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About this book: Philippians

Philippians is Paul's warm, personal thank-you to a church that had supported him from the beginning, written while he was in prison and uncertain of the outcome. Yet the letter is full of joy, a word that returns again and again. Paul shares news of his own situation, insisting that even chains have helped spread the gospel, and then urges the Philippians to live as citizens of heaven: united, humble and willing to put others first. At the center stands a famous hymn-like passage describing Christ, who held nothing back, took the form of a servant and was then honored by God, offered as the pattern for Christian humility. Paul also speaks candidly about counting his own credentials as loss for the sake of knowing Christ, presses on toward the goal, and encourages prayer instead of anxiety. He closes by thanking them for a gift sent through Epaphroditus. Scholars debate whether the letter was written from Rome or another city, but its message of steady joy is clear.

Author
The apostle Paul, with Timothy named in the greeting; authorship is widely accepted.
Date
Debated: most often placed about AD 60–62 from Rome, though Ephesus or Caesarea have been proposed.
Audience
The church in Philippi, a Roman colony in Macedonia and the first church Paul founded in Europe.

Themes

Joy in hard timesHumility like ChristUnity in the churchKnowing Christ above allPeace instead of anxiety

Outline

  1. 1:1–1:11Greeting, thanks and prayer
  2. 1:12–1:30Paul's imprisonment and a call to stand firm
  3. 2:1–2:30Humility, the example of Christ and faithful co-workers
  4. 3:1–3:21Knowing Christ and pressing toward the goal
  5. 4:1–4:23Rejoicing, prayer, contentment and thanks

Key verses

Philippians 2:3-5 →Philippians 3:8-10 →Philippians 4:6-7 →Philippians 4:13 →
About this chapterWriting from prison, Paul thanks God for the Philippians' partnership in the gospel and prays that their love would grow with knowledge and discernment. He explains that his chains have actually advanced the message, since guards and fellow believers have grown bolder in speaking it, even though some preach with mixed motives. Paul is torn between wanting to depart and be with Christ and staying for their sake, and he concludes that living means Christ and dying is gain. He urges them to live worthy of the gospel, standing firm together, even when suffering comes.

Writing from prison, Paul thanks God for the Philippians' partnership in the gospel and prays that their love would grow with knowledge and discernment. He explains that his chains have actually advanced the message, since guards and fellow believers have grown bolder in speaking it, even though some preach with mixed motives. Paul is torn between wanting to depart and be with Christ and staying for their sake, and he concludes that living means Christ and dying is gain. He urges them to live worthy of the gospel, standing firm together, even when suffering comes.

Themes

  • Joy in suffering
  • Partnership in the gospel
  • Living for Christ

Key verses

Audio Bible · Philippians 1

Listen while you go about your day.

Philippians 1

Berean Standard Bible30 verses · 3 min read

1Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons: 2Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3I thank my God every time I remember you. 4In every prayer for all of you, I always pray with joy, 5because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. 7It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart. For in my chains and in my defense and confirmation of the gospel, you are all partners in grace with me. 8God is my witness how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10so that you may be able to test and prove what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. 12Now I want you to know, brothers, that my circumstances have actually served to advance the gospel. 13As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14And most of the brothers, confident in the Lord by my chains, now dare more greatly to speak the word without fear. 15It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16The latter do so in love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. 17The former, however, preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can add to the distress of my chains. 18What then is the issue? Just this: that in every way, whether by false motives or true, Christ is preached. And in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19because I know that through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, my distress will turn out for my deliverance. 20I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have complete boldness so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22But if I go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. So what shall I choose? I do not know. 23I am torn between the two. I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better indeed. 24But it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 25Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26so that through my coming to you again your exultation in Christ Jesus will resound on account of me. 27Nevertheless, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending together as one for the faith of the gospel, 28without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a clear sign of their destruction but of your salvation, and it is from God. 29For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him, 30since you are encountering the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.
Verses in Philippians 1
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Chapters of Philippians

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