“Paul and Timotheus, the
servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at
Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God
our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ”
(Philippians 1:1-2).
Introduction
Philippi had the distinction of
being the first European city to receive the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ,
and therefore the first Gentile Christian Church was established there. At the
time of writing of this epistle, the apostle Paul was probably quite old, since
it is the last of his so-called prison letters. “Paul the aged, and now
also a prisoner of Jesus Christ” (Philemon :9).
“Paul and Timotheus”. Describes
the relationship that existed between the pair. Paul is the mature father
figure, whose only limitation is his age, and Timothy the vibrant, youthful son
who had energy to spare for future exploits.
Servants
Paul was being assisted by Timothy, who must have
been a source of blessing and encouragement while he was languishing in his
cell. There is no suggestion in this text that Timothy co-authored the letter,
for in verse 3 we note the use of the word “I” to denote it was entirely the
apostle’s work. Paul does not lay claim to apostleship in this letter, which
is significant when we consider his wonderful description of the humility and
humiliation of Christ in 2:1-11. Therefore, like his Master, Paul did not grasp
at recognition or exaltation. Paul saw Timothy and himself as servants, that is,
bond-slaves [Greek ‘doulos’], or in other words, the lowest class in
society. Notice that Paul does not raise himself one iota over Timothy, but
speaks of him as equal partners in the work. He believed that he was owned by
the Lord and was at His disposal. This is not a case of false humility, for he
knew the important role that he played in his service to God. “For which I
am an ambassador in bonds” (Ephesians 6:20). “Servants” also expresses
Paul’s belief that he and Timothy had the highest and most important
profession in the world since they were in the service of God. “And now,
Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy
God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God
with all thy heart and with all thy soul” (Deuteronomy 10:12). We tend to
think of the great figures from Biblical history as having superhuman power, but
each one was simply a servant of the Living God and men and women of “like
passions” (James 5:17).
It is also true to say that Paul did not need to
refer to himself as an apostle or defend his calling from God for another
possible reason. His relationship with the Philippian church was strong and
firmly based on love for the Lord and His people. They knew the anointing was
upon his life and so did not need to be reminded of it. They were eager and
willing to listen and obey his instructions without coercion. This is not to
suggest that Paul hesitated to use his apostolic authority. Passages such as 1
Corinthians 5 reveal that he used his God-given right whenever necessary,
nevertheless, he never lorded it over anyone.
Saints
The word “saint” is never used in Scripture of
some departed soul that has some special favours to bestow upon his followers;
instead it always refers to living persons who have truly dedicated themselves
to Christ. Neither is it used in reference to those who think they have arrived
at a state of spiritual perfection. This title was used to speak of the Jewish
believers too, “Saints at Jerusalem” (Acts 9:13). These are they who
desire and aim for holiness, sanctification and godliness in their daily lives.
How can we be lethargic and complacent about our faith? How can we live
indulgent and selfish lives when we know that holiness is required of us? “But
the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens
shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent
heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing
then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye
to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the
coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved,
and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?” (2 Peter 3:10-12) … “Wherefore,
holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling” (Hebrews 3:1) … “But
as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of
conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy” (1 Peter
1:15-16).
A
true saint must be and remain in Christ. Unless a person is in Christ there is
no salvation, and unless he remains in Christ, he cannot bear fruit as evidence
of that salvation. “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear
fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in
me” (John 15:4). “In Christ Jesus” reveals that the “saints” are the
only elect that the Bible speaks of in relation to salvation as long as they aim
at holiness and obedience. “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the
Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of
the blood of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:2). Therefore the elect are those
who have truly dedicated their lives to faithfully following Christ. Practical
holiness is something that ought to be interwoven into the very fabric of our
lives.
Shepherds
In 1 Peter 2:5 Peter writes about the priesthood
of all believers, “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual
house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God
by Jesus Christ”. Nevertheless it is evident that the church needs
spiritually mature men to oversee the work and teach the word. “If any man
speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it
as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified
through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen”
(1 Peter 4:11). The same persons are called “elders” in Acts 20:17.
Bishops simply means pastor. The Greek word
‘episkopos’ is also used for ‘shepherd’ and ‘overseer’, “Take
heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy
Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath
purchased with his own blood” (Acts 20:28). We ought to clearly see that a
shepherd not only looks after his flock but also leads them to pastureland
(Psalm 23). God has ordained teaching ministries to enable and build up the
church. “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some,
evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints,
for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we
all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto
a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we
henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every
wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they
lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in
all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly
joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to
the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body
unto the edifying of itself in love” (Ephesians 4:11-16). This said, we
must not infer that those in the preaching and teaching ministry are ‘high
officials’ who exercised control over the church, but instead they are simply
fellow-labourers in the work of Christ. (See also 1 Timothy 3:1-11 and Titus
1:5-9).
“Deacons” [Gk. ‘diaknos’ meaning ‘those
who serve’] refers to elders whose duty it was to assist the ministry in the
local church. In Acts 6 we find that several men, including Stephen, being
chosen to serve the church while the leaders gave themselves “continually
to prayer, and to the ministry of the word” (:4). Even so, these men had
to be “of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom” (:3).
Deacons were also engaged in the preaching and teaching ministry. “Who then
is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers [diakonoi] by whom ye
believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?” (1 Corinthians 3:5). Philip
one of the first deacons (Acts 6:5), also known as “Philip the
evangelist” (Acts 21:8), was a Spirit-filled preacher (Acts 8:5).
Though the church was founded in Lydia’s house
(Acts 16), she gracefully and obediently took the Scriptural approach to
leadership. The early church knew nothing of women serving as pastors or
engaging in a similar role.
Salutations
Paul wishes the church grace and peace; two gifts
of God that no believe can do without. The Hebrew word for peace is
‘shalom’, it includes the wish for both temporal and spiritual prosperity. “Let
us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and
find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16) … “Be careful
for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let
your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all
understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”
(Philippians 4:6-7). True and everlasting peace can only come where God’s
grace is applied to the soul.
Conclusion
In these two verses the apostle Paul sets the tenor for the rest
of his letter. We will find the themes of godliness, humility and thanksgiving
coming to the surface time and again. The Philippian church was not perfect, but
it serves as a good example of what a church and individual Christians should
aim at.
