Blogging Bible Study: Philippians - Lesson 1

(Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi)

Philippians 1: 1 - 11 - Affectionate Greetings

1. Paul's affection for the believers at Philippi (1:1 - 8)
Imagine for a moment that you are the Apostle Paul, under house arrest, likely awaiting a trial before Nero, in a city that you've always longed to visit but hadn't had the opportunity. People can come and visit with you a bit, but you are shackled in the house and always attended by a Roman guard. There is no sightseeing, no outings. Your faithful protege, Timothy, is with you and acts as your secretary and errand runner, but most of the friends you have made through years of traveling in ministry seem very far away.

Then, one day, a young man arrives at your door, having traveled from the first city you arrived in after answering the call to go to Macedonia so many years earlier. He brings greetings from the people there and, to your surprise, a monetary gift that will go a long way towards purchasing things to make life more comfortable...like good food. But he's picked up some kind of ailment on his travels, and he arrives very ill. In fact, it's touch-and-go for a bit, but at last he throws off the infection and regains his health and his strength. Now, he can return to his people, and passage is booked on a return ship.

Timothy picks up quill and parchment to write the letter you will dictate for the young man, Epaphroditus by name, to carry back with him. How would you start a letter to these folks who have sacrificed on your behalf and who have supported you in prayer since you met them?

After the opening salutations and traditional greeting, Paul verbally embraces his far away friends. This is how The Message renders his words:
Every time you cross my mind, I break out in exclamations of thanks to God. Each exclamation is a trigger to prayer. I find myself praying for you with a glad heart. I am so pleased that you have continued on in this with us, believing and proclaiming God's message, from the day you heard it right up to the present.

Paul was overjoyed to hear from his friends, he was overjoyed when he thought about his friends, he was overjoyed when he prayed for his friends. Never mind that he was shut up in the house...he knew their hearts for him and for the ministry of the Gospel and it filled him with joy.

He was so full of joy that he assured them of the confidence that he had that God, who began a good work in them, would carry that work on to completion.
Paul could obviously be referring to their salvation, but he could also be referring to the spread of the Gospel in Europe...that work began in Philppi. As he noted earlier, the Philippians were partners with him in that work, so his encouragement in the ministry would apply to them as well. To be sure, both applications are true. God works in us individually and corporately to complete the work that HE began. What is required from us is not our effort, but our submission.

Paul emphasizes the relationship he had with the folks at Philippi once more, stating that he has them in his heart and they share in God's grace with him, whether he's imprisoned or out in ministry. In fact, he longs for them with the affection of Christ.

Sounds like he misses his friends very much. So, he prays for them often.

2. Paul's prayers for the Philippians 1:9 - 11

This is a very interesting example of how to pray for people. Look at Paul's requests for his friends:
- that their love abound in knowledge and insight
- that they could discern what is best
- that they would be pure and blameless
- that they would be filled with the fruit of righteousness

It's interesting that he didn't pray for their physical well-being or prosperity or personal safety. He prayed for their spiritual lives.

I tell you, I'm challenged to pray this way. Most of my intercession involves praying for safety, or healing, or favor. Not purity and righteousness and abounding love.

But, you know, if love abounds w/knowledge and insight, and discernment as to what is best is operational while we walk pure and blameless, filled with the fruit of righteousness...what more is there to want? Really?

Lord, I don't know the names of all the people that might stumble across this post, but I pray that their love would abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that every one of them would be able to discern what is best, and will be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ - to the glory and praise of God

The Study so far:
Feb. 6 Intro
Feb. 13 Lesson 1 Phil. 1:1 - 11 Affectionate Greetings
Feb. 20 Lesson 2 Phil. 1:12 - 29 Testimony in a Time of Suffering
Feb. 27 Lesson 3 Phil. 2:1 - 16 Exhortation to Humility
March 6 Lesson 4 Phil. 2:17 - 30 Commendations of Coworkers
March 13 Lesson 5 Phil. 3: 1 - 16 Warnings Regarding Legalism
March 20 Lesson 6 Phil. 3:17 - 4:7 Instruction on Living as Citizens of Heaven
March 27 Lesson 7 Phil. 4:8 - 23 Gratitude for Concerned Support