Ruins of ancient Philippi in 2000Aerial view of Rome in 2008Ruins of Ephesus amphitheater with the harbor street leading to the coastline (2004)
Philippians 1 is the first chapter of the Epistle to the Philippians in the New Testament of the ChristianBible. It is authored by Paul the Apostle about mid-50s to early 60s AD and addressed to the Christians in Philippi, written either in Rome or Ephesus.[1] This chapter contains the greeting, thanksgiving, prayer and exhortation as an introduction (overture) to the major narratives in the next chapters.[2]
The epistle opens using a formula found in other Paul's epistles, here with the introduction of himself and Timothy as Christ's "slaves" ("bondservants") as in Romans 1:1.[4]
To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:[5]
"Bishops and deacons" could be translated as "overseers" and "helpers";[6] their functions in the church were not the same as they would later become.[7]
Verse 2
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.[8]
This is a common feature in Paul's epistles.[7] Except in Galatians, Paul thanks or blesses God for the good things he has heard about a particular church in the beginning of his letters.[10] In this epistle, Paul mixes it with his prayer for the church (1:3–4) and with joy (1:5), "a combination he will recommend in 4:6".[10] Lutheran pietistJohann Albrecht Bengel says that the whole letter can this be summarised: "The sum of the epistle is, I rejoice, rejoice ye".[11] Similarly Paul writes to the Thessalonians: Rejoice always; pray without ceasing.[12]
Paul's Situation in Chains (1:12–26)
This section deals with Paul's condition during the confinement in a Roman administrative center, where he could still preach the gospel.[7] It consists of two subsections with distinctive keywords: the first subsection (verses 12–18) was marked off with two words, "progress" (prokope; verse 12) and "confidence" (verse 14), whereas the second subsection (verses 19–26) has the inclusio markers "joy", "progress" and "trusting".[13]
Verse 18
What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.[14]
"Is preached": the Greek (present) tense is best represented in modern English by "is being proclaimed".[9]
Verse 21
For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.[15]
"To live is Christ": that is, Christ becomes "efficiently" a believer's life, as the efficient cause and author of his spiritual life.[16]
"To die is gain": that is, when a believer dies one enters into the presence of God, where fullness of joy is, and immediately with Christ, which is far better than being alive here. This common interpretation is shown by the Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopian versions, which read, "to die (or "if I die"), it is gain to me".[16]
Steadfastness in the face of opposition (1:27–30)
Paul states his wish that the Philippians have "steadfast unity in fidelity to the gospel" (verse 27) and "bold resistance to their opponents" (verse 28).[17]
