TEACHING NOTES Introduction Today we begin a new series on Paul’s letter to the Philippians. Of all Paul’s letters, the letter to the Philippian church is the most positive. While Paul’s other letters address major issues in the churches, Philippians has little correction and is mostly a letter of encouragement. Philippians is often referred to as Paul’s joyful letter. ‌ Main Theme of the Series ‌ Philippians 2:12–13 12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. ‌ Work out your own salvation = Unfortunately, this phrase is often misinterpreted to mean we should doubt or trying to figure out if we have truly been saved. In that view, the phrase “work out” means something like “evaluate” or “figure out.” However, the Greek word for “work out” is katergazomai, which means “to bring about or produce.” Therefore, working out one’s salvation is not about doubting your salvation or being anxious about whether or not one is really a Christian. Paul is saying that we should live out our salvation. ‌ With fear and trembling = If we only prayed a prayer to receive salvation, but have not lived in obedience, we have much to fear. So, we live out our salvation by living in obedience to all that Jesus commanded. ‌ It is God who works in you = To live in disobedience is to live in opposition to what God wants to do in your life. God is working in us to bring about “His good pleasure” in us. Therefore, Paul is saying that we must cooperate with God’s work in us by living out our faith. ‌ A more literal translation: “Therefore dear friends, just as you always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, with fear and trembling bring about your own salvation. For God is the one at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” ‌ Philippians 1:1–2 1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ‌ Paul and Timothy = While Paul is the source or author of this letter, it was Timothy who wrote it down as Paul’s scribe. This is not uncommon as most of Paul’s letters include the name of a scribe. Timothy helped Paul write 2 Corinthians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, and Philemon. ‌ Servants of Christ Jesus = The Greek word for “servants” here is douloi, which is the same word for “slave” in the New Testament. The apostles taught that we were enslaved to sin, satan, and death until we were redeemed or bought back by Christ. Since Christ has bought us for Himself, we are now slaves or servants of Christ. ‌ Background of Paul’s Letter to Philippi: Author: Paul and Timothy Date: Around A.D. 60 Audience: The church in Philippi ‌ Occasion: The church in Philippi had sent a gift to Paul while he was in prison (probably in Rome). Paul writes to thank them for their generous and loving gift. He also wants to encourage them about God’s work in their lives and urge them to continue to be faithful to Jesus. ‌ To all the saints in Philippi = Saints (Grk. hagiois) are those who being sanctified or made holy. This phrase could be translated, “to all the holy ones in Messiah Jesus at Philippi.” In the Old Testament, the title “holy ones” refers to the angels most of the time. In the New Testament, “holy ones” is used for those who are faithful to the Messiah. The word Messiah means “anointed one” who is set apart (holy) to do God’s will. Those who follow the Holy One also become holy ones (saints). ‌ About Philippi: Philippi was an important Roman colony in Macedonia that was first settled around 360 BC. It was named after Philip II who was the father of Alexander the Great. It was located in a fertile area surrounded by mountains and about nine miles from the Aegean coast. ‌ Religious Culture: Pagan worship in Philippi was typical of most Roman cities. They worshiped many Greek and Roman gods. There is evidence of Anatolian Cybele cults, which worshiped the Egyptian gods Isis and Osiris. Hero shrines and worship of the Roman emperor also existed. ‌ See Acts 16 for Paul’s first visit to Philippi. ‌ Overseers = Grk. episkopois - This is also the word for a bishop and is synonomous with being an elder (Grk. presbyteros) in the church. The overseers were selected and approved by the church to be leaders, teachers, and guardians in the church family. These men were not new believers and were usually older men. The Bible gives clear qualifications and character requirements for overseers in 1 Tim. 3:1-7; Titus 1:6-9. It should be noted here that Paul does not mention the names of the pastors and overseers. Why? Because the leaders of the church were no more special than anyone else in the church. In ancient Christianity, churches were not centered on one pastor, leader, or teacher. One person may do most of the teaching in a church, but that does not give them special status in the family of God. ‌ Deacons = Grk. diakonois - servant, minister. Deacons function in a different role than the overseers in the church. However, deacons are also to be selected by the church and meet the qualifications in 1 Tim. 3:8-13. The deacons assist the overseers with tasks and situations so the overseers can focus on their role. Deacons were first commissioned in Acts 6:1-7 where seven men were tasked with handling the daily ministries of the church in Jerusalem. The apostles stated in Acts 6:2 “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.” The apostles and overseers were tasked with preaching and teaching the Word and the deacons were tasked with serving in other areas of ministry. ‌ Grace and peace to you = This is the common greeting in Paul’s letters. The Gospel was reaching pagans who need grace. Those who are raised in paganism have a stark transition when coming to Christ. As they leave their pagan lifestyle they will need more and more grace. Also, Christians were facing persecution at every turn and needed Paul’s prayers for peace. ‌ First, Paul tells us WHY he is praying for the Philippians. ‌ Philippians 1:3–6 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. ‌ I thank God in remembrance of you = When Paul thought of the saints in Philippi, he would stop and thank God for His work in them. As we will see, this church held a special place in Paul’s heart. He was proud of them as a family of believers. ‌ Prayer with joy = When Paul thought of the Philippians, he was filled with joyful prayer. How often do you pray with joy? Often our prayers are filled with negative things with a solemn attitude. ‌ Partnership in the gospel = The Greek word for “partnership” here is koinonia, which means “to share or participate together.” Paul is pleased with the Philippian church because they live like they are in this together. Following Jesus and being part of the church is not an individual pursuit, but a relational partnership. The church is meant to be a family who are pursuing the Father together. ‌ The church is not about individual consumerism. The church is about relational partnership. ‌ From the first day until now = The church in Philippi didn’t waver in their faith. They were faithful from the first day up to the time Paul is writing this letter. This indicates that faithfulness, not just faith, was taught by Paul and the church was practicing faithfulness. ‌ He who began a good work will complete it = From the moment we first trusted in Christ God began a good work in us that continues until judgment day. This means that no Christian has yet arrived at full maturity in Christ. Staying faithful to Jesus is cooperating with God’s will for His good work in you. God will be faithful to us, but we also must be faithful to Him. ‌ God has planned good work to accomplish in us. Faithfulness is our cooperation with God’s work. ‌ At the day of Jesus Christ = This refers to the return of Christ, which is followed by the final judgment and the new creation. God’s work in us will be completed when on judgment day we are told, “Well done good and faithful servant” by Christ Himself. As long as we are alive, God’s work and our work is not yet complete. ‌ Philippians 1:7–8 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, 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. ‌ I hold you in my heart = The Greek phrase here is something like, “you are my heart’s neighbor.” Here we see how much the Philippian church meant to Paul. Paul’s pastor heart longed for these people in a special way. ‌ Partakers with me of grace = Grk. synkoinonos ego ho charitos - Paul referred to “partnership [koinonia] in the gospel” in verse five and uses the Greek word synkoinonos here. The syn part of this word means “together.” So Paul saying that the Philippians share the gift of grace together with Paul. It should be noted that the Greek word for grace (charis or charitos) means “gift.” ‌ In my imprisonment = Apparently, the Philippian church had sent a gift to Paul while he was imprisoned. The Philippians supported Paul’s ministry financially from the time they first met Paul. ‌ In the defense of the gospel = The Greek word for “defense” here is apologia, meaning “to give reasons one’s belief or viewpoint.” This word is where we get our term apologetics, which is the study and practice of giving good reasons for our faith. ‌ In the confirmation of the gospel = The Greek word for “confirmation” here is babaiosei, which is the process of establishing or verifying truth. The Philippians “confirmed” the Gospel by living it out and see the evidence of its truth. ‌ Affection of Christ Jesus = The Greek word for “affection” here is splanchnois, which literally means “the bowels or guts.” When you have a very intense burst of emotion, you often feel it in your stomach or abdomen. The idea here is that this kind of affection comes from the deepest parts. ‌ Now, Paul will tell us WHAT he is praying for the Philippians. ‌ Philippians 1:9–11 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. ‌ That your love may abound = Paul uses agape here to speak of the kind of love that he wants to abound in the Philippian church family. Agape is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew word hesed, which is used repeatedly in the Old Testament for the kind of love that comes from God. It is often translated as “steadfast love” or “faithful love” or “loyal love.” This is the kind of love that goes far beyond words and is never self-centered. Agape is a self-giving love and gives rather than takes. ‌ Knowledge = Grk. epignosei - full and real understanding. ‌ Discernment = Grk. aisthesei - capacity to distinguish truth from error. ‌ Approve what is excellent = Grk. dokimazein ta diapheronta - Literally, “to examine what is worth more than anything else.” Christians should learn how to determine what is worth prioritizing and what is not. ‌ Be pure and blameless = The Greek word for “pure” here is eilikrineis, which means “to be sincere or authentic.” In other words, “don’t be double-minded.” The Greek word for “blameless” here is aproskopoi, which means “to be clear or without offense.” This may seem impossible given that we all still have a sin problem. But we must remember that a believer can be blameless if they practice continual confession and repentance. ‌ Filled with the fruit of righteousness = Or “filled full with the evidence/result of righteousness.” Paul taught the Galatians to be filled with the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Gal. 5:22-23). ‌ To the glory and praise of God = Paul is clear that everything he is praying is for the glory and praise of God, not for the glory and praise of the Philippians. Living the Christian life is not about us and our glory, but about God and His glory. ‌ Paul’s Prayer: That you may abound more and more in… ‌- Love ‌- Knowledge ‌- Discernment ‌ So that you may… ‌- Approve/discover what is most valuable ‌- Be authentic and blameless ‌- Be filled with the fruit of righteousness ‌- For the glory and praise of God ‌ Conclusion ‌Paul’s prayer for the Philippian church should be our prayer for our church. As we end our gathering with worship, we repent of our failures and pray for God’s work to continue in us.