We have begun a study of Philippians. Last week we dealt with the history of this church as recorded in Acts 16. God has sovereignly chosen to give us a lot of information about the founding of the church at Philippi. All of that is helpful in our interpretation of this letter. In that message we expounded the first two verses in the epistle.
Today we will deal with verses 3-11. Follow with me as we read Phil. 1:1-11 from the New International Version.
“Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons: 2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, 5 for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace. 8 For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ. And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, 10 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, 11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”i
In the Greek verses 3-8 are one long sentence.ii The kai (and) at the beginning of verse 9 connects the rest of the passage with that sentence. So, we know that everything here is closely connected. However, for study purposes we will examine this prayer in four sections:
I. Thanksgiving is prominent in vs 3-5.
II. Confidence is prominent in verse 6.
III. Paul’s Passion is addressed in vs 7-8.
IV. Paul’s Purpose is evident in vs 9-11. There Paul makes very specific requests in behalf of the believers in Philippi.
I. Paul Prays with THANKSGIVING (vs 3-5).
”I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, 5 for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now.”
He not only models the importance of thanksgiving in this passage, but in 4:6 he specifically tells Christians to mix their requests with thanksgiving. Prayer can become very heavy if we don’t do that. We are to make our requests known to God—not because God needs the information, but when the prayer is answered we can look back, remember asking, and know it is not just a coincidence. It is a result of God’s goodness and intervention. It becomes another reason for giving thanks. “It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord” (Ps 92:1, NKJV).
Thanksgiving helps us keep the right perspective. Thanksgiving builds our faith, so that we pray effectively. Throughout Scripture, especially in the Psalms, we are told to give thanks to the Lord. And in 4:6 Paul gives this directive: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” The antidote to worry and anxiety is taking the matter to the Lord in prayer, “with thanksgiving.” This is one of the many secrets to joyful living embedded in this letter.
Notice in 1:4 Paul says his prayer for these people is “with joy.” He knows they have some problems. He is concerned about those issues. But he does not allow that to rob him of his joy. We’ll see some of the reason for that in verse 6. Paul sees the good in these people. He sees their ultimate destiny. He sees what they are becoming in Christ. He is aware of their weakness, but he does not allow those to define them. Instead it stirs him to pray in their behalf. This is the right attitude of heart when we are interceding for others. Paul writes in verse 7, “just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart.” Paul has no condemnation in his heart for these people. His heart is filled with love for them, and he is praying for their highest good.
The way we think about people affects our prayers for them. Paul is modeling the right way to think about those we’re praying for. We are not called to curse, but to bless. We are not commissioned to call down fire on those who oppose us, but to pray for their salvation. Jesus instructed us on this when James and John wanted to call down fire on the Samaritans. His response to that is recorded in Luke 9:55-56: “But He turned and rebuked them, and said, ‘You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. 56 For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them” (NKJV).iii
Paul’s thanksgiving is specifically for their “fellowship in the gospel.” The word translated fellowship is a word many of you are familiar with: koinonia. He is referring to their partnership or participation in the propagation of the gospel. He probably has in mind the financial gift they recently sent him (4:10-18). But it is not limited to that. They had committed themselves to the Lord and to Paul’s ministry (2 Cor. 8:5). They were doing all they could to advance the gospel in Philippi and beyond. This partnership around the gospel bonded them with Paul.iv
“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, 5 for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now.” Their support and participation had begun immediately back in Acts 16. It had continued consistently and reliably. Every time they helped Paul it strengthened the bond. Every time Paul helped them it strengthened the bond. And each knowing the other was pursuing the same common goal reinforced the relationship.
II. Paul Prays with CONFIDENCE (vs 6).
“being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
Paul is relying on God’s faithfulness to bring these people into their eternal destiny. He will clarify this further in Phil. 2:12-13: “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (NKJV). We are responsible to pursue the will of God in our lives. But the success of that ultimately depends on the work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. On our own we can do nothing to bring about those changes (John 15:5). But I’ve got good news for you this morning. You’re not on your own. God is working in you and for you. He is “able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us” (Eph. 3:20, NKJV). This is another secret to joyful living: placing your confidence, not in your own ability (Phil. 3:9), but in God’s ability to complete his work in you.
The “good work” here is our sanctification and the fruit that bears in our lives.v When we get too focused on our own performance we can get discouraged. I am not everything God wants me to be. I am work-in-process. But, praise God, I am not everything I’m going to be either. 1 John 3:2: “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (NKJV)vi That ought to make somebody happy!
So when we intercede for others, may with do that with a confidence in the Lord’s ability to work in them and for them: “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;”
III. Paul Prays with PASSION (vs 7-8).
”just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace. 8 For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.”vii
Paul again addresses the common bond they have in the gospel: “inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace.” They are not only sharing financially with Paul. They are not only sharing in the proclamation of the gospel. But they are also sharing in the sufferings of Christ. Paul is there in chains at Rome suffering for his testimony of Jesus. These people are also suffering persecution in Philippi for their loyalty to the Lord. I will not go back over the ground we covered last week on this. But I will remind you that the city of Philippi as a Roman colony was committed to Nero as lord and savior. That clashed with the Christian proclamation of Jesus as Lord and Savior. The result was persecution.
Knowing what they were going through for the same reason he was in chains, intensified Paul’s love and concern for them.
You know in your own experience, when you go through suffering with someone it deepens the bond you have with one another. Soldiers who endure war together become deeply attached to one another. I have always loved my mother. Her commitment to her children was unreserved. But when I stood at her bed in the latter months of her life, watching her suffer, praying for her healing, holding her hand—the connection was stronger than ever.
Paul is not praying a nice, proper prayer for these people. He is praying from the bottom of his heart. He is praying with passion.
And he is praying for ALL of them. Notice how many times he intentionally says that in this passage: In verse 1 he addresses the letter “To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi.” Verse 4: “always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy.” Verse 7: ”just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart.” Again in verse 7: “you all are partakers with me of grace.” Verse 8: “For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.” That emphasis is intentional on Paul’s part.
There is division brewing in this church. Paul addresses it directly in 4:2-3 when he tells the two women to resolve their differences. He addresses it indirectly Chapter 2 where he tells them to not operate out of selfish ambition, then presents Christ as a example for them to follow. Even in 1:9 he is praying that their love would abound.
By being inclusive of both factions, Paul positions himself to be part of the solution. As a leader he rises above their dispute and does not take a side. He cares about all of them. He can mediate in behalf of all. When we take a side, we disqualify ourselves from that role. We can even become part of the problem. Paul peacemaking ability is all through this epistle. If you want to live a joyful life, don’t get pulled into unnecessary quarrels.
IV. Paul prays with PURPOSE (vs 9-11).
What he prays for is particularly instructive. For that reason we will dig a little deeper here. Follow as we read verses 9-11: “And this I pray, [so we are about to learn the specifics of Paul’s intercession for these believers] that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, 10 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, 11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”
Paul prays that their “love may abound still more and more.” He prayed a similar prayer for the Thessalonian Christians. There he prayed, “And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you” (1 Thess. 3:12, NKJV).
He is not saying love is absent in the Christians at Philippi. But love is what they need more than anything else. There is a developing threat of division and strife in the congregation. The answer to that threat is more love—love in such abundance that it overflows. Paul prays that it would “abound” more and more. The Greek word translated “abound” “is a metaphor taken from the bubbling up and flowing over of a spring of water.”viii Paul is praying that God’s love in their hearts will bubble up and overflow onto the lives of one another. That will quench the diabolical fires of contention.
But notice in verse 9, Paul adds this descriptive qualifier: “in knowledge and all discernment.” The love Paul is talking about is well-informed in the ways of God. It is able to distinguish the will of God in each situation. The affection is applied with wisdom. The word translated knowledge (epignosis) is “knowing that comes through experience or relationship.”ix It’s not just having a lot of facts stored in the brain. It is truth worked out experientially. The word translated discernment (aisthesis) is “something close to ‘moral insight . . . and is a near
synonym for ‘wisdom’ (sophia)” according to Gordon Fee.x The word occurs in the plural in Hebrews 5:14 where it is translated “senses” in the NKJV: “But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”
To put this in very simple terms, biblical love is not stupid. It is not naïve or gullible. It is informed by Scripture and discerns the difference between good and evil. It knows the difference between a ripe apple and a rotten apple. The word love may be the most abused word in the English language. People use it to express a liking for nice furniture or ice cream. It is often equated with tolerance. That kind of “sloppy agape” approves of anything no matter how contrary it is to God’s commandments or God’s will. That’s not the kind of love Paul is talking about here. He is praying that they will have love accompanied with good judgment, informed by the will of God. So, the request Paul is making is that their “love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment.”
When that happens, they will be capable of making wise choices: “that you may approve the things that are excellent.” The word translated approved is dokimazo. It indicates the “kind of trial to which metals are subjected when their nature and genuineness are tested.”xi Peter used the word when referring to the genuineness of Christian’s faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire.xii Paul used the same term when he said in 1 Thess. 5:21, “Prove [test] all things; hold fast that which is good” (KJV). The thing is only approved after appropriate examination. Then that which is excellent or best is chosen. When faced with the choice of acting pridefully or humbly during a conflict, they would choose humility. When offered a lie that sounds good on the surface, they would test it and reject it because it does not pass the examination.
The love Paul is talking about does not just produce sentimental feelings. It empowers discernment and wise choices.xiii “And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, 10 that you may approve the things that are excellent.”
The result of that follows: “that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ.” “Sincere” has to do with the motives and condition of the heart. “Without offense” has to do with the external behavior. Arthur Pink writes, “Sincerity is the opposite of counterfeit and dishonesty, of pretense and imposture. To be sincere is to be genuine, to be in reality what we are in appearance. . . .”xiv
To be “without offense” is to live in a way that does not offend God and is not a stumbling block to other people.xv At his trial before Felix, Paul said, “I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men” (Acts 24:16, NKJV). “This word ‘offense’ according to Gutzke, “means ‘a cause for stumbling.’ To say that a believer is ‘without offense’ is to say that he is not stumbling nor causing anyone else to stumble.”xvi Particularly relevant to the situation in Philippi is that they would be without offense toward one another—that they would not pridefully violate one another—that, instead of acting out of selfish ambition, they would esteem others better than themselves—that, instead of striving with each other, they would encourage and support one another in love.
Paul reminds them of the coming of the Lord and the Judgement Seat of Christ: “that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ.” In other words when you stand before the Lord and give an account of your life, you want it to be a good day. You want to stand before the Lord as his sincere servant “without offense.” The way to do that is to get full of God’s love and wisdom.
Paul wants the believers to stand before the Lord on that day, “filled with the fruits of righteousness.” The fact that he uses the word “fruit” means that he is referring to the practical righteousness produced by the new nature. He is not directly referring to the gift of imputed righteousness that every believer has. We do not have to petition God for that in believers. They already have it. He is talking about fruit. He is talking about appearing before the Lord having lived righteously. Of course, that is only possible by divine enablement. That why Paul adds the phrase in 1:11, “which are by Jesus Christ.” He is the source of that righteousness. God has provided his part (2 Pet. 1:3). But the exhortation Paul will give in the next chapter is for the Christian to appropriate that. “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (2:12-13).
The ultimate goal behind Paul’s prayer is that God would be glorified and praised. Our justification, our sanctification, our glorification in heaven is supremely important for us. Nothing matters more than where you will spend eternity. Nothing matters more than standing before the Lord on that great resurrection day “without offense. . . being filled with the fruits of righteousness.” But that fits into the larger objective: the glory of God. Paul is praying that God will be glorified in these people’s lives. It is God who initiated our redemption. He bought it. He works the changes in us and completes his good work in us. Therefore, Paul concludes with this final note: “to the glory and praise of God.”
We have picked our way through verses 9-11 in detail, enlarging our understanding of each phrase. That is the right thing to do because this content is important to understand. Now let’s read it again with the purpose of connecting the dots—grasping the overall essence of what is said. Phil. 1:9-11: “And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, 10 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, 11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”
Before closing I want to make one significant observation about the nature of Paul’s prayers. When Paul prays for Christians, what is paramount in his requests? Is it increased finances or a better job? Is it better health? Is it political success? He prays for some of those things. But they are all secondary to this one thing: their spiritual development. When we study Paul’s prayers, we find a focus on people’s spiritual wellbeing. Contrast that to most of the prayers we pray. Yes, it is right to pray about Grandma’s bunion. It is appropriate to pray Sister Sue will get over her cold. It is right to ask God to give your friend a better job. God hears all those prayers. But how often do we pray the kind of prayer we have here in our text? How often do we pray that their “love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment”? Certainly, pastors should be praying that over their congregations. Spouses and parents should be praying like this for their loved ones. I want to encourage you to use this model prayer in Philippians 1 as a template to pray over some people this week. One way we can bring substance to our prayer lives is to pray Scripture. This is a great passage to use in that way.
In fact, I will use verses 9-11 to pray for you as we close.
> Father, I thank you for these wonderful people who desire to know your word.
> May their love “abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment.”
> May they approve things that are excellent. May they make wise choices in their lives. May they pursue those things that are really important. May they set their affection on things above.
> May they “be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ.” Protect them from the temptation of hypocrisy. Create in each of us a pure heart with pure motives.
> May they stand before you on that great day of your coming “filled with the fruits of righteousness.” Help them to work out their salvation even as you’re graciously working in their hearts and xviilives.
> May their lives result in your glory and praise forever and ever. Amen.
ENDNOTES:
i All Scripture quotes, unless indicated otherwise, are from the New International Version (2011).
ii Gordon D. Fee, Paul’s Letter to the Philippians, The New International Commentary on the New Testament, Stone, Bruce, Fee, and Green, gen. eds. (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1995) 75.
iii The NIV leaves out the statement in verse 56 since the manuscript support for it is weak. The principle stated in verse 56 is supported by Matt. 5:44; John 8:11; 2 Pet. 3:9. For an analysis of this textual issue see: I. Howard Marshall, The Gospel of Luke: A Commentary on the Greek Text (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1978) 407-408.
iv Fee, Paul’s Letter to the Philippians, 81-85.
v Verses 9-11 give “some specifics regarding the ‘good work’ begun in them..” Fee, Paul’s Letter to the Philippians, 96.
vi See Richard W. Tow, Authentic Christianity: Studies in 1 John (Bloomington, IN: WestBow Press, 2019) 156-167.
vii The word translated “think” in verse 7 was translated “feel” in the 1984 NIV version. The Greek word phroneo “has to do with having or developing a certain ‘mindset,’ including attitudes and dispositions.” Fee, Paul’s Letter to the Philippians, 89. This epistle has much instruction about our mindset e. g., Phil. 2:5; 3:15; 4:8. And mindset has a lot to do with living joyfully.
viii Goodwin as quoted by Arthur Pink, Gleanings from Paul: Studies in the Prayers of the Apostle (Chicago: Moody Press, 1974) 202. See also F. B. Meyer, Devotional Commentary on Philippians (Grand Rapids: Kregel, 1984) 29.
ix Fee, Paul’s Letter to the Philippians, 100.
x Fee, Paul’s Letter to the Philippians, 100. See Col. 1:9.
xi Pink, Gleanings from Paul, 206. See 1 Peter 1:7.
xii 1 Peter 1:7, NKJV.
xiii See Romans 12:2 where the word dokimazo is associated with the renewing of the mind—thinking right and placing the right value on things (Col. 3:1).
xiv Pink, Gleanings from Paul, 210. Pink writes, “The ancient Romans had a very delicate and valuable porcelain, exceedingly fragile, and only with much trouble could it be fired without being cracked. Dishonest dealers were in the habit of filling in the cracks that appeared with a special white wax, but when their ware was held up to the light the wax was evident, being darker in color than the porcelain. Thus it came about that honest dealers marked their ware sine cera, ‘without wax,’ having sun-tested it” (p. 211). See Heb. 10:22 and 2 Pet. 3:1. In Phil. 1:8 Paul attests to his own sincerity toward the Philippians with a mild oath” “For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.”
xv Tow, Authentic Christianity, 218-232.
xvi Manford George Gutzke, Plain Talk on Philippians (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1973) 26. See also Fee, Paul’s Letter to the Philippians, 102.
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