Christian Unity is Detailed to the Philippians Volume 3

Paul Pours out his love, prayers, and thanksgiving to the Brothers and Sisters in Philippi Part 2

Philippians 1:7-8 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 defense and confirmation of the Gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace. For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ. KJV

The Apostle Paul remembers the very fond and adoring and loving affection these believers in Philippi displayed to him after their conversion to Christ and confirms to them and in his own mind that God the Father has begun a good work of grace in their inner man and inner woman. When the Apostle Paul says, “because I have you in my heart” (Philippians 1:7), he is affirming to them his great affection for them just as they too so loved Paul after their spiritual eyes were opened when they were born again. As we documented in the last study from what Paul wrote to the Corinthian believers (2 Corinthians 11:28), Paul always carried with him in his inner man the concern for and love for those Gentiles that were brought out of darkness into the light of Jesus Christ through his proclamation of the Gospel of Grace and also as he wrote to the Corinthian believers with these pulsating words, “You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.” (2 Corinthians 3:2-3). Again it was Paul’s concern and care for their continued spiritual growth in the truth of the Gospel of Christ that kept these Philippian believers so constant upon his heart and mind. This great Apostle (as we just saw in the letter to the Ephesians) was constantly in great spiritual battles with the devil and his principalities and powers, so he was at all times in prayer for those believing Gentiles that had come to Christ from his preaching knowing that this was the one way he could reach them for good even though he was absent from them being in bonds.

This Church in Philippi was willing to assist or aid the Apostle in whatever manner or method was requested of them from Paul in proclaiming the Gospel of Christ on the earth and they also supported him financially and pray fully during his captivity. The Apostle Paul recognized that they were partakers of the same grace of God as he was by their willingness to put themselves in harm’s way for the sake of the Gospel. Not only did they support Paul in its proclamation, but they too proclaimed it and also defended the truth of the Gospel when it came under attack. The Philippian believers provided evidence or proof of their love and respect for the great Apostle Paul by their adhering to the doctrines that he taught them and being willing to fight for them and even suffer for them as did Paul on so many occasions as the Apostle Peter said that we should do with these words, “And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. ‘And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.’ But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.” (1 Peter 3:13-17). The Apostle Paul will acknowledge his knowledge of them suffering for standing firm in the truth of the Gospel later on in this very same Chapter Philippians 1:28.

The Apostle Paul was so moved by the Philippian believers that he said, “For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:8). The English phrase “greatly I long after” is translated by one Greek word epipotheo which means (to yearn); to dote upon, that is, intensely crave someone’s presence (lawfully): - to earnestly desire. The English phrase “the bowels” is translated by one Greek word splagchnon which means figuratively pity or sympathy: - inward affection, + tender mercy. In other words, the Apostle Paul has an intense desire to be present with them in person to receive first-hand the comforting love from our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ through them and that he might comfort them with the same love of Christ seeing that they are suffering for the truth of the Gospel exactly as Paul declared to the Corinthian believers with these words, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-7).

“It is very proper to think the best of other people, and as well as we can of them - to suppose as well of them as the matter will admit in all cases. An appeal to God concerning the truth of this: For God is my record how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ. Having them in his heart, he longed after them; either he longed to see them, longed to hear from them, or he longed for their spiritual welfare and their increase and improvement in knowledge and grace. He had joy in them, because of the good he saw and heard of among them; yet still he longed after them, to hear of more of it among them; and he longed after them all, not only those among them who were witty and wealthy, but even the meanest and poorest; and he longed greatly after them, or with strong affection and great good-will; and this in the bowels of Jesus Christ, with that tender concern which Christ himself has and has shown to precious souls. Paul was herein a follower of Christ, and all good ministers should aim to be so. O the bowels of compassion which are in Jesus Christ to poor souls! It was in compassion to them that he undertook their salvation, and put himself to so vast an expense to compass it. Now, in conformity to the example of Christ, Paul had a compassion for them, and longed after them all in the bowels of Jesus Christ. Shall not we pity and love those souls whom Christ had such a love and pity for? For this he appeals to God: God is my record. It was an inward disposition of mind that he expressed towards them, to the sincerity of which God only was witness, and therefore to him he appeals. ‘Whether you know it or not, or are sensible of it, God, who knows the heart, knows it.’” Matthew Henry

“The Philippians were sharers of Paul’s grace, as sharing his enthusiasm for the successful advocacy and confirmation of the Gospel. So they had their share in the grace that was so mighty in him. But besides that, the Apostle’s heart had been cheered and warmed by the manifestation of their sympathy, their loving thoughtfulness in reference to his bonds. So he joyfully owned them as partakers in spirit in those bonds, and in the grace by which he endured them. They remembered him in his bonds, ‘as bound with him.’ Every way their fellowship with him expressed itself as full and true. No jarring element broke in to mar the happy sense of this. He could feel that though far away their hearts beat pulse for pulse with his, partakers not only of his toil but of his bonds. So he ‘had them in his heart’: his heart embraced them with no common warmth and yielded to them no common friendship. And what then? Why, then, ‘it is meet that I should be thus minded,’ ‘should use love’s happy right to think very well of you, and should let the evidence of your Christian feeling come home to my heart, warm and glowing.’ It was meet that Paul should joyfully repute them to be sincere - to be men cleaving to the Gospel in a genuine love of it. It was meet that he should thank God in their behalf, seeing these happy attainments of theirs were so truly a concern of his. It was meet he should pray for them with joyful importunity, counting their growth in grace to be a benefit also to himself. It would be a helpful thing if Christian friends cherished, and if they sometimes expressed, warm hopes and expectations in behalf of one another. Only, let this be the outcome of truly spiritual affection. Paul was persuaded that his feelings arose from no mere human impulse. The grace of God it was which had given the Philippians this place in his heart. God was his record that his longing after them was great, and also that it was in the mercies of Christ. He loved them as a man in Christ, and with Christ-like affections.” Expositor’s Bible Commentary

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…