Category Archives: Philippians ONE

Philippians ONE: 27-30

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Just because we know what chapter 2:10 says, just because we know we are saved, we must be careful in how we structure our defiance. While we must “stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel” (1:27 NIV) we need to remember to be humble and gracious. For our goal is not that our attackers should reap the reward of Hell, but that they would repent and be saved. We must always remember that we serve our Heavenly Father who created them also. Continue reading →

Philippians ONE: 19-26

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Many of us have heard this verse, “21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Tons of sermons have been preached about it. Once again, we have to consider it in context. And the context, as I read it, is Paul’s concern for the Philippians. Verse 21 does not stand alone. I don’t find much in the commentaries to confirm my reading of this. Here’s my idea, let me know what you think: Continue reading →

Philippians ONE: 12-18

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Because we have read Scripture and listened to sermons about Paul’s various imprisonments many of us have some idea about how St. Paul felt about being a “prisoner for Christ” and his opinion that by being in prison, he was quite effective in spreading the Gospel. However, until I became involved in prison ministry, I was completely unaware of how the prison system, through various ministries, spreads the Gospel. Continue reading →

Philippians ONE: 8-11

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These four verses really spoke to me. As I read them I felt the love Paul and Timothy had for their friends in Philippi. Paul has mentioned that he is in prison. We know, from Acts 16, of Paul’s imprisonment and the subsequent miracle concerning his incarceration when he was in Philippi. In this letter he is again imprisoned. He knows what’s going on in Philippi and he tells his friends that they share his chains. Now he prays for them. Continue reading →

Philippians ONE: 1-2

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If this is the first time you have studied one of St. Paul’s letters then you won’t notice something odd about this greeting. But check out how St. Paul greets the Romans, the Corinthians, the Galatians and the Ephesians. Do you note that something is missing from this and that something else is added? The commentaries I read produced much verbiage about the fact that St. Paul does not mention his authority as an apostle and that he does address the clergy separately. Continue reading →