Philippians 1

This is the first chapter of Philippians. Among the Pauline epistles, it belongs to the so-called Prison Epistles, which were written while the author was in custody. Paul opens the letter with a greeting and thanksgiving, then describes his own circumstances and offers exhortations to the church.

Outline

• Verses 1–2: Paul and Timothy wish grace and peace to all the saints at Philippi, together with the bishops and deacons.
• Verses 3–8: Paul gives thanks for the believers who have shared in the gospel from the first day. He is confident that he who began a good work in them will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.
• Verses 9–11: He prays that their love may abound in knowledge and judgment and that they may be filled with the fruits of righteousness.
• Verses 12–14: He says that his bonds have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel. His imprisonment has become known throughout the whole palace, and the brethren have grown bolder in speaking the word.
• Verses 15–18: Some preach Christ out of envy and strife, while others do so out of good will. Paul rejoices that, in whatever way, Christ is preached.
• Verses 19–26: He hopes that Christ will be magnified whether by life or by death. Although he desires to depart and be with Christ, he considers remaining in the flesh more needful for the sake of the believers.
• Verses 27–30: He urges them to live in a manner worthy of the gospel, to stand fast with one mind, and not to be terrified by their adversaries. He says that suffering for Christ has also been given to them as a gift of grace.

Key Verses

• Philippians 1:6: "He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it" expresses confidence that God will bring salvation to completion.
• Philippians 1:21: "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain" summarizes Paul's attitude toward life and death.
• Philippians 1:29: This verse states that suffering for Christ's sake, like believing in him, is a gift of grace.

People and Places

• Paul: The apostle who sent the letter; he was imprisoned at the time of writing.
• Timothy: Paul's coworker, named alongside him in the greeting.
• Philippi: A city in the region of Macedonia. Acts 16 recounts Paul's preaching of the gospel there.
• The palace: The term is understood to refer either to the Roman emperor's Praetorian Guard or to a governor's official residence.

Points for Reflection

• Place of writing: Tradition holds that the letter was written from Rome. Some scholars propose Ephesus or Caesarea; the text itself does not name the location.
• Bishops and deacons (v. 1): Presbyterians tend to read the bishops here as the same office as elders. Churches that maintain a distinct episcopal office, such as Methodist and Anglican churches, sometimes connect this verse with an early stage in the development of church order. Interpreters also differ on whether the deacons mentioned here correspond directly to the diaconal offices of present-day denominations.
• 1:6 and perseverance: The Reformed tradition cites this verse as a basis for the perseverance of the saints. The Wesleyan and Arminian traditions emphasize God's faithfulness while also stressing the believer's responsibility to respond.
• 1:23: This verse is cited together with 2 Corinthians 5:8 in support of the view that believers are with Christ immediately after death.

In the Korean Church

Verse 21, "For to me to live is Christ," is frequently quoted in sermons on dedication and martyrdom. Verse 6 is widely used as a word of encouragement at ordination and installation services, New Year's services, and similar occasions.