus Christ.
For all seek their own, not the things which are of Jesus Christ. But you know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he has served with me in the gospel. read more. Therefore I hope to send him presently, as soon as I shall see the things about me. But I trust in the Lord that I myself shall also come shortly. Yet I thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow-worker, and fellow-soldier, but your messenger and he who ministered to my wants.
Yet I thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow-worker, and fellow-soldier, but your messenger and he who ministered to my wants. For he longed after you all and was full of heaviness, because you had heard that he had been sick.
For he longed after you all and was full of heaviness, because you had heard that he had been sick. For indeed he was sick, coming near death, but God had mercy on him, and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.
For indeed he was sick, coming near death, but God had mercy on him, and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, so that you may rejoice when you see him again, and that I may be the less sorrowful.
Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, so that you may rejoice when you see him again, and that I may be the less sorrowful. Therefore receive him in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such in honor,
Therefore receive him in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such in honor, because for the work of Christ he was near death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.
because for the work of Christ he was near death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.
Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is indeed not grievous to me, but for you it is safe.
Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is indeed not grievous to me, but for you it is safe.
Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is indeed not grievous to me, but for you it is safe. Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision party.
Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision party.
Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision party.
Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision party.
Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision party.
But no, rather, I also count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them to be dung, so that I may win Christ and be found in Him; not having my own righteousness, which is of the Law, but through the faith of Christ, the righteousness of God by faith, read more. that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable to His death; if by any means I might attain to the resurrection of the dead.
Brothers, be imitators together of me, and mark those who walk this way, for you have us for a pattern. (For many are walking, of whom I have told you often and now tell you even weeping, as the enemies of the cross of Christ;
For our citizenship is in Heaven, from which also we are looking for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change our body of humiliation so that it may be fashioned like His glorious body, according to the working of His power, even to subdue all things to Himself.
Therefore, my brothers, ones loved and longed for, my joy and crown, stand fast in this way in the Lord, beloved ones.
Therefore, my brothers, ones loved and longed for, my joy and crown, stand fast in this way in the Lord, beloved ones. I beg Euodia and Syntyche that they be of the same mind in the Lord.
I beg Euodia and Syntyche that they be of the same mind in the Lord.
I beg Euodia and Syntyche that they be of the same mind in the Lord. And I also beg you, true yoke-fellow, help those women who labored in the gospel with me and with Clement, and others of my fellow-laborers, whose names are in the Book of Life.
And I also beg you, true yoke-fellow, help those women who labored in the gospel with me and with Clement, and others of my fellow-laborers, whose names are in the Book of Life.
And I also beg you, true yoke-fellow, help those women who labored in the gospel with me and with Clement, and others of my fellow-laborers, whose names are in the Book of Life. Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say, Rejoice!
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say, Rejoice! Let your moderation be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
Let your moderation be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
And the peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, my brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are right, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there is any virtue and if there is any praise, think on these things.
Finally, my brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are right, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there is any virtue and if there is any praise, think on these things.
Finally, my brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are right, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there is any virtue and if there is any praise, think on these things. Do those things which you have also learned and received and heard and seen in me. And the God of peace shall be with you.
Do those things which you have also learned and received and heard and seen in me. And the God of peace shall be with you.
Do those things which you have also learned and received and heard and seen in me. And the God of peace shall be with you.
Do those things which you have also learned and received and heard and seen in me. And the God of peace shall be with you. But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me has flourished again. Although you indeed did think, but you lacked opportunity.
But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me has flourished again. Although you indeed did think, but you lacked opportunity.
But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me has flourished again. Although you indeed did think, but you lacked opportunity.
But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me has flourished again. Although you indeed did think, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak according to need, for I have learned to be content in whatever state I am.
Not that I speak according to need, for I have learned to be content in whatever state I am.
Not that I speak according to need, for I have learned to be content in whatever state I am. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound. In everything and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound. In everything and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound. In everything and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Yet you did well in sharing my troubles.
Yet you did well in sharing my troubles. Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as regards giving and receiving, except you alone.
Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as regards giving and receiving, except you alone. For even in Thessalonica you sent once and again to my necessity.
For even in Thessalonica you sent once and again to my necessity. I do not say this because I desire a gift, but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.
I do not say this because I desire a gift, but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. But I have all, and abound. I have been filled, having received from Epaphroditus the things which you sent, an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable and well-pleasing to God.
But I have all, and abound. I have been filled, having received from Epaphroditus the things which you sent, an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable and well-pleasing to God. But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Now unto God and our Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. read more. Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you. All the saints greet you, most of all those who are of Caesar's household.
All the saints greet you, most of all those who are of Caesar's household. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,
Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow-servant in the Lord, will make known to you all things about me.