Philippians, chapters 1 - 4
Note that the Greek is referred to occasionally.
Throughout the O.T. & Gospels all words highlighted:
- in medium blue were said by GOD the FATHER;
- in apricot were from GOD the Son (Jesus Christ);
- in light purple were from GOD the Holy Spirit.
Also you will see words scripted in blue; this also is a carry-over from the O.T.-- throughout this work all words scripted in blue are words either in prayer or addressing the Godhead.
And all enlarged words are prophecies from the O.T.
VII #.} after a word/phrase means that word/phrase is given in Greek on page VII (Phlp)-- scroll down (if necessary) to that #;
means the Greek is the same as for the same word recently covered;
means the word does not exist in Greek.
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Chapter 1 Paul writing (Timothy possible scribe)
<1>
Salutation (at the beginning each of the books written by Paul): in green is the reminder that Paul was specifically called to be an apostle & set apart by the Will of GOD for ministry; in grey are those called/chosen to be saints according to the Will of GOD: Paul & Timothy, To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers & deacons: Grace & peace to You from GOD Our FATHER & the LORD Jesus Christ.
I thank My GOD every time I remember You. In all My prayers for all of You, I always pray with joy because of Your partnership in the Gospel from the 1st day until now, being confident of this, that HE who began a good work in You will carry it on to completion until the Day of Christ Jesus. It is right for Me to feel this way about all of You, since I have all of You in My heart; for whether I am in chains or defending & confirming the Gospel, all of You share in GOD's Grace with Me. GOD can testify how I long for all of You with the affection of Christ Jesus. And this is My prayer: that Your love may abound more & more in knowledge & depth of insight, so that You may be able to discern what is best & may be pure & blameless until the Day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ-- to the Glory & Praise of GOD.
<2>
Now I want You to know, brothers, that what has happened to Me has really served to advance the Gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard & to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. Because of My chains, most of the Brothers in the LORD have been encouraged to speak the Word of GOD more courageously & fearlessly.
About the chains alluded to here (in Phlp): Specifically the chains mentioned here were the chains that bound Paul initially in Rome (A.D. 60 until he was released from prison in A.D. 62). Now we have Jesus being crucified in A.D. 30, & Acts covers all the period from A.D. 30 until A.D. 59. During this time there were several mentions of chains in Acts (but not of Paul's in Rome).
- The 1st mention of chains (Acts 12:6-7) was when Peter was in prison (A.D. 44);
- Then we have Paul's 1st Missionary Trip (A.D. 46-48);
- The 2nd mention of chains (Acts 16:26) was when Paul & Silas were in prison sometime during Paul's 2nd Missionary Trip (A.D. 50-52);
- Then we have Paul's 3rd Missionary Trip (A.D. 53-57);
- The 3rd-5th mentions of chains (Acts 21:33; 22:29; 26:29) was when Paul was in prison in Jerusalem & Caesarea (A.D. 44);
- Paul went to Rome in A.D. 59.
After Acts we have several mentions of chains when Paul was in Rome-- & several others also:
- There were 5 refs. to Paul in chains (Ephe 6:20; Phlp 1:7-17; Colo 4:3,18; 2ndTim 1:16; & Phlm 1:10-13);
- There was 1 ref. to some were in chains (Hebr 11:36);
- There were 2 refs. to angels who abandoned their own home in everlasting chains of darkness (2ndPet 2:4 & Jude 6); BTW, these fallen angels in chains-- it does not imply they are powerless to wreak havoc).
It is true that some preach Christ out of envy & rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the Gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for Me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, & I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through Your prayers & the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to Me will turn out for My deliverance. I eagerly expect & hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in My body, whether by life or by death. For to Me, to live is Christ & to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for Me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the 2: I desire to depart & be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is far more necessary for You that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, & I will continue with all of You for Your progress & joy in the faith, so that through My being with You again Your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of Me.
Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come & see You or only hear about You in My absence, I will know that You stand firm in 1 spirit, contending as 1 man (with 1 soul) for the faith of the Gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose You. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that You will be saved-- & that by GOD. For it has been granted to You on behalf of Christ not only to believe on HIM, but also to suffer for HIM, since You are going through the same struggle You saw I had, & now hear that I still have.
Chapter 2 Paul writing (Timothy possible scribe)
<1>
Ref. the saying, "WWJD (What Would Jesus Do?)": If You have any:
- encouragement from being united with Christ,
- comfort from HIS Love,
- fellowship with the Spirit,
- tenderness & compassion,
then make My joy complete by being like-minded with 1 another, having the same love, being 1 in spirit & purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of You should look not only to Your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus-- following are 7 attitudes-of-Jesus drawn mostly from the Gospels:
- Who, being in very nature GOD (John 1:1; 14:9),
- did not consider equality with GOD something to be grasped (though He was accused of it--John 5:18),
- but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant (Matt 20:28),
- being made in human likeness (John 1:14ab; Hebr 2:17).
- And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled himself & became obedient to death (Matt 26:39; Hebr 5:8)--
- even death on a cross! Therefore GOD exalted Him to the highest place (Acts 2:33a)
- & gave Him the Name that is above every name, that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, in Heaven & on earth & under the earth, & every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is LORD (Matt 28:18b; Roma 14:11bc), to the Glory of GOD the FATHER.
<2>
Therefore, My dear friends, as You have always obeyed-- not only in My presence, but now much more in My absence --continue to work out Your salvation with fear & trembling, for it is GOD who works in You to will & to act according to HIS Good Purpose. Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that You may become blameless & pure, Children of GOD without fault in a crooked & depraved generation, in which You shine like stars in the universe as You hold out the the Word of Life-- in order that I may boast on the Day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice & service coming from Your faith, I am glad & rejoice with all of You. So You too should be glad & rejoice with Me.
Chapter 3 Paul writing (Timothy possible scribe)
<1>
Finally, My brothers, rejoice in the LORD! It is no trouble for Me to write the same things to You again, & it is a safeguard for You. Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh. For it is We
- who are the circumcision of the heart, We
- who worship by the Spirit of GOD,
- who glory in Christ Jesus, &
- who put no confidence in the flesh-- though I myself have reasons for such confidence.
If anyone else thinks He has reason to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised of the 8th day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the Law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless-- for some additions, see 1stCor 9 - 11 Chapter 9 5th paragraph of <1>. But whatever else was to My profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus My LORD, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I might gain Christ & be found in HIM, not having a righteousness of My own that comes from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ-- the righteousness that comes from GOD & is by faith. I want to know Christ & the power of His resurrection & the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like HIM in His death, & so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
<2>
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take firm hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of Me. Brothers, I do not consider myself even yet to have taken hold of it. But 1 thing I do: Forgetting what is behind & straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which GOD has called Me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of Us who are mature beyond requiring milk should take such a view of things. And if on some point You think differently, that too GOD will make clear to You. Only let Us live up to what We already have obtained-- all those now mature require daily bread for service! Join with others in following My example, brothers, & take note of Those who live according to the pattern We gave You. For as I have told You before & say again with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their:
- destiny is destruction,
- god is their stomach-- how they only might benefit,
- glory is their shame.
- mind is on earthly things.
But Our citizenship is in Heaven. And We eagerly await a Savior from there, the LORD Jesus Christ, who in HIS time by the power that is in HIM will transform Our lowly bodies so they will be like HIS Glorious Body-- meaning that no mind can imagine how we will be, united as we are now in spirit as 1. We eagerly await the full adoption! Therefore, My brothers, You whom I love & long for, My joy & crown, that is how You should stand firm in the LORD, dear friends!
Chapter 4 Paul writing (Timothy possible scribe)
<1>
I plead with Euodia & I plead with Syntyche (both are not mentioned elsewhere) to agree with each other in the LORD. Yes, & I ask You, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at My side in the cause of the Gospel, along with Clement & the rest of My fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life. Rejoice in the LORD always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let Your gentleness be evident to all. The LORD is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer & petition, with thanksgiving, present Your requests to GOD. And the Peace of GOD, which transcends all understanding, will guard Your hearts & Your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is:
- true,
- noble,
- pure,
- lovely,
- admirable--
if anything is excellent or praiseworthy --think about such things. Whatever You have learned or received or heard from Me, or seen in Me-- put into practice. And the GOD of Peace will be with You.
<2>
I rejoice greatly in the LORD that at last You have renewed Your concern for Me. Indeed, You have all along been concerned, but You had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, & I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any & every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether in general living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through HIM who gives Me strength. Yet it was good of You to share in My troubles. Moreover, as You Philippians know, in the early stages of Your acquaintance with the Gospel, back when I set out from Macedonia near the end of my 2nd Missionary Trip (see Acts 16 & 17 Chapter 16 <3>), before I went to Athens & then Corinth (see Acts 16 & 17 Chapter 17 2. Locations of Paul & Acts 18 & 19 Chapter 18 <1>), not 1 church shared with Me in the matter of giving & receiving, except You only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, You sent Me aid again & again when I was in need. Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to Your account. I have received full payment & even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts You sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to GOD. And My GOD will meet all Your needs according to HIS Glorious Riches in Christ Jesus. To Our GOD & FATHER be glory for ever & ever. Amen. Greet all the saints in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with Me send greetings. All the saints send You greetings, especially Those who belong to Caesar's household. The Grace of the LORD Jesus Christ be with Your spirit. Amen.
