(Philippians Part 1): Written to the church in Philippi which became the first European city to receive the gospel. The focus of Philippians is on the unity of fellowship.
Philippians 1:1 - Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:
Timotheus is the transliteration of the Greek word for Timothy. Paul and Timotheus, the servants, or literally slaves of Jesus Christ, and I think it's interesting that Paul does not introduce himself with his apostolic authority. He says Timothy and I and we're slaves, because he's ministering about fellowship.
There's nobody in high rank in fellowship. Everyone is the servant and slave of all. Paul presents himself, and even though he's an apostle, he presents himself as a slave!
And again, the word saints, every believer in Christ is titled a saint. The word saint means set apart. It's the same word that's used for holy in the term Holy Spirit. What he's saying is, "to all the set apart ones in Jesus Christ, who are in Philippi."
But then he adds leadership to this. He says with the bishops and deacons. The word bishop (EPISKOPOS) sounds like Episcopalian. Well, that's where we get Episcopalian from. EPI, and SKOPOS means overseer. EPI means over, and SKOPOS means scope, to scope over or to be an overseer of a church. It's applied to pastors and all leaders that are in positions of overseeing the entire fellowship of believers.
The word deacon itself, DIAKONOS means a waiter, like in a restaurant. A deacon is the expression and an extension of the pastoral or ministry leadership in the church, in that they take care of waiting on and taking care of the physical elements in the church or in people's lives which gives the pastors/overseers freedom to study the word and pray.
Jesse, that you so much for the study of the book of Philippians. I am still learning and hope one day to write more Bible studies. May God bless you and you're family in the Lord Jesus Christ.
This is my little study in what I see in the verses.
Part 1. Philippians 1:1
I find it interesting that the Bible mentions bishop in Apostle Paul's epistle more . Apostle Peter only mentioned once.
Part 2. Philippians 1:6,7,8
I find it interesting to hear the word " day of Jesus Christ " . To me the Day of Christ would be the meeting in the clouds. 2 Thessalonians 2:2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
Part 3. Philippians 1:9,10,16
I find verse 11 to be very important to grow in grace, for we need to be fill with the Holy Spirit to bear fruits to good works in Christ Jesus. " Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. "
Part 4. Philippians 1:18, 19
I love verse 18, no matter what happens in life, we must all preach Jesus Christ gospel of grace . 1 Corinthians 15:1-4
Part 5. Philippians 1:27, 30
I love verse 27, our conversation should always be the gospel of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1:21
is one my favorite verse, because when things get bad, the easy way out is to die, but there is hope for strength in Jesus Christ to continue in the grace of the gospel .
Ray, in Christ Jesus 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 my gospel of the grace of God
Thank you for your message and may the Lord bless you and yours also. Like you, I am also still learning. Learning never stops. I agree, Paul seems to be the most prominent of the Apostles.
I would just like to touch on a couple things. Something I find interesting with 2 Thessalonians 2:2 is that the oldest manuscripts do not say the day of Christ. They say the day of the Lord, the same phrase we see in 1 Thessalonians 5:2. My understanding is that the day of the Lord is not talking about a specific day but a time period that God has set apart for judgment.
Indeed, Philippians 1:11 is an important verse. My understanding of being "filled with the Holy Spirit" is when God's Spirit which dwells in me takes over my faculties. As a believer, I have 100% of God's Spirit in me at all times but I am not always being filled with the Holy Spirit. There are times where even though I have the fulness of His Spirit in me, I am off doing my own thing. Also, if I have God's Spirit in me, I am and will bear fruit. It is impossible for a believer to be born of God's Spirit and not bear fruit.
I like what you're saying about Philippians 1:18. That was Paul's approach to the hardships he went through. The word rejoice means satisfaction. I'm sure Paul was not happy that people were causing division in the fellowship in the body of Christ, but even through the hardship and division, Christ was being preached which gave him satisfaction and allowed him to keep the unity of the fellowship in the bond of peace.
Philippians 1:27 - Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
He says only let your conversation, which is the word citizenship. The word conversation is the word citizenship. Only let your citizenship be as it becomes the gospel of Christ:
The word becomes means worthy. Again, the balance scales in the markets. You put an item on one side that you want to purchase, and you have to put money on the other side to where it equals out. And Paul is saying let your life equal out to the ministry of the gospel and truth of Jesus Christ, that whether I come to see you, or be absent, I may hear of your affairs.
Here's what he wants to hear: Number one, that you stand firm. That's the same message from back in Ephesians. In one spirit, in one mind (literally soul), while striving together for the faith of the gospel; The term striving together is the word SUNATHLETOS, SUN (pronounced soon) for with, and ATHLETOS for the word athletic.
You function together as a team for the furtherance of the gospel. No division. You're under the influence of the same Spirit. You're like one soul. You're like one person rather than a bunch of individuals.
Philippians 1:30 - Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.
Having the same conflict, and that's the word agony. Having the same agony which you saw in me, and now you hear to be in me. Paul says you want to know what it looks like, what I just told you about believing and suffering? It's the same agony that you see in my life, as I, like an athlete, battle with the opponent all day long. That's not just God's will for Paul. That's for every believer!
Philippians 1:18 - What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.
We know what the rejoice means. It means satisfied. Obviously, Paul's not happy that people are coming between him and other people and there's a division happening in the fellowship in the body of Christ. But he has to be satisfied with it all because in the midst of it all, Christ is being preached. And all the things that are wrong about what these other people are doing, Christ is being preached!
So, he says that's my satisfaction. That also saves him from growing bitter against those who are treating him unjustly, and it allows him to keep the fellowship, the unity of the fellowship in the bond of peace.
Philippians 1:19 - For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,
I'd like to share some technical information that I have learned. The term to my salvation is literally "for me for salvation." You might ask what's the difference? It's not Paul's salvation. But he knows that in his situation, it's going to be for him for the preaching of the gospel and the salvation of other people.
But notice that it's through two things: Through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. There you go. The fellowship of believers that are bonded together through prayer, and the supply of God's Spirit, that's it. That's all you need!
Philippians 1:9 - And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;
Notice that he didn't pray that they would get love. A genuine believer already has love, the AGAPE love, because God is love. If you have Christ living in you, you have His love. He says that it might abound yet more and more. And notice that it's in two areas.
First of all, in knowledge, or full knowledge literally. As you grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ, love abounds more and more. Secondly: and in all judgment; This word has to do with sensitivity, that you would have a sensitivity of what's right and wrong, rather than being deceived.
Philippians 1:10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;
The word approve means to put it to the test. It's approval after testing. He says I want you to grow in love, in knowledge, and in judgement, so that you can put things to the test and come to a determination and a decision about the things that are excellent verses those things that are false.
Another purpose is that you may be sincere and without offence. This has to do with putting water in some kind of clear container and holding it up to the sun in order to see the elements that are in the water. So, what he's saying here is that sincerity means that you're just an open book. You're held up to the word. You're held up to the light. You have nothing to hide. Everything's out in the open. He says I want you to approve the things that are excellent so that you may be sincere and without offence until the day of Christ.
Philippians 1:16 - The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:
The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, which is the word for pure. Their motives are not pure when they are preaching the gospel.
Philippians 1:6 - Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
Notice how it says being confident? It's actually a Perfect Tense, having become confident. Why? Because they've been in fellowship with the gospel from the first day until now. They've been in fellowship with the gospel, so confidently Paul can say about this very thing that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform, literally complete it, until the day of Jesus Christ:
That's quite a promise. But he didn't say that for all people. He says because you have been in the word from the first day until now, I can tell you that God's promise to you is that whatever work He began in you, He's going to complete it until Christ comes.
He didn't say for all people who profess to be Christians because not all professing Christians are saved, especially in our religious system in our country. So, the confidence comes because they've been in the word since the first day they were saved.
Philippians 1:7 - Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.
This is the second time the word fellowship is found in this section. Partakers is the word for fellowship.
Philippians 1:8 - For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.
For God is my record, or more literally witness, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ. The Greeks, when they wrote, they used the internal organs of the body to express the reality of their affections. He's trying to say it's not surface.
(Philippians Part 1): Written to the church in Philippi which became the first European city to receive the gospel. The focus of Philippians is on the unity of fellowship.
Philippians 1:1 - Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:
Timotheus is the transliteration of the Greek word for Timothy. Paul and Timotheus, the servants, or literally slaves of Jesus Christ, and I think it's interesting that Paul does not introduce himself with his apostolic authority. He says Timothy and I and we're slaves, because he's ministering about fellowship.
There's nobody in high rank in fellowship. Everyone is the servant and slave of all. Paul presents himself, and even though he's an apostle, he presents himself as a slave!
And again, the word saints, every believer in Christ is titled a saint. The word saint means set apart. It's the same word that's used for holy in the term Holy Spirit. What he's saying is, "to all the set apart ones in Jesus Christ, who are in Philippi."
But then he adds leadership to this. He says with the bishops and deacons. The word bishop (EPISKOPOS) sounds like Episcopalian. Well, that's where we get Episcopalian from. EPI, and SKOPOS means overseer. EPI means over, and SKOPOS means scope, to scope over or to be an overseer of a church. It's applied to pastors and all leaders that are in positions of overseeing the entire fellowship of believers.
The word deacon itself, DIAKONOS means a waiter, like in a restaurant. A deacon is the expression and an extension of the pastoral or ministry leadership in the church, in that they take care of waiting on and taking care of the physical elements in the church or in people's lives which gives the pastors/overseers freedom to study the word and pray.
This is my little study in what I see in the verses.
Part 1. Philippians 1:1
I find it interesting that the Bible mentions bishop in Apostle Paul's epistle more . Apostle Peter only mentioned once.
Part 2. Philippians 1:6,7,8
I find it interesting to hear the word " day of Jesus Christ " . To me the Day of Christ would be the meeting in the clouds. 2 Thessalonians 2:2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
Part 3. Philippians 1:9,10,16
I find verse 11 to be very important to grow in grace, for we need to be fill with the Holy Spirit to bear fruits to good works in Christ Jesus. " Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. "
Part 4. Philippians 1:18, 19
I love verse 18, no matter what happens in life, we must all preach Jesus Christ gospel of grace . 1 Corinthians 15:1-4
Part 5. Philippians 1:27, 30
I love verse 27, our conversation should always be the gospel of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1:21
is one my favorite verse, because when things get bad, the easy way out is to die, but there is hope for strength in Jesus Christ to continue in the grace of the gospel .
Ray, in Christ Jesus 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 my gospel of the grace of God
Thank you for your message and may the Lord bless you and yours also. Like you, I am also still learning. Learning never stops. I agree, Paul seems to be the most prominent of the Apostles.
I would just like to touch on a couple things. Something I find interesting with 2 Thessalonians 2:2 is that the oldest manuscripts do not say the day of Christ. They say the day of the Lord, the same phrase we see in 1 Thessalonians 5:2. My understanding is that the day of the Lord is not talking about a specific day but a time period that God has set apart for judgment.
Indeed, Philippians 1:11 is an important verse. My understanding of being "filled with the Holy Spirit" is when God's Spirit which dwells in me takes over my faculties. As a believer, I have 100% of God's Spirit in me at all times but I am not always being filled with the Holy Spirit. There are times where even though I have the fulness of His Spirit in me, I am off doing my own thing. Also, if I have God's Spirit in me, I am and will bear fruit. It is impossible for a believer to be born of God's Spirit and not bear fruit.
I like what you're saying about Philippians 1:18. That was Paul's approach to the hardships he went through. The word rejoice means satisfaction. I'm sure Paul was not happy that people were causing division in the fellowship in the body of Christ, but even through the hardship and division, Christ was being preached which gave him satisfaction and allowed him to keep the unity of the fellowship in the bond of peace.
Thanks again and God Bless!!!
Ray , in Christ Jesus 1 Corinthians 15:1-4
Easter is coming, let's remember the resurrection everyday ....
Philippians 1:27 - Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
He says only let your conversation, which is the word citizenship. The word conversation is the word citizenship. Only let your citizenship be as it becomes the gospel of Christ:
The word becomes means worthy. Again, the balance scales in the markets. You put an item on one side that you want to purchase, and you have to put money on the other side to where it equals out. And Paul is saying let your life equal out to the ministry of the gospel and truth of Jesus Christ, that whether I come to see you, or be absent, I may hear of your affairs.
Here's what he wants to hear: Number one, that you stand firm. That's the same message from back in Ephesians. In one spirit, in one mind (literally soul), while striving together for the faith of the gospel; The term striving together is the word SUNATHLETOS, SUN (pronounced soon) for with, and ATHLETOS for the word athletic.
You function together as a team for the furtherance of the gospel. No division. You're under the influence of the same Spirit. You're like one soul. You're like one person rather than a bunch of individuals.
Philippians 1:30 - Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.
Having the same conflict, and that's the word agony. Having the same agony which you saw in me, and now you hear to be in me. Paul says you want to know what it looks like, what I just told you about believing and suffering? It's the same agony that you see in my life, as I, like an athlete, battle with the opponent all day long. That's not just God's will for Paul. That's for every believer!
Philippians 1:18 - What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.
We know what the rejoice means. It means satisfied. Obviously, Paul's not happy that people are coming between him and other people and there's a division happening in the fellowship in the body of Christ. But he has to be satisfied with it all because in the midst of it all, Christ is being preached. And all the things that are wrong about what these other people are doing, Christ is being preached!
So, he says that's my satisfaction. That also saves him from growing bitter against those who are treating him unjustly, and it allows him to keep the fellowship, the unity of the fellowship in the bond of peace.
Philippians 1:19 - For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,
I'd like to share some technical information that I have learned. The term to my salvation is literally "for me for salvation." You might ask what's the difference? It's not Paul's salvation. But he knows that in his situation, it's going to be for him for the preaching of the gospel and the salvation of other people.
But notice that it's through two things: Through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. There you go. The fellowship of believers that are bonded together through prayer, and the supply of God's Spirit, that's it. That's all you need!
Philippians 1:9 - And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;
Notice that he didn't pray that they would get love. A genuine believer already has love, the AGAPE love, because God is love. If you have Christ living in you, you have His love. He says that it might abound yet more and more. And notice that it's in two areas.
First of all, in knowledge, or full knowledge literally. As you grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ, love abounds more and more. Secondly: and in all judgment; This word has to do with sensitivity, that you would have a sensitivity of what's right and wrong, rather than being deceived.
Philippians 1:10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;
The word approve means to put it to the test. It's approval after testing. He says I want you to grow in love, in knowledge, and in judgement, so that you can put things to the test and come to a determination and a decision about the things that are excellent verses those things that are false.
Another purpose is that you may be sincere and without offence. This has to do with putting water in some kind of clear container and holding it up to the sun in order to see the elements that are in the water. So, what he's saying here is that sincerity means that you're just an open book. You're held up to the word. You're held up to the light. You have nothing to hide. Everything's out in the open. He says I want you to approve the things that are excellent so that you may be sincere and without offence until the day of Christ.
Philippians 1:16 - The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:
The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, which is the word for pure. Their motives are not pure when they are preaching the gospel.
Philippians 1:6 - Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
Notice how it says being confident? It's actually a Perfect Tense, having become confident. Why? Because they've been in fellowship with the gospel from the first day until now. They've been in fellowship with the gospel, so confidently Paul can say about this very thing that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform, literally complete it, until the day of Jesus Christ:
That's quite a promise. But he didn't say that for all people. He says because you have been in the word from the first day until now, I can tell you that God's promise to you is that whatever work He began in you, He's going to complete it until Christ comes.
He didn't say for all people who profess to be Christians because not all professing Christians are saved, especially in our religious system in our country. So, the confidence comes because they've been in the word since the first day they were saved.
Philippians 1:7 - Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.
This is the second time the word fellowship is found in this section. Partakers is the word for fellowship.
Philippians 1:8 - For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.
For God is my record, or more literally witness, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ. The Greeks, when they wrote, they used the internal organs of the body to express the reality of their affections. He's trying to say it's not surface.
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