I’m very intrigued and motivated to start our new study of the letter Paul wrote to the church at Philippi. You see, back when I was graduating from Seminary an advisor told me to look at Paul’s missionary journey and notice that he went into large populations to share the gospel and start ministries. He actually said that it could be a waste of time to minister to a small town! That advice still troubles me today! But, I was encouraged as I was reminded in my study of Philippi that it was a small city, with no church, no believers and very few Hebrews and no synagogue. Paul did not go there on purpose to start a church. He stopped there looking for Jews to talk to about the Lord Jesus. Now we have this treasured epistle to study because someone was willing to minister to a few people!
The city of Philippi (Show map). Philippi was a city of about 10,000 people like Rhinelander. The city was founded upon the gold that was mined on the hills near the city and was one stop along the Via Egnatia “Roman road” trade and military route to the east.
The church at Philippi began when Paul’s team was on His 2nd missionary journey as recorded in Acts 16:1-40 from A.D.49-52 There, Paul, Timothy, Silas and Luke followed the Via Egnatia and went to the region of Macedonia (northern Greece) because of a vision from God.
As was their custom Paul, Luke, Timothy and Silas would first find a synagogue for Paul to teach in. Philippi had less than ten Hebrew men in the city to form a synagogue, therefore one did not become established. However, as they went to find a place for prayer on the Sabbath, they found some Sabbath keepers meeting alongside the Gangites river. There, a group of God-fearing women were gathered. As it turned out the first converts of Philippi were women. One of the women, was a prominent and wealthy woman named Lydia. There Lydia’s whole household was saved and baptized. Afterward, her home became the location for the church to meet.
Luke, Timothy, Silas and Paul continued their ministry of sharing the gospel in Philippi until they encountered a demonized fortune teller who kept pestering them. The demon was cast out of her which then brought Paul and Silas before the magistrates where they were stripped, and severely beaten and were thrown in prison. While Paul and Silas are worshiping the Lord in prison an earthquake causes the prison doors to open and they are freed. In the midst of all this there was another opportunity to lead the jailer and then his whole household to the Lord. And this was how the church at Philippi was established! Soon after these events the city authorities ask Paul and Silas to leave the city.
These two dramatic conversions marked the church’s birth, Lydia and her household and the jailer and his household. The first believers at Philippi had a deep love for Christ and shared it with others. The church supported Paul and his ministry from that day forward though he was forced to leave. (see 4:15).
For about eight years they sent generous gifts to support the messengers of the gospel. Around A.D. 60 Paul wrote this letter to these partners in God’s work: to thank them for their generosity, to explain why he was sending Epaphroditus back to them, to inform them of his circumstances, to warn them about the danger of false teachers but most of all to encourage them to enjoy their unity and fellowship in the gospel.
Let’s look at the first two verses,
“Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons.Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:1-2
At the start of this letter Paul identifies himself and Timothy. They were together in Rome, while Paul was under house arrest and Timothy was assisting him.
As I look at this letter to the church, I’m tempted to read right past this salutation and miss the significance of what Paul is saying. In fact, if we understand the implications of the words he uses in the opening verses, it will change how we see who we are in Christ and what we have in Christ. It can alter our perspective in life. In fact, my thesis about the letter of Philippians is that it takes an entire church body, not just a few leaders to carry out God’s commission.
Paul begins this joy-filled greeting to this local church by sharing the key themes of this letter and the reasons why he finds fellowship with the church at Philippi.
The first thing Paul does is describe himself and Timothy as servants of Christ Jesus.
Actually, the word that is translated “servant” is more accurately translated slave. He is saying that his relationship to Jesus is one of total obedience and complete loyalty.
Note these words: “Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus” (1:1a).
Since Paul yearns for the Philippians to continue to model humility, he holds himself and Timothy up as examples. He is partial to the description “bond-servant.” Interestingly, the other use of the term “bond-servant” in Scripture is it also used of Jesus Christ who “emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant” (2:7). Paul is saying: “Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1).
The letter of Philippians has 104 verses and Jesus’ name or title occurs 51 times. It is obvious who is central in Paul’s heart and mind. Like Paul, we must see Jesus as supreme, and ourselves for His service.
Think about where you were before Jesus and where you are now. You’ve gone from bondage to sin to a child of God. But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin… “You have been set free from sin …and have become a servant to righteousness.” – Romans 6:17-18
We were once a slave to sin. This is true for everyone who does not know Jesus. But Jesus has set us free. But our freedom brings us to another allegiance. Our allegiance has been transferred from our former master to a new master, Jesus Christ. So, every believer is to be in the service of Christ.
Here is an interesting question; do you see yourself as a volunteer for Christ or a servant of Christ? There are Christians that see themselves, not as servants, but as volunteers. A volunteer gets to choose the agenda. A servant does not. A volunteer can define the terms of his or her service. A true servant must be obedient to the will of the master. Paul saw himself as a servant of Christ.
The second thing Paul does is describe the people of Philippi as saints in Christ Jesus.
Paul continues his greeting in 1:1b: “to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi,” Paul includes the entire church in this greeting. He calls all the Philippians “saints” or “holy ones.” A “saint” is God’s name for a believer who is “in Christ Jesus.”
This term is not based on what you do or whatever type of religious ceremony you’ve accomplished; it is dependent upon whose you are. You are a “saint” or a “holy one” because of your identification with Jesus Christ.
A saint means simply a person who has been “set apart” to God. There are 17 New Testament verses that clearly state that every Christian is a saint. 1 Corinthians 1:2 is one of them; “To those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours.”
A saint is not someone who has performed incredibly and then is canonized by the church. A saint is someone who has been set apart by God to be a part of His work and service. If you believe that Jesus is the Christ and that He died for your sin, the Bible says you’re a saint!
Thank God that you don’t have to feel like a saint to be a saint. But, you’ll never feel like a saint and live like a saint unless you start to see yourself as a saint. Remember, you are not a saint because you are perfect. You are a saint because God has said that you are. It’s really as simple as that.
It is also worth noting that Paul includes the phrase “who are in Philippi.” It should remind these saints that they live in two spheres at the same time: “in Christ” and “in Philippi.”
It is important to note the order Paul gives here: first in Christ, second in the world. Too many times as Christians we reverse the order. Our position in Christ should drastically affect how we live in our city.
The third thing Paul does is identify the ministry at the church in Philippifor Christ Jesus.
Paul continues in 1:1c by acknowledging “the bishops and deacons.” The word “bishop” is translated from the Greek word episkopos and refers to a servant who shepherds the flock. The word deacon is translated from diakonos and describes “a minister,” a person who serves the flock willingly and submissively from a heart of humility in any way needed. Paul would write more about these two offices and their roles in a church the letters to 1 Timothy and Titus.
Paul put both of these terms together in verse 1, because he is referring to a group of leaders that serve so that the church would continue to develop and stabilize. The team of leaders are compelled to serve the church and they are to do so as ministers. (we get the concept of ministry from these descriptions)
The fourth thing Paul does is to remind them of God’s blessing to themin Jesus Christ.
Paul’s greeting continues in verse 2 with more powerful words: “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
“Grace” and “peace” come from both God and Christ. “Grace” is God giving to us what we don’t deserve and can’t repay. Grace results in “peace,” which is a right relationship with God and a tranquility of soul. God’s grace compelled them to serve and it should compel us to participate in the local church and gospel ministry.
While we are thoroughly secure in our personal relationship with God, we must remember we have been bought with a price and our bodies are no longer our own. We now are the property of Jesus Christ and are subject to His desires for our life (see 1 Cor 6:19–20). While, we are accepted, we are also accountable to Him, that means His word, His Work and His people.
If we don’t understand grace we won’t know how to enjoy life as a believer. John Newton wrote one of the most famous hymns about grace because he understood it.
John Newton began his life in a Christian home, yet through tragedy he was orphaned at age six. He was taken up in a very undesirable living arrangement with a relative until he ran away and joined the British Navy.
He deserted his enlistment obligation and ended up in Africa where he fell into a sinful life. Then things got worse for Newton. He ended up as a house slave for a Portuguese slave trader where he was treated very cruelly. At one point the slave trader’s wife, who hated white men, forced him to eat his food off the floor like a dog.
John eventually escaped to the coast and was picked up by a merchant ship on its way to England. While on board he stole some rum from the ship’s supply and got so drunk he fell into the sea and almost drowned, but was rescued by the crew.
Later in the voyage the ship encountered a storm and began to sink. He was sent down into the hold to man the pumps. He was sure he would drown and was terrified. As he worked, he remembered Bible verses he had been taught as a child. He began to call out to God. As he was manning the pumps he asked Jesus to forgive him and he gave his life to the Lord.
Upon returning to England, John Newton went on to become one of the greatest preachers in England and worked to abolish the slave trade. He also wrote quite a few songs. His most famous songs begins like this:
Amazing grace! how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.
We are not only blessed with grace, we are also blessed with the benefits of grace. One of the important benefits is peace. We receive this peace in two different ways.
The first kind of peace is peace with God. “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, and through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.” -Romans 5:1-2
Peace with God means that the struggle is over. We have surrendered. We’re now on God’s team. We have peace because we are not fighting against God anymore. Our sins have been forgiven.
The second kind of peace is the peace of God. “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:7
The peace of God comes as a result of having peace with God. It is the peace that transcends all understanding. Peace brings freedom from inner turmoil irrespective of the turmoil going on around us. It is being able to rest in still waters when there is a hurricane around us. It is the ability to sleep in a boat in the midst of a storm.
It is the ability to stay calm as the COVID -19 pandemic continues to affect our everyday lives.
It’s the peace that we should have in the midst of the storm, and always.
Paul is describing a tangible experience of the heart and mind. The peace that, like grace, comes from our God and Father is a confident response to the truth that God is in control, that what He promised He will fulfill, and that He is always working for our good.
It is that restful assurance and very real truth that nothing can separate us from Christ. It’s the peace that allows us to trust in God always.
Paul knew who they were. Servants of God. Saints of God. Blessed by God! All through our relationship in Christ.
For us reading this letter today, we can enjoy the Christian life by staying devoted to Jesus Christ and His kingdom.
Since, He has set us free from sin. We now have the privilege to serve Him, His work and His people.
He made us saints. He has given us purpose in life.
He continues to bless us with His amazing grace. He has given us His peace. And all of this is just the beginning. There is so much more still ahead!