Daily Thoughts from Philippians (1): Grace and Peace to Us – Philippians 1:1,2

I have been a part of my local church since 1969 and seen it go through many phases of growth, decline, relocation, building, conflict and renewal.  There have been times then when I have been discouraged with how we were representing the Lord Jesus Christ and times when I was greatly encouraged.  We’ve never been a perfect “body” of Jesus Christ our Head.  We’ve seen a lot of sinfulness threaten to discredit our Christian commitment.  I believe it has always been so, from the very beginning of the church until now.  Paul’s letters to the churches are always dealing with some problem or conflict.  The letter to the Philippians is no different.

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:  Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:1-2, ESV)

We read in Acts 16:1-3 that Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra on his second missionary journey, two places he had visited on his first journey and seen churches born.  In Lystra a disciple named Timothy was recommended to Paul.  His mother was Jewish and a believer but his father was a Greek, and, judging from Paul’s remarks in 2 Timothy 1:5, his father was not a believer. The believers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of Timothy so we may suppose that he ministered to the church both in his hometown of Lystra and in Iconium.  Paul recruited him for his team and circumcised him because he was considered Jewish and because Jews are supposed to be circumcised, and because he would be ministering to Jews every place he went and did not want unnecessary controversy surrounding Timothy.

We read in Acts 16:6-10,

Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia.  When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.  So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas.  During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”  After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

Macedonia, now modern day Greece, was across the Aegean Sea from Asia (modern day Turkey).  This is where Philippi was and it was the first city of note that they visited when they arrived.  They found a very small Jewish population in this Roman colony named for Philip of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great.  The Jewish population was so small there weren’t enough men to form a synagogue.  But those who were there met by the river for Sabbath and there were some strong and influential women present, one of whom was Lydia, a seller of purple, who became the first convert in that city and a supporter of the team (Acts 16:15).

Paul and Silas, another traveling companion, were arrested in Philippi and beaten, but miraculously released from prison by an earth tremor.  Timothy and Luke, though part of the team, were not arrested.  However, the whole team was obliged to leave the city because of the pressure it was putting on the newly formed church for them to be there.

The church at Philippi became one of Paul’s staunchest supporters, sending him money to live on even immediately after they left.  Timothy, more than likely, was sent by Paul at times to check up on things there and to help them with teaching and encouragement.

And now, some years later, having been arrested and in custody in Rome, awaiting trial in Caesar’s court, Paul was writing the church to deal with an issue that had risen in the church at Philippi regarding the sending of an offering via one of its leaders, Epaphroditus.  He addresses all the believers (saints, holy ones, those set apart as belonging to God) and their leaders, the overseers and deacons.  This is the only letter in which Paul mentions the leadership of the church in these terms.  Overseers is another name for elders or pastors in the New Testament.  There was always a team of them in a local church.  Deacons served at the will of the elders/overseers/pastors to accomplish whatever ministry was needed.  [See article on New Testament Local Church Government]

Paul identifies himself and Timothy as servants of Christ Jesus rather than using his title of apostle, not stressing his authority over this church but his humility.  He delivers a greeting of grace and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, clearly showing that he saw the Father and the Son as being on the same level, and himself as a spokesman for them.

Everything in Paul’s letters contributes to his overall message and this is clearly the case in Philippians.  He is emphasizing his servile status for a reason.  He is mentioning the leadership for a reason.  We will see that the issue he is responding to in this church is their disunity over how to support Paul, and that the corrective to disunity is humility in the leaders and the rest of the body, the leaders setting the example and urging the congregation to humility and unity.  Everything he writes is designed to hammer home this point, as we will see.

It is strangely encouraging that the first century churches were having problems that spurred entire letters from the apostle to try to correct them.  It is discouraging that the church does not more faithfully reflect the character of our Savior.  Lord Jesus, help us!

Discussion Questions for Small Groups

1. If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you visit?
2. How did God direct where Paul and his team would visit?
3. Have you experienced this kind of direction before (when and how)?
4. Are you generally encouraged or discouraged about the state of your local church right now?
5. What changes in your local church would bring you much encouragement?
6. What would be required of you to see those changes take place?