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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadPaul Kretzmann Commentary - Philippians 1:1 - 1:2
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
The Address and Salutation.
v. 1. Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:
v. 2. Grace be unto you and peace from God, our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul calls himself a servant and names Timothy as a fellow-servant, the word which he uses retaining, to some degree, the meaning of bond-servant. He considers himself and his young helper as the property of the heavenly Master, whose one aim must be to carry out the Lord's will and work. The term "servant" thus expresses Paul's intense fervor and devotion in his calling. He names Timothy together with himself, not as apostle, but as servant, for Timothy had been his assistant when he first worked in Philippi; the young preacher was thus a well-known figure at Philippi, Act_16:1-12. The Christians of the city owed much to him, and he was about to visit them again. Timothy had his teacher's, his spiritual father's, mind and character, and his memory was a pleasant one among the Philippians, who had learned to love him. To all the saints in Christ Jesus that were in Philippi Paul addressed his letter. He used the word which denotes their separation from the world and their consecration to God. The Christians belong to God, are saints, made saints in Christ Jesus, inasmuch as they are sanctified in Christ and are in holy communion with Christ. Through Christ they are united with God, in life and covenant.
The letter was addressed to the congregation at Philippi. All the Philippian Christians were, in the eyes of Paul, saints. He disregards the fact that there are also hypocrites in the external assembly. For the sake of charity he considers them all Christians, or saints. He also mentions expressly the bishops and deacons of the congregation, not as a hierarchy separate from the congregation, but as a part of the congregation. As early as the middle of the first century, therefore, the Christians recognized special ministers of the Word. The bishops were those members of the presbytery that were engaged in the ministry of the Word, in the capacity of preachers. The deacons were also members of the presbytery of the congregation, but were more properly engaged in the external business of the congregation, in the care of the poor, etc. The congregation at Philippi had good bishops and deacons, whom Paul mentions with loving respect.
His salutation is that of most of his letters: Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. The Christians have received, and Paul wishes that they may always possess, grace in and through Christ, given by the Father, in the new birth and life, the chief blessing of all times. Father and Son are here coordinated as in many other passages. Christ is the Mediator that gained salvation by His vicarious sacrifice, thus establishing the right relation between God and man, with the gift of grace and peace, Rom_5:1.