Down to Earth But Heavenly Minded

What does Philippians Chapter 1 mean?

Chapter 1 includes a brief introduction (Philippians 1:1–2) followed by three key sections. First, Paul gives thanks and prayer on behalf of the Philippian Christians (Philippians 1:3–11). Second, he focuses on the expansion of the gospel (Philippians 1:12–18). Third, he emphasizes that, for the believer, to live is Christ and to die is gain (Philippians 1:19–30). Along the way, Paul explains that how a Christian lives is a reflection of what they set their mind on. He stresses the importance of rejoicing and joy, and connects the faith to concepts such as glory.

Paul is certainly interested in thanking the church at Philippi for their generous support. At the same time, he is concerned about some negative influences, including false teachers and arrogance within the church itself.

The introduction (Philippians 1:1–2) names Paul and Timothy as authors, defines the letter’s audience, and adds a brief greeting. The audience was the Philippian Christians, specifically mentioning overseers and deacons as well. First Timothy chapter 3 is the only other New Testament reference specifically speaking of deacons, in Ephesus. The Philippian church had existed for approximately 12 years by the time the letter was written. In those years, the members had matured in learning and leadership.

Philippians 1:3–11 begins with Paul thanking God for the Philippians in his prayers. He mentions their long-term partnership with his calling. He mentions his imprisonment and ministry (Philippians 1:7) and missing the Philippian believers. He also encourages them to grow in love for one another. Just as the apostle John emphasized love in his letters, Paul uses this section to stress the importance of Christian love in the life of a believer.

Philippians 1:12–18 shares how Paul’s imprisonment was helping spread the gospel. All of the guards knew about his faith (Philippians 1:13), so Paul was clearly willing to preach to his own captors. As a result, other believers grew in boldness to speak about Christ (Philippians 1:14). Interestingly, Paul notes that some of those who spoke about Jesus did so for false motives. Even so, Paul was thankful to see the gospel spreading.

Philippians 1:19–30 speaks of Paul’s hope of being released from house arrest (Philippians 1:19). In either case, life or death, Paul was content, though he expected to continue serving at that time. He clearly planned to visit the believers in Philippi again (Philippians 1:26). He also clearly taught that separation from the body—for the believer—is not something to be feared: “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). In contrast with false views of the afterlife, Paul specifically pointed believers to a future hope in the presence of the Lord.

In the meantime, Paul taught, “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel” (Philippians 1:27). Paul reminded his readers they would both believe and suffer for Christ: “For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake” (Philippians 1:29), just as he was suffering in Rome (Philippians 1:28–30).

Chapter Context
Chapter 1 introduces the major themes of Paul’s letter. A large proportion of the passage is given to thanking the Philippian church for their loyal support of Paul. Paul also encourages them with a reminder that, good or bad, anything a Christian experiences can be used for the glory of God. This sets the tone for the rest of the letter, where Paul will continue to stress the importance of living out the Christian life. This, he says, starts with having a proper attitude and approach.

Verse by Verse

Verse 1. Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:

The opening words of this letter identify the authors as Paul and Timothy. Paul is traditionally considered the primary author of the letter, though Timothy assisted here and in other letters (2 Corinthians 1:1; Colossians 1:1; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; Philemon 1:1). Including 1 and 2 Timothy, 7 of Paul’s 13 letters included in the New Testament were either coauthored by Timothy, or written to him.

The recipients of Philippians are the entire body of believers—”all the saints in Christ Jesus”— at Philippi, both laymen and leaders. Overseers are equivalent with elders, bishops, or pastors in the New Testament, whose qualifications are given in 1 Timothy 3:1–7 and Titus 1:5–9. The qualifications for deacons are listed only in 1 Timothy 3:8–13. Of the churches Paul addressed, only this church included a specific mention regarding deacons. Some see Romans 16:1 as a reference to a deaconess. Both the heartfelt thanks and loving correction provided by Paul are meant for all of the people in this church family.

Context Summary
Philippians 1:1–2 introduces this letter from Timothy and Paul. The message is meant for the Christians in the city of Philippi, including both the leaders and the laymen. This church had made significant contributions to Paul’s ministry, as will be mentioned early in the letter. Here, as in the rest of the New Testament, the term ”saints” refers to any saved believer.

Verse 2. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul’s common greeting included the same four parts. The first half of the greeting consists of grace and peace. Grace is the basis of salvation and the standard for Christian living. Peace is part of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23) and a frequent trait mentioned as important for Christian living.

The second half of Paul’s typical greeting focuses on God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Both grace and peace come from the Father and the Son. They are mentioned as equals here and elsewhere in the New Testament, emphasizing the divine nature of Christ as part of the triune Godhead. Elsewhere Scripture notes the Holy Spirit as the third Person of the triune God (Matthew 28:18–20).

Paul uses this distinctive greeting in almost all of his letters. The same phrase, in the same order, can be seen in Galatians 1:3, Ephesians 1:2, 1 Corinthians 1:3, 2 Corinthians 1:2, and Romans 1:7.

Verse 3. I thank my God in all my remembrance of you,

Verse 3 begins the main body of the letter. Paul begins with thanks and encouragement. He had many reasons to be thankful for the Philippians. First, with their help, he had successfully founded a church in their city (Acts 16). Second, these believers faithfully supported his ministry over the previous years (Philippians 4:16). Not all of the churches Paul worked with were so generous (2 Corinthians 11:7–9).

Paul offered a similar opening of thanks in another Prison Epistle: “We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you” (Colossians 1:3). Likely written in the same time period, and both including Timothy (Colossians 1:1), each letter includes an opening with encouraging words for readers. A third Prison Epistle, Philemon, is written to an individual, yet includes similar words of thankfulness: “I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers” (Philemon 1:4), again including Timothy as a co–writer (Philemon 1:1).

Context Summary
Philippians 1:3–11 is Paul’s expression of thanks and gratitude for the believers of Philippi. Not only have they been generous in their support of Paul, they have been faithful even when he was imprisoned. Paul claims to thank God for these Christians in all of his prayers. At the same time, Paul has high hopes that the church of Philippi will continue to mature and strengthen their relationship with Christ.

Verse 4. always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy,

Paul extends the thanks he began in verse 3. Specifically, he thanks God constantly, in every prayer, for what the Philippian church has been able to do. His expression of thanksgiving is all–inclusive, using “always,” “every,” and “all.” Again, prayer is key, mentioned twice in this verse. This thanks is not only based in the success of the gospel in Philippi, but also in the generosity shown by the church in their support of Paul (Philippians 1:5).

In addition, Paul prays “with joy.” Paul’s focus on joy in this letter is clearly seen. Philippians 1:25 notes, “I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith.” He will again mention joy in Philippians 2:2, 29 and 4:1. Joy comes to Paul from the Philippians in this verse as well as in Philippians 2:2 and 4:1; his work gives them joy in the faith (Philippians 1:25) and they are to receive Epaphroditus with joy (2:29).

Verse 5. because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.

Verse 4 notes the joy Paul receives from the Philippian church. In this verse, he refers to the major source of this joy: “partnership.” These believers had been helping Paul to spread the gospel since they first became believers. This letter was written some 12 years after the founding of the Philippian church in approximately AD 49. This partnership included prayer, people, resources, and finances. This is why Paul does not specifically mention money here, though he will in chapter 4.

Their partnership was “in the gospel.” They supported his missionary work to reach more people for Christ and start new churches. Paul started at least 20 local churches throughout his ministry and likely more. The Philippian church helped fund some of these congregations, making them one of the first “sending” churches, along with Jerusalem (Acts 2) and Antioch (Acts 13). The church at Philippi seemed to understand the importance of spreading the word as far and wide as possible.

Verse 6. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Paul begins this verse with a statement of great confidence in the Philippian Christians. While salvation from the penalty of sin happens at the moment a person accepts Christ, the process of becoming more like Christ is exactly that: a process. Paul is completely sure that this “sanctification” will continue in the lives of these believers. In particular, this assurance is grounded in the work of Jesus Christ. In other words, Paul has no doubts about their salvation and their faithful service to Christ.

The “day of Jesus Christ” clearly speaks of the end times, but interpreters debate other specifics related to this reference. Some see this as an allusion to the rapture, which will take place at any moment (1 Corinthians 15:50–58; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18). Others see this statement as a mention of the end of the seven–year tribulation period just prior to the millennium (Revelation 19—20). A third possibility is that Paul was not referring to any specific date or time, but simply focused on the good things that would take place when these believers met Christ in the future.

Verse 7. t is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.

In verse 6, Paul expresses his confidence that God will continue to sanctify the believers of the Philippian church. This conviction comes from Paul’s trust in the power of Jesus Christ. And, it is supported by his experiences with the believers of Philippi. Paul knows that this is the correct view, because he was closely connected with these believers. He had lived among them for a time (Acts 16) and had apparently stayed in communication with them since those days.

Interestingly, the Greek phrase translated as “I hold you in my heart” can also mean, “you hold me in your heart.” In context, Paul is clearly speaking about his feelings towards the Philippian church. However, this phrase shows how the connection between them was hardly one-sided.

These believers shared in Paul’s ministry in two major areas. First, they shared in his imprisonment. Whether Paul was free to preach, or trapped in a prison cell, the Philippian Christians sent him their love and support. Many others would leave Paul during his ministry, yet the Philippians remained faithful. Second, they shared in his ministry of the gospel. This included defense (speaking against false teaching) and confirmation (positively presenting the gospel).

Verse 8. For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.

Paul held these believers in his heart (Philippians 1:7) and also yearned for them, missing them while apart from them in Rome. Paul uses the phrase “God is my witness” elsewhere only in Romans 1:9–10 where he stated, “For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers.” This phrase was one of his ways to bring emphasis to his following statement.

Paul’s “affection” is also only used in a few other locations. In Romans 12:10, he taught to “Love one another with brotherly affection.” He also spoke of God’s affection for the Corinthian believers (2 Corinthians 7:15). Later in Philippians 2:1–2, Paul refers to affection again, stating, “So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.”

Verse 9. And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment,

Paul mentions love again in this letter several times (Philippians 1:16; 2:1, 2; 4:1). The “love” credited to the Philippian church is not simply a feeling of affection. It is an active, lived-out love. Paul uses the Greek word agape, meaning a selfless, sacrificial concern for the benefit of others. Based on their reputation, the love of the Philippian church was already strong. Paul prays for it to grow even more.

However, Paul is not merely concerned with love. Even though it’s a critical characteristic, it’s not the only important aspect of the Christian life. He specifically prays for two other qualities: knowledge and discernment. True, biblical love requires knowledge. We grow in love when we learn more about God’s love for us, and about how to love others. In addition, love includes discernment. Discernment helps us love better by allowing us to focus on God’s kind of love. His love is unconditional, rather than human love, which typically focuses on ourselves.

Verse 10. so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,

A growing love helps us “approve what is excellent.” Paul also used the Greek word diapheronta, translated “excellent,” in Romans 2:18.In 1 Corinthians 12:31, setting up 1 Corinthians 13, love is the “more excellent way.” In Titus 3:8, Paul’s teachings were as described excellent and profitable for all people.

Those who grow in love will be morally pure. Paul will again mention purity in Philippians 4:8, adding, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Paul also notes his goal for the Philippian believers to be “blameless” in Philippians 2:15. He considered himself “blameless” in the eyes of law, though it was only Christ who could make him blameless before the Lord (Philippians 3:6).

Similarly to verse 6, verse 10 refers to the “day of Christ.” This may be a reference to the rapture, or to the beginning of the millennial kingdom. More likely, it is a general allusion to the hopeful future awaiting all true believers.

Verse 11. filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Paul ends this section of encouragement with a particular goal. He wants to see the Philippian believers overflowing with the results of a Christ-filled life. For as generous and giving as they had been (Philippians 1:5), there were even greater levels of blessing available to them. These are not blessings “paid for” by good works, but the personal, spiritual benefits associated with Godly living. Paul will mention “righteousness” three more times in this letter (Philippians 3:6, 9). True righteousness comes not from works, but from God, and depends on faith (Philippians 3:9). Paul gives greater details on these, as fruits of the Spirit, in Galatians 5:22–23.

Looking at verses 10 and 11 together shows Paul’s emphasis on preaching Jesus as God. The end of verse 10 mentions Jesus and God the Father, together, as equal yet distinct Persons. Paul portrays Jesus as the Messiah who has existed in eternity past (Colossians 1:16–17) and will reign in the future (Philippians 1:6, 10). As a result, glory and praise could be given to God, a fitting conclusion to his comments on prayer.

Verse 12. I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel,

Verse 12 changes Paul’s focus. He began by encouraging the Philippians in what they had done, and would continue to do. Here, he begins to encourage them in what he was experiencing. Paul previously mentioned his time in prison (Philippians 1:7). He was often persecuted, sometimes severely (2 Corinthians 11:23–27), and suffered many other forms of hardship for the sake of his message. Paul puts a uniquely Christian spin—a truthful one—on these experiences. These things have all served to advance the spread of the gospel. For this, Paul is actually rejoicing. While the world would have seen Paul’s situation only in negative terms, Paul saw it as a positive way to share the gospel with new people.

Further, Paul calls the spread of the gospel the “advance” of the gospel. The gospel did not merely spread like other information; it “advanced.” It was a message of power that charged forward into unknown territories to change hearts and lives. The message that changed this man from Saul to Paul was changing people in the capital of the empire. Paul considered his suffering well worth the transformation it provided for those around him in Rome.

Context Summary
Philippians 1:12–18 explains Paul’s perspective on his imprisonment. Specifically, Paul sees the many hardships of his life as a good thing, for one reason: they have led to the spread of the gospel. Paul has been held captive; this has allowed him to preach to his jailers. Paul has seen others repeat his own message in an effort to harm him; this has caused even more people to hear the gospel. This passage sets up Paul’s upcoming argument that, whether by life or death, he intends to bring glory to God.

Verse 13. so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ.

This advance of the gospel, mentioned in verse 12, included even the guards who were part of Paul’s Roman imprisonment. The imperial guard was literally the praitorion: soldiers assigned to guard high–ranking officials in Rome, who now had some exposure to Paul’s teachings. Paul’s captivity gave him the opportunity to interact with these men on a regular basis. As a result, many of them had been converted. It was of great significance that some of the most revered soldiers of Rome had become followers of Jesus.

In addition, Paul mentions “all the rest.” This is likely a general reference to both Jews and Gentiles living in Rome who heard about Paul’s gospel message. Acts 28:30–31 says of Paul, “He lived there [Rome] two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.”

Critically, Paul notes that these people are all aware that he is a prisoner for one reason only: his witness for Christ. Neither the guards, nor “all the rest,” are under any illusions. Paul is no criminal or rebel. He is guilty of nothing more or less than preaching the gospel.

Verse 14. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

Unbelievers in Rome had heard about Paul’s message (Philippians 1:13). In fact, they had come to understand clearly that Paul’s imprisonment was entirely for the sake of the gospel. Paul was obviously not a thug or criminal. Not only had Paul been given a chance to witness to unbelievers, but other Christians had gained confidence by seeing how Paul responded to his circumstances. Paul’s captivity motivated Christians to share the gospel more boldly. If Paul could go to jail for his faith, other believers could take a bold, risky stand for their faith in Jesus as well.

Even from the earliest days of Christianity, some have struggled with fear in sharing their faith. All believers are called to make disciples (Matthew 28:18–20). Certain occasions will give people more boldness to speak out. However, there are those who will be fearful for a variety of reasons. We must all work to better share our faith, acknowledging that some will be bolder or more gifted in evangelism than others.

Verse 15. Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will.

Paul acknowledged that it’s possible to preach Christ with wrong motivations. Some people were jealous of Paul’s popularity among Christians, so they mimicked his message in order to become more popular themselves. Based on the persecution Paul and others suffered for their faith, this was clearly not a common motivator. Others saw Paul as a rival or as competition and sought to become more popular through their own preaching outreach. It’s also possible that those who hated Paul’s message were deliberately spreading it, in order to inflame his enemies (Philippians 1:17).

In verse 18, Paul notes that a person’s motivations for spreading the gospel don’t change the fact that the gospel is being spread. As long as what these envious, jealous people said was the truth, it made little difference why they said it.

In addition to these two inappropriate motivations, Paul noted that some who preached Christ in Rome did so “from good will.” They had an appropriate, godly motivation to share Christ, and to help lost people be found in Jesus. By this time in the early AD 60s, many were apparently sharing Jesus in Rome. Before long, the city would be considered the capital of Western Christianity.

Verse 16. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.

Paul says those who preach the gospel from proper motivations do so out of love. These individuals knew Paul was imprisoned specifically because he had upheld the gospel against those who opposed it. Paul had mentioned defending the gospel in verse 7. This gospel was so important that he mentions it six times in this first chapter alone. Paul will refer to Timothy serving with him in the gospel (Philippians 2:22), women and men who served with him in the gospel (Philippians 4:3), and mentions the “beginning of the gospel” (Philippians 4:15).

In 1 Peter 3:15 we are also taught, “In your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.” Believers are called both to present and defend Christianity effectively, and respectfully, to help bring people to faith in Christ and help equip believers to grow in their knowledge of God. Part of doing that, in truth, is doing so out of love and concern, not selfish ambition.

Verse 17. The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment.

Paul referred to those properly motivated to preach Christ in verse 16. In verse 17, his thoughts return to those with inappropriate motivations. Their goals were selfish, jealous, and even hostile. Some might have even spoken about the gospel for the purpose of making Paul’s imprisonment worse. Such people were more concerned with their own benefit than the spread of the gospel.

However, the opposite was actually the result. First, their selfish ambition led to more people hearing about Jesus. Second, the growing popularity of Christianity may have had something to do with Paul’s later release. The church was small when Romans was written in 55–56. Yet by 64, less than 10 years later, Christians had become a large enough minority to receive the blame from Nero for the fires in Rome. Believers endured intense persecution during this time, traditionally including the deaths of both Paul and Peter in or near Rome during Nero’s reign (AD 64–68). Both the Gospels of Mark and Luke may have been written in Rome during this time period as well.

Truth is a powerful thing; the harder one tries to suppress it, the more eagerly it seems to spread!

Verse 18. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice,

Paul rounds out his comments on those who preach for selfish reasons with a very practical conclusion: so what? Paul was happy to see Christ proclaimed regardless of the reason. In the end, his goal was to help every person possible to hear the good news and receive it. Those who thought they were hurting Paul by repeating his preaching, or by spreading his claims, were actually giving him his very heart’s desire.

In Romans 15:20–21, Paul noted one of his goals was to take the gospel to people who had yet to hear it: “I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else’s foundation, but as it is written, ‘Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.’” His greatest desire in ministry was to get the gospel out to new people. It only makes sense that he would ultimately conclude the spread of the gospel in Rome was positive, regardless of the motivations involved.

Verse 19. for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance,

Paul is confident of his future release from Rome. Prisoners in Rome could be held only for so long, without formal charges, before being released. It’s possible that Paul’s antagonists had nothing solid against him and were content to interfere by having him placed under house arrest. We are not told what specific legal or social reasons Paul might have had for this conclusion. However, we are given reasons for his confidence. These include the prayers of the Philippian believers and the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Prayer and God were the power behind his expectation of future release.

Was Paul released? It is clear he was, though it is not directly mentioned in the New Testament. The book of Acts seems to have been completed shortly after his release since it mentions “two full years” as the duration of his house arrest (Acts 28:30–31). This is approximately the maximum time a Roman could be jailed without being formally charged by his accusers. The Pastoral Epistles (1 & 2 Timothy, Titus) were all written after his release, sometime between AD 62 and 67.

Context Summary
Philippians 1:19–30 shows Paul reflecting on two competing desires. On one hand, a believer wants to serve God and bring others to Christ through their life. On the other hand, a Christian yearns to leave suffering behind—to be with God in eternity. Paul concludes that it’s better to live until God calls him home, so he can serve his fellow men. Paul also encourages the Philippians with his conviction that he will be released to see them again. His experiences, good or bad, are all adding to the glory of Jesus Christ.

Verse 20. as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.

Though Paul is confident of his release, he still has to face some form of trial. This could potentially end in death. After all of his troubles and tribulations, Paul was secure in his faith, and confident that he would represent his Savior well. In fact, Paul is not only poised, he looks forward to the opportunity to speak about Christ. Paul speaks as if he’s already won the battle, and knows that no matter what happens to him, God will be glorified.

Regardless of the outcome of his trial, Paul wanted to honor God. He was willing to do this either through continued life and ministry, or through the kind of death he would endure. According to history, both were actually the case. Paul was released from this first Roman imprisonment and continued on with his ministry. However, he was ultimately arrested again and was incarcerated in Rome where he would die at the hands of the legal system. He remained faithful in both life and death, serving as a strong example for believers today.

Verse 21. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

This verse offers some of the most memorable words in the entire Bible: “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Regardless of whether the verdict of his case was life or death, Paul would remain faithful to God. He knew that life on this earth meant to live for Christ, but death would be even better because he would be in the presence of the Lord. Paul was in no hurry to die, since it was important to him to spread the gospel as far as possible (Philippians 1:22).

These words are also important when discussing what happens to a believer’s soul upon death. Some have argued that “soul sleep” is possible. This is the view that the believer’s soul enters a state of unawareness, and does not go to heaven with the Lord until the future judgment. This verse shows the false nature of this teaching. Paul clearly states his expectation to be with Christ the moment his life on earth ends. This is a view also reflected by Jesus when He told the thief on the cross he would be in paradise with Him “today” (Luke 23:43).

Verse 22. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell.

Paul confidently states that any time he had left on earth would result in positive work for God. He did not see the remainder of his life as wasted time, even if he was to spend it in imprisonment. Instead, every moment of every day is to be considered “fruitful labor,” or positive work that can be done for the Lord. Our choices in this life do matter, and Paul was well aware of how precious our given time is. This is one of the reasons Paul often refers to his years of rejecting Christ, before his conversion (1 Corinthians 15:9).

For as much as Paul wanted to serve God, the different outcomes before him create a dilemma. Naturally, he desired to be with Christ immediately. In some ways, death is preferable to life for the believer because it means living forever in the presence of the Lord. However, God also has plans for our life during the days we live. We are called to live every moment for His glory, allowing the Lord to define when we end our life on earth and begin our new life in heaven.

Verse 23. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.

Paul continues describing his dilemma. Living means serving Christ, gaining rewards, and giving Him glory. At the same time, death means an end to suffering and an eternity with God. In heaven with the Lord, there will be no more sin, no pain, and no crying of any kind (Revelation 21—22). This is certainly something believers should desire. It’s encouraging, in times of trouble, to know this is our destiny (1 Thessalonians 4:18).

There has always been tension, for believers, between these seemingly opposed desires. On one hand is our desire to please God, and bring others to Christ. On the other hand, there is the rest and victory of heaven. The solution to this problem has always been the same: our lives are meant to serve others (Philippians 1:24), not ourselves. When we put God’s will, and the needs of others, before our own will and needs, we can faithfully live focused on God’s work. The timing of our heavenly arrival is in God’s hands.

Verse 24. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.

Paul has been musing about the conflict he feels at this time of imprisonment. Which does he want more, to endure persecution and preach the gospel, or to be taken to eternity with Christ? Paul concludes that, since God’s will is for others to be saved, it is better for him to be alive. When God wills Paul’s death, it will happen. Paul’s focus must be to stay alive and serve others, including the Philippian believers. In fact, Paul seems to have a special burden for believers such as the Philippians; his comment here specifically mentions the readers of this letter as a reason for him to live on.

In Colossians 4:3 Paul will add a related note: “the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison.” Paul was imprisoned because of following Christ. He wasn’t there for personal failures, or for something random. There was a God-given reason for it, though that didn’t make it any easier to endure. The benefit of this persecution included the evangelism of many people in Rome, as well as influence through writing four Prison Epistles.

Verse 25. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith,

Paul doesn’t merely hope that he will remain alive to continue ministering. He is “convinced of this.” He gives two specific reasons why he feels this way, as they apply to the Philippian believers. First, though the Philippian church was growing more and more mature, Paul could continue to serve them. His purpose is to assist the Philippians to great maturity. While it is not noted in the New Testament whether Paul ever returned to Philippi again, Paul appears confident he would return (Philippians 1:26).

Second, Paul would remain for their “joy in the faith.” Faith involves both growth and joy. First Peter 1:8–9 says, “Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” The continued presence of a man like Paul would certainly encourage the people he had been ministering to.

Verse 26. so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.

Paul anticipates seeing the Philippian believers again, as a moment of great joy. That would be a victory well worth praising God for. If Paul did return to Philippi after this first Roman imprisonment, they would certainly have given glory to Christ Jesus. Prior to this letter, the Philippian believers were probably uncertain whether or not Paul would ever live to leave Rome. In this letter, Paul believes he will soon be released and later visit them. This would be a miraculous answer to prayer.

At this point, Paul has transitioned from reassuring his readers that his suffering is for a good cause, to his confidence that he will survive, to an encouraging hope for reunion. From the Pastoral Epistles, it is clear Paul did travel east again near the area of Philippi. However, Philippi is not mentioned in these later writings as one of his destinations. In addition to Philippi, Paul expected to once again visit Philemon in the city of Colossae (Philemon 1:22).

Verse 27. Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,

In prior verses, Paul explained how his suffering was for the sake of Christ, and encouraged his readers with a hope of reunion. In verse 27, Paul gives the Philippian believers one assignment, in advance of his hoped-for visit: live a life worthy of the gospel. This is very similar to the teaching Paul gave in Ephesians 4:1: “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called.” He says something similar in Colossians 1:10, encouraging others to live out the truth they proclaim.

Paul desires these Christians to show unity to the world. This echoes the teachings of Christ (John 17:11, 22), who emphasized the importance of love in living out the gospel (John 13:34–35). Paul is calling on his readers to live out unity, in one spirit and mind, working together “for the faith of the gospel.” His goal continually remained on the gospel and its spread.

Verse 28. and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.

Paul encourages Christians to live with great courage, rather than in fear. The “opponents” he speaks of are likely the false teachers and antagonists mentioned in Acts 16. These enemies opposed Christianity—and Christians—in Philippi. Even though the Philippian believers were not facing the same level of persecution as Paul, they did face opposition in other ways. Christians throughout history have experienced every level of intimidation, and different levels of oppression. Those who read Paul’s words in modern, free countries should realize how easy it is—relatively speaking—to be a follower of Jesus, as compared to the first century.

When believers live without fear in the face of threats, it serves as a form of evangelism. It emphasizes the confidence Christians have in the truth, which should be seen as a warning to those who reject their message. God’s salvation can give great courage to believers. At the same time, the courage of believers often reminds unbelievers of the uncertainty of their own afterlife. This partly explains why Christianity spreads so well under persecution: only the true believers claim Christ, and true belief, lived out in love, is a powerful testimony.

Verse 29. For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,

Paul clearly teaches that both believing and suffering were parts of faithful Christian living. His readers had likely already faced some persecution, and may have wondered why they had to suffer if they were faithfully living for God. Paul makes it clear that godliness and suffering often go together. There are times when we suffer, at the hands of the world, because we are following the will of God. The world hates the gospel, and it will naturally try to stamp it out (John 16:1–4). Second Timothy 3:12 says, “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”

Paul will later note in Philippians 3:8 and 10, “For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ. … that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.” Christ is worthy of whatever suffering a believer may face. In Colossians 1:24, Paul would write, “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake.” First Peter 2:21 notes the role of suffering in this way: “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.”

Verse 30. engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

Paul ends this chapter with a note regarding his own suffering. He was arrested in Palestine and appealed to the Roman legal system to escape an assassination attempt. During his sea voyage to Rome, the ship crashed and he and the crew barely escaped. A snake then bit Paul, and he shook it off into a fire. He was eventually brought to Rome, where he had been rejected by many Jews, yet had a powerful ministry to Gentiles despite being under house arrest for two years (Acts 27—28).

Despite all of these past sufferings and his ongoing imprisonment, Paul was still able to preach to many, write letters to encourage believers, and be used of God to help encourage the spread of the gospel. Suffering is difficult, but is not without purpose. God has used pain, and continues to use pain, as faced by believers, to accomplish much good.

Paul’s point here is also that the struggle he faces is exactly the same as it has always been. Whether the struggles are large or small, the same basic idea applies. The world—which rejects God—is working constantly to interfere with the spread of the gospel. Paul’s experiences are simply the natural consequences of that battle.

End of Chapter 1.

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