Philippians 1:1 (part 1)

Additional Bible reading: Acts 16:9-34

Introduction

We are starting a study of Paul’s letter to the Philippians, a very practical and helpful letter, which will do us all good. In this warm letter we get close to the author as he opens his heart to his readers. The word “I” is used 52 times, showing how personal this letter is, and how he writes as a friend, a letter of love. I have you in my heart (Philippians 1:7). Brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown (Philippians 4:1). He repeats his love for them often.

Paul also speaks of “joy” and “rejoicing” 16 times in the letter, remarkable since he was in prison as he wrote, indeed, he was in the condemned cell. At any minute he could have been hauled out of that cell, and executed for his faith in Christ. And yet this letter is full of rejoicing.

At the end of the day, this letter leads us to the One who is at the centre of our faith – our Lord Jesus Christ. Everything comes down to who He is, what He has done for us, and what He is going to do for us. This is the key to our living triumphantly, and experiencing joy in the Lord, as Paul did.

We start today by looking at the members of the church at Philippi, the sort of people they were, and why we need to take this message to heart.

Who were the members of the church at Philippi?

Paul was the greatest missionary. In Acts we read of his three great missionary journeys, though undoubtedly he was involved in more than that. Many of our Bibles have maps at the back which help us trace the extent of these journeys, and we see he covered the countries today we call Syria, Turkey, Greece and Italy. Many tours are available today retracing Paul’s steps.

Paul’s second journey took him to what we today call modern Turkey, and the Western seaboard. At the town of Troas he had a vision in the night. A man of Macedonia (part of Northern Greece) spoke to Paul, “Come over to Macedonia to help us.” Paul realized this call was from God. He went by ship to Philippi, a Roman colony. In Philippi, all troops of the Roman army settled, and it was modelled on Rome in its life and laws. It was a very proud city.

Thus the Gospel arrived in Europe for the first time. Paul was concerned with strategic cities that would influence the area around with the Gospel. Acts 16 records much detail about Paul’s experiences. We read of three particular members. Their conversions have been described as “conversion at the river-side, the road-side, and the fire-side.”

Firstly there was Lydia, a businesswoman, possibly a widow continuing her late husband’s business, selling purple. She sold people garments, very expensive clothes, and coloured purple from the purple dye in the throat of shellfish. The Romans loved this very popular, royal colour. Lydia was a very hospitable woman.

Then we read about the fortune-telling girl – a slave girl, whose masters made a lot of money out of her, and who were not pleased when she was converted.

Thirdly there was the rough gaoler who asked the momentous question, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? (Acts 16:30). He was not only converted himself, but his whole household – wife, children and servants, and they were all baptised.

What do we know of other members at Philippi? There was Euodias and Syntyche, who did not get on well together. Epaphroditus was a leader, and a linkman between Paul and the church. The church sent support and gifts to Paul through him. Luke was also a member of this church, at least temporarily. Acts was written by Luke, so when he uses the words “we” or “us”, he obviously was with Paul. Certainly he must have travelled with Paul from Troas, We put out to sea (Acts 16:11). On the Sabbath, We went outside the city gate to the river (Acts 16:13). The slave girl followed Paul and the rest of us (Acts 16:17). But then as the record continues, he says, Then they left (Acts 16:40), so obviously Luke stayed on for a while.

Leadership was in the hands of overseers (A.V. “bishops”) and deacons. The overseers were the elders in the role of superintending the church. Many stress nowadays the plurality of elders, and conclude that a church should not just be led by a minister and deacons. There should be several elders, with the minister as the teaching elder. Paul appointed elders (plural) in all the churches he founded (Acts 14:23). Overseers and elders were responsible for teaching and pasturing, while the deacons were responsible for the material and welfare side.

So the church was established at Philippi. Paul revisited it on his third missionary journey, and was again joined by Luke (Acts 20:1,5,6). He maintained contact with them thereafter, and when at the end of his life he was chained between two soldiers in a Roman prison cell (about 63AD), he writes this lovely letter.

He opens in the style of an ancient letter – Paul and Timothy, servants of Jesus Christ, To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with overseers and deacons, grace and peace to you from God our Father and Lord Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:1,2). Possibly Timothy was the secretary. In describing themselves as servants, i.e. bond-slaves of Jesus Christ, they declared that they belonged solely to Jesus Christ, and were entirely under His authority.

Fifty years later, when the New Testament Canon had closed, this church was still standing firm. In Polycarp’s letter it was praised because it was still standing firm, showing love and sympathy, but in danger of greediness. Now the city is long since in ruins.

What sort of church members were they?

As with every other church under the sun, this church had its good points and its bad points, light and shade, white and black. We learn lessons from all the New Testament churches – some things for us to emulate and copy, and some things for us to avoid.

The Philippians were very kind and generous, seen from the very beginning. Straight after Lydia’s conversion she invited Paul and his friends into her home (Acts 16:15). The gaoler, after his conversion, washed Paul and Silas’s wounds, took them to his home and fed them. This generosity continued. When Paul was away from them, they still thought about him and sent gifts to him. Not one church shared with me in giving and receiving except you. You sent me aid again and again when I was in need (Philippians 4:15,16).

They not only prayed for him and had him in their thoughts, but they were a very practical church, sending him financial help, via Epaphroditus, one of their leaders. He probably travelled the 800 miles from Philippi to Rome, which in those days would have taken a month, to get to Paul in prison and take care of him. Paul was very touched and moved by such generosity, and this letter was his “thank you”. They had shown very real partnership in the gospel (Philippians 1:5) in this practical way. Let us not love with words and tongue, but with actions and in truth (1 John 3:18).

Our responsibilities to God’s servants who are missionaries include welcoming them into our churches, promising to pray for them, supporting them and giving. We must keep these promises.

Then there was the not so good side of this church – the tendency to division, tension and stresses in the fellowship. Two particular ladies, Euodias and Syntyche, are singled out, and Paul pleads for them to agree with each other in the Lord (Philippians 4:2). He also urges the church to make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition and vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves (Philippians 2:2-4).

Paul sets an example by showing he is concerned for all of them. He prays for all of them, feels the same way about each of them, and says they all share in God’s grace. He longs for all of them (Philippians 1:3-8). He was concerned that their fellowship was not upset by Jewish heresies, which were taking men from simple trust in Christ (Philippians 3:2-4). Then he rebukes perfectionist views (Philippians 3:15), people who thought they had “arrived”. He also rebukes sensationalists and materialists (Philippians 3:18,19), and others who were faint-hearted and easily discouraged (Philippians 1:27-30; 2:15; 4:1).

How very up to date this is. What a delicate flower peace and harmony is in a church. The thoughtless word, quick answer, insistence on having everything done “my way”, jealousy of another’s gifts, complaining, soon leads to spoiling the fellowship and divides a church so easily. There is not a church where these warnings are out of date. These warnings apply universally.

Why do we need the message of this epistle?

Obviously we can see some of the things this epistle has to say to our condition. But there are other things besides, and they are very important things which need to be noted.

This epistle stresses what the Gospel can do in a life, and does so in a very concrete and practical manner. It is meant to be a spiritual tonic, not a theological treatise, but practical exposition of the Gospel. And not only what the Gospel can do in individuals, but in the Christian community. The Gospel must be at work in a church, affecting every aspect of its life. This will be seen in changed lives and readjusted relationships, stability to face trials and sufferings and persecution.

Great stress here in triumphing over circumstances. Paul is in prison, yet he is the happiest man in the world. Though everything is against him, he has unearthed life’s most treasured treasure. Earlier in Philippi, Paul and Silas had been in prison, and had praised God at midnight. In all circumstances Paul had learned to be content, to accept God’s will, and to meet problems through the One who infuses strength into him. He had learnt the secret of Christian living. He had been made adequate in Christ Jesus. Even while in prison, he was being a pastor to them. He ministers strength to them from a distance. So Paul was not speaking theoretically, but from his own experience and extreme circumstances. He shares his secrets with his readers.

Even in the prison he found Christ there, and His grace, enabling and power. He wants them to make the same discovery, and to own joy in Christ in surmounting their own trials. This is what he is communicating to his readers. Rejoice in the Lord. Behold, I say it again, rejoice. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every thing, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God, and the peace of God which passes all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:4-7,13).

One of the great needs is to know the power of the Lord in our personal lives. We need the fire which worked on Paul and the church at Philippi to work in us. Sooner or later, we all meet untoward circumstances and we are in some sort of prison – a sick bed, hospital, accident, grief etc. We cannot avoid these things. We need the secret of how to overcome, so that these things do not get on top and pull us down. We need to know how to have joy in the Lord, to rise above circumstances and be supreme over them.

Very important also for our testimony. We are meant to shine as lights in the world (Philippians 2:15). The world needs the witness and testimony of Christians. So not only for our own peace of mind and joy, but for the sake of the world, we need to understand the secret of living taught here.

These people were very much like us. We do not live in a charmed world. We have to face everything which life throws at us. The Bible is such a realistic book. But everything is different because of Christ. We have not just received forgiveness of sins, and are going to heaven one day, but our life down here on earth with all its weaknesses, enemies and trials are faced differently because Christ is within. Then as now, He lives within us, and is in charge of our circumstances. We can be in touch with Him, just as they could. We still have all the resources needed to live this Christian life.

In Him, we can still rejoice, enjoy peace, be kept steady and steadfast when all around us is breaking up, have strength, our wills can be nerved, be kept from fainting and collapsing by the way. We can be complete in Christ.

Conclusion

We have looked at the Philippian church members, with their strengths and their weaknesses. The value of the epistle is that it still speaks to us today, and it brings us to the centre of all – Christ. It is important to preach Christ not only to the unbeliever but also to the believer. The Christian life is exploring and enjoying all that we have in Him. We have all things because we have Christ. This is the secret of all.

Someone once inquired of Andrew Bonar how he could find more joy in life. Bonar replied, “It is not more joy you need, it is more of Christ.”