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1:1 Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: 1:2 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

1:3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 1:4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, 1:5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: 1:7 Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.

1:8 For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.

1:9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; 1:10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ.

1:11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

1:12 But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; 1:13 So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places; 1:14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

1:15 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: 1:16 The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: 1:17 But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.

1:18 What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.

1:19 For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 1:20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.

1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

1:22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.

1:23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: 1:24 Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.

1:25 And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith; 1:26 That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.

1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; 1:28 And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.

1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; 1:30 Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.



Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to: Philippians
Book: Philippians
Chapter: 1

Overview:
The Apostle offers up thanksgivings and prayers, for the good
work of Grace in the Philippians. (1-7) He expresses Affection,
and prays for them. (8-11) Fortifies them against being cast
down at his sufferings. (12-20) He stood prepared for glorifying
Christ By Life, or Death. (21-26) Exhortations to zeal, and
constancy in professing the Gospel. (27-30)

1-7 The highest honour of the most eminent ministers is, to be
servants of Christ. And those who are not really saints On
Earth, never will be saints in Heaven. Out of Christ, the best
saints are sinners, and unable to stand before God. There is No
peace without Grace. Inward peace springs from a sense of Divine
favour. And there is No Grace and peace but from God our Father,
the Fountain and origin of all blessings. At Philippi the
Apostle was evil entreated, and saw little Fruit of his labour;
yet he remembers Philippi with joy. We must thank our God for
the graces and comforts, Gifts and usefulness of others, as we
receive the benefit, and God receives the Glory. The work of
Grace will never be perfected till the Day of Jesus Christ, the
Day of his appearance. But we may always be confident God will
perform his good work, in every soul wherein he has really begun
it By Regeneration; though we must not trust in outward
appearances, nor in any thing but a new Creation to Holiness.
People are dear to their ministers, when they receive benefit By
their ministry. Fellow-sufferers in the cause of God should be
dear one to another.

8-11 Shall not we pity and Love those souls whom Christ loves
and pities? Those who abound in any Grace, need to abound more.
Try things which differ; that we may approve the things which
are excellent. The truths and laws of Christ are excellent; and
they recommend themselves as such to any attentive mind.
Sincerity is that in which we should have our Conversation in
the world, and it is the Glory of all our graces. Christians
should not be apt to take Offence, and should be very careful
not to offend God or the brethren. The things which most honour
God will most benefit us. Let us not leave it doubtful whether
any good Fruit is found in us or not. A small Measure of
Christian Love, knowledge, and fruitfulness should not satisfy
any.

12-20 The Apostle was a prisoner at Rome; and to take off the
Offence of the Cross, he shows the Wisdom and Goodness of God in
his sufferings. These things made him known, where he would
never have otherwise been known; and led some to inquire after
the Gospel. He suffered from false friends, as Well as from
enemies. How wretched the temper of those who preached Christ
out of envy and contention, and to add affliction to the bonds
that oppressed this best of men! The Apostle was easy in the
midst of all. Since our troubles may tend to the good of many,
we ought to rejoice. Whatever turns to our Salvation, is By the
Spirit of Christ; and Prayer is the appointed means of seeking
for it. Our Earnest expectation and Hope should not be to be
honoured of men, or to escape the Cross, but to be upheld amidst
Temptation, contempt, and affliction. Let us leave it to Christ,
which way he will make us serviceable to his Glory, whether By
labour or suffering, By diligence or patience, By living to his
honour in working for him, or dying to his honour in suffering
for him.

21-26 Death is a great loss to a Carnal, worldly Man, for he
loses all his earthly comforts and all his hopes; but to a true
believer it is gain, for it is the End of all his weakness and
misery. It delivers him from all the evils of Life, and brings
him to possess the chief good. The Apostle's difficulty was not
between living in this world and living in Heaven; between these
two there is No comparison; but between serving Christ in this
world and enjoying him in another. Not between two evil things,
but between two good things; living to Christ and being with
him. See the power of Faith and of Divine Grace; it can make us
willing to die. In this world we are compassed with Sin; but
when with Christ, we shall escape Sin and Temptation, sorrow and
Death, for ever. But those who have most reason to desire to
depart, should be willing to remain in the world as long as God
has any work for them to do. And the more unexpected mercies are
before they come, the more of God will be seen in them.

27-30 Those who profess the Gospel of Christ, should live as
becomes those who believe Gospel truths, submit to Gospel laws,
and depend upon Gospel promises. The original Word
"Conversation" denotes the conduct of citizens who seek the
credit, safety, peace, and prosperity of their City. There is
that in the Faith of the Gospel, which is worth striving for;
there is much opposition, and there is need of striving. A Man
may sleep and go to Hell; but he who would go to Heaven, must
look about him and be diligent. There may be oneness of Heart
and Affection among Christians, where there is diversity of
Judgment about many things. Faith is God's Gift On the behalf of
Christ; the ability and disposition to believe are from God. And
if we suffer reproach and loss for Christ, we are to reckon them
a Gift, and prize them accordingly. Yet Salvation must not be
ascribed to bodily Afflictions, as though Afflictions and
worldly persecutions deserved it; but from God only is
Salvation: Faith and patience are his Gifts.

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