Philippians 1:1-30
The Apostle Paul wrote this letter (epistle) in accordance with the
information that God and the Lord Jesus Christ revealed to him.
Philippians 1:1 and 2:
1:1Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus -
to all the holy-people in Christ Jesus, the (holy-people)
being in Philippi together with overseers and ministers; .2grace
to you and peace from God our Father and (our) Lord Jesus
Christ.
This opening portion tells us whom this letter was from and to whom it
was written. It was from Paul and Timothy – and Paul's description of
both of them is that they were "slaves of Christ Jesus." He does not
state that he is an apostle, but instead he draws attention to the truth
that he and Timothy were slaves in service belonging-to Christ Jesus.
They were bound to serve him. Paul acknowledges that Christ Jesus is
their Master (Lord).
This service as slaves meant that their whole beings were at the service
of (in service to) Christ Jesus who was their Lord/Master, and they
carried-out this service by their own freedom of will. Wherever Paul and
Timothy were and whatever they were doing they were to behave as slaves
of Christ Jesus, not slaves serving anybody or anything else, even
though at times during their lives they may have been physically-bound
with physical chains to soldiers in prison! Even so, Christ Jesus was
their Lord, the one whom they believed and obeyed and from-whom they
took their instructions. During Biblical times, a master was obligated
to take-care of his bond-servant (his slave) and the bond-servant was
obligated to do all his master would ask of him. It was a
mutually-beneficial relationship between the master and his slave.
Christ Jesus became their Lord when they had believed what God has given
to be believed regarding Himself and His son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
This is explained in the Book of Romans, so let us read three verses
from that letter to help our understanding.
Romans 10:8-10:
.8...This is the spoken-matter of belief which
we herald-forth
.9that if-ever you may
express-agreement in your mouth (regarding the) Lord
Jesus Christ and you may believe in your heart that
God raised him up out-from dead-people you will be saved,
.10for with (the) heart it is believed
into righteousness and with (the) mouth
agreement-is-expressed into salvation.
Returning to Philippians 1:1, Paul writes: "to all
the holy-people in Christ Jesus, the (holy-people) being in
Philippi together with overseers and ministers." He addressed this
letter: to all (every one of) the holy-people (sanctified-people,
Christians, saints, children of God) within Christ Jesus – again "Christ
Jesus" is repeated giving him great emphasis. The word "holy" means:
sanctified, set-apart from the state of being common, defiled or unclean
against God. All of us holy-people are holy and are in Christ Jesus
because we have received the gift of holy spirit which is the spirit of
Christ in us. We are limbs/members of the one spiritual body of Christ.
Paul further explains to whom he is addressing this letter: the
holy-people presently being in Philippi in conjunction with overseers
(watchers, people who scope, holy-people who have been given the duty or
function to have watchful-care and guardianship pertaining to all these
holy-people in Philippi) and ministers (holy-people who serve to benefit
others, not 'being-subject' to them but who do work to bring profit to
others, who carry-out their day-by-day ministerial-duties, who have been
given functions of service).
By revelation, Paul was making sure that all the Christians in Philippi
knew that this letter was addressed to all of them. He had not excluded
any Christian just because they may have had a specific function within
the church in Philippi, or because they may-not have had any specific
overseeing or ministering function within that church! Therefore they
were all to read and hear and believe what was written in this letter
and behave accordingly.
Philippians 1:2:
.2grace to you and peace from God our Father
and (our) Lord Jesus Christ.
Continuing, Paul writes his salutation: grace
(unmerited or undeserved favor) to you and peace (tranquil harmony
without strife) away-from God our Father (the only true God is the
Father of you, and of myself and Timothy, and of all holy-people,
spiritually, because we all have received the spirit of Christ in us,
holy spirit-life) and from the Lord Jesus Christ (who is Lord/Master of
all of us).
This was not some 'nice-phrase' that Paul made-up in his own mind
thinking that it sounds good or it might "bless them" - no! Paul was
writing because he was receiving the information of what to write via
his holy spirit from God or from the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace is what is
freely bestowed without any merit on the recipient's part; it includes
reference to the attitude and quality of the one giving something
favorable to another. Grace is not bestowed because somebody deserves a
wage that is owed for something they said or did, nor because they
begged so hard, nor because they forced the giver to give! Grace is
bestowed because the giver wants to give by his own freedom of will to
the recipient - it is completely unmerited favor from the giver to the
recipient. Here, grace is being given to the holy-people who are in
Christ Jesus from God our Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ.
And peace! Oh, how everybody talks about peace and of
wanting peace and striving for peace and fighting on behalf of peace,
etc.! Paul writes that peace is given to these holy-people from God our
Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ. Peace is a tranquil-harmony
without strife. We may think of peace as the opposite of war, the
opposite of conflict, the opposite of being at odds with the other
party. Who are the other parties as far as holy-people are concerned?
God and the Lord Jesus Christ. All of God's children are at peace with
God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ because it is given to us from
God and the Lord Jesus Christ, therefore all Christians should behave
peaceably with one-another too.
Regarding the name of the "Lord Jesus Christ," it would
include all that:
- the name of "Lord" and
- the name of "Jesus" and
- the name of "Christ"…
…represent and stand for.
1.
The word "Lord" refers to a master or an owner, one who has the
authority or authoritative-power, the one from whom the directions and
instructions are given and who is to be obeyed, the one who has the
dominion over and exercises his lordship in relation to that-which his
title of "Lord" or "Master" is being associated. [Reference: Acts 2:36.]
2.
The word "Jesus" is explained in Matthew 1:21 by the Angel Gabriel when
he spoke to Joseph.
Matthew 1:21:
.21She [Mary] will bring-forth a son and
you [Joseph] will call his name Jesus, for he will
save his people from their sins."
The word "Jesus" means "God saves / Jehovah (Yahweh) the Savior," and the
Lord Jesus Christ was given that name "Jesus" because he is the one who
carried-out God's will to make it available for people to be saved (made
safe). It is by means of Jesus, the Christ, that people are able to be
saved and thus have a true and vital spiritual relationship with the
only true God.
3.
The word "Christ" means the "anointed-one" or "Messiah." In the lands
and time-period of the writing of the Bible holy oil was poured on the
high priest of God to begin his ministry for God, and it was also used
to anoint kings. Many people and things were anointed with holy oil to
signify their making holy/sanctified for a specific purpose, etc., which
can be read about in many scriptures in the Bible [see Exodus 30:22-33;
Acts 4:27, and 10:38].
Returning to Philippians, it says:
1:1Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus - to all the
holy-people in Christ Jesus, the (holy-people) being in
Philippi together with overseers and ministers; .2grace
to you and peace from God our Father and (our) Lord Jesus
Christ.
[Reference: Acts 16:1-3, 12-40, and 20:6, 28; Romans 1:1, 7, and 13:4; I
Corinthians 1:2; II Corinthians 1:1; Ephesians 1:1; I Thessalonians 2:2;
I Timothy 3:1-13; II Timothy 1:5; Titus 1:7-9; I Peter 2:25.]
Philippians 1:3-6:
.3I thank my God on all remembrance of you
.4always in all my supplication on behalf of all of you,
making the supplication with joy .5on your
sharing-in-common into the good-message from the first day
continuously-until now, .6having been persuaded2
(regarding) this same-thing that the (One) having
begun a good work in you will fully-complete (it)
continuously-until (the) day of Christ Jesus,
Paul writes that he thanks his God – Who? God. He thanks his God
(specifying that God is his God, his First, Superior or Ultimate One,
the One Who has power, executes judgment, and emanates what He is, His
power and light). This could also be translated as "the God of me" –
Paul recognizes and acknowledges God's authority and close-relationship
with him. The verb "to thank" in the Greek comes from the same root word
as the word "grace" plus the word "well" or "well-off." Therefore to
thank somebody is done by the freedom of will of the recipient
expressing well his gratitude to the giver of the grace (the bestowed
unmerited or undeserved favor) given to and received by him. It is not a
forced or obligated "thank you"!
I presently and actively thank my God resting or based upon
all/every remembrance of you (bringing you to my own mind, my memory,
and so I make mention of you) constantly during all my supplication
(every specific-communication of prayer, making known the
needful-request, beseeching God regarding a lack and thus having a
specific-need in the particular situation or circumstance) in your
interests, making the supplication in company and association with joy
(rejoicing) resting or based upon your sharing-in-common (partaking
of/in/with the same-thing, participation with one-another of what is
common to you all) into, with a view to, directed to the good-message
(gospel, evangel – the only message which is good or well which is what
God has given mankind to believe regarding Himself and His son, the Lord
Jesus Christ) away from the first day that you heard and believed it to
be true to and for yourselves, and for the whole duration of time up to
the present time.
Paul gives great emphasis to the fact that none of the Philippian
holy-people is omitted by his repetition of the Greek root-word pas
which can be translated into the English as "all" or "every": all
remembrance…always in all my supplication on behalf of all of you.
I thank my God on all remembrance of you always in all my supplication on
behalf of all of you, making the supplication with joy on your
sharing-in-common into the good-message from the first day
continuously-until now. Why does Paul do this? He explains: because I
was persuaded and I am still actively persuaded (convinced) regarding
this same-thing (what I am about to tell you, which is) that the One
(God) Who has already begun a good work…. God has made a beginning, the
first part, He initiated a work that issues from Himself Who is good.
The work is what God wrought, the deed, the effect-produced having acted
expending energy and it is in accordance with what is perfectly
admirable from His viewpoint.
…Having been persuaded and continuing persuaded of this same-thing that
the One having begun a good work in/within you (this is referring to the
truth that you have already received the gift of holy spirit which is
the spirit of Christ in you) will fully-complete it (God will bring this
good work to its ultimate ending-issue) for the whole duration of time
up to the day of Christ Jesus (the time of Christ's coming to be present
to gather all holy-people together with him giving us spiritual bodies
,and then we will continue onwards with him).
[Reference: Romans 1:8-10; I Corinthians 12:7-11, 15:50-57; Galatians
3:3; Ephesians 1:16, 2:9 and 10; Colossians 1:27; I Thessalonians 1:2,
4:13-17.]
Verses 7 and 8:
.7according as it is righteous for me to think
this on behalf of you all because-of my having you in (my)
heart, both in my bonds and in the defense and firmness of the
good-message, you all being sharers-in-common-together with me of
the grace, .8for God (is) witness as-that I
earnestly-long-for you all in (the) inner-parts of Christ
Jesus,
Paul was persuaded regarding what God had already
done and would continue to do, just as he was persuaded that: it is
righteous (just) for/to/with me to think this (to have this thought in
my mind) on behalf of all of you (every one of you holy-people) on
account of the fact that I have you in my heart (the center/core of my
being). When? Both during those times:
- when
I am physically bound in bonds (bands, i.e. imprisonment), and
- in the defense (when speaking my
speech of defense, words spoken to others to get away from a difficult
situation before a tribunal, etc) and firmness (steadiness, sureness,
definite, as a guarantee in legal terms) pertaining-to the good-message
(the gospel remains in its-own place and does not get pushed-around by
anyone),…
…all of you presently and actively being sharers-in-common in conjunction
with me (joint partakers of/with/in the same-thing, co-sharers, having
participation, communion, partnership sharing together with what would
be common to you all and myself, which in this case is in conjunction
with me) of the grace (the unmerited or undeserved favor which God has
given and continues to give us by means of the Lord Jesus Christ).
In truth, God is witness…. A witness is one who has information or
knowledge of that-which he is attesting to, and can therefore confirm it
on the strength of his-own authority. Here - God is the Witness, and His
authority is supreme. For God is witness how I earnestly-long (have a
real longing, desire on-top of what I already had) for you all within
the sphere of action of the inner-parts of Christ Jesus (literally: his
insides; figuratively referring to his inner-self, emphasizing the inner
affections, feelings, emotions, attitudes, compassions belonging-to and
emanating-from Christ Jesus, who is the efficient and instrumental cause
communicating his compassion to me via the holy spirit in me).
Again Paul gives emphasis to the truth that "all" the holy-people are
included by his repetition of "you all" – every one of them, whether
some currently had the office of an overseer, or a minister, or not,
because all of them had previously received God's gracious gift of holy
spirit.
[Reference: Acts 22:1, 24:10; Romans 1:9 and 11; I Corinthians 1:23, 9:3;
II Corinthians 6:12, 7:11 and 15, 9:14; Colossians 4:18; II Timothy
2:9.]
Verses 9-11:
.9and this I pray: in order that your love1
may yet rather and rather exceed in full-knowledge and all
perception .10with-a-view-for you to prove the-things
differing in order that you may be genuine and un-stumbling into the
day of Christ, .11having been filled2 (with
the) fruit of righteousness, the (fruit) by means of
Jesus Christ into (the) glory and praise of God.
Paul tells them: and this I pray (this is what I presently communicate to
and with God, speak towards/with God) for the purpose and result that
your love1 may in-addition rather (more-so, more and more,
constantly-increasing, very much more) and emphatically I repeat rather
exceed (abound over and above the number or measure already attained)
in/within full-knowledge (full, clear and exact personal-knowledge) and
all perception (within every ability to perceive with good-sense and
then discern).
The word "love1" or the verb "to love1" comes from
the Greek word agape which is God's kind of love. To love with
His love means to love the same way as God loves, to manifest God's love
towards another, whether it is towards God Himself, the Lord Jesus
Christ, yourself, your Christian neighbor, or towards anyone else. God
tells His children today (all who have the spirit of Christ within us)
how to Godly-love by means of His previously-revealed written Word and
also via our holy spirit-life whereby we receive information from Him
regarding how to love in different specific situations. It is the
carrying out of God's commandments, His Word, which is the correct usage
or way to manifest God's kind of love according to His will (refer to I
Corinthians chapter 13 and I John 5:1-3). It is not the same as the
brotherly or friendly kind of love, nor is it the same as the
emotional/feelings/sexual kind of love.
And this I pray: in order that your Godly-love may yet rather and rather
exceed in full-knowledge and all perception – why? For the purpose of
you to prove (to put to the test or examine and thus approve) the things
that are differing (carrying a different way, varying from the ordinary
and thus excel), for the purpose and result that you holy-people would
presently and actively be genuine (as though being examined regarding
your everyday living by God in the bright sunlight and found to be
sincere) and un-stumbling (in the state of not having stumbled, not
having beaten or struck against the truth of what God says) in motion
into the day of Christ.
Again Paul reminds the holy-people of the coming day of Christ, when
Christ will come to be present and gather all of us together with him
(verse 6 above) - what great encouragement!
Paul's prayer was: in order that your Godly-love may yet rather and
rather exceed in full-knowledge and all perception with-a-view-for you
to prove the-things differing in order that you may be genuine and
un-stumbling into the day of Christ – how? Having been filled and
continuing full with the fruit of righteousness…. This sentence
structure is an Hebrew idiom emphasizing that, in accordance with Paul’s
prayer, these holy-people would be made-full (filled-up) with the fruit
(produce) proceeding-from and characterized-by justice (justness, being
and doing what is just/right from God's viewpoint), plus it shows that
the fruit of righteousness would be fulfilled (in the sense of being
accomplished) within them.
…Having been filled and continuing full with the fruit of righteousness,
specifically the fruit (what is produced) by means of Jesus Christ
(through Jesus who is now the resurrected Christ who continues working
in service to God). Jesus Christ is the one who is the agency by way of
which the initiated progress passes-through in order to reach the
accomplishment of the fruit of righteousness being fulfilled in
holy-people in the walk/behavior category. …Having been filled and
continuing full with the fruit of righteousness, the fruit by means of
Jesus Christ into, directed-to and resulting-in the glory (importance,
splendor and renown) and praise (applause) of God (God’s glory and
praise). Glory and praise are given to God, they are due-to and
belong-to God.
Some Greek texts read the phrase "glory of God and praise with/by me"
which would indicate that God is glorified and praise is given to these
holy-people by Paul as they behave themselves awaiting the presence of
Christ.
[Reference: Acts 24:15 and 16; Romans 2:18; I Corinthians 10:32; I
Thessalonians 4:9 and 10.]
Verses 12-14:
.12But I deliberately-determine you to know,
brothers, that the-things according to me went2 rather
with-a-view-to (the) advancement of the good-message,
.13so-as-for my bonds in Christ to become manifest in the
whole praetorium and to all the remaining-people, .14and
more of the brothers, having been persuaded2 in (the)
Lord by my bonds, to more-exceedingly dare to fearlessly utter-forth
the word,
But I purposefully-will you to personally-know (to have a truly active
and relative knowing), brothers….
Paul addresses the holy-people as "brothers" – why? Paul is not referring
to the biological/natural state of having the same mother and/or father,
nor because of their race, skin-color, or political-affiliation, nor is
he referring to the fact that everyone has the same blood flowing
through their veins passed-down from Adam and Eve – but he is referring
to their spiritual relationship. Paul and all holy-people, no matter
what location they may be living in, had received the same gift of holy
spirit from God by means of the Lord Jesus Christ when they first
believed what God has given mankind to believe regarding Himself and His
son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul and all those holy-people were brothers
in the holy spirit category, they were all children of God.
All holy-people/Christians today also have the gift of holy spirit,
which is the spirit of Christ in us.
But I deliberately-determine you to know, brothers, that the things
going-on with me (my circumstances, how I am faring, all the things
happening to me) have gone rather (more-so, more and more,
constantly-increasing, very much more) in motion with a view to (into,
directed to and resulting in) the advancement of the good-message (the
progress of the gospel/evangel, as a beating or driving forward cutting
down everything out of the gospel's way so that nothing could impede its
progress, the going-forward pertaining-to the good-message).
The consequence or result of this is for my bonds in Christ (not my
physical bonds, but the truth that I am a bond-servant, a slave
belonging-to Christ, he is the one whom I am bound to serve, my bands
within the sphere of action of Christ) to become manifest (come to pass
to be evidenced, brought to light, shown-forth) among the whole
praetorium (referring here to the praetorian-guard, soldiers who keep
prisoners in the guard-room next to the palace) and to all the rest of
the people [this could also be translated as "remaining-places"].
It was because of Paul's servitude to the Lord Jesus Christ that he
became physically bound in Jerusalem, and Caesarea, and then in Rome,
but now the guards and people could see that Paul served his Lord Jesus
Christ and not anyone else inside the prison or outside the prison!
And not only that, but more of the brothers (the majority, the
bigger-portion of the holy-people), who had already been persuaded and
are still actively persuaded (convinced) within the Lord Jesus Christ by
reason of my physical imprisonment, to more-exceedingly (more
abundantly, more than above the measure already attained) dare to
fearlessly utter-forth the word (venture to speak the spoken-account of
the inner-thoughts of God, concerning God Himself and the Lord Jesus
Christ, without fear).
[Reference: Matthew 27:27; Acts 23:35, 28:16-31.]
Verses 15-17:
.15some-people indeed even because-of envy and
strife, but some-people even because-of good-consideration
herald-forth the Christ, .16the (people) indeed
from love1 having known2 that I am laid into
defense of the good-message, .17but the (people)
from work-for-ambitious-purposes message the Christ, not purely,
supposing to raise-up pressure to my bonds.
Paul continues by describing the different ways in which some of the
brothers uttered-forth the good-message during this time of his
imprisonment. Also, we should note that just because Paul was not
physically present with these people and he was also bound and being
guarded by the praetorian-guard, he still knew what was going on. God
and the Lord Jesus Christ had not left him ignorant of the things
pertaining to the kingdom of God. From the world's viewpoint Paul was
"in trouble" but from God's viewpoint he continued being able to walk
and talk with His Father, the only true God, and with his Lord, Christ
Jesus, and he continued receiving revelation via his holy spirit-life!
In fact, Paul was receiving quite a lot of information, while he was in
physical bondage, from God, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, and from
people who visited him.
On the one hand, emphatically some of the brothers utter-forth the word
on account of envy (being jealous or resentful of another's
considered-advantage with the desire to gain the same 'advantage' for
themselves) and strife (any form of it, such as rivalry,
wrongful-competitiveness, contention or disputing and quarrelling), but
on the other hand, emphatically some of them on account of
good-consideration (the willing-purpose with good-design, what they
consider or suppose to be well) – herald-forth the Christ (proclaim the
Anointed-one, the Messiah).
The holy-people who herald-forth the Christ are those who indeed do this
out-from love1 (originating, emanating from God’s kind of
love), these have already known and still know (perceive, see) that I am
presently laid (lying, set in position) into, with a view to, directed
to defense of the good-message (verse 7 above). But the other
holy-people, out-from work for ambitious purposes (labor being achieved
solely from selfish-ambition, looking-for wages as if purchasing a favor
and promotion by canvassing, causing factions), presently and actively
message the Christ (bring the message consisting of the Christ down or
home to other people), but they do this not purely (not with purity – in
other words: their motivation is in a manner which is contaminated by
something bad; even so, the message remains the Christ). Why do they do
this? These brothers are supposing (presuming, wrongly assuming) to
raise-up or arouse pressure (compression or stress that afflicts,
whatever may be pressing-upon or squeezing whether it be physical or
mental or spiritual) to my bonds.
[Reference: Romans 2:8; I Corinthians 3:11; Galatians 5:20; James 1:7.]
Verses 18 and 19:
.18For what? Besides that by every manner
whether by pretense or by truth, Christ is messaged, but also
in this I joy, but also I will joy, .19but I knew2
that this will go-away to me into salvation by means of your
supplication and full-supply of the spirit of Christ Jesus,
Paul asks a rhetorical question: in truth, what is there to say about all
of this happening? Besides (moreover, more/other than) that by all/every
manner (whatever way you turn and look at it), whether done by/with/in
pretense (putting something forth or causing something else to appear in
order to cover up or disguise the real intent, the deeper co-existent
cause as to why they are doing this, pretext) or whether done by/with/in
truth (God's essential reality, the inherent verity), Christ is
presently caused to be messaged (the message of Christ is being brought
down or home to other people). But contrary to being all upset about all
of these happenings and circumstances, also/even in this, the fact that
Christ is massaged, I presently and actively joy (rejoice, I am joyful),
and in the future I will rejoice.
I already know (perceive, see) that this will go-away (move in the
direction away from what is happening now and will issue or result)
to/for me into, directed-to and resulting-in salvation/safety by means
of (through):
- your
supplication (specific-communication of prayer, making known the
needful-request, beseeching God regarding a lack and thus having a
specific-need in the particular situation or circumstance) and
- the
full-supply of the spirit of Christ Jesus (the full-supply is that-which
is the furnishing-upon what has already been supplied, as though fully
leading a chorus of dancers and singers and therefore being supplied
joyfully, the further-supply, fully-furnishing everything needed, the
necessary costs and provisions, the super-addition being issued or
proceeding from the spirit of Christ Jesus) [Some Greek texts read “the
spirit of Jesus Christ.”]
Paul knew that he would be made safe in the future from his present
physical bonds by means of the Philippian holy-people's supplication
concerning his situation to God and the full-supply of Christ Jesus’
spirit, referring the power of the holy spirit that the resurrected
Christ Jesus has and that all the holy-people have because all
holy-people have the spirit of Christ within us. The Philippian
holy-people were supplicating, and praying in spirit which caused the
full-supply of the power of the resurrected Christ in that situation.
Paul had received information, revealed to him by God or by the Lord
Jesus Christ, that as a result of this he would be saved from his
present imprisonment.
[Reference: Acts 16:7; Ephesians 4:15 and 16, 6:18; Colossians 1:27; I
Thessalonians 2:5.]
Verses 20-24:
.20according to my eager-expectation and hope
that in nothing I will be caused-shame but in all boldness as
always also now Christ will be made-great in my body whether by
means of life or by means of death, .21for to me to live
(is) Christ and to die (is) gain – .22whether
to live in (the) flesh this to me (is) fruit of work,
and what I may choose-for-myself I do not make-known, .23but
I am held-together out-from the two having the intense-yearning to
loosen-up and to be together with Christ for by-much (this would
be) a stronger-thing, .24but to remain-on in the
flesh (is) more-constraining because-of you;
Paul continues regarding what he has just written -
that this would be: in accordance with my…
- eager-expectation (as though I am looking away-from where I am at the
present time towards the ending-result with my head bent forward in that
direction) and
- hope
(that-which I expect to come-to-pass at a future time regarding this
situation)
…that in nothing I will be caused shame (caused to have the feeling or
emotion of disgrace and guilt bringing reproach having recognized and
being sorry for a performance of an improper, ignominious or
dishonorable deed from God's point of view, I will not be made to feel
shame in one thing before others).
But contrary to shame, my eager-expectation and hope is that in all/every
boldness (freedom, frankness and openness of speech), as is constantly
the case also at the present time, Christ will be made-great (caused to
be enlarged, magnified, his greatness will be expressed) within the
sphere of action of my body, whether that will be by means of my life
(through my continuing to live) or whether that will be by means of my
death (through my being dead). The following is the explanation: in
truth to/for me…
- the fact of living (to live, presently being alive) is Christ
(completely for Christ's purpose, Christ is the only reason for my being
alive, Christ is my life, I have the spirit of Christ in me and this is
my true life even though I still have a fleshy body with its soul/breath
life), and
- the fact of dying (to physically die, presently being dead, i.e., if I
was killed at this time) is gain (completely for the purpose of deriving
or acquiring the profit, benefit or advantage from a personal point of
view because in the short-term I would be free of all my present trials
and imprisonment, and in the long-term because from the moment of death
to the moment of being raised from the dead by Christ when Christ will
come to gather all holy-people together with him, I would not be
cognizant of any time passing).
Paul is not advocating that he should be put to death by the Romans or
someone else, nor is he intending to kill himself! Paul is explaining by
teaching the Philippian holy-people regarding the different options or
courses that were potentially ahead of him.
Having already written that he knows the outcome of this particular
situation, which is that he would continue to live after this present
imprisonment, Paul explains: if it were that I would live in the flesh
(stay living at this time) this would be because-of and for the purpose
of fruit of work (produce resulting from my exertion of energy, doing
deeds as I continue to do the work asked of me by God and the Lord Jesus
Christ), and that-which I would choose to come to pass for/to myself
(what I would take for myself, thereby separating myself off from other
courses available to me, i.e., whether to live or to die at this time) I
am not making this information personally known to anyone.
But I am held-together (presently being pressed, confined, held-fast in
conjunction with something else) out-from the two (from being in the
center of these two options of living or dying, to a third option) which
is that I am having the intense-yearning (holding the strong-desire
which attaches and fixes upon a certain object, the lust; here used in
the good sense) to loosen-up and to be together with Christ. “To
loosen-up” means: to loosen what was previously fast or bound-together,
to release, here referring to the loosening of the physical body, as
used in II Timothy 4:6. This word is also used of the breaking up of a
wedding banquet in Luke 12:36, and we have the verb "to analyze" in the
English language.
But I am held-together out-from the two having the intense-yearning to
loosen-up and to presently and actively be together with Christ (in
conjunction with Christ, referring to the event of the presence of
Christ and gathering all holy-people together with him when we will
receive our spiritual bodies like the one he has already received from
God) for the truth is that this option would by a lot (with a big
amount) be a stronger-thing (that-which takes comparatively more force
with exerted-power).
Paul desired very much that Christ would come for them all right-then,
but he reminds the holy-people to whom he was writing that without that
third option of Christ's coming to gather all holy-people together at
that time: to remain (stay or continue on) in my flesh (being physically
alive at this time) is more constraining (necessary due to constraint,
applied-force) on account of you.
It must be noted that there was no other way for Paul to be together with
Christ at that time except that Christ would come to be present and
gather not only Paul but also the Philippian Christians together with
him plus every other Christian who was dead or who was alive at that
time. If Paul were to remain physically alive at that time then this
indicates that Christ had not yet gathered all Christians together; or
if Paul were to be physically killed at that time then this also
indicates that Christ had not yet gathered all Christians together, and
so the dead Paul would have to stay dead until Christ came to raise the
dead Christians.
[Reference: Luke 22:15; Romans 8:19; II Corinthians 5:8; Galatians 2:20;
Colossians 3:4; I Thessalonians 2:17. Details regarding the promised
presence of Christ to gather all the church together with him may be
read in my works on I Corinthians 15:50-57, and I Thessalonians
4:13-17.]
Verses 25 and 26:
.25and having been persuaded2
(regarding) this I knew2 that I will remain and will
remain-alongside with you all with-a-view-to your advancement and
joy of the belief .26in order that a boast of you may
exceed in Christ Jesus in me by means of my presence again
with you;
Again, Paul assures them that he will indeed stay alive at that time. He
continues: and I was persuaded and am still actively persuaded
(convinced) regarding this (what I have written above) I knew and still
know (perceive, see) that I will stay (continue alive in the flesh) and
I will stay beside (continue being near) all of you Philippian
holy-people with a view to (into, directed to and resulting in):
- your
advancement (your progress, as a beating or driving forward cutting down
everything out of your way so that nothing can impede your progress, the
going-forward pertaining-to you) and
- joy
of the belief (rejoicing proceeding from the belief, faith, trust – here
referring to the belief that God has given to be believed which you
believe).
Why? For the purpose and result that a boast of you (the subject-matter
or theme of boasting, of speaking justifiably loudly pertaining to you)
would exceed (abound over and above the number or measure already
attained) within the sphere of action of Christ Jesus in me (Christ
Jesus being the efficient or instrumental cause within me of this boast)
by means of my presence again with you (through emphatically my coming
to be present again with you, my arrival towards and then being with all
of you another time).
[Reference: I Corinthians 16:6; Philippians 2:24.]
Verses 27-30:
.27only, you must live-being-citizens worthily
of the good-message of Christ in order that whether having come and
having seen you or being absent I hear the-things concerning you
that you stand-firm in one spirit, one soul, contending-together
with the belief of the good-message, .28and not being
caused-to-scare in nothing by the (ones) adversarying, which
is for them a pointing-out of destruction but your salvation; and
this from God .29because it was graced to you on behalf
of Christ not only to believe into him but also to suffer on
behalf of him, .30having the same contest of-the-kind you
saw in me and now you hear (it).
Paul continues: only (this alone), you must presently live in the duty of
being citizens (in accordance with your citizenship, the condition and
rights of being free citizens within a walled-town or city, behave in
accordance with the governing authority and enjoy the privileges which
you have been given) worthily of the good-message of Christ (in a manner
of equal-value, of like-worth with the gospel/evangel pertaining to
Christ). All holy-people’s citizenship spiritually is in
the heavens, within God’s kingdom (refer to Philippians 3:20).
Why? For the purpose and result that whether at the time when I will have
come and seen (perceived) you, or whether at the time when I am
physically being absent (away) from you, I would hear the things about
you, which therefore would be that you stand-firm (stand fast as opposed
to falling in the walk/behavior category) within the sphere of action
of…
- one spirit (the one gift of holy spirit that you all have received, your
holy spirit-life – this is in the spirit category),
- one soul (one soul/breath life, the life of your physical bodies which
is evidenced by your breathing, and figuratively referring to your
beings, including your character and disposition as you are living your
lives – this is in the flesh, natural category, your physical living),
…contending-together (all of you rendering mutual help being athletes
together for the same goal, for mastery of the same event as in public
games, side-by-side on the same team with the same finish-line being
aimed at and you all receive the prize). The usage of athletic
terminology draws attention to you holy-people, and the truth of you
being together moving in the direction of the same objective, being
joint/co-contenders. How are you to be contending together? With/by/in
the belief of the good-message (that-which is given to be believed, the
faith or trust belonging-to and pertaining-to the gospel).
And, not being caused to scare in nothing (the double negative gives
emphasis: not being startled in not one thing, like a horse suddenly
being alarmed over something which causes an involuntary bodily movement
or reaction by him in a situation – not being caused to care in nothing)
by the power of (from under the hand or agency of) the ones, including
people and devil-spirits, presently adversarying (opposing, figuratively
putting themselves in the position of lying against the door attempting
to block the access you have to God and the things of God and your being
able to live-being-citizens worthily of the good-message of Christ and
to stand-firm in one spirit, one soul, contending-together with the
belief of the good-message).
The truth of what you are and have available to you in the spirit
category from God by means of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the fact that
there are those being adversarial towards you as you believe and
carry-out what God says, this is for those who are adversarying a
pointing-out of destruction (an indication, pointer, display, as in the
process or act of pointing with the finger, of their perdition, their
being utterly lost and ruined away-from the only true God) – but this is
a pointing-out of your salvation (your being made-safe to and with God).
And, in explanation, this is in motion away-from God, the objective-cause
being that it was graced (unmerited or undeserved favor has been
bestowed) to you on Christ's behalf (in the interests of Christ) not
alone to presently and actively believe (have faith, trust) into or
regarding him (the object of your belief is Christ), but contrary to
only believing into him, to also presently and actively suffer on his
behalf (to experience or be affected by things in the interests of
Christ). You are having the same contest (the contest itself, like being
in a place of contest where there are two opposing parties conflicting
against each other in order to be the one to gain the prize at the end
of the contest). Again here the usage of athletic terminology draws
attention to you holy-people and the truth of you being together moving
in the direction of the same objective, you are on the same team in the
same contest, not a different one or on a different team.
It was graced to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe into him
but also to suffer on behalf of him, having the same contest of the
kind/sort that you saw (perceived, knew) within my sphere of action and
at the present time you hear about it (you can’t physically see me at
the moment since I am not with you in Philippi, but you hear about it).
[Reference: Acts 4:32, 16:12-40, and 23:1; I Corinthians 12:11-14, 16:9;
II Corinthians 8:24; Ephesians 4:1-4; Philippians 3:20, and 4:3;
Colossians 1:27, and 2:1; I Thessalonians 2:2; II Thessalonians 1:5, and
2:3. Note: verbs with a superscript 2 (2) immediately
following them indicate the "perfect" tense - details are provided in
the "Relevant Notes" link of this study.]
