Thoughts on Paul's letter to the Philippians, chapter 1


     We can read about the founding of the church in the city of Philippi in The Acts of the Apostles 16.1-40.  This was the first Christian community that Paul established in Europe (prior to this, Paul had evangelized Cyprus and what is now Turkey).  Paul and his travelling companion, Silas, had been briefly imprisoned when they first proclaimed the gospel in Philippi (situated in Macedonia, northern Greece) during Paul’s second missionary journey.  As he writes this letter to the Christians of Philippi, Paul is once again in prison (“the same struggle” that he had had previously: Phil. 1.7, 28-30).  This imprisonment probably took place in the city of Ephesus (modern Turkey; cf. 2 Cor. 1.8-11).  Paul’s time in Ephesus, during his third journey, is described in Acts 19.1-41.

     Paul begins his letter to the Philippians with a typical epistolary greeting: 1.1-2.  Paul then offers a prayer of thanksgiving for the Philippians and their exemplary faith: 1.3-11.  Paul gives thanks to God for the Philippians’ “fellowship in the gospel” (1.5).  This refers to their partnership in the work of the gospel that Paul had undertaken in their city and that had resulted in the establishment of their believing community.  Paul is confident that God will complete the work that he had begun in the lives of the Philippians (1.6).  Paul’s “prayer request” for the Philippians is that they will be ready for the “Day of Jesus Christ” (=the day of judgment).  Everyone will have to stand before Jesus one day, as he “judges the case” of each individual and the whole world in order to establish true justice (1.7-11).  Paul prays that the Philippians’ love will increase in “the knowledge of the things that are exceptional”, so they will be blameless on the Day of Christ and so be vindicated as belonging to the people of God, the community of those whose sins are forgiven (1.9-10).

     Paul next expresses his joy at the continued advancement of the gospel: 1.12-26.  “The gospel” is a central concern of Paul’s: he mentions it 5 times in the first chapter of his letter (1.5, 7, 12, 17, 27).  Paul claims that his imprisonment has emboldened other Christians to proclaim the gospel (1.12-18).  Paul insists that he has been imprisoned “for the gospel” (1.12-13, 16).  Paul is confident that Jesus will be “glorified” in either his continued life or his death (by execution: 1.19-22).  Paul is torn between a desire to go and “be with Christ” and the realization that he still has work to do (1.23-26).

     Paul then exhorts the Philippians to behave in a way “worthy of the gospel”, so as to be blameless if and when they are compelled to stand before imperial tribunals to face potential charges of “political dissidence” (i.e. exclusively acknowledging Jesus as Lord, and not the emperor).  Paul urges the Philippian Christians to be united in their struggle for the gospel, even to the point of suffering persecution/trials/imprisonment because of their Christian witness (1.27-30).

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