Philippians 1:1-5

Verse 1

Bond-servants – A favorite title of early Christian leaders.

Romans 1:1 – Paul a bond-servant…

James 1:1 – James, a bond –servant…

2 Peter 1:1 – Peter, a bond-servant…

Jude 1 – Jude, a bond-servant…

Colossians 1:7 – Epaphras, our beloved fellow bond-servant…

Colossians 4:7 – Tychicus, our… fellow bond-servant…

The bond-servant ceremony

Exodus 21:2-6

Deuteronomy 15:12-17

-The slave is set free with blessings.

-The slave desires to stay and serve his master because he loves him.

-The slave becomes a servant forever!

Lordship Salvation - The idea that an unbeliever must commit all areas of his life to Christ as a condition for being saved. Another way of articulating Lordship Salvation is, “If Jesus is not Lord of all then He is not Lord at all.“

Repentance is viewed as “turning from sin” in order to be saved (justified).

Five problems with Lordship Salvation

1 – It changes the gospel from child-like faith to commitment.

2 – It places an impossible requirement on the unsaved.

3 – It ignores the possibility of a carnal Christian.

4 – It confuses justification with sanctification.

5 – It destroys assurance of salvation.

Although Lordship Salvation is aimed at treating a very real problem in the church, carnality, it holds as the cure a wrong solution.

The solution to carnality in the church is to proclaim clearly the grace of God in both justification and sanctification.

We become bond-servants because we love the Lord and want to serve Him, not because we have to.

Bondservants of Christ Jesus

Jesus Christ is repeatedly mentioned and magnified in this letter.

Jesus – 22 times

Christ – 37 times

Lord – 15 times

One of Paul’s purposes in writing the letter is to reassure and encourage the Philippians. He does this by exalting the Lord Jesus Christ. All that we are is found in Him!

Overseers and deacons - The word for overseer is “episkopos”, which means to “shepherd” or “guard over”. The term for “elder” is “presbuteros” which carries the idea of wisdom gained by experience.

The office of overseer and elder is the same in the New Testament. An overseer is an elder and an elder is an overseer (Acts 20:17, 28; 1 Peter 5:1-2).

Diakonois - A deacon is simply a servant. The office of deacon belongs to the one who has proved his servant-hood and who has been recognized officially by the church.

Note that both of these words are plural. Plurality of leadership was a New Testament concept.

Verse 2

Grace to you and peace – Grace refers to God’s unmerited favor. Peace is the removal of hostility and the inner tranquility that are results of God’s grace.

Romans 3:24 – “Having been justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.”

Romans 5:1 – “Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

From God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ – *Paul *recognizes Jesus as equal with God. He clearly states this in chapter 2 verses 5 – 11.

John 17:5, “And now, glorify Thou Me together with Thyself, Father, with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was.”

Isaiah 42:8, “I am the LORD that is My name; I will not give My glory to another…”

Verses 3-4

Paul’s memories of his time in Philippi caused him to give thanks to God.

Prayer with joy – Joy and rejoicing are a key concepts in Paul’s mind.

Joy – “chara” – Gladness, the occasion of joy. 5 times (1:4, 25, 2:2, 29, 4:1).

Rejoice – “chairo” – To rejoice, be glad. 9 times (1:18, 2:17, 18, 28, 3:1, 4:4, 10).

Joy – “sugchairo” – To rejoice with, to take part in another’s joy. 2 times (2:17, 18).

16 times joy or rejoicing is mentioned.

Verse 5

Participation – “koinonia” - Fellowship, association, joint participation (2:1, 3:10). Note also verse 7, “partakers of grace” and 4:14- 15, “share with me”.

In the gospel – Gospel means “good news” (1:7, 12, 16, 27, 2:22, 4:3 4:15). “Gospel” occurs 9 times.

The theme of Philippians is participation in the gospel. We are all partners together in the work of the gospel.

The key to working together effectively as partners in the gospel is “having the mind of Christ” (2:5).

Paul will teach us how to have the mind of Christ as we go through Philippians