The first visit of Paul to Philippi was made on his second missionary journey. (Acts 16:12-4012And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days. 13And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither. 14And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. 15And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us. 16And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: 17The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which show unto us the way of salvation. 18And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour. 19And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers, 20And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, 21And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans. 22And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. 23And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: 24Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. 25And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. 26And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed. 27And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. 28But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. 29Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, 30And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. 32And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. 33And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. 34And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house. 35And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go. 36And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace. 37But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out. 38And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans. 39And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city. 40And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed. (Acts 16:12‑40).) On that occasion Lydia and the jailor were converted. He visited Philippi a second time (Acts 20:66And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days. (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. 4:11Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved. (Philippians 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. 1:1-81Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: 2Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 3I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, 5For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; 6Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: 7Even 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. 8For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 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. 1:9-119And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; 10That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; 11Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 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. 1:12-1812But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; 13So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places; 14And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. 15Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: 16The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: 17But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel. 18What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice. (Philippians 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. 1:19-2119For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 20According 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. 21For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (Philippians 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. 1:27-3027Only 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; 28And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. 29For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; 30Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me. (Philippians 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.
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. 2:5-115Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 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, 1312Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. (Philippians 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 4:1818And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? (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. 2:14-1814Do all things without murmurings and disputings: 15That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; 16Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain. 17Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all. 18For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me. (Philippians 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. 2:19-2419But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state. 20For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state. 21For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's. 22But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel. 23Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me. 24But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly. (Philippians 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. 2:25-3025Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labor, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants. 26For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick. 27For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 28I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful. 29Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation: 30Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me. (Philippians 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.)
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. 3:4-114Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: 5Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; 6Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 7But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. (Philippians 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.
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. 2:5-85Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (Philippians 2:5‑8)); Christ in the glory gives the energy to pursue the 'one thing' of Phil. 3:1313Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, (Philippians 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. 3:15-2115Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. 16Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. 17Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. 18(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) 20For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. (Philippians 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. 4:99Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. (Philippians 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. 4:22I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord. (Philippians 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. 4:15,1615Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. 16For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. (Philippians 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.