1 Salutation Paul and Timothy, Paul gives recognition to his junior partner. slaves of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus Paul goes back and forth between ‘Jesus Christ’ and ‘Christ Jesus’ with apparently no difference in meaning. who are at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 How Paul prays for them I thank my God every time I remember you;
4 in all my prayers for all of you I always pray with joy,
5 because of your partnership in the Gospel from the first day until now,
6 being certain of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; Amen!
7 just 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 grace. They identified with Paul and what he was doing.
8 God is my witness how I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.
9 This is what I pray: that your love may abound yet more and more in real knowledge The compound noun, epignosis, 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.
10 for you to identify the things that really matter; 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.
11 having been filled “having been filled”—that’s what the Text says. Since the righteousness of Christ is imputed (we can’t 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.
12 News and Instructions By whatever means, Christ is preached Now I want you to know, brothers, that the events against me have actually turned out for the advancement of the Gospel:
13 as 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’.
14 also, most of the brothers in the Lord have been influenced by my chains to be much bolder, to speak the Word fearlessly.
15 To be sure, some are even preaching Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of good will;
16 the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, thinking to add to my affliction while in chains,
17 but 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.).
18 No 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. Christ is proclaimed, and in this I rejoice—yes, and will rejoice.
19 To live is Christ, to die is gain You 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.
20 according 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 death Although 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.
22 Now if I am to live on in the flesh it will mean fruitful labor for me, so I don’t know what to choose.
23 I 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.
24 but to remain in the flesh is more necessary, because of you. His commitment to the Cause is more important than his personal desire.
25 So having been persuaded of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith,
26 so that your rejoicing over me may be more abundant in Christ Jesus, through my coming to you again.
27 Only 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,
28 and 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.
29 For 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, 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.
30 having the same struggle that you saw in me and now hear to be in me.
1 About having the mind of Christ Therefore, 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,
2 make my joy full by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.
3 Do 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.
4 Let each of you look out not only for his own concerns, but also for what concerns others. Agape love is the opposite of selfishness.
5 In fact, let this mindset be in you that was also in Christ Jesus,
6 who, 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.
7 but 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.
8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself, becoming obedient to the point of death Hebrews 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!
9 Indeed, that is why God highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus Note that it is at the name of Jesus, not Christ, that every knee will bow. ‘Jesus’ is His human name. every knee will bow—of those in heaven, those on earth and those under the earth—
11 and every tongue will acknowledge The 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 hina, 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 Lord , to the glory of God the father.
12 Act like children of God So 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,
13 because 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.
14 Do 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.
15 so 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’s 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.
16 holding 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.
17 Yes, 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.
18 For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me.
19 About Timothy Now 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.
20 For I have no one else like-minded, who will be genuinely concerned about your welfare
21 (for all seek their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus). Unfortunately, things haven’t changed much in 2,000 years.
22 But you know the proof of him, that as a son with his father he slaved That’s what the Text says. with me for the Gospel.
23 Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how things go with me.
24 Still, I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon.
25 About Epaphroditus However, I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier; also your messenger and minister to my need;
26 since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick.
27 Well, 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.
28 So I sent him the more eagerly, that upon seeing him you might have joy, and I be less anxious.
29 Receive him in the Lord with great joy, and hold such men in honor,
30 because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, Right. That’s the kind the Church and the world need to see. to complete what was lacking in your service toward me.
1 Paul’s example Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not troublesome and for you it is the safe thing.
2 Watch out for the ‘dogs’, So who are ‘the dogs’? I think it scarcely credible that it could have been the author’s purpose to refer to the same group of people with these three clauses, though this handy gambit does get us off the hook—Paul is really mad at the Jewish proselytizers and souses this triple warning. That said however, I am obliged to confess that I don’t know who Paul was referring to, though the use of the definite article indicates a specific group that the Philippians would recognize. watch out for the evil workers, Might ‘the evil workers’ refer to people within the Christian community? watch out for the mutilation! ‘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.
3 For 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:
5 circumcised 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;
6 with 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.
7 But such things as were gain to me, these I have considered loss for the sake of the Christ.
8 Yes indeed, in fact I actually consider everything to be a loss for the sake of the excelling thing, the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord The most important thing in this life is to know Jesus Christ as Lord. —for His sake I have already lost everything (and consider it as trash), so that I may gain Christ
9 and 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 faith;
10 so 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 can’t resurrect if we haven’t died.
11 and so, somehow, “and so, somehow”—this really doesn’t 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. 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.
13 Brothers, 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.
14 I press on toward the goal for the prize, the upward call from God ‘the upward call from God’, that’s the real prize; and the only reason the Father calls anyone is because of Jesus Christ. because of Christ Jesus.
15 Our citizenship is in Heaven So 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.
16 Only, 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 omit “let us be of the same mind” (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.).
17 Brothers, join together in imitating me, and having us 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.
18 Because many are walking as enemies of the cross of Christ—of whom I told you often, and now tell you even with tears—
19 whose 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.
20 But 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. the Lord Jesus Christ;
21 who will transform the body of our humiliation Although as the Psalmist says, we are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Ps. 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’m ready and waiting for my glorified body. 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.
1 So then, my brothers, beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, do stand fast in the Lord in this way, dear ones.
2 Concluding considerations To individuals I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to come to agreement in the Lord.
3 Yes, I urge you too, loyal Syzygus, We have here a common word for ‘yokefellow’, but in the context I conclude that it is being used as a proper name. 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.
4 Filling the mind with good things Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice!
5 Let your forbearing spirit be evident to all; the Lord is near.
6 Don’t be anxious about anything, Don’t 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. let your requests be made known to God;
7 and 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.
8 Finally, 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 these things. Is this list the sort of thing you will find on television or the internet?
9 Put 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. and the God of peace will be with you.
10 Thanks for material support I rejoice in the Lord greatly that you have renewed your concern for me once again; of course you were concerned, just lacked the opportunity.
11 I am not saying this because of lack, since I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.
12 I 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.
13 I can handle anything In the context Paul isn’t claiming to be all-powerful, but God’s grace is sufficient for meeting whatever comes his way. through Christ who strengthens me.
14 Nevertheless you have done well in sharing with me in my trial.
15 Now you Philippians know very well that in the beginning of the Gospel, when I left Macedonia, no congregation shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you only.
16 Yes even in Thessalonica, both once and again, you sent aid for my need.
17 Not that I want the gift, but I want the fruit that is being added to your account. When we die we can’t take any money or material goods with us, but we can send it on ahead, investing in Christ’s Kingdom.
18 I 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.
19 My 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.
20 Now to our God and Father be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.
21 Sign off Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you.
22 All the saints greet you, but especially those who are of Caesar’s household.
23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.