| Back to Home Page | Back to
Book Index |
Philippians
Chapter One
I.
Content of the Chapter
The Foreword to This
Book
A. The writer (v
B. The Recipients (v.1b);
C. Greeting (v.2);
Paul’s Thanks and Prayers for the Church
A. The time of giving thanks ---- every remembrance of you (v.3);
B. The attitude of giving thanks ---- with joy (v.4);
C. The reasons for giving thanks:
1. Your fellowship in the gospel (v.5);
2. He who has begun a good
work in you will complete it (v.6);
3. You all are partakers with me of grace in any case (v.7);
D. The reason for prayer ---- I long for you all with
the affection of Jesus Christ (v.8);
E. The items of prayer:
1. That your love may abound still more and more in knowledge
and all discernment (v.9);
2. That you may approve the things that are excellent
that
you may be sincere and without offense
(v.10);
3. Being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by
Jesus Christ (v.11);
Paul’s Testimony in Prison
A. His Imprisonment Was for the Purpose of
Preaching Christ:
1. The imprisonment which happened to him has actually turned out for
the furtherance of the gospel (v.12).
2. The imprisonment has become evident to all that his
chains are in Christ (v.13).
3. Most of the brethren in the Lord
having become confident
by my chains
are much more bold to speak the word (v.14).
4. As long as Christ is preached
it is worthy of joy no matter the
motivations are (v.15-18).
B. He Lives for the Purpose of Manifesting
Christ:
1. It will turn out for his
deliverance through the prayer of all the saints and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus
Christ ---- live (v.19).
2. Christ will be magnified in
his body
whether by life or by death (v.20).
3. To live is Christ
and to die is gain (v.21).
4. Though departing
and being with Christ is much better are
far better
he shall still
live for the sake of all the saints (v.22-24).
5. He lives to enjoy the joy in Christ Jesus
with all the saints (v.25-26).
C. He Exhorts all the Saints to Strive Together for the Gospel of Christ:
1. Conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ (v
2. Stand fast in one spirit
with one mind striving together
for the faith of the gospel (v.27b);
3. Not in any way terrified by the
adversaries (v.28);
4. You it has been granted on behalf of Christ to suffer for His sake (v.29);
5. All the saints shall have the same conflict
with him (v.30);
II.
Verse by Verse Commentary
Phil. 1:1 “Paul and Timothy
bondservants of Jesus Christ
To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in
YLT: “Paul and Timotheus
servants of Jesus Christ
to all
the saints in Christ Jesus who are in
Meaning of Words: “bondservant”:
slave; “Paul”: tiny; “saint”: the sanctified one; “overseer”: superintendent;
“deacon”: minister
waiter;
Literal
Meaning: “bondservants of Jesus Christ”
Paul modestly calls
himself like this. It shows that: 1) He is of the Lord. Both if he should live
then
and if he should die
he is the Lord's. (Rom. 14:8); 2) he does not walk
according his own will
but keeps the Lord’s will in everything; 3) he is a
servant of the Lord and obeys the sending of the Lord.
“And Timothy”
he is a young fellow worker of Paul
and Paul
regards him as his son (1Tim. 1:2). Here
Paul signs the name of Timothy
together. Possibly
Paul is ready to send him to visit the church in Philippi
(Phil. 2:19)
expecting that the church in
The saints of the church in Philippi have
two identities: 1) as far as the flesh is concerned
they dwell in Philippi and
have the citizenship of
“Bishops”
it
is the byname of the overseer (Acts. 20:17
28).
“Deacons”: those who serve
in many things in the church;
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Since believers are bought and redeemed by
the precious price of the Lord
all our bodies
minds
time
talents
possessions are of the Lord
not of ourselves.
2) Believers should obey the Lord and use their
time
talents and money (1Cor. 4:1; 1Pet. 4:10) like that the salves should
walk according to the commandment of the master.
3) The writer changes his name as “Paul” and he
is willing to become “tiny” (the meaning of the original). The Lord’s servant
should not be puffed up and shall humble himself to serve (Matt. 20:26-28).
4) Every servant of the Lord should yield his
own will to focus on the will of Lord. Therefore
they shall serve to please
the Lord only instead of being affected by men’s interest.
5) If we do not know the will of the Lord
we
are unworthy of the Lord’s workers.
6) Just like the relationship between Paul and
Timothy
the fellow workers should respect each other and then the church will
respect them.
7) Every believer is supposed to have dual
identities: according to the flesh
we dwell on the earth (“who are in
8) Believer should not be associated with the
world in conversations
but shall keep him in Christ so that he can be a truly
“saint” with a separated life.
9) A normal believer’s life should include his
“physical” life and “spiritual” life.
10) Many things are right in the sight of men in
the world
but are wrong in our sight
for we not only abide in the world
but
also in Christ.
11) Believers should not ignore his
responsibility that he has to take in the world. However
he should still
transcend this world and not be ruled by the world and live in Christ.
12) No matter what those who live in Christ
Jesus do
they do for the Lord. Therefore
every work should be done
diligently.
13) Life in the world and secular things cannot
hinder believers from drawing near Christ or being united with Christ.
14) Abiding in Christ is the secret for
believers to lead a victorious life on the earth.
15) Believers on the earth are merely sojourners
only
so our hope is not set on earthly things. Our outlook on life and values
are totally different from those of men in the world.
16) Since we believers have still to “abide” in
the world
we shall not ignore our duties or responsibilities.
17) Though there is the difference among
“saints”
“bishops” and “deacons” in the church according their respective
functions
they are still equal before the Lord according to the life of them
without the difference between lowliness and nobleness.
Phil. 1:2 “Grace to you and peace from
God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
YLT: “Grace to you
and peace from God our Father
and the
Lord Jesus Christ.”
Literal
Meaning: “grace”:
graciousness
which
is the free gift bestowed by God. The greatest grace for men is that God is willing to let Him be possessed and enjoyed
by men.
“Peace”
it does not refer to peaceful and smooth environment
but
quite and restful mood in one’s heart. In other words
peace is a kind of mood
of those who have already enjoyed God’s salvation
which brings peace between
God and men
and among men themselves.
“From God our Father and
the Lord Jesus Christ”
God is the God of all
and is also our Father. God is the origin of grace and peace
and we can enjoy Him only through the
Lord’s redemption (in Christ).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1)
Christians
are those who enjoy the grace of God
and therefore
their life must have its
pleasantness. The Christianity that has no attraction is not real Christianity.
2)
Grace is a gift that
men can not obtain by themselves
for men are unworthy of receiving grace
through themselves.
3)
Grace is before
peace. The order cannot be altered. It is impossible for men to obtain peace
before receiving grace.
4)
The original meaning
of “peace” is “binding together”. Only those believers who have been united
with God into one can enjoy true peace.
5)
The “peace” of
believers is neither in connection with the objective environment nor affected
by any other external thing.
6)
We should not seek
peace outside of God. There is only one source of peace
namely
God Himself.
7)
All the spiritual
good should be obtained through Jesus Christ.
Phil. 1:3 “I thank my God upon every
remembrance of you”
YLT: “I give thanks to my God upon all the remembrance of
you
”
Meaning of Words: “remembrance”: remember; “thank”
Literal
Meaning: Paul mentions his
various thoughts in him when he remembers the church in
“My God” in this verse is emphatic
indicating the intimate relation of
Paul with God ---- they belong to each other.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) What a self-centered (namely
selfish) man
thinks in his heart is nothing else than himself or things of his family
members. He never considers things of others.
2) The moment when Paul remembers others
he
thinks of God. God is a critically important role in our relationship with
others. However
it is the benefit instead of self-sacrifice that establishes
the relationship in the life of those who have no God.
3) Without God
we can not bring true profit to
others.
4) If we cannot make others give thanks to God
for us in our walking
we will have no good testimony.
5) Paul says “our God”
which shows that he has
sound and solid relationship with God. Not only is Paul occupied by God
but
also God is occupied by Paul.
6) Is our relation with God held in objective
knowledge? Or we regard God as our reliance and help in personal experiences?
7) There are indeed many troubles in the
services of the church
and yet there is also much consolation!
Phil. 1:4 “always in every prayer of
mine making request for you all with joy
”
YLT: “always
in every supplication of mine for you all
with
joy making the supplication
”
Literal
Meaning: “request”: prayer
uttered for the sake of some condition or need;
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Paul firstly gives thanks and then makes
request. The request presented in the heart of gratitude is easy to be granted.
2) Paul remembers the church in prayer. His
remembrance is inseparable from prayer.
3) Most of our time
we pray for ourselves
only
not for others.
4) “All”
it indicates the wide extent of
Paul’s prayer and the equal treatment toward the saints. We should not care
about those whom we are intimately familiar with only.
5) “Make request”
it shows that it has not
been granted by God. Paul can make request “with joy”
which shows that he has
known in faith that God has answered him so that he is full of gratitude.
6) Many Christians’ prayers are “supplications
with bitterness”
not “requests with joy”. This is because they do not know God
nor know the will of God.
7) The prayer of the Lord’s worker is the
continuance of service. The prayer of the worker is service.
8) Truth is like iron and prayer is like fire.
Only the prayer can translate the truth into our life.
Phil. 1:5 “for your fellowship in the
gospel from the first day until now
”
YLT: “for your contribution to the good news from the first
day till now
”
Meaning of Words: “fellowship”:
partnership
intercourse
communion;
Literal
Meaning: “from the first day”
the day when the
Philippians received the gospel;
“Until now”
until when Paul
wrote this epistle; it was inferred about twelve years;
“Your fellowship in the gospel”
participate in and uphold and promote the
ministry of the gospel; believers in
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Paul’s joy for them (v.4) is not for the
sake of their “preachment of the gospel”
but their “fellowship of the gospel”.
There is no more beautiful condition of the church than that of believers’
fellowship with one accord.
2) If believers do not keep the same mind or
have misunderstandings
they should deal with it and eliminate the condition as
soon as possible for the sake of the preachment of the gospel so as not hinder
the blessing of God.
3) The preachment of the gospel is not the work
of any individual believer
but that of the whole believers
namely
of the
whole church. Only when believers work together will the work be efficacious.
4) If the church can not be of the same mind
inside
it will be the main reason why there is no testimony in the church and
no prosperity in the gospel.
5) Brothers and sisters are all the
participants of managing the
6) The devotion in money or substance can also
make us have part in the ministry of the gospel.
Phil. 1:6 “being confident of this
very thing
that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the
day of Jesus Christ;”
YLT: “having been confident of this very thing
that He who
did begin in you a good work
will perform till a day of Jesus Christ
”
Meaning of Words: “be confident”: be persuaded;
Literal
Meaning: “being confident of”
the tense shows that Paul has got the
confidence early and will continually have such confidence afterwards.
“Has begun a good work”
it is the work of God in believers that they can
be saved (Jon.2:9). Apparently
the building of the church is due to Paul’s
preachment of the gospel. However
actually
it is the consequence of God’s
work in them.
“The
day of Jesus Christ”
the day when the
Lord comes again to take believers (1Thess. 4:13-18);
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) God will be responsible for all the works
that He has started.
2) All the works of believers should be firstly
started by God in them and then done by them.
3) All those who do not let God work in them
can not work for God.
4) Believers should let God work in them as
long as it is called To-day before the Lord comes again. Otherwise
God does not
work on that day (it will be judgment on that day)
and it will be late for
repentance.
5) If believers desire to let God work in them
they should commit themselves unto God totally and then believe and obey.
Phil. 1:7 “just as it is right for me
to think this of you all
because I have you in my heart
inasmuch as both in
my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel
you all are
partakers with me of grace.”
YLT: “according as it is righteous for me to think this in
behalf of you all
because of my having you in the heart
both in my bonds
and
the defence and confirmation of the good news
all of you being
fellow-partakers with me of grace.”
Meaning of Words: “right”: righteous
just; “defense”: answer
(for self)
clearing of self (a legal term); “confirmation”: stabiliment (a
commercial term);
Literal
Meaning: this verse presents
the reason why Paul is confident of them.
“In my
chains”
when Paul firstly
preached in
“Defense”
in the passive aspect
he defends for the truth of
the gospel so as to eliminate the prejudices or oppositions toward the gospel.
“Confirmation”
in the positive aspect
we bear witness to the
gospel with our experience and words.
“Partakers with me of grace”
the Philippians had not turned away from Paul
because of his imprisonment and yet were pleased to show sympathy for him and
upheld his ministry of the gospel. Therefore
they took part also in the grace
that Paul had obtained in prison.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The church in
2) A church that has fellowship in the works is
a church that partakes of grace.
3) Paul can still enjoy grace in his chains.
Adversity or tribulations are often good opportunities of taking part in grace.
Phil. 1:8 “For God is my witness
how
greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.”
YLT: “For God is my witness
how I long for you all in the
bowels of Jesus Christ
”
Meaning of Words: “affection”: bowel;
Literal
Meaning: “affection”: the
inside soft and gentle affection;
“The
affection of Jesus Christ”: the bowel of
devoting oneself and sacrificing oneself;
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) It is the expression of the bowel of Christ
Jesus that believers can put down themselves and think of the profit of others.
2) A baby cannot understand the bowel of his
parents. Only those who have spiritually grown up can know the bowel of the
Lord.
3) One's heart is past finding out
but God can
search reins and hearts. Only the one who is upright in his heart can be worthy
of God’s testimony.
Phil. 1:9 “And this I pray
that your
love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment
”
YLT: “and this I pray
that your love yet more and more may
abound in full knowledge
and all judgment
”
Meaning of Words: “love”: the divine love; “knowledge”: the
true knowledge; “discernment”: judgment
perception; “abound still more and more”: ever increasing
superabound
be in
excess
be superfluous;
Literal
Meaning: “this I pray”: my desire before God;
“Love”: here the love
refers to the nature of God’s life;
“Knowledge”: the true
knowledge of God obtained from experience;
“And all discernment”: the capability of judging and discerning various
things
which is a spiritual acuity;
“Abound still more and more”: the true love should increase and abound
(1Thess. 3:12);
If men have merely knowledge but no love
they will be indifferent as the iceberg in the moonlight. If there is only love
without knowledge
men will become terrible as the fire burning the forest in
the dry season.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) “Love” is the nature of God’s life.
Believers may tend to pay attention to the actions of love but seldom cultivate
the life of love.
2) Paul’s prayer indicates that only God
Himself can make our love grow toward right direction. There is no other good
way except God Himself.
3) God not only desires us to have love but
also love may
abound still more and more. In other words
God desires us to grow in love.
4) We can deal with everything in our life only
when we have abundant love.
5) God desires that our love is so abundant
that it even abounds and the whole man of us is marked with love and thus
become a man of “love”.
6) The love of believers is not out of
affection only
but is also rooted in knowledge and all discernment.
7) Love and knowledge and discernment should
keep balance. Only when the love goes with knowledge and all discernment can
love be in line with the will of God and bring men true profit.
8) Love without knowledge and all discernment
is the root of all problems in the church
which always leads men astray or to
extremity.
9) The more believers’ knowledge of God is
the
keener the spiritual discernment is and the more proper the application of love
is.
Phil. 1:10 “that you may approve the
things that are excellent
that you may be sincere and without offense till the
day of Christ
”
YLT: “for your proving the things that differ
that ye may be
pure and offenceless -- to a day of Christ
”
Meaning of Words: “approve”: prove
try
test
discern;
“excellent”: better
be of more value
differ from; “sincere”: judged by
sunlight
pure; “without
offense”: inoffensive
not
leading into sin
faultless
none offence;
The Background: “sincere”
it is a compound of sunlight and judge.
It was said that there were many men who sold images cut in stone at that time.
They often filled the cracks on the images with wax. The buyers would put the
stone images under the sunlight. If there was any crack
it would be exposed
when the wax was dissolved. Therefore
the word “sincere” in the original means
“blamelessness
purity”.
Literal
Meaning: “that”
it shows
that the words in verse ten and eleven are the result of verse nine.
“Till
the day of Christ”
when Christ comes
again
the walking of believers should be under judgment (2Cor. 5:10).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) True love can help us keep right value in
our daily life (approve …that are excellent).
2) A believer who is ever growing will not be
satisfied with his present “good” condition. Instead
he will seek “what is
better” and “what is excellent” continually.
3) One’s spiritual discernment is relevant to
his stature of life. The more grown-up our spiritual life is
the more we can
discern what is more excellent.
4) True love delivers us from untruth and makes
us tend to excellency.
5) If we are sincere and true to man
there is
no occasion of stumbling in him.
6)
“Be sincere and without
offense”
it is not to be an
honest man who looks silly
but be a man who is wise in sincerity. He shall not
only make himself “blameless” but also make others not stumbled.
7)
Believers
should be prudent as the serpents
and guileless as the doves (Matt. 10:16)
8)
Believers should
walk in the world on the premise of giving an account concerning them to the
Lord when he comes again rather than considering the thinking or saying of men
in the world.
Phil. 1:11 “being filled with the
fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ
to the glory and praise of
God.”
YLT: “being filled with the fruit of righteousness
that
through Jesus Christ
to the glory and praise of God.”
Literal
Meaning: “fruits”: our works
(Matt. 7:16-20);
“The
fruits of righteousness”
the works that
fulfill the righteousness of the law (
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Fruits are borne inside
not added outside.
2) Christ is the righteous one (Acts 3:14). He
is the righteousness. “By
Jesus Christ”
it is the key of
our being
filled with “the fruits of
righteousness”.
3) The branch cannot bear fruit of itself
unless it abides in the vine (John 15:4). Christ is the source of all good
works of believers.
4) The fruits of our life and works should be
obtained by lawful and just means
not crafty or crooked means.
5) The duty of believers on the earth is not
bearing some fruits occasionally
but is “filled” with the fruits of righteousness. Therefore
we shall not remember only some
fragmentary good works.
6) Since the good works of believers are of
Christ
not of them
the purpose is not giving glory to them
but to God.
Phil. 1:12 “But I want you to know
brethren
that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the
furtherance of the gospel
”
YLT: “And I wish you to know
brethren
that the things
concerning me
rather to an advancement of the good news have come
”
Meaning of Words: “furtherance”:
progress
advancement;
The Background: believers in Philippi were worried about Paul for
his imprisonment in
Literal
Meaning: “the things which happened
to me”
it refers to the
imprisonment of Paul.
“Have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel”
Paul’s being imprisoned is like the
pioneer’s opening the way at the head so that the gospel which is like the army
behind will go forward.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) It is amazing that the gospel tends to be
more prosperous in persecutions. The imprisonment of the preachers even
promotes the
furtherance of the gospel.
2) The more the church is persecuted
the more
the gospel is furthered. When believers are killed
there is ever increasing
number of men who believe the Lord.
3) Proclaim the gospel in season out of season
(2Tim. 4:2).
Phil. 1:13 “so that it has become
evident to the whole palace guard
and to all the rest
that my chains are in
Christ;”
YLT: “so that my bonds have become manifest in Christ in the
whole praetorium
and to the other places -- all
”
Literal
Meaning: “chains”: in a narrow sense
they refer to the
handcuffs and chains; in the broad sense
they indicate imprisonment and
tribulations.
“The
whole palace guard”
the guarding army
directly under the Roman emperor;
“All
the rest”
those who had
contact with Paul
including those who were in Caesar’s household (Phil. 4:22).
“Have
become evident…in Christ”
those who were abound Paul had known that
Paul’s imprisonment was purely for the sake of keeping the truth of the gospel
for Christ
not for the sake of any political or civil or criminal sin.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) When a believer truly lives for the Lord
men can even see the relation of his difficult position with Christ.
2) “The weak is trapped in the environment and
the wise uses the environment”. Paul can change the prison into the place of
preaching the gospel. Can we make the best use of the environment or
opportunity?
3) Paul did not work for the Lord when his case
was complete. When we serve the Lord
we should not wait to do the Lord’s works
until the suspenseful case was resolved. Otherwise
we should miss many
chances.
4) God will not miss His faithful servants
and
He will manifest the truth of the matter for them and plead their cases.
Phil. 1:14 “and most of the brethren in
the Lord
having become confident by my chains
are much more bold to speak the
word without fear.”
YLT: “and the greater part of the brethren in the Lord
having confidence by my bonds
are more abundantly bold -- fearlessly to speak
the word.”
Meaning of Words: “most of”: majority; “become confident”:
persuade
have confidence
believe; “much more”: more exceedingly
more superabundantly;
Literal
Meaning: “most of”
it indicates that the rest of the
brethren are not benefited.
This verse shows that the imprisonment of Paul yields even unexpected
results ---- many brethren are encouraged by his example and full of confidence
and boldness and thus preach the gospel with earnestness.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) If believers truly love the Lord
they can
still encourage others in his difficult position.
2) Many people around us are looking upon us
and paying attention to our responses to our situations. Therefore
we should
be careful and bear good witness to the Lord.
3) When the majority is benefited
there may be
still a few people who have not been benefited. It is relevant to their inner
conditions (e.g. intentions
motives).
4) Faith is a lot to do with boldness. The
secret of boldness without fear is confidence and firm faith.
Phil. 1:15 “Some indeed preach Christ
even from envy and strife
and some also from goodwill:”
YLT: “Certain
indeed
even through envy and contention
and
certain also through good-will
do preach the Christ;”
Meaning of Words: “strife”: contention
debate;
Literal
Meaning: “from envy and strife”
it indicates that some believers do not
agree with Paul’s works
thinking that he just asks for and deserves the
imprisonment. Therefore they do not have fellowship with Paul and preach the
gospel themselves. Such doing of them is just out of selfishness and strife.
“From
goodwill”
it means that
their intention is right and they still cooperate with Paul to preach the
gospel in spite of Paul’s imprisonment.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) There is even someone who preaches Christ
out of unwholesome intention. We believers should not judge anyone according to
the appearance only (2Cor. 5:16).
2) This verse provides a good warning to the
Lord’s workers ---- the fellow-worker may have contentions for selfish motives
with the performances in the works
turning spiritual things into tools meeting
fleshly lusts.
Phil. 1:16 “The former preach Christ
from selfish ambition
not sincerely
supposing to add affliction to my chains;”
YLT: “the one
indeed
of rivalry the Christ do proclaim
not
purely
supposing to add affliction to my bonds
”
Meaning of Words: “selfish ambition”:
rivalry
intrigue; “sincerely”: purely
it especially describes the
precious metal without mixing any inferior alloy; “affliction”: pressure;
Literal
Meaning: this verse refers
to the former kind of men in verse fifteen
who preach the gospel to humiliate
and trouble Paul.
“Not
sincerely”
it means that the motive is not sincere or pure.
“Supposing to add affliction to my chains”
it means in the original rubbing the
hands and feet of the prisoners with their chains to make them in pain.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Many times
the difficulties imposed to the
preachers are not from unbelievers
but from believers in the church and from
other preachers.
2) It is a good thing to preach Christ.
However
if it is preached in a striving spirit
it will bring afflictions to
others. Believers shall consider not only the thing itself in their walking but
also the motive.
Phil. 1:17 “but the latter out of love
knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel.”
YLT: “and the other out of love
having known that for
defence of the good news I am set:”
Meaning of Words: “defense”: plea
clearing of self (a legal
term); “appoint”: set (a military term);
Literal
Meaning: this verse refers
to the latter kind of men in verse fifteen. They deeply know that: Paul’s
imprisonment is relevant to the testimony of the gospel and his chains are
exactly the seal of his being called as an apostle.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) He who has envy and strife will never understand
the actions of others in love. Only love calls upon love and responds to
love. .
2) The defense of Paul is not for himself
but
for the gospel. “We” can be imprisoned
but the gospel can never be imprisoned
and shall be announced.
Phil. 1:18 “What then? Only that in
every way
whether in pretense or in truth
Christ is preached; and in this I
rejoice
yes
and will rejoice.”
YLT: “what then? in every way
whether in pretence or in
truth
Christ is proclaimed -- and in this I rejoice
yea
and shall rejoice.”
Literal
Meaning: Paul does not care
for the preachers or the motive of the preachers
but cares whether the gospel
they preach is right and whether Christ has been preached.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) If we commit ourselves to the Lord and to
the gospel as Paul
we will not care for our own profit or loss
but care for
that of the Lord.
2) A true worker of the Lord can bear the works
done for the Lord by those who are immature in spiritual life or those who have
impure motives.
3) The true joy of believers comes from the
fact that Christ is exalted
not from their own situation or how others treat
them.
4) Though someone preaches the gospel out of
impure motives
the gospel which is the power of God (Rom. 1:16) is not blocked
because of the condition of the preacher.
5) Though men seek their own glory by using
Christ
they are still used by God.
6) The chief mission of us in the world is not
opposing against others
but positively preaching Christ to all positively.
Phil. 1:19 “For I know that this will
turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of
Jesus Christ
”
YLT: “For I have known that this shall fall out to me for
salvation
through your supplication
and the supply of the Spirit of Christ
Jesus
”
Meaning of Words: “turn out for”: go out
become;
The Background: “supply”
this word is used to describe the
situation with full provision ---- when a rich family set a feast at that time
there would be not only a whole bunch of food but also music bands for
entertainment. Therefore
the word “supply” means “full and complete
provision”.
Literal
Meaning: “know”: be
assuredly know;
“This”: the above-mentioned situation he is faced with;
“For my
deliverance”
it is not the
salvation of his soul
but that he is delivered from that situation.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The life or death
honor or disgrace of
believers is not ruled in the hands of the earthly authority
but in the hands
of God.
2) Prayer of brothers or sisters is one of the
sources of the power for the Lord’s workers in service. Today
the preachers
lack power
ambition and faith. Possibly
it is because we have no good prayers
for them.
3) Believers’ suffering tribulation is not the
original will of God. Therefore
it is right for us to pray for God’s help to
deliver them from the tribulations.
4) Though we believers are physically
separated
we can be jointed together in spirit by prayer
thus providing each
other.
5) The Spirit of Jesus Christ has full provision
which is the source of power
and salvation for believers in afflictions.
6) The effect of believers’ prayer is due to
the help of the Spirit.
Phil. 1:20 “according to my earnest
expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed
but with all boldness
as always
so now also Christ will be magnified in my body
whether by life or
by death.”
YLT: “according to my earnest expectation and hope
that in
nothing I shall be ashamed
and in all freedom
as always
also now Christ
shall be magnified in my body
whether through life or through death
”
Meaning of Words: “earnest expectation”: intense anticipation; “magnified”: make great
increase
extol
enlarge
show
great;
Literal
Meaning: “in nothing”
none of them
not in any aspect;
“Christ
will be magnified in my body”: Christ is
manifested through me.
The Spirit of Christ abides in the bodies of believers (
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) If what we expect and hope is not what God
pleases
it will unavoidably fail and even be ashamed. However
if it is
pleasant to God
it must be not ashamed.
2) Men may despise Christ or see not Christ.
Therefore
believers have the responsibility of magnifying Christ to let men
see Him.
3) The life and works of believers will bring
either glory to Christ or disgrace to Him.
4) Paul’s affliction brings him chances to
manifest the infinite greatness of Christ. Therefore
any situation is the
chance for believers to let Christ magnified
5) No matter life or death
they are both
opportunities granted by God for us to manifest Christ.
Phil. 1:21 “For to me
to live is
Christ
and to die is gain.”
YLT: “for to me to live Christ
and to die gain.”
Literal
Meaning: men may commonly be
afraid of death
but Paul thinks that death is not ultimate loss
but eternal
gain. Such “gain” is not only the reward in the heavens after death (Phil.
3:14) but also more being made fit for sharing the portion of the saints in
light
namely
Christ Himself (Col. 1:12; Eph. 1:11
14) ---- the presence of
Christ in a higher layer or degree.
“Live is Christ”
it is not that we live by the power of the Lord
but
that the Lord Himself lives in us. God gives Christ to us as our life
and it
is His life that lives in us.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Christ is not only believers’ inner life but
also their daily life.
2) If believers live by the life of Christ in
them
they will naturally live out Christ.
3) Only when a believer takes the manifestation
of Christ as his ministry can he leave life and death out of consideration.
4) The significance of believers’ life is
Christ. The life that fails to manifest Christ has not profit. And there may be
loss after death (1Pet. 4:17).
5) Christians need not their own strength in
their life
for the life of Christians is a law which will work naturally
without our labor.
6) To a man who lives is Christ
not only does
he live for Christ but also his whole life is occupied and managed by Christ
---- Christ is the guidance
value and all of his life.
7) Believers may often have not manifested who
we are in our life
but have manifested who we are not.
Phil. 1:22 “But if I live on in the
flesh
this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot
tell.”
YLT: “And if to live in the flesh to me a fruit of work
then
what shall I choose? I know not;”
Meaning of Words: “labor”: work; “tell”: declare;
Literal
Meaning: “labor”
Paul often
uses this word to refer to the works for the sake of the gospel done by him or
others (
Paul means that though he himself does not fear death
if the Lord lets
him still live to fulfill the mission of the gospel
he cannot tell others what
he shall choose between life and death.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The spiritual works is not decided by what
we have done
but how we live.
2) The life of a man who has really lived out
Christ is his works.
3) Fruit comes from life. The more abundant
life can bear more fruit.
4) If a believer lives and dies both for the
Lord
he needs not choose.
5) In him we live and move and exist (Acts
17:28).
Phil. 1:23 “For I am hard-pressed
between the two
having a desire to depart and be with Christ
which is far
better.”
YLT: “for I am pressed by the two
having the desire to
depart
and to be with Christ
for it is far better
”
The Background: “be hard-pressed between the two”: in the original it describes a traveler
who walks in a narrow way with cliffs on both sides
on the horns of a dilemma;
“Depart”
it in the original means that an army puts up the tents for
departure or the anchor is released and the ships will leave off the land.
Literal
Meaning: Paul means that it
is better for himself to be a martyr and depart to be with the Lord. However
he lives for the purpose of fulfilling the works of the gospel that is
mentioned in the previous verse. Therefore
he is hard-pressed between the two and cannot tell what he shall choose.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) To Paul
either life or death is meaningful.
He fears neither life nor death. He is positive to both.
2) A true believer is hard-pressed between the two ---- die for his own profit
and live for
the profit of others.
3) Believers are restricted by physical bodies.
Once we die
we will be released and our soul will depart and be with the Lord.
4) When believers live on the earth
though we
have the presence of the Lord
we are still troubled by things in the world.
And thus our fellowship with the Lord will be more or less affected. Therefore
the departure out of the world is better.
Phil. 1:24 “Nevertheless to remain in
the flesh is more needful for you.”
YLT: “and to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your
account
”
Literal
Meaning: seeing from the
previous verse
to depart is “better” for Paul
and it is also Paul’s desire.
However
seeing from this verse
to remain is “more needful for you”
and it is
his responsibility. The former “departure” is his own joy and the latter
“remaining” is his help to others.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The Lord’s workers should emphasize the need
of those whom they serve more than their own interest and desire.
2) All those who do not live for others in the
flesh can not demand for the presence of the Lord after departure.
Phil. 1:25 “And being confident of
this
I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress
and joy of faith
”
YLT: “and of this being persuaded
I have known that I shall
remain and continue with you all
to your advancement and joy of the faith
”
Literal
Meaning: Paul is so
responsible that he is confident that he will be released and will thus serve
the church continually
helping believers to grow in spiritual life and
increasing their joy by their more fellowship with Christ.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The life of Christians should be a joyful
and progressive journey.
2) Many believers lack joy
for they cease
growing. Where there is progress
there is joy.
3) Progress in faith is relevant to joy. True
progress must lead to more joy
and true joy manifests more progress.
4) Our faith is a kind of faith that makes man
joyful in both his heart and his countenance. If our faith can not make man
rejoice
it avails him nothing.
5) If we cannot become the joy of others
the
most responsibility lies in us. Some in the church have even become the burden
of the church
for they always make others sorrowful wherever they go.
Phil. 1:26 “that your rejoicing for me
may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again.”
YLT: “that your boasting may abound in Christ Jesus in me
through my presence again to you.”
Meaning of Words: “rejoice”: boasting
glory;
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Christ is the source of believers’ joy. Only
when we are in Christ Jesus can we enjoy the true joy.
2) The chief mission of the Lord’s workers is
increasing the joy of believers in the Lord.
3) If you want to become the joy of others in
the church
you should let Christ magnified in your life.
Phil. 1:27 “Only let your conduct be
worthy of the gospel of Christ
so that whether I come and see you or am
absent
I may hear of your affairs
that you stand fast in one spirit
with one
mind striving together for the faith of the gospel
”
YLT: “Only worthily of the good news of the Christ conduct ye
yourselves
that
whether having come and seen you
whether being absent I may
hear of the things concerning you
that ye stand fast in one spirit
with one
soul
striving together for the faith of the good news
”
Meaning of Words: “conduct”: behave as a citizen
let
conversation be; “worthy”: appropriately
as become
after a godly sort; “one
mind”: one soul; “strive together”: collect
gather together;
Literal
Meaning: “only”
it is the responsibility of man.
“Your”
it is not spoken
to any individual believer
but to the whole church.
“Conduct”
live as a good
citizen;
“Be worthy of the gospel of Christ”
be worthy of the power of life and its
manifestation declared in the gospel;
“In one spirit”
Paul regards the oneness of the church as the
condition of being worthy of the gospel.
“Stand fast”
the preachment of
the gospel is a spiritual war. To “stand fast” in the war is important (Eph.
6:14).
“With one mind striving together for the faith of the
gospel”
believers in
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The gospel “announced” by the mouths of
believers should be worthy of the gospel “walked” in their life.
2) What is most important in the preachment of
the gospel is not the ways or skills or organizations or strategies of our
preachment
but our conduct.
3) What a man has done is more persuasive than
what he has said. A testimony of good conduct is more efficacious than one
thousand gospel messages.
4) The fight of the gospel is a kind of team
work
not a war of any individual.
5) The gospel is a spiritual war. If one is not
in the spirit
he cannot stand firm (Eph. 6:12-18).
6) In the works of the preachment of the gospel
in the church
what is most important is keeping in one mind
and what is the
worst is holding different opinions of all.
7) “Strive”
it shows that the preachment of
the gospel is difficult. But if we do not faint
we shall reap in due time.
8) As long as the church keeps the
above-mentioned fundamental conditions in this verse
the gospel will be surely
preached out. It does not matter whether the great preacher like Paul has come
or not.
Phil. 1:28 “and not in any way terrified
by your adversaries
which is to them a proof of perdition
but to you of
salvation
and that from God.”
YLT: “and not terrified in anything by those opposing
which
to them indeed is a token of destruction
and to you of salvation
and that
from God;”
Meaning of Words: “proof”: evidence
sign; “perdition”:
destruction
ruin;
Literal
Meaning: “adversaries”: all those who oppose against the church
and the gospel;
“Terrified”
it in the original is used to describe a
frightened horse whose terror cannot be controlled himself;
“A
proof of perdition”
the conduct shows
that they have refused the only way to salvation;
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The gospel work throughout the past
generations has been hardly not been terrified by the adversaries.
2) If believers are terrified or persecuted for
the sake of the gospel
it proves that we have been saved
for if we are still
of the world
the world must love its own.
3) If Christians are persecuted for the sake of
the faith
it is a proof of salvation.
Phil. 1:29 “For to you it has been
granted on behalf of Christ
not only to believe in Him
but also to suffer for
His sake
”
YLT: “because to you it was granted
on behalf of Christ
not
only to believe in him
but also on behalf of him to suffer;”
Meaning of Words: “be granted”: be give grace;
Literal
Meaning: the grace that
believers have received from God is like a proof of approval
which is an
additional privilege that enables them to believe Christ and suffer for His
sake.
“Suffer
for His sake”
it may not be
persecution or martyrdom
but sacrifices in life.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Man’s opinion is: prosperity or profit is
favor
depression or loss is not grace. However
it is not the concept of the
Bible.
2) The concept of physical safety and material
benefits makes many people lose the power of victory.
3) That Believers suffer for the Lord is not
only in line with the will of God (Acts 14:22; 1Thess. 3:3) but also out of
God’s grace and privilege (Heb. 12:5-11).
4) We Christians shall not only trust in Christ
but also suffer for Him in our life.
5) To be sure
we need to pay the price to bear
witness to the gospel of Christ. Though we have to pay the cost
it is joyful.
Phil. 1:30 “having the same conflict
which you saw in me and now hear is in me.”
YLT:
“the same conflict having
such as ye saw in me
and now
hear of in me.”
Meaning of Words: “conflict”: struggle
fight
contention;
Literal
Meaning: “conflict”: it is
in the original used to describe the fight in the amphitheater. Here it refers
to struggling with those who persecute the gospel.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) “A good example is the best sermon”. Paul
sets him as an example in spiritual war. Therefore
his teaching has really
spiritual power.
2) “Believers have sharp eyes”. The great
effect of the Lord’s workers to believers does not lie in the message they
preach
but their conducts.
3) The preachment of the gospel is a kind of
war. Therefore
we should not regard as light matter but shall spare no effect.
III.
Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons
Christ and Believers
A. The relation of believers with Christ ----
the bondservant (v.1);
B. The position of believers in Christ ---- the
saints (v.1);
C. The blessing of believers received in Christ
---- grace and peace (v.2);
Grace and Peace
(v.2)
A. The interrelationship ---- grace is first
and then peace; where there is grace
there is peace;
B. The origin ---- from God our Father;
C. The medium ---- through the Lord Jesus
Christ;
D. The object ---- to you (all the saints);
Reasons for Thanks
to God
A. For He has heard our prayer (v.3-4);
B. For He makes all the saints have fellowship
in the gospel (v.5);
C. For He has begun a good work and will complete it (v.6);
D. For He makes us partakers of
grace (v.7);
The Manifestations
of Being in the Bowel of the Lord
A. Remember the church with earnest (v.3-11);
B. Not fear affliction but for Christ only
(v.12-14);
C. Not focus on disputes of men but on the
preachment of Christ (v.15-18);
D. Desire Christ to be
magnified
whether by life or by death
(v.19-23);
E. Live in order to profit the church (v.24-26);
F. Let one’s conduct be worthy of the gospel of
Christ (v.27-30);
The Items of Prayers
for all the Saints
A. Love may abound still more and more (v.9);
B. Approve the things that are excellent (v
C. Be sincere and without offense (v.10);
D. Being filled with the fruits of righteousness (v.11);
E. To the glory and praise of God (v.11);
The Advantages of
the Balanced Increase of Love
A. To one’s self: approve the things that are excellent (v.10);
B. To others: be sincere and without offense (v.10);
C. To God: to the glory and praise of God (v.11);
Reasons for Paul’s
Joy in Chains
A. The church in
B. It has become evident to unbelievers that his
chains are in Christ (v.12-13);
C. Most of the brethren in the Lord
having become confident
by his chains
are much more bold to speak the word (v.14);
D. Some preach Christ in order to add affliction to my chains
but Christ is preached (v.15-18);
Paul’s Eyes
A. Look back (v.12);
B. Look around (v.18);
C. Look ahead (v.19);
D. Look upward (v.21);
E. Look inward (v.22-24);
How to Overcome the
Affliction (v.19)
A. Prayer of the saints;
B. The supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ;
The Attitudes that
Believer Should Have Towards Life and Death
A. Christ will be magnified in
my body
whether by life or by death
(v.20);
B. To me
to live is Christ
and to die is gain (v.21);
C. I live on in the flesh in order to fulfill the work of the gospel
(v.22);
D. To Paul himself
he has
a desire to depart and be with Christ
(v.23);
E. To remain in the flesh is more needful for believers (v.24);
How Does the Church
Preach the Gospel?
A. Let our conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ (v.27);
B. In one spirit(v.27);
C. Stand fast(v.27);
D. With one mind striving together for the faith of the
gospel(v.27);
E. Not in any way terrified by the adversaries
(v.28);
F. Have the mind of suffering for the Lord’s
sake (v.29);
G. Struggle for the gospel (v.30);
──
Caleb Huang《Christian Digest Bible
Commentary Series》
Translated by Mary Zhou