PHILIPPIANS
CHAPTER 1
All that happened to Paul furthered the gospel cause—Our conduct should be as becometh the gospel.
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:
[Why call out the Bishops
and the deacons? What is their primary responsibility? To
watch over the church, to minister to the poor and look after them, to
provide spiritual leadership..]
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:
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, [Paul is writing this while incaptivity
in Rome, hence his inability to visit the various churches abroad.] and
in the defence and confirmation of
the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.
10 That ye may approve things
that are excellent; that ye may be sincere [Æina
hte eilikrineiv. The word eilikrineia, which we translate sincerity,
is compounded of eilh, the splendour of the sun, and krinw, I judge;
a thing which may be examined in the clearest and strongest light, without
the possibility of detecting a single flaw or imperfection. A metaphor,
taken from the usual practice of chapmen, who while selecting their wares,
bring them forth into the light and hold up the cloth against the sun,
to see if they can see any default in them. Pure as the sun." Sincerity
is from the Latin sinceritas, which is compounded of sine, without, and
cera, wax, and is a metaphor taken from clarified honey; for the mel
sincerum, pure or clarified honey, is that which is sine cera, without
wax, no part of the comb being left in it.] 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.
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; [Out of the bad things that
have happened to me - God has used them for spreading the gospel. examples
are shown through vs 20.]
13 so that my bonds in Christ are
manifest in all the palace,
and in all other places; [In other words because this
trail would become such a public trial, and since Paul would be putting
on his defense in a public manner many would be exposed to the trueth.
Many would include everything from civil magistrates to persons belonging
to the emperor's household who would bring the news of so remarkable
a case to the palace - they ahd to have something for the talk around
the watercooler. ]
14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing
confident by my bonds, [after seeing the boldness
of Paul, his desire to proclaim without fear gave them more confidence to do
the same - who says leaders don't make a difference?. ] are much more
bold to speak the word without fear.
16 The one preach Christ of contention,
[The Judaizing teachers preach of Christ; they acknowledge
that Jesus is the Christ or promised Messiah, and preach him as such;
but they hold onto and continue to preach the old doctrines (law of Moses)
as well - continuing to stir up contention in the church.] not
sincerely,[if you hold
their teachings up to the light of the sun they will not be found to
be without flaw - see vs vs 10] supposing to add affliction to my bonds:
17 But the other of love,
[and then those who really do through a sincere desire,
not only to make known the way of salvation to the people, but
also to vindicate and help the apostle, because they considered him as
appointed by God to preach and defend the Gospel.] knowing that I am
set for the defence of the gospel.
18 What then? [Paul
says - I guess I don't care however they hear about the Gospel. Because
even if not from the right people they will continue to want to know
more and that is all good. Even today it is easier to convert christians
than non-christians.] notwithstanding, [it
doesn't matter] every way, [either
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 [the
fact that the message of the gospel is out to the world] shall
turn to my salvation [It will be the means of
my temporal safety; of my (Pauls) deliverance; for so the word swthria is here
to be understood. The Jews had denounced the apostle as an enemy to Caesar;
but Paul knew that, when the nature of the Gospel should be fully known, the
Romans would see that he could be no enemy to Caesar who proclaimed a prince
whose kingdom was not of this world; and who had taught, in the most
unequivocal manner, that all Christians were to give tribute to whom
tribute was due, and while they feared God to honour also the king, though
that king was Nero.] through your prayer,
and the supply of the Spirit of
Jesus Christ,
20 According to my earnest expectation [his
faith in the almight - that God would be with him so that he should be
enabled, with the utmost liberty of speech, to testify the
Gospel ] 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.
21 For to me to live is Christ,
[while I am yet alive I will be his servant - teaching his word] and
to die is gain.
[and should we die before our journeys through - all is well; I shall
be saved from the remaining troubles and difficulties in life]
22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the
fruit of my labour: [Should I be spared longer, I shall labour for Christ
as I have done; and this is the fruit of my labour, that Christ shall be magnified
by my longer life, Phil. i. 20.] yet
what I shall choose [and if I had to choose whether
to continue to live and serve him while in this life, or die] I wot not.
[neither choice makes any difference to me they are both
the same.]
23 For I am in a
strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ;
[Do aspostles ever get discouraged? Do you ever
wonder what is going throught his mind here? Having a
desire to depart, and to be with Christ - (thn epiqmian eiv to analusai). It
appears to be a metaphor taken from the commander of a vessel, in a foreign
port, who feels a strong desire analusai, to set sail, and get to his own country
and family; but this desire is counterbalanced by a conviction that the general
interests of the voyage may be best answered by his longer stay in the port
where his vessel now rides; for he is not in dock, he is not aground, but rides
at anchor in the port, and may any hour weigh and be gone. Such was the
condition of the apostle: he was not at home, but although he was abroad
it was on his employer's business; he wishes to return, and is cleared
out and ready to set sail, but he has not received his last orders from
his owner, and whatever desire he may feel to be at home he will faithfully
wait till his final orders arrive.] which
is far better:
24 Nevertheless to abide in
the flesh is more
needful for you. [he understands that his mission
is not over - he still has a job to do]
25 And having this confidence,
[knowing that he still has a job to do] I know
that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance
and joy of faith; [The farther a man proceeds in the way of truth, the
stronger his faith will be; and the stronger his faith, the greater his
joy or happiness.]
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.