Commentary on Philippians

Contents

In a few places the lemma printed in a passage belongs to a neighbouring verse (the digital text misnumbers verses); the passage keeps its staged number.

Reading pages: 0.1–1.29 · 2.1–2.28 · 3.1–4.23

1. 0.1The prologue explains that Paul praises the Philippians for remaining steadfast in the faith he preached, unlike the Galatians and Corinthians.
2. 1.1Paul writes to the saints at Philippi who confess Christ as God and man; 'bishops and deacons' means Paul and Timothy and their ministers, since a church has one bishop.
3. 1.4God is Father and Christ Lord, without rivalry: those whom God begets as his children are also servants of the Son to whom he gives them.
4. 1.5Paul joyfully thanks God for the Philippians' steadfast fellowship in the gospel from the start.
5. 1.6Paul is confident that God will bring the Philippians' faith to completion at Christ's day.
6. 1.8Paul longs for the Philippians with a spiritual love in Christ.
7. 1.9Paul prays that the Philippians' love may grow in discernment and righteous works until Christ's day.
8. 1.12Paul's imprisonment has advanced the gospel: some preach Christ sincerely from love or zeal for God, others from envy or to stir up trouble for him.
9. 1.18Paul rejoices that Christ is preached even by those who mean him harm; Christ is his life, and to die for him is gain.
10. 1.22Though Paul longs to depart and be with Christ, he chooses, out of love, to remain for the Philippians' progress.
11. 1.27Paul urges the Philippians to live worthily of the gospel, united and unafraid of opponents.
12. 1.29Suffering for Christ is a gift granted by God only to those who love Christ.
13. 2.1Paul calls for unity and humility after the example of Christ, who, equal to God in the form of God shown in his works, emptied himself by withholding his power, took the form of a servant in his humiliation, and obeyed to death on the cross.
14. 2.10The name above every name given to Christ is the divine name he had by nature from his birth from the Father, made manifest after the cross; it was not given to a mere man or by adoption, against the Arians.
15. 2.12Believers must work out their salvation with good conduct, since the willing is theirs and the accomplishing God's, who alone overcomes the spiritual powers.
16. 2.14Paul urges the Philippians to shine blamelessly among the faithless, so that his labour proves fruitful and his possible martyrdom a cause of shared joy.
17. 2.19Paul will send Timothy, his like-minded son, and now sends Epaphroditus, whose near-fatal illness was a trial for his good; Paul's grief would have been for the loss of a helper, not hopeless mourning.
18. 2.28Paul sends Epaphroditus back to the Philippians' joy and asks them to honour him for risking death in Christ's work.
19. 3.1Paul gladly repeats what is necessary for the Philippians' good.
20. 3.2The 'dogs' are those who persuaded gentile converts to be circumcised, to be avoided entirely.
21. 3.3Believers are the true circumcision of the heart; Paul could boast of fleshly circumcision but rejects it as empty.
22. 3.5Paul surpassed others in Jewish privilege and zeal for the Law but counts it loss for Christ; Ambrosiaster derives 'Hebrew' from Abraham rather than Heber.
23. 3.8All is loss compared to knowing Christ; righteousness from faith, not from the Law, suffices for salvation, and knowing Christ's incarnation, passion, and resurrection is the treasure of wisdom.
24. 3.12Paul, not yet perfect, presses on to lay hold of the reward for which Christ laid hold of him on the Damascus road, an example for the Philippians.
25. 3.13Paul forgets what is behind and presses toward the heavenly prize; the 'perfect' are those who keep advancing, crediting their progress to God.
26. 3.16Believers must keep to the common rule of faith, not presume private revelations.
27. 3.17Paul weeps over the Judaizers, enemies of the cross, whose 'god is the belly' because they made food laws a matter of salvation and gloried in circumcision.
28. 3.20Christians live in heaven by their spiritual concerns and await Christ, who will transform their bodies to his glory and subdue all powers.
29. 4.1The Philippians' steadfastness is Paul's present joy and future crown.
30. 4.2Paul urges Euodia and Syntyche to agree and grow in wisdom, with the help of his co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.
31. 4.4Paul, rejoicing over the Philippians, wishes them constant joy in the Lord.
32. 4.5The Philippians' reasonable conduct should win others; since the Lord is near, they should not be anxious but pray with thanksgiving, guarded by God's peace.
33. 4.8Paul's final counsel is to think and do what is praiseworthy, so as to have the God of peace, who offers peace and pardon rather than compelling submission.
34. 4.10Paul rejoices at the Philippians' renewed gift, not for his own need, since he has learned contentment in abundance and want through Christ.
35. 4.15Paul recalls the Philippians' earlier support so they may know it is credited to them before God.
36. 4.18The Philippians' gift is a sacrifice pleasing to God, for almsgiving cleanses; Paul gently hints they once gave more generously.
37. 4.19Paul prays that his God will fulfil the Philippians' desires, to Christ's glory.
38. 4.20God is to be feared as God and honoured as Father; Paul greets every saint who sanctifies himself.
39. 4.22Paul sends greetings, especially from believers in Caesar's household.
40. 4.23Paul's closing wish of Christ's grace affirms Christ's divinity.