Philippians 1:1-11

Paul’s message to the Philippians was to live a life of thankfulness and Prayer. 

Joy in our salvation gives us the needed confidence to face a world hell bent on destruction. As we are on this road to knowing Jesus as our Savior I pray that we all grow in the fruit of the Spirit…and the greatest of them all is LOVE! It was His great agape love for His creation that allowed our heavenly Father to take on the form of a human man. It was this love that allowed Him to suffer, die and rise again that we could be freed from the original sin and death that permeates this world. It is this love that saved a sinner like me!

Timothy  was Paul’s frequent companion during his missionary journeys. Timothy was a half-Jewish believe  and he worked closely with him in ministry As a result, Timothy became like a son to Paul.

The Philippians provided financial support that helped Paul spread the gospel message. Their partnership in his ministry is the reason he prays with joy. Paul is certain that the Philippians will progress in faith because God is committed to transforming them.

As Paul explains later, love (agapē) involves putting others before oneself. The knowledge that Paul has in mind is not just intellectual but experiential, acquired through acts of love. Faithlife Bible.

Paul combines the word grace with a Greek translation of the Hebrew greeting shalom, or peace.  

The phrase fruits of righteousness is best understood either as “fruit that results from being justified” or “fruit characterized by morally correct conduct.” Righteousness describes the source or the nature of the fruit, the behavior.

In the first few verses, Paul reveals his great love for the Philippians. He thinks of them often, he is concerned about them, and he regularly prays for them. These verses not only reveal Paul’s relation to the Philippians but also his view of God. The Lord does not merely start a wonderful work in us; He finishes what He starts. This is a comfort for those Christians who are in times of distress or suffering. God will continue His work in us. Paul revealed that he had the “heart” of Jesus Christ. His feelings for the Philippians were like those of Jesus Christ, who loved them and died for them.

Discernment, found only in the New Testament, the Greek word means moral or ethical understanding based on both the intellect and the senses. The word implies perception or insight into social situations. The purpose of increasing in love, controlled by knowledge, is to be able to evaluate people and situations correctly. NKJ Bible.

Philippians 1:1–11 (NKJV)

1 Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ,

To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

² Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

³ 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, 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; ⁷ 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.

⁹ 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.