#NewTestament #Biblestudy #philippians #philippians1 #bible #Biblestudy # Philippians 01 > [!info] Table of Contents > [[#📜 Scripture Text (NET)]] [[#📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary]] [[#🧠 Chapter Summary]] [[#🔎 Key Observations / 🛟 Life Application]] [[#✍️ Key Verses to Remember]] > [[#🤔 Interesting Facts]] [[#🔗 Related Passages]] [[#🙏 Devotional Reflection]] > [[Philippians Overview]] --- ## 📜 Scripture Text (NET) ### Greetings from Paul 1 This letter is from Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus. I am writing to all of God’s holy people in Philippi who belong to Christ Jesus, including the church leaders and deacons. 2 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. ### Paul’s Thanksgiving and Prayer 3 Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. 4 Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, 5 for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. 6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. 7 So it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart. You share with me the special favor of God, both in my imprisonment and in defending and confirming the truth of the Good News.8 God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus. 9 I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. 10 For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. 11 May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God. ### Paul’s Joy That Christ Is Preached 12 And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. 13 For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. 14 And because of my imprisonment, most of the believershere have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear. 15 It’s true that some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry. But others preach about Christ with pure motives. 16 They preach because they love me, for they know I have been appointed to defend the Good News. 17 Those others do not have pure motives as they preach about Christ. They preach with selfish ambition, not sincerely, intending to make my chains more painful to me. 18 But that doesn’t matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice. 19 For I know that as you pray for me and the Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me, this will lead to my deliverance. ### Paul’s Life for Christ 20 For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. 21 For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. 22 But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. 23 I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me.24 But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live. 25 Knowing this, I am convinced that I will remain alive so I can continue to help all of you grow and experience the joy of your faith. 26 And when I come to you again, you will have even more reason to take pride in Christ Jesus because of what he is doing through me. ### Live as Citizens of Heaven 27 Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News. 28 Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself. 29 For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him. 30 We are in this struggle together. You have seen my struggle in the past, and you know that I am still in the midst of it. --- ## 📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary **Verse 1**. - Typical greeting for a Roman style letter. - Using Timothy’s name may mean Timothy was the one receiving dictation. - “Slave” the Greek work means slave. Some translations have tried to change it to servant… should stay slave. - Philippi. --- Facts about [[Philippi]]. ### 🏛️ 10 Interesting Facts About Philippi 1. **Philippi Was a Roman Colony** Philippi was one of the few cities designated as a Roman colony (Acts 16:12), meaning its citizens were given the same legal rights as those living in Rome. This status made Roman identity and honor extremely important to its residents. 2. **Founded by King Philip of Macedon (Alexander the Great’s Father)** The city was originally called Crenides but was renamed Philippi after Philip II of Macedon conquered it around 356 B.C 3. **The First European City to Receive the Gospel** When Paul received a vision of the “Macedonian man” (Acts 16:9), he sailed to Macedonia and preached in Philippi first, making it the first European city where Christianity was established. 4. **Lydia Was the First Convert in Europe** Lydia, a wealthy businesswoman and seller of purple cloth, became the first recorded convert to Christianity in Europe (Acts 16:14–15). She hosted the first house church in Philippi. 5. **There Was No Synagogue in Philippi** Paul usually started his missionary work in synagogues, but in Philippi he met a group of women praying by the river (Acts 16:13), likely because there weren’t enough Jewish men to form a synagogue. 6. **Paul Was Imprisoned in Philippi** Paul and Silas were beaten and imprisoned (Acts 16:19–40), but while in jail, they sang hymns at midnight, which led to a miraculous earthquake and the conversion of the Philippian jailer and his family. 7. **Philippi Was the Site of a Famous Roman Battle** In 42 B.C., Brutus and Cassius (Julius Caesar’s assassins) were defeated by Octavian (later Augustus) and Mark Antony. This led to Philippi’s designation as a Roman colony and filled the city with Roman veterans. 8. **The Philippian Church Was One of Paul’s Most Loyal Supporters** The Philippians sent Paul financial and personal support multiple times, even when other churches did not (Phil. 4:15–18). Their generosity is highlighted throughout the letter. 9. **The Philippian Christians Faced Persecution** As Roman citizens loyal to Caesar, many Philippians would have seen Christian allegiance to Jesus as a threat, resulting in suffering and social pressure for believers (Phil. 1:29–30). 10. **Philippi’s Ruins Are Still Visible Today** You can visit the archaeological remains of Philippi in modern-day northeastern Greece, which include a theater, basilicas, and what’s believed to be the prison cell of Paul and Silas. --- **Verse 2**. Paul is constantly reminding the reader of the Trinitarian involvement. The Triune Godhead exists of One Essence with Three Persons: Father, Son, and Spirit. **Verse 3-5**. Often used as a sign of Christian affection toward others. You can tell Paul has a close friendship with this church. **Verse 6**. Paul is assuring the church that God will not give up in the sanctification process until it is finally finished. God will never stop working with and on His Church. - This helps us realize that God never gives up on anyone. **Verse 7-8**. Paul is celebrating that the church has continued to be his allies despite his legal troubles from preaching the Gospel. **Verse 9-11**. Pau’s opening thankfulness and prayer ends with his prayer for God to given them wisdom to know how to live in Christ and for the fruit of the Spirit that comes through our relationship with God to continue, for the glory of God. ##### Ministry as a Prisoner **Verse 12**. “My situation.” Paul has been imprisoned for preaching the Gospel. We can see how this played out in the book of Acts. Paul was arrested by the Jews in Jerusalem. He appealed to the have his case heard by the Emperor, which was the right of any Roman citizen. It was worth noting that any citizen can request to be heard by the Emperor, but the Emperor is not required to hear the case. **Verse 13-14**. Paul’s imprisonment has served to bring a spotlight on the Gospel. When they hear of Paul, they hear of why he is in prison. Therefore, Paul is saying that it has been worth it because it has spread the Gospel. **Verse 15-19**. Paul reveals that there are those who are using his imprisonment for their own gain. Some are preaching the Gospel to get attention. Some are preaching the Gospel as a way to make things worse on Paul. Paul’s response? He doesn’t care. His main goal is for people to hear about the Gospel. He believes the power of the Gospel will make the difference either way. **Verse 20**. Paul’s prayer is not for deliverance from prison, but for boldness to stay strong while in prison. **Verse 21-26**. How can Paul be in prison yet write this letter? Some call it the “letter of joy.” This is because he considers it all gain. If he lives or dies, it is all about Jesus and spreading the message of salvation. - Paul realizes it is more helpful for him to stay alive and continue spreading the Gospel. However, his heart seems to long to be united with Christ. This does not mean Paul had a death wish. It means he could not wait to see Jesus in Heaven. - Example- When someone looks forward to going on vacation, it does not mean they don’t love their home. They are just excited about what is coming. **Verse 27**. “Conducts yourselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel”- Paul calls them (and us) to see our lives as an extension of the message. Therefore, we should live our lives in a way that positively reflections that God we serve and the message He has given us. **Verse 28**.”not being intimidated”- Paul is writing in a time where persecution is continuing to rise toward Christians. It was not the fact they worshiped Jesus. The Roman world was polytheistic. The problem was that Christians say Jesus alone should be worshipped. This would have offended everyone. Paul encourages the Church to stand strong. **Verse 29-30**. “suffering for Him” - Paul warns the Church that serving Jesus is not without pain. God does not keep us from pain because we serve Him. This has never, ever been a part of the Gospel. They crucified Jesus. It would make sense that they will not treat His followers the same way. Suffering is our honor. We represent something worthy of suffering for in Christ. --- ## 🤔 Interesting Facts - In chapter one, Paul is in prison. He is writing to a local church that he has great affection for. - Paul wrote this letter while under house arrest in Rome (Acts 28:30–31), yet Philippians 1 overflows with thankfulness and confidence in God’s work. --- ## 🧠 Chapter Summary Paul opens his letter with warm gratitude for the Philippians’ partnership in the gospel. Even though he’s imprisoned, he rejoices because his chains are advancing the gospel—both among the Roman guards and through the boldness of other believers. He declares that his life is all about Christ: “To live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Paul encourages the Philippians to live in a way that’s worthy of the gospel, standing united and unafraid in the face of opposition. --- ## 🔎 Key Observations / 🛟 Life Application - 📌 Paul finds joy even in prison because the gospel is advancing. - 📌 He sees life and death as equally beneficial—life means fruitful labor, death means being with Christ. - 📌 Paul urges believers to live worthy of the gospel by standing firm in unity and facing opposition without fear. #### Today, I can apply this chapter by: - ✅ Choose joy regardless of your circumstances. God can use your struggles to further His purposes. - ✅ Make Christ your highest priority. Let everything in life revolve around knowing and serving Him. - ✅ Stand together with fellow believers. Live in a way that reflects the gospel in both behavior and attitude. --- ## ✍️ Key Verses to Remember - 📖 (Philippians 1:6) “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” - 📖 (Philippians 1:21) “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” - 📖 (Philippians 1:27) “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ…” --- ## 🔗 Related Passages 1. **God Finishes What He Starts  (Philippians 1:6)** Related Passages: - Romans 8:29–30 – God’s process of calling, justifying, and glorifying believers. - Psalm 138:8 – “The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me…” - 1 Thessalonians 5:23–24 – “He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.” 2. **Joy and Gratitude in Suffering (Philippians 1:3–5, 12–14)** Related Passages: - James 1:2–4 – “Count it all joy… when you meet trials…” - Acts 16:25 – Paul and Silas singing in prison in Philippi. - Romans 5:3–5 – Suffering produces perseverance, character, and hope. - 2 Corinthians 4:16–18 – “Our light and momentary troubles…” 3. **Living Is Christ, Dying Is Gain (Philippians 1:21)** Related Passages: - Galatians 2:20 – “I have been crucified with Christ… Christ lives in me.” - 2 Corinthians 5:8–9 – “To be away from the body is to be at home with the Lord.” - John 11:25–26 – “Whoever believes in me… shall never die.” 4. **Bold Witness Despite Opposition (Philippians 1:12–14, 27–30)** Related Passages: - Acts 4:29–31 – The early church prays for boldness amid persecution. - Matthew 5:11–12 – “Blessed are you when people insult you…” - 2 Timothy 1:7–8 – “God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power…”  5. Unity and Worthy Conduct (Philippians 1:27) Related Passages: - Ephesians 4:1–3 – “Live a life worthy of the calling… in unity.” - Colossians 1:10 – “Walk worthy of the Lord…” - Romans 15:5–6 – Be of “one mind and one voice” in Christ. 5. **Partnership in the Gospel (Philippians 1:5, 7)** Related Passages: - 2 Corinthians 8:1–5 – The Macedonian churches (including Philippi) give generously. - Romans 10:14–15 – The importance of sending and supporting gospel workers. - 3 John 1:5–8 – Commending hospitality toward traveling missionaries. --- ## 🙏 Devotional Reflection [[Philippians1.9-11 (Prayer for Maturity)]] --- ## 📂 Tags