Philippians

The Epistle of Paul to the

PHILIPPIANS

Salutation

¹Paul and Timothy,Paul gives recognition to his junior partner. slavesThat is right, slaves. of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ JesusPaul goes back and forth between “Jesus Christ” and “Christ Jesus” with apparently no difference in meaning. who are at Philippi, together with the overseersThis term is often translated ‘bishop’; along with ‘elder’ and ‘pastor’ it refers to a single office in the church. Note that there is a plurality of both overseers and deacons. and deacons: ²Grace to you and peace from God our Father and Sovereign Jesus Christ.

How Paul prays for them

³I thank my God every time I remember you; ⁴in all my prayers for all of you I always pray with joy, ⁵because of your partnership in the Gospel from the first day until now, ⁶being certain of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will complete it until the Day of Jesus Christ;Amen!⁷just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the Gospel you all are partakers with me of the Grace.That is what the Text says, ‘the’ grace. They identified with Paul and what he was doing.⁸God is my witness how I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.

⁹This is what I pray: that your love may abound yet more and more in real knowledgeThe compound noun, επιγνωσις, is often rendered as ‘full knowledge’, but I consider that ‘real knowledge’ comes closer. and full discernment,We have all heard that ‘love is blind’, but agape love is just the opposite. Lamentably, I cannot think of a single church that could be said to have “full discernment”, and many appear to have none at all.¹⁰for you to identify the things that really matter;Yes indeed, “the things that really matter”—the point of identifying them is to concentrate our attention and energy on them. that you may be sincere and blameless until the Day of Christ,In verse 6 the emphasis is on God’s sovereignty, here it is on our responsibility. “The Day of Christ” is of special relevance to Christians, and the particular aspect in view here is the accounting (see Romans 14:12,14).¹¹having been filled“Having been filled”—that is what the Text says. Since the righteousness of Christ is imputed (we cannot earn it), God gives us the best possible start; as it says in 2 Peter 1:3, “His divine power has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness”. What we do with it is up to us (see 2:12 below). with the fruits of righteousness that are through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.The glory of God is the ultimate purpose of all creation (Isaiah 43:7).

News and Instructions

By whatever means, Christ is preached

¹²Now I want you to know, brothers, that the events against me have actually turned out for the advancement of the Gospel: ¹³as a result, it has become evident to the whole imperial guard, and to everyone else, that I am in chains for Christ;Paul did not hide his light ‘under a bushel’.¹⁴also, most of the brothers in Sovereign have been influenced by my chains to be much bolder, to speak the Word fearlessly. ¹⁵To be sure, some are even preaching Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of good will; ¹⁶the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, thinking to add to my affliction while in chains,Just a minute: how does insincere preaching (by others) add to his affliction? I suppose we all know ‘Christian workers’ who are motivated by selfish ambition, and any such would want to ‘make hay’ while free from Paul’s ‘shadow’, as it were. Judging Paul by themselves, they would think he would be bothered by seeing them gaining prominence at his expense.¹⁷but the latter out of love, knowing that I am set here for the defense of the Gospel.Even in prison Paul did not lose sight of the job God had given him. Some 10% of the Greek manuscripts transpose verses 16 and 17 (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.).¹⁸No problem: in every way, be it in pretense or in truth,The Bible is clear to the effect that the means, not just the end, must be appropriate to God’s character, so this statement seems a bit strange. Within the community of faith deviations can be treated quite severely, but perhaps for what we might term ‘pre-evangelism’, getting people who have never heard of Him before to start thinking about Christ, there may be some leeway. Further, Matthew 20:1-16 makes clear that God is prepared to use a variety of types of worker. Christ is proclaimed, and in this I rejoice—yes, and will rejoice.

To live is Christ, to die is gain

¹⁹You see, I know that this will turn out for my deliverance (through your supplication and the support of the Spirit of Jesus Christ)This is presumably a reference to the Holy Spirit (see John 16:13-15).²⁰according to my earnest expectation and hope that I will not be put to shame in anything but be truly bold, so that now as always Christ will be glorified in my person, whether by life or by deathAlthough it appears that Paul actually hoped to be freed from prison, he is prepared to die. His main concern is not to do anything that will shame his Master.²¹—to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.How can death be a gain? Only if you live for Christ.²²Now if I am to live on in the flesh it will mean fruitful labor for me, so I do not know what to choose. ²³I am torn between the two: I have the desire to depart and be with Christ (far better),This is one of a few passages that lead us to believe that when a true believer dies his spirit goes directly to be with Christ in Heaven, not to the good side of Hades/Sheol (the ‘bosom of Abraham’) as with the Old Testament saints.²⁴but to remain in the flesh is more necessary, because of you.His commitment to the Cause is more important than his personal desire.²⁵So having been persuaded of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith, ²⁶so that your rejoicing over me may be more abundant in Christ Jesus, through my coming to you again.Evidently Paul had a sincere hope that he would be released from prison.

²⁷Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you, or am absent, I may hear about you that you stand firm in one spirit, striving together for the faith of the Gospel with one soul, ²⁸and not being intimidated in any way by your opponents: to them this is an indicator of ruin,How shall we understand this? What is the effect of our boldness in the face of opposition—do the opponents consider that we are sealing our own fate, or do they suspect that they may be on the wrong side? Perhaps both. but to you of deliverance,Our confidence in God assures us of deliverance, one way or another: by life or by death. and that from God. ²⁹For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe into Him,The Text never has “believe ‘in’ Jesus”; we must believe into Him. Being on the outside we must change location. This involves commitment and a change of worldview or value system. but also to suffer for His sake,If you were taught to expect a ‘bed of roses’, you had a bad teacher.³⁰having the same struggle that you saw in me and now hear to be in me.They had seen him suffer when he first visited Philippi, and he was presently suffering in prison.

About having the mind of Christ

¹Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship from the Spirit, if any tenderness and acts of compassion, ²make my joy full by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. ³Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard one another as being better than yourselves.Personally I have a hard time with this one. But it may have more to do with social level and prestige within the congregation than with personal qualities and abilities.⁴Let each of you look out not only for his own concerns, but also for what concerns others.Agape love is the opposite of selfishness.

⁵In fact, let this mindset be in you that was also in Christ Jesus, ⁶who, existing in God’s form, did not consider equality with God a thing to be grasped,Since Jehovah the Son was (and is) equally God, the point appears to be that He did not insist on hanging on to His prerogatives.⁷but divested Himself, taking a slave’s form, coming to be in the likeness of men.Note that to be a human being is to be a slave. We are born slaves, live slaves and die slaves. We are born slaves to self, sin and death (with Satan behind the scenes); Christ offers us the option of being slaves to God, good and life. You can’t stop being a slave, but you can choose your owner.⁸And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself, becoming obedient to the point of deathHebrews 5:8 says that Jehovah the Son “learned obedience by the things that He suffered”. He had never experienced anything like that before. So what happens to us if we have the same mindset?—even death on a cross! ⁹Indeed, that is why God highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name, ¹⁰so that at the name of JesusNote that it is at the name of Jesus, not Christ or even Jehovah, that every knee will bow. ‘Jesus’ is His human name—recall that in Revelation the slain Lamb (5:6,12; 7:14; 12:11) receives glory and praise along with the Father. You cannot kill God, so the Lamb is Jesus. Recall further that in John 5:22 Jesus affirmed that the Father had “committed all judgment” to Him, which means that it will be Jesus sitting on the “great white throne” (Revelation 20:11), not to mention a certain “winepress” (Revelation 19:15). Although at the moment I see no way of ‘closing the question’ (as we say here in Brazil), I verily suspect that the correct transliteration of ‘Jesus’ into Hebrew will prove to be יֵסוּס and not יֵשׁוּעַ. every knee will bow—of those in heaven,This presumably includes the angels, whether or not they have literal ‘knees’. those on earthThose actually alive on the earth when this decree is imposed; I suppose it will be during the millennial Messianic Kingdom. and those under the earthSince Hades is inside the earth (Matthew 12:40, Ephesians 4:9, 1 Samuel 28:13), this will presumably include the wicked dead, as well as the demons in the Abyss (at least). Just suppose that God wanted to confine evil to this planet; the logical place for a ‘prison’ would be beneath its crust.— ¹¹and every tongue will acknowledgeThe verbs ‘bow’ and ‘acknowledge’ are in the subjunctive mood in the Text, so many versions render ‘should bow’ rather than “will bow”. However, the mood of the verbs is governed by the conjunction ινα, that normally takes the subjunctive; in the context the author evidently does not intend to leave any doubt about the extent of the recognition. that Jesus Christ is Sovereign, to the glory of God the Father.

Act like children of God

¹²So then, my dear ones, just as you have always obeyed (not only in my presence but now much more in my absence), keep working out your own salvation with fear and trembling, ¹³because God Himself is the One at work in you, both to will and to produce,Paul places our responsibility and God’s sovereignty side by side; we must consciously cooperate with Him. for His good pleasure.

¹⁴Do all things without grumbling or arguing,When we grumble or argue we are rejecting the Holy Spirit’s control, and the result is not purity.¹⁵so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and depraved generation,Can there be any doubt that our generation is crooked and depraved? And it is not getting any better. among whom you shine as light bearers in the world,As we both live out and actively promote biblical values, the “Word of Life”, we will stand out like a bright torch at night. The darker it is, the farther any light can be seen.¹⁶holding fast the Word of Life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I did not run in vain nor labor for nothing.At the Accounting, one measure of our success will be the extent to which others bought into our commitment.¹⁷Yes, even if I am a libation being poured on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. ¹⁸For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me.

About Timothy

¹⁹Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be encouraged when I know how you are doing. ²⁰For I have no one else like-minded, who will be genuinely concerned about your welfareThis statement puzzles me; wouldn’t Epaphroditus qualify? Perhaps Paul had in mind a messenger who would return with news, since Epaphroditus would stay there.²¹(for all seek their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus).Unfortunately, things have not changed much in 2,000 years.²²But you know the proof of him, that as a son with his father he slavedThat is what the Text says. with me for the Gospel. ²³Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how things go with me. ²⁴Still, I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon.Recall that Paul was writing from prison.

About Epaphroditus

²⁵However, I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier; also your messenger and minister to my need; ²⁶since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. ²⁷Well, he really was sick, nearly to death, but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but also on me, that I might not have sorrow upon sorrow. ²⁸So I sent him the more eagerly, that upon seeing him you might have joy, and I be less anxious. ²⁹Receive him in Sovereign with great joy, and hold such men in honor, ³⁰because for the work of the Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life,Right. That is the kind the Church and the world need to see. to complete what was lacking in your service toward me.

Paul’s example

¹Finally, my brothers, rejoice in Sovereign. For me to write the same things to you is not troublesome and for you it is the safe thing. ²Watch out for the ‘dogs’, watch out for the bad workers, watch out for the mutilation!The repetition of the “watch out for” presumably indicates three distinct objects. Paul evidently considered that the three types of people constituted a threat, but how can we identify and distinguish them? “The mutilation” is explained, by contrast, in the next verse—it refers to those who insisted on physical circumcision, but without a change of heart. This was a heresy within the broader Christian community that had originated in Jerusalem. As for the “bad workers”, the adjective used is not ‘malignant’, that refers to aggressive evil. A bad worker produces work that is inferior, careless, or even sabotage, and in consequence can be damaging and dangerous. I suppose Paul is referring to people within the Christian community who are not really committed to Christ and His Kingdom. As for the ‘dogs’, I am obliged to confess that I do not know who Paul was referring to, though the use of the definite article indicates a specific group that the Philippians would recognize. In Deuteronomy 23:18 ‘dog’ apparently refers to a male prostitute, a catamite, and is declared to be an abomination. In OT times dogs were scavengers and therefore unclean, and were generally looked down upon. In Jesus’ day Jews referred to Gentiles as ‘dogs’, but since many Gentiles are in the Church (and the church in Philippi doubtless had a large Gentile contingent) that is certainly not the intended meaning here. The ‘dogs’ in Matthew 7:6 react in an aggressively hostile manner against what is holy; I take it that they are people who are overtly serving evil, and being malignant they are aggressive. I would say that Paul certainly had a copy of Matthew’s Gospel, and may well be following the Lord’s use. This text may be referring to that sort of person, and in that event they would be outside the congregation.³For it is we who are the circumcision, the ones who worship by God’s Spirit and glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in flesh ⁴(though I myself actually have basis for such confidence).

About Paul

If anyone else thinks he has basis for confidence in flesh, I even more: ⁵circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; with respect to the Law, a Pharisee; ⁶with respect to zeal, persecuting the Church; with respect to the righteousness that is in the law, blameless.Since Paul did not choose to be born to Hebrew parents, Benjaminites, nor to be circumcised the eighth day, these were advantages of birth. The rest was his choice. He is claiming that if Judaism could save, he was saved.

⁷But such things as were gain to me, these I have considered loss for the sake of the Christ. ⁸Yes indeed, in fact I actually consider everything to be a loss for the sake of the excelling thing, the knowledge of Christ Jesus my LordThe most important thing in this life is to know Jesus Christ as Lord. (One is reminded of the parables of the treasure and the pearl.)—for His sake I have already lost everythingSince Paul was born a Roman citizen, his father was wealthy enough to buy that privilege. Had Paul (Saul) remained in Tarsus, he would probably have had an established social position. (and consider it as trash), so that I may gain Christ ⁹and be found in Him, not having as my righteousness that of the Law but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness of God based on that faith; ¹⁰so that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the sharing in His sufferings,The power of His resurrection is something I would really like to have, but if the price is to share in His sufferings… becoming like Him in His death,We cannot resurrect if we have not died.¹¹and so, somehow,“And so, somehow”—this really does not sound like ‘once saved, always saved’. The writings of the Apostle Paul contain a variety of clear declarations to the effect that God is Sovereign; they equally contain a variety of clear declarations to the effect that we are responsible. In spite of having given up everything for Christ, in spite of being an Apostle, Paul is not resting on his laurels, is not taking anything for granted. He clearly recognizes his own responsibility to “press on”. that I may arrive into the resurrection from among the dead ¹²—not that I have already obtained it or have already been perfected; but I press on to actually claim that for which Christ Jesus claimed me.

¹³Brothers, I do not consider that I have already claimed it, but this: forgetting the things behind and straining toward those ahead,When Paul (he was still Saul) met Jesus on the road to Damascus he underwent a complete change of direction.¹⁴I press on toward the goal for the prize, the upward call from God“The upward call from God”, that is the real prize; and the only reason the Father calls anyone is because of Jesus Christ. because of Christ Jesus.

Our citizenship is in Heaven

¹⁵So then, those of us who are mature should have this mentality, but if on some point you think differently, God will reveal that to you as well.Paul is assuming that they will be listening to the Holy Spirit.¹⁶Only, in what we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.Less than 2% of the Greek manuscripts, of objectively inferior quality, omit “let us be of the same mind” (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.).

¹⁷Brothers, join together in imitating me, and having usBy changing from ‘me’ to ‘us’ I suppose Paul is including Timothy. as a pattern take note of those who walk in the same way.I take this as a personal challenge—to be a pattern that others can use to distinguish between friends and enemies of the cross. Since the cross of Christ represents death to self, most people are not interested.¹⁸Because many are walking as enemies of the cross of Christ—of whom I told you often, and now tell you even with tears— ¹⁹whose end is ruin, whose god is their stomach, and whose glory is in their shame; their mind is only on earthly things.Apparently relativistic, humanistic materialists have been around for quite a while.²⁰But our citizenship is in Heaven, and it is from there that we eagerly await our Deliverer,He will deliver us from this world scene, with emphasis upon the glorification of our bodies. Sovereign Jesus Christ; ²¹who will transform the body of our humiliationAlthough, as the Psalmist says, we are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14), it is also the case that our physical bodies limit us, and not infrequently that limitation reaches the point of being humiliating. Personally, I am ready and waiting for my glorified body, but in the meantime, I am very happy to be able to contribute to Christ’s Kingdom down here. so that it will be conformed to the body of His glory, according to the working by which He is indeed able to subject all things to Himself.

¹So then, my brothers, beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, do stand fast in Sovereign in this way,“This way” presumably refers to imitating Paul. dear ones.

Concluding considerations

To individuals

²I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to come to agreement in the Lord. ³Yes, I urge you too, genuine yokefellow,We have here a common word for ‘yokefellow’, and although the context seems to ask for a proper name we don’t know of any examples elsewhere of such use. Referring back to 2:25, the description of Epaphroditus makes him a good candidate. He is carrying this letter, and being from Philippi he would be familiar with the facts in the case. help these women who labored with me in the Gospel, and with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.The “Book of Life” is the place to have your name.

Filling the mind with good things

⁴Rejoice in Sovereign always; again I say, rejoice! ⁵Let your forbearing spirit be evident to all; the Lord is near. ⁶Do not be anxious about anything,Do not be a worrywart. but in everything, by prayer and petition along with thanksgiving,We need to be careful not to forget the thanksgiving when we pray. Remember past blessings. let your requests be made known to God; ⁷and the peace of God, that surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.This is the greatest protection on the market.

⁸Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are commendable—whatever is of excellent character and whatever is praiseworthy—ponder such things.Is this list the sort of thing you will find on television or the Internet? We need to remember Psalm 101:3, “I will set nothing wicked before my eyes”.⁹Put into practice the things that you learned, received, heard and saw in me,Paul is forthright in offering himself as an example, which is a challenge to us to live in such a way that we can do the same. He even guarantees the blessing of “the God of peace”. and the God of peace will be with you.

Thanks for material support

¹⁰I rejoice in the Lord greatly that you have renewed your concern for me once again; of course you were concerned, just lacked the opportunity. ¹¹I am not saying this because of lack, since I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. ¹²I know what it is to be restricted, and I know what it is to have an abundance; everywhere and in every way I have been initiated both into being well fed and into being hungry, both into having plenty and into having need. ¹³I can handle anythingIn the context Paul is not claiming to be all-powerful (‘I can do all things’), but God’s grace is sufficient for meeting whatever comes his way. through Christ who strengthens me. ¹⁴Nevertheless you have done well in sharing with me in my trial.

¹⁵Now you Philippians know very well that in the beginning of the Gospel,I suppose he means the beginning for them. when I left Macedonia, no congregation shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you only. ¹⁶Yes, even in Thessalonica, both once and again, you sent aid for my need. ¹⁷Not that I want the gift, but I want the fruit that is being added to your account.When we die we cannot take any money or material goods with us, but we can send it on ahead, investing in Christ’s Kingdom.¹⁸I have received everything and have plenty; I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the things you sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. ¹⁹My God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.2 Corinthians 9:6-12 explains how God’s economy works.

²⁰Now to our God and Father be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Sign-off

²¹Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you. ²²All the saints greet you, but especially those who are of Caesar’s household.

²³The grace of the Sovereign, Jesus Christ, be with you all.Instead of “you all”, some 9% of the Greek manuscripts have ‘your spirit’ (as in NIV, NASB, LB, etc.). Amen.