Philippians 1

     See Acts 16 (esp. vv. 9, 12); 20:1-6.  From these passages we know Paul visited Philippi, a Roman colony in Macedonia, during his second missionary journey, and probably more than once during his third journey.  He writes from prison (1:13, 14, 17), perhaps in Rome, perhaps around AD 63.

     1:1-2.  Timothy is with Paul, as he had been when Paul first preached in Philippi.  Special mention is made in the greeting of the church leaders.  Note the plurality of overseers (or, bishops, KJV).  This is the same as the office of elder, and in the NT was never intended to be the exalted singular position that bishops later became when the apostles passed from the scene.

     1:6.  Cf. Numbers 14:15-19.

     1:10.  Both margin notes are preferable to the NASB text: 1. “distinguish between [prove] the things which differ”; 2.”for” the day of Christ.  i.e., abounding in real knowledge and discernment (9) leads to a life that proves the truth and prepares us for the judgment day of Christ.

     1:12.  This is a key purpose of Paul’s letter.  Paul’s circumstances (his imprisonment) like the cross, are not a cause for despair.  This is actually for the greater progress of the gospel.  (Cf. 2 Tim.2:9, KJV;  “But the word of God is not bound.”)  Paul may actually have been chained to a soldier all the time.  Or, as he preferred to think of it, God chained the soldier to the apostle!

     1:13.  Praetorian Guard; cf. Mt.27:27; Mark 15:16.

     1:14-17.  That others should gain courage from Paul’s bondage seems counter intuitive.  Some, it seems, gained courage because Paul was out of the way.  But most gained courage by Paul’s example, for their love of him and the gospel, and their growing trust in God.

     1:18.  Paul is undisturbed by those who preach the gospel in pretense.  The truth is greater than the one who speaks it (but God judges the heart).  Salvation does not depend on the faith of the preacher, but on the hearing of Christ by faith.  (“No one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit” 1 Cor.12:3.)  Paul would be more disturbed by those who would distort and deny the true gospel in all sincerity (cf. Gal.1:6-9).

     1:18b-20.  Paul rejoices that his suffering in the body: 1. Furthers the gospel (12);  2.  Causes them to pray, and that by the provision of the Spirit of Christ, he shall be delivered and not be put to shame; 3. Exalts Christ, whether he lives or dies.

     1:19.  This shall turn out for my deliverance; or, salvation (margin); the same word is used in 28 and 2:12.  (Cf. Job 13:15-16; Paul is likely quoting v.16, LXX).

     1:21.  To die is gain; i.e., even more Christ.

     1:28.  The church standing firm and united in the truth is a sign of destruction for the opponents of the gospel — thus their enmity.  But all this is a sign of God’s salvation for his people.

     1:29.  To you it has been granted; i.e., granted the high privilege of not only believing in Christ, but of suffering for his sake, of “sharing in the fellowship of His suffering” (3:10).  Cf. James 1:2; 1 Peter 2:21.

     1:30.  The same conflict which you saw in me; i.e., the conflict of suffering (Heb.10:32) caused by oppression against body and spirit, within and without (cf.1 Thess. 2:2; 1 Tim.6:12).