ACC ~ Philippians 1 v3 - 11

OVERVIEW:

Paul points to the great responsibility of these church leaders, calling them to modesty (CHRYSOSTOM) and to complete dependence upon God (AUGUSTINE). He praises their faith (THEODORET) and declares his high opinion of them and affection for them (AMBROSIASTER). Grace shows forth through suffering. As he reminds them of Christian essentials, he calls them to the special blessings of Christian purity (CHRYSOSTOM, THEODORET).

1:3 | Thanking God in All Remembrance of Them

GIVING THANKS THAT THE CLERGY HAVE REMAINED UNCORRUPTED. THEODORET: Paul praises God every time he remembers the clergy of Philippi, who received the proclamation of the gospel cordially and have remained uncorrupted up to the present. EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS 1.3-5.

1:4 | Making His Prayer with Joy

ALWAYS IN EVERY PRAYER. CHRYSOSTOM: I both glorify God and offer prayers for you. The fact that you are already advancing in excellence does not prevent my praying further for you. HOMILY ON PHILIPPIANS 2.1.4.

1:5 | Partnership in the Gospel

MY COMPANIONS IN PREACHING. CHRYSOSTOM: Here he gives them a great testimonial, a truly great one and such as one might give to apostles and evangelists. “The fact that you have been put in charge of one city,” he says, “does not mean that you care for that one alone, but you do everything so as to become partakers of my labors wherever I am. It is as though you are with me everywhere as my coworkers and companions in preaching. Not once, twice or three times but on all occasions, from the time when you believed until now, you have shown the zeal of apostles.” … For the care of the saints is no small thing. It is indeed a great one, for it makes you partakers of the blessings laid up for them. HOMILY ON PHILIPPIANS 2.1.5.

1:6 | Bringing to Completion a Good Work

GOD WHO BEGINS A GOOD WORK IN US WILL COMPLETE IT. CHRYSOSTOM: See how he teaches them to be modest. Having just given them a superb testimonial, in order that they should not feel down and out as human beings are so apt to feel, he immediately teaches them to refer both the past and the future—everything—to Christ, who will bring to completion what he has begun in them. He does not take away anything from their achievement, for he has said, “I rejoice because of your fellowship,” obviously pointing to their own very high level of accountability. But he does not imply that the achievement was theirs alone. Rather it was primarily God’s work in them. HOMILY ON PHILIPPIANS 2.1.6.

THROUGH THE COOPERATION OF GRACE AND WILL. AUGUSTINE: God can work in our acts without our help. But when we will the deed, he cooperates with us. ON GRACE AND FREE WILL 32.

1:7a | Holding Them in His Heart

THE GROUNDS OF PAUL’S CONFIDENCE. AMBROSIASTER: Paul had always found the Philippians to be immovable in their devotion to God. He knew how straight and unwearied their course was. He knew they were worthy to share in his own joy. People who share the same faith have good reason to rejoice together in the hope of future immortality and glory. EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS 1.7.

1:7b | Partakers of Grace

IN PRISON PAUL REMEMBERS. CHRYSOSTOM: His longing for them is a great longing indeed. For he “has them in his heart.” Within the very walls of his prison cell he affectionately remembers the Philippians. This is no small form of praise. The love of this saint springs not from personal preferences but from good judgment and upright thinking. … It is wonderful that he has them in his heart in his imprisonment. Even “in my defense” before the judgment seat, he says, you did not slip from my memory. HOMILY ON PHILIPPIANS 2.1.7.

PARTNERS IN GRACE AMID AFFLICTION. THEODORET: His praise for them is strong. He calls them “partners in grace.” But by grace he is referring to his sufferings, as is made clear in what he goes on to teach, that “it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake.” PISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS 1.7.

1:7c | Imprisonment and the Confirmation of the Gospel

HOW HIS CHAINS CONFIRM HIS TESTIMONY. CHRYSOSTOM: His chains are without doubt a “confirmation of the gospel.” How? Because if he had refused the bonds, he would have been seen as a deceiver. But the one who endures everything, including persecution and imprisonment, shows that he does not suffer them for any human reason but on account of God, who rights the balance. … See how absolutely he turns everything on its head. For what others might view as a weakness or reproach, this he calls confirmation. HOMILY ON PHILIPPIANS 2.1.7.

1:8a | God Witnesses to Paul’s Yearning

WHY HE CALLS GOD TO WITNESS. AMBROSIASTER: He calls God to witness that his deep affection for them may be understood. One who feels so deeply about something is ready to call God as his witness to underscore his feeling. Through this he inspires a corresponding love in them for himself. For it is in being loved that we feel love. He therefore loves all these partners not with a human desire but in the love of Christ, not merely with emotional affection but with spiritual affection. They share with him in the knowledge of the mystery of God and the incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ. EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS 1.8.

1:8b | With the Affection of Christ Jesus

THE DEPTH OF HIS AFFECTION. CHRYSOSTOM: Since he had said that they had fellowship with him, in order that they would not suppose that he longed for them for this reason and not simply for their own sake, he therefore “in the bowels of Christ.” What does this mean? It means “in accord with the deep affection we have for Christ, because you are faithful, because you love Christ, because your love stands in accord with Christ.” But he does not say “love” but uses the warmer term bowels, as if he had “become as a father to you through kinship with Christ.” … “I cannot,” he says in effect, “express in words the greatness of my longing. It is not even possible to articulate. Therefore I leave it to God to know, who dwells in the heart.” But suppose he had just been flattering them—would he then have called God to witness? That would not have been safe. HOMILY ON PHILIPPIANS 3.1.8-11.

1:9a | That Love May Abound

ABOUNDING IN LOVE UNCEASING. CHRYSOSTOM: There is no end to such love. Anyone who is loved so deeply, loved in this way, wishes to be loved all the more. There is no measure to love. One who loves and is loved in return does not wish that love to stop but to increase. HOMILY ON PHILIPPIANS 3.1.8-11.

1:9b | With Knowledge and Discernment

DISCERNING WHAT IS USEFUL. AMBROSIASTER: He wishes, with God’s assistance, to pour into them pure Christian doctrine, that their faith will be firm and that they will see clearly all the vast implications of their faith. He wants them to be able to distinguish what is useful from what is useless. He prays that they may adorn the teaching of the Lord with works of righteousness, producing the fruit of immortality to bring about an abundance of good things. This will be the glory of the apostle to the Gentiles. EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS 1.11.

1:10 | Approving What Is Excellent, Being Pure and Blameless

APPROVE WHAT IS EXCELLENT. CHRYSOSTOM: He prays that they will not receive any corrupted doctrine under the pretense of love. HOMILY ON PHILIPPIANS 3.1.8-11.

1:11a | Filled with the Fruits of Righteousness

FILLED WITH FRUITS. CHRYSOSTOM: Along with good teaching he prays that they might have an upright life, and not simply upright but truly filled with the fruits of righteousness. He is not speaking here of a kind of uprightness or virtue that tries despairingly to grow without Christ. HOMILY ON PHILIPPIANS 3.1.8-11.

1:11b | The Glory and Praise of God

GOD GLORIFIED BY THE FRUITS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. THEODORET: Enjoy these gifts! Keep your faith uncontaminated! Present the fruit of righteousness to God, so that God will be celebrated by all. EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS 1.11.