Dr. Paul’s Contemporary History to the Philippians
Introduction:
Dr. Paul is just finishing his processing in Rome, because of his ‘Appeal to Caesar’, with the Roman officials and been assigned his guards. [AD 60] He, also, seems to have a house, that the Philippians assisted in the finances, but not certain, as his waiting team could have supplied it soon after he checked into the prison officials. He did, though, receive early assistance from the Philippi congregation of Jesus’ Kingdom and writes this short Letter to them, expressing love, thanks and some serious concerns for some of them he knew well. After he had successfully traveled the Mediterranean Sea and stayed in both Crete and Malta for time enough to plant congregations of Jesus’ Kingdom (He left Titus in Crete to mature and develop them completely, as he was a seasoned Prophet, whom Dr. Paul knew would achieve correct results. His work among the Corinthians, earlier, has given testimony to his ability and love of Jesus and His New Covenant.)
Dr. Paul, after leaving Malta (after about three months of evangelizing it.), had landed at Puteoli (Pizzoli today) and stayed for a week (With brethren that were evangelized from Rome, either by early converts from Jerusalem visits or by Dr. Paul’s waiting team in Rome for the past 2+ years or christians that had moved back to Rome after the band was lifted or moved during it.) before starting to Rome on the Appian Way (Rome was about 135 miles north). He had sent word to the brethren in Rome of his arrival, as about 50 missionaries were to join him for the work in Spain, were presently, hopefully, still in Rome. They had been there for roughly two years, awaiting his arrival. (Dr. Paul, from Corinth during his three months there, which Dr Luke mentions, writes an introduction Letter to the Roman congregation, which explains: 1) His explanation of the New Covenant of Jesus and His Kingdom, 2) How to live and be holy, day to day, and 3) His intensions of his future evangelistic work for Jesus and His Cause, which included a stop-off in Rome for a while, on his way to Spain. His last ‘Thought’ in his Letter to them, tells of a number of brethren by name (27), that are in and arriving in Rome as a part of his massive team, that is going on to Spain.)
Dr. Paul began the trek north after a week in Puteoli and traveled for about three days to the ‘Forum’ stop and was met by a group from Rome of his troupe. The next day at the ‘Three Taverns’, another group met him, and they all traveled, then, into Rome, where he signed in for his ‘Appeal to Caesar’. He received funds from either his troupe or the congregation at Philippi (or both) for his housing in Rome, away from the prison, after some time in it, as he evangelized the ‘garrison’ first. Dr. Paul makes mention of their assistance several times and even the person that brought it to him in Rome, Epaphroditus. Thus, Dr. Paul had contacted them upon his arrival to Italy and they, after many months of not being able to help him, sent this help through Epaphroditus. It seems to have arrived after Dr. Paul is already in a house (not sure) but did arrive near the beginning of his two years in Rome, due to the ‘Appeal to Caesar’. This, thus, is very likely his first Roman house arrest Letter that is preserved by the Holy Spirit to be a part of Jesus’ New Covenant.
Note: We have provided the student several indicators for their study. Such as: tenses of the verbs [->, x, <-,>|] are for present, aorist, and imperfect, and perfect Greek tenses. [s] and [p] are for singular and plural; then there are: [md] for middle voice in Greek; too, [pt, ps, m] are for a participle, passive mood, and masculine; and you will notice an outline format in various places to separate the various parts of specific idea in each Thought of the Holy Spirit.
Date: A.D. 61
Text:
(1st) Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus in Philippi, with the overseers and deacons: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. {1:2}
I thank my God every time I think of you, always in every supplication of mine for all of you, making supplication with joy, because of your fellowship in the Good News from the first day until now. I am convinced of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will carry on to completion, until the Day of Christ Jesus. It is right for me to think this about all of you, because I have you in my heart, since all of you are my gracious partners, both in my bonds, and in the defense, and confirmation of the Good News. {1:7}
God is my witness, how I long after all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus; and I am praying this: [1] that your love may overflow yet more and more in complete understanding and all judgment, [2] that you may approve things that are superior, [3] that you may be pure and non-offending until the Day of Christ, being filled with the fruit of righteousness, which through Jesus Christ is to the glory and praise of God. {1:11}
(2nd) I want you to understand, brothers, that the things that have happened to me have resulted rather in the progress of the Good News, such that my bonds in Christ have become known to the whole garrison, as well as, to all the rest; and that most of the brothers in the Lord, having confidence by my bonds, are much bolder to speak the Message fearlessly. {1:14}
Some indeed proclaim Christ through envy and contention, and some through good will; some indeed out of love, knowing I am set unto the defense of the Good News. And some evangelize Christ out of selfishness, not sincerely, expecting to add suffering to my bonds. What difference does it make? Only that in every way, whether with true or false motives, Christ is being evangelized; and I rejoice in this, yes, and more so, I will rejoice. I know that this will lead to my deliverance, through your petition and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my eager expectation and hope. {1:20}
I will not be put to shame in anything, but more so, in all boldness – as it has always been, so it is even now – Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. (For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain!) But, if I live in the flesh, then this is my fruitful work, and I have no perception of what to choose. I face a dilemma, desiring to depart and be with Christ (which is better by far), or to remain in the flesh which is more pressing for your sake. Since I am convinced of this, I know that I will abide and continue with all of you, for the progress and joy of ‘the Faith’, that your confidence in me may abound in Christ Jesus through my presence with you again. {1:26}
Finally, you all must discharge your obligations as citizens worthily of Christ’s Good News, so that, whether I come and see you, or am away from you, I may hear how things are with you: [1] that you must stand firm in one spirit, with one heart, [2] striving side by side for ‘the Faith’ of the Good News; and [3] that you are not being frightened in anything by your opponents, which is to them an indication of your destruction, but to you of God’s salvation. It has been granted to you, for Christ’s sake, not only to trust in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, having the same anguish which you saw in me [in Philippi], and now hear to be in me [in Rome]. {1:30}
(3rd) Therefore, if [there is] any supporting comfort in Christ, if any console from love, if any fellowship of spirit, if any tender affections and sympathies, you must fulfill my joy: [1] that you may be of the same mind, [2] having the same love, [3] being united in spirit, and [4] of one accord. [5] With neither selfishness nor conceit, [6] but more so, humbly consider others to be better than yourselves. [7] Have regard, each of you, not for your own things, but more so, each one for the things of others. {2:4}
It is imperative [must] that you all have this mind in you, that of Christ Jesus! Who, being [->] in the form of God, did not consider to be [->, inf] equal to God something to cling to, but more so, He emptied [x] Himself, taking [x, m] the form of a slave, becoming Himself [x, md, m] in the ‘likeness’ of mankind, and having been found [x, pt, ps, m] ‘in appearance’ as a human being, He humbled [x] Himself, and became [x, md, m] obedient until death, even the death of His cross. Therefore, also, God exalted Him to the loftiest height, and gave Him a Name above every name, so that every knee – of the ones of heaven, and on the Earth, and under the Earth – should bend at Jesus’ Name; and that every tongue itself should [openly] confess [3s,x,j,mid] that Jesus Christ is Lord, to [the] praise of God [the] Father. {2:11}
(4th) So, my beloved, even as you have always obeyed [x], not only as in my presence, but more so, now much more in my absence, [1] you must work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. It is God, Who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. {2:13}
[2] You all must do all things without grumblings and arguments, that you may be faultless and sincere, God’s blameless children, in the midst of a crooked and distorted generation, among whom you are shining as lights in the world. [3] Hold firmly to the Message of life, that I might rejoice in the Day of Christ, that I neither ran nor labored in vain. Yes, but more so, if I am poured out on the sacrifice and service of ‘the Faith’ of you all, I am glad, and I rejoice with all of you. In the same way, you are glad, and rejoice with me. {2:18}
(5th)I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that, when I understand how things are going with you, I might be encouraged. I have no one of like disposition, who will sincerely care about your welfare, for they all seek their own things, not the things of Jesus Christ. You understand his character, that as a child to a father, he has served with me in the Good News. I hope therefore to send him, right after I see how things go with me, and I have confidence in the Lord that I myself will come soon. {2:24}
Too, I thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and servant of my need, since he was longing for all of you, and he was distressed because you had heard he had been sick. Indeed, he was sick, and near death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him, but also on me, so that I might not have sorrow upon sorrow. Therefore, I have more eagerly sent him, in order that, when you see him again, you must rejoice, and I will be without sorrow. So, you must receive him in the Lord with all joy and hold such people in honor. He was near death for Christ’s work, risking his life, that he might make up your lack of service to me. {2:30}
(6th) Finally, my brothers, you all must rejoice in the Lord. It is not troublesome for me to write the same things to you, but it is safe for you. [1] You must watch out for the dogs; [2] must watch out for the evildoers; [3] must watch out for the mutilation; Because we are ‘the circumcision’: who serve by the Spirit of God, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in flesh. Although, even I could have confidence in flesh. If any other person has confidence in flesh, I yet more: [1] circumcised on the eighth day, [2] of the nation of Israel, [3] of the tribe of Benjamin, [4] a Hebrew of Hebrews; [5] according to the Law, a Pharisee; [6] according to zeal, persecuting the called-out people; [7] according to the righteousness in the Law, found faultless. But more so, the things which were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ’s sake. More than that, I count all things to be a loss because of the excellency of the understanding of Christ Jesus my Lord. I have lost all things for Him, and count them as dung, that I might gain Christ, and be found in Him. I do not hold to my own righteousness, which is out of the Law, but more so, [1] to that which is by ‘the Faith’ of Christ, [2] the righteousness which is from God by ‘the Faith’; that I might understand [a] Him, and [b] the power of His resurrection, and [c] the fellowship of the passions of Him, [d] being conformed to His death, if by any means I might attain to the resurrection of the dead.
It is not that [1] I have already attained, or that [2] I have already been made complete, but I press on, if I might lay hold of that for which I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brothers, I do not consider myself to have laid hold, but I do one thing: forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are ahead, I press toward the goal, toward the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore, we must, as many as are full grown, think this way! But, if you think otherwise, God will reveal this to you. However, we must hold on to what we have attained. {3:16}
Imitate me, brothers! And you ought to observe those who walk in this manner, even as you have us for an example, for many walk – of whom I told you often, and now tell you weeping – as the enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is the stomach, their mind is earthly, and shame is their glory. Our citizenship is in heaven, from where we eagerly await [->] a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, Who will transform [at that moment] our lowly body to be like His glorious body, according to the power which enables Him to subject all things to Himself. {3:21}
(7th) Therefore, brothers, my beloved and yearned for, my joy and crown, thus you must stand fast in the Lord, beloved! I beg Euodia and I beg Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. Yes, also I ask you, loyal yokefellow, you must help those who have striven beside me in the Good News, and with Clement and the rest of my fellow-workers, whose names are in the Book of Life. Always rejoice in the Lord. Again, I will say, rejoice! You all must let your graciousness be known to all men. The Lord is near. You must not have anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, you must let your requests be understood with God; and God’s peace, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. {4:7}
Finally, brothers, as many things as are true, as many things as are honorable, as many things as are right, as many things as are pure, as many things as are lovely, and as many things as are of good report, if [there is] any excellence, and if [there is] anything praiseworthy, you all must think on these things. The things you have learned, and have received, and have heard, and have seen in me, these things, it is imperative that you continue to practice, and the God of peace will be with you. {4:9}
(8th) I have rejoiced greatly in the Lord, that now at last you have revived your concern for me, for though you indeed were concerned, you had no opportunity. I am not speaking because of need, for I have learned to be content, regardless of my circumstances. I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. In any and all circumstances, I have learned the secret of being well-fed and going hungry, both to abound and to be needy: I have strength for every situation through the One who gives me power. However, you did well to share with me in my trouble.
And also, Philippians, you know that in the beginning of the Good News, when I went out from Macedonia [AD48ish], no congregation had partnership with me in the matter of giving and receiving, but you alone; even in Thessalonica you sent more than once to my need. It is not that I seek the gift, but more so, I seek the fruit which increases to your account. I have all things, and I abound. I am filled, having received from Epaphroditus the things from you, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God. My God will fill your every need, according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Now praise be to our God and Father forever and ever, amen. {4:20}
You ought to greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers with me send greetings to you. All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household. The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.