Philippians 1

From Paul and Timothy, greetings 1
Confident that the One who began working in you will finish 3
Paul longs for them 7
He wishes them love, discernment, and the fruit of righteousness 9
HIs imprisonment as a witness 12
Thus Christ is preached 18
Christ exalted in his body; to live is Christ; faithful whether he lives or dies 21
Behavior to represent the gospel; don't worry about opponents; suffer for Christ 27
Text
Comments
.1 ¶ Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:
 2  Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
  1 - Timotheus Or "Timothy."
  1 - Philippi See Greece map.
.3 ¶ I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
 4  Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,
 5  For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;
.6  Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
  6 - He which hath begun ... will perform The two parts of Christ's work for us. We come to Christ for forgiveness and He continues to work in us he1224. He will also finish His work in the earth zc0408ff.
.7 ¶ Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.
.8  For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.
  God is my record Rather "God is my witness."
  In the bowels The bowels were considered as the place of affection, sympathy, and compassion. je0419.
.9 ¶ And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;
 10  That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;
.11  Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.
  9 - This I pray Do we remember to pray for leaders and for those growing in Christ?
  11 - Filled Also ga0522.
.12 ¶ But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;
 13  So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;
 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ; (RSV)
 14  And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
 15  Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:
.16  The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:
 17  But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.
  14 - Many. Should read "most."
  16, 17 - Some manuscripts have verses 16 and 17 in reverse order.

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.18  What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.
 19  For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,
.20  According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.
  18 - Pretense Or "falsely alleged motive." Apparently Paul assumes that no matter who says what about someone else's preaching, it is good that Christ is preached.
  20 - Christ magnified ...  Again a model for our prayers placing ourselves in the hands of the Lord.
.21 ¶ For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
 22  But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.
 23  For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:
 24  Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.
 25  And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;
 26  That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.
  21 - Totally absorbed in Christ
  22 - Did he have a choice? Only in what he preferred and may have prayed for. "Wot not" means "Can't say" or "don't know."
  23 - To depart and to be with Christ He didn't say he would be instantly with Christ at the moment of departure. See 2co05 for a careful study of this idea. He definitely didn't teach this 1co1551 and see on v53 of that chapter. He said he would get his crown at the coming of Christ 2ti0408.
.27 ¶ Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
 28  And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.
.29  For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;
.30  Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.
  27 - Let your conversation be Or "Conduct yourselves as citizens of."
  29 - Suffer for his sake See on mt0511.
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