Philippians 1:1-11 (May 23, 2025)

Greeting

1:1 Paul and Timothy, servants[a] of Christ Jesus,

To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers[b] and deacons:[c]

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving and Prayer

3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 7 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace,[d] both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Footnotes

Philippians 1:1 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface

Philippians 1:1 Or bishops; Greek episkopoi

Philippians 1:1 Or servants, or ministers; Greek diakonoi

Philippians 1:7 Or you all have fellowship with me in grace

Philippians 1:1–11

Summary

The Apostle Paul opens his letter to the Philippians with a tone of deep affection, theological clarity, and gospel-centered hope. Writing from prison, Paul addresses the saints in Philippi as co-partakers of grace and fellow laborers in the gospel. The passage is marked by thanksgiving, intercession, and assurance—all rooted in Christ Jesus.

Paul’s confidence in the believers’ perseverance is grounded not in their strength but in God's initiating and sustaining grace: “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (v. 6). This eschatological hope is not vague optimism—it is covenantal certainty rooted in the God who keeps His promises.

In his prayer (vv. 9–11), Paul petitions for a love that abounds “with knowledge and all discernment,” connecting true love with doctrinal and moral clarity. The final goal is that the Philippians may be found “pure and blameless for the day of Christ,” filled with righteousness that comes “through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”

Who Is God?

God is Faithful to His promises, and He completes His Work.

“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (1:6)

Paul doesn’t base his assurance on the saints’ performance but on God’s character. The Greek verb for “bring to completion” is epitelesei (ἐπιτελέσει), which indicates not only finality but divine intentionality and power. God is the author and the perfector of our sanctification. He is not a God who abandons His work because of our frailties. The same sovereign grace that called us out of darkness is the grace that will carry us to brilliant glory.

What Is Our Guilt?

We Often Forget That Love Requires Discernment. Love needs truth.

“And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment.” (1:9)

Too often, our love becomes sentimentality. But Paul ties love to epignōsis (ἐπίγνωσις, “full knowledge”) and aisthēsis (αἴσθησις, “moral insight” or “discernment”). Love needs truth. In our weakness, we separate love from truth or truth from love. But both must abound together. The church’s witness is compromised when it loves without the truth as the baseline or speaks only the truth without love as the baseline. We are guilty of shallow affections or harsh judgments—both distort the image of Christ.

How Does the Grace Shine?

Righteousness Comes Through Christ, Not Ourselves.

“…filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” (1:11)

Our works do not earn the righteousness Paul speaks of, but through Jesus Christ. The Greek phrase dia Iēsou Christou (διὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ) points to the mediatorial role of Christ. All fruit that glorifies God must be Spirit-born and Christ-centered. This is grace: that what God requires, He provides in His Son. The Gospel does not merely command righteousness; it produces it.

Thanksgiving

Lord, you are the author and finisher of our faith. Thank you for beginning a good work in us, not because we were worthy, but because Christ is worthy. Keep our love from becoming shallow; give us hearts that know and discern your truth. Fill us with the fruit of righteousness that flows from union with your Son. We rest in your promise that what you began, you will complete—for your glory and our eternal joy.

In Jesus Christ's name we pray.