Philippians 1:1, 2 says...
Today's verses are Philippians 1:1, 2, which read,
Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
We start a new book of the Bible today, the epistle of Paul to the Philippians. Much of the information here is from the help of my study Bible introduction to the book. Philippi was the first church in the region of Macedonia where Paul established a church. Most believe Paul wrote this letter from a prison cell in Rome, along with the letters of Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon.
Philippi or the city of Philip, received its name from Philip II of Macedon who was the father of Alexander the Great. It became a Roman colony in the second century B.C. Many Romans lived there as it was a beautiful place that hosted many nearby springs.
Philippi is where Lydia, the wealthy lady dealing in expensive purple dyed goods, was saved and the church met in her home. It is also where a demon-possessed, fortune telling slave girl was released of a demon within her. This action put Paul and Silas in prison and beaten but later released by God by an earthquake as they were spending their time singing praises to the Lord. The result of that was the jailer asking what he must do to be saved and he was along with his household. Paul and Silas were officially released after the leaders found out they had illegally beaten and imprisoned two Roman citizens. They begged Paul and Silas to leave Philippi.
Paul would later visit Philippi on his third missionary journey, coming and going. The Christians of the church in Philippi would send a delegation to Paul when in prison in Rome with encouragement and provisions for him. They had also provided provisions for the needs of the saints in Jerusalem. One of their own was to stay to attend Paul, Epaphroditus, but a near death illness prompted Paul to send him back home with this letter.
Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
We start a new book of the Bible today, the epistle of Paul to the Philippians. Much of the information here is from the help of my study Bible introduction to the book. Philippi was the first church in the region of Macedonia where Paul established a church. Most believe Paul wrote this letter from a prison cell in Rome, along with the letters of Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon.
Philippi or the city of Philip, received its name from Philip II of Macedon who was the father of Alexander the Great. It became a Roman colony in the second century B.C. Many Romans lived there as it was a beautiful place that hosted many nearby springs.
Philippi is where Lydia, the wealthy lady dealing in expensive purple dyed goods, was saved and the church met in her home. It is also where a demon-possessed, fortune telling slave girl was released of a demon within her. This action put Paul and Silas in prison and beaten but later released by God by an earthquake as they were spending their time singing praises to the Lord. The result of that was the jailer asking what he must do to be saved and he was along with his household. Paul and Silas were officially released after the leaders found out they had illegally beaten and imprisoned two Roman citizens. They begged Paul and Silas to leave Philippi.
Paul would later visit Philippi on his third missionary journey, coming and going. The Christians of the church in Philippi would send a delegation to Paul when in prison in Rome with encouragement and provisions for him. They had also provided provisions for the needs of the saints in Jerusalem. One of their own was to stay to attend Paul, Epaphroditus, but a near death illness prompted Paul to send him back home with this letter.
Paul
addresses himself as the author of the letter but also includes Timothy
who seems to be his self appointed successor. He lists them both as "bond-servants of Christ Jesus."
A bond servant is a willing slave who has made the decision to stay
with his or her master after the term of their service has expired
becoming their slaves for life. It could be another way of saying that Paul and Timothy were servants of the Lord for life.
The letter is written to the Christians, saints, who are in the church in Philippi. It includes the leaders or overseers who over see the whole of the church and the deacons, those in charge of specific ministries within the church. This letter is for all the Christians associated in the church in Philippi, from the brand new baby Christian to the ones who are overseeing the whole organization of God's people there.
Paul gives them again the standard greeting to remind them of the grace of God through the cross of Christ. That grace brings peace with God, our Father. "Our" signifies a personal and possessive relationship with Him. The peace is also with the Lord Jesus Christ with His full title given. It is not just Jesus, the physical man, but He who is also deity through the position of Christ, the Messiah. He is also Lord over our lives as our Master. Much is said about Jesus when we address Him this way.
Let's pray that the Holy Spirit will open our eyes, ears and minds to what He wants us to understand and apply from this letter called Philippians.
"Lord, we start out with a new letter today to a new group of people. It is addressed to all in the church so may we see its importance to us wherever we serve in our local church. May we also keep in front of us why we assemble. It is because of Your grace and the peace we have with You, our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen."
Pastor Adam
The letter is written to the Christians, saints, who are in the church in Philippi. It includes the leaders or overseers who over see the whole of the church and the deacons, those in charge of specific ministries within the church. This letter is for all the Christians associated in the church in Philippi, from the brand new baby Christian to the ones who are overseeing the whole organization of God's people there.
Paul gives them again the standard greeting to remind them of the grace of God through the cross of Christ. That grace brings peace with God, our Father. "Our" signifies a personal and possessive relationship with Him. The peace is also with the Lord Jesus Christ with His full title given. It is not just Jesus, the physical man, but He who is also deity through the position of Christ, the Messiah. He is also Lord over our lives as our Master. Much is said about Jesus when we address Him this way.
Let's pray that the Holy Spirit will open our eyes, ears and minds to what He wants us to understand and apply from this letter called Philippians.
"Lord, we start out with a new letter today to a new group of people. It is addressed to all in the church so may we see its importance to us wherever we serve in our local church. May we also keep in front of us why we assemble. It is because of Your grace and the peace we have with You, our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen."
Pastor Adam
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