The first visit of Paul to Philippi was made on his second missionary journey. (Acts 16:12-40.) On that occasion Lydia and the jailor were converted. He visited Philippi a second time (Acts 20:6), but it does not appear that he remained there long on either occasion.
Paul was a prisoner when he wrote this epistle, and from various expressions it is gathered that it was written towards the close of his two years' imprisonment at Rome, A.D. 63. He expected the issue of his imprisonment, and to be released, and to re-visit them. It is thought to be the last epistle Paul wrote to an assembly.
Paul and the Philippians were greatly endeared to each other. They had sent to his relief when others had not; and in Phil. 4:1 he employs the most endearing expressions toward them.
In few words, this epistle may be said to treat of true christian experience. “Sin” is never mentioned, nor the “flesh” as affecting the experience of the christian: it is power of the Spirit all through. Salvation is viewed as at the end of the journey. Paul writes as a Christian and a servant of the Lord, not so much as an apostle, which was his official status.
Phil. 1:1-8.
The epistle is addressed not only to all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, but also to the bishops (overseers) and deacons (ministers).
Paul always thanked God on their behalf, as well as supplicated for them, because of their continued fellowship in the gospel.
God would complete the good work He had begun in them. It was meet for Paul to think this concerning them (for they were going on well, and) because they had him in their heart (as ver. 7 should read); and that in his bonds and in the defense of the gospel they were all partakers of his grace, the grace that rested on him, and he longed after them in the bowels of Jesus Christ.
Phil. 1:9-11. Paul prayed for them that their love might abound in knowledge and all intelligence; that they might approve of the things more excellent (cf. chap. 4: 8); that they might be pure and without offense for the day of Christ; and be filled with the fruit of righteousness (such as would have been found in the life of Christ), which is by Jesus Christ unto the glory and praise of God.
Phil. 1:12-18. Far from Paui being cast down by all that had happened to him since his arrest at Jerusalem, he wished them to know that his imprisonment had fallen out to the furtherance of the gospel: his bonds had testified of Christ in all the palace (which might otherwise never have been reached) and to others.
His bonds encouraged others to be bold to speak the word: He thanked God that Christ was preached, though some preached Him even of contention.
Phil. 1:19-21. Being thrown more on God he knew that it would turn out for him to salvation (final victory over the enemy) through their prayers and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ: it was his earnest expectation that now as always Christ should be magnified in his body either in life or in death: for to him to live was Christ, and to die was gain. (Christ was the object before his soul.)
Phil. 1:22-26. Paul was in a strait: he had a desire to be with Christ, but to live was more profitable to the saints; and to live in flesh was fruit of labor. He had confidence then that he should remain for their help and rejoicing. (Christ's interests were more to him than his own gain-true christian experience.)
Phil. 1:27-30. He exhorts that their conduct should be worthy of the gospel, and that in one spirit and with one mind they should strive for the faith of the gospel (the gospel, is here personified as carrying on a victorious warfare in the world).
They were not to be terrified by their adversaries: to Paul and to them it was given to suffer for Christ: it was the same conflict for them all.
Phil. 2:1-4
If there be any consolation in Christ, any comfort of love, any fellowship of the Spirit, any bowels and mercies (as there surely were, for they had manifested them to him), Paul exhorted them now to complete his joy concerning them by their being of the same mind, the same love, joined in soul, minding one thing.
In lowliness let each esteem another more excellent than himself-regarding the things of others, and not merely his own.
Phil. 2:5-11. We are exhorted to have the mind which was in Christ, who, subsisting in the form of God, did not esteem it robbery to be on an equality with God; but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bondman, and becoming in the likeness of man, He humbled Himself, becoming obedient unto the death of the cross (in strong contrast to Adam, who exalted himself, and became disobedient unto death).
Wherefore God has highly exalted Him and given Him a name above every name, that at the name of Jesus (His personal name) every knee should bow, whether heavenly, earthly, or infernal, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.
Phil. 2:12, 13. The Philippians are exhorted to obedience, and to work out, in the absence of the apostle, their own salvation with fear and trembling (there are difficulties on the road: cf. 1 Peter 4:18), being cast the more upon God, who worketh in them both the willing and the doing of His good pleasure (salvation being looked at in this epistle as at the end of the race).
Phil. 2:14-18. Exhortations follow that they should be blameless and harmless (as Christ Himself was). the sons of God, and walk so that the apostle should rejoice in the day of Christ.
Phil. 2:19-24. He hoped to send Timothy, for he found none like-minded who would care for them; for all were seeking their own things, and not the things of Jesus Christ.
Phil. 2:25-30. He was sending Epaphroditus, his fellow-laborer, but who had been at the point of death. (Paul was ready to part with those who were a comfort to him; for the sake of the saints whom he dearly loved, he considered not himself.)
Phil. 3:1-3.
Rejoice in the Lord, not in circumstances.
He warns against the Judaisers thus: Beware of dogs (those who are shameless); beware of evil-workers (who may hide their evil); beware of the concision (a term of contempt for those who enforced circumcision).
For we are the circumcision, who (1) worship by the Spirit of God (2) boast in Christ Jesus; and (3) have no confidence in the flesh.
Phil. 3:4-11. If any could have confidence in the flesh, Paul was beyond them in that. But he had counted those things (ver. 5, 6) loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus; yea, he counted all things but dung that he might have Christ for his gain (he had Christ for his soul, but he was not yet with Him), and be found in Him, having the righteousness which is of God by faith.
That he might know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to His death.
If by any means (even as a martyr or in any other way) he might arrive at the resurrection from among the dead, and reach Christ in the glory.
Phil. 3:12-14. He had not attained to it yet, nor was he thus perfected; but he was on the road, that he might get possession of it; for he had been taken possession of by Christ Jesus with a view to it.
He had one thing before him, forgetting the things behind, and stretching out to the things before, he hasted towards the goal, for the prize of the calling on high of God in Christ Jesus. Christ in humiliation forms the character (Phil. 2:5-8); Christ in the glory gives the energy to pursue the 'one thing' of Phil. 3:13.
(To this point Paul speaks of his own personal experience, using “I”; an experience that, alas! is not true of all; not that any Christian should deem it unattainable, for the next verse speaks of “we”, and cheers others on.)
Phil. 3:15-21. Let as many as be perfect (full grown) be thus minded; and if any are otherwise minded, this also God will reveal to them (the 'unity of the Spirit' does not allow of saints being differently minded). As far as we have attained let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing, and be imitators of Paul. (Cf. Phil. 4:9.)
Many walk otherwise, so as to make Paul weep. Some lagged behind, and some were enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction (professors then, as in Christendom now): these mind earthly things; whereas our commonwealth is in heaven; from whence we await the Lord as Savior.
Phil. 4.
Stand fast in the Lord.
Two sisters are separately besought to be of the same mind in the Lord.
Paul's yokefellow (probably Epaphroditus) is asked to help the various laborers, whose names are in the book of life ('those women' may include Euodias and Syntyche of Phil. 4:2).
Rejoice in the Lord constantly.
Let your moderation (gentleness) be known unto all men: the Lord is near, who will set things right.
Be careful about nothing; but with thanksgiving make your requests known to God, and the peace of God (the peace in which God Himself is) shall guard your hearts and thoughts by Christ Jesus.
Exhortations follow. Be occupied with what is good.
Paul says “at length” they had thought of him, as if they had been just then a little unmindful, contrary to their former care (Phil. 4:15,16); not that he complained: he had learned to he content in every experience. He did not desire a gift, but fruit to be put to their account, adding, "My God shall supply all your need, according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus."
Glory to our God and Father to the ages of ages. Amen.
Salutations and the benediction close the epistle.