Christian Unity is Detailed to the Philippians Volume 1

Paul Greets the Brothers and Sisters in Philippi

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

The Apostle Paul now begins his letter to the Church at Philippi which if Paul had favorites (which I’m sure he would deny) this Church that was founded upon his declaration of the Gospel of Christ would be the one. Paul begins his greeting to these believers at Philippi peculiarly different from most all of his other letters by omitting to declare himself the Apostle of Christ, but instead he included Timotheus in his greeting to them and he refers to both he and Timotheus as “the servants of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:1). Perhaps the Apostle Paul wanted to downplay his Apostleship because Brother Timotheus was not an Apostle and the fact that he was so much younger than Paul (1 Timothy 4:12). However, I am inclined to believe that because the Apostle had no contesting or questioning of his Apostleship from this Church, he felt it unnecessary to greet them declaring his authority from Christ Jesus our Lord. The English word servants Paul uses to describe himself and Timotheus is translated by the Greek word doulos which means a slave (literally or figuratively, involuntarily or voluntarily; frequently therefore in a qualified sense of subjection or subservience): - bond (-man), servant. In this case, Paul declares that he and Timotheus are voluntary slaves of Jesus Christ commissioned by our Lord Jesus Christ to declare His Gospel of Grace to the ends of the earth. This is the exact same word used by the Apostle John at the very beginning of the Book of Revelation written by him long after the Apostle Paul had gotten his head chopped off by Nero Emperor of Rome and was in Heaven with our Lord Jesus Christ when he said, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants (doulos) --- things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant (doulos) John, who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw. Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.” (Revelation 1:1-3).

The Apostle Paul directs his letter primarily and first “to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi” (Philippians 1:1). In the heart and mind of the Apostle Paul, the Church was conceived, constructed, and constituted for the saints to be served and not for the leaders of the Church to be served. This English word saint we can recall the Apostle Paul using in earlier letters as well as here and it is translated by the Greek word hagios which means to be holy or morally blameless or ceremonially consecrated or simply set apart. In other words, the saints in Philippi consisted of every man, woman, and child that had accepted or received Jesus Christ by faith and they were the primary focus of Paul’s greeting first and foremost. The Apostle then includes secondly in priority in the community of saints “the bishops and deacons” (Philippians 1:1). This English word Bishops is translated by the Greek word episkopos which means a superintendent, that is, Christian officer in general charge of the Church (literally or figuratively): an overseer. In other words, the Bishops in the early Church were responsible for shepherding the flock of God and keeping spiritual wolves from entering in to lead the saints into spiritual apostasy. It was the Bishops job to teach the Word of God without compromise, cower, or cunning despite their own sin, weakness, and infirmity just as Paul instructed with these words recorded for us by Dr. Luke, “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the Church of God which He purchased with His Own Blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.” (Acts 20:28-31) and also as the Apostle Peter instructed with these words written by him, “The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.” (1 Peter 5:1-4).

The English word deacon Paul uses here is translated by the Greek word diakonos which means to run on errands; an attendant, that is, (generally) a waiter (at table or in other menial duties); specifically, a Christian teacher and pastor (technically a deacon or deaconess): - deacon, minister, servant. In other words, in the early Church the deacon or deaconess were assigned the day to day task of physically managing the affairs of the Church that required attending to such as the waiting on tables during the Lord’s Supper or arranging the seats for the congregation, paying any bills that needed paying, etc. as documented by Dr. Luke with these words, “Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, ‘It is not desirable that we should leave the Word of God and serve tables. Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the Word.’ And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, whom they set before the Apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them. Then the Word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.” (Acts 6:1-7).

The Apostle Paul finishes his greeting to them as he was always accustomed to doing and that was to declare, “Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:2). This is the natural, no the supernatural result of being saved by grace through faith in Christ Jesus our Lord having His grace then peace with God, within ourselves, and with our brothers and sisters “in Christ”, and even with the world of unbelievers as recorded for us by Moses with these words, “And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: ‘Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them: The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.’” (Numbers 6:22-26) and also as the Psalmist writes with these words, “The LORD will give strength unto His people; the LORD will bless His people with peace.” (Psalm 29:11).

“This letter stands apart from those to the great Asiatic Churches. Its tone and general cast are unlike those of most of his letters. It contains no doctrinal discussions and no rebukes of evil, but is an outpouring of happy love and confidence. Like all Paul’s epistles it begins with salutations, and like most of them with prayer, but from the very beginning is a long gush of love. These early verses seem to me very beautiful if we regard them either as a revelation of the personal character of the Apostle, or as a picture of the relation between teacher and taught in its most blessed and undisturbed form, or as a lovely ideal of friendship and love in any relation, hallowed and solemnized by Christian feeling.” Alexander MacLaren

“It is exceedingly difficult to compress this Epistle, which is the tenderest and most personal of them all. Every word merits consideration; every paragraph is full of linked sweetness long drawn out. In the opening verses we are taught that we may further the Gospel, not only by direct efforts, but by helping those who, like the Apostle, are devoted to its spread. From the early beginnings of their friendship, this Church had never faltered in its loving gifts, which Paul sought to repay with prayers on their behalf. He regarded them as comrades fighting the same enemy, on the same field, and sharing in the same grace.” F. B. Meyer

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…