Philippians Study 1
Study 1 – Preached on Sunday 20th June 2021
SERVANTS AND SAINTS – Philippians 1:1-2
Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
“Rabbi” Duncan said of two converts in Budapest! - "They used to read day after day the epistles of Paul, as if they had been letters that had come by that morning's post.”
That's challenging - reading the Bible with relish is hard to maintain! Paul's introductions always contains key topics opened later in the letters - Paul writing to this church from prison/likely to be Rome as in Acts 28 v16 - this makes it even more surprising that the letter is so full of joy!
Two main descriptions found in verse 1:-
(1) SERVANTS OF CHRIST JESUS
“servants” – same word used in New Testament for “slaves” - must not think of as in “slave trade” -oppressive/cruel/ugly etc - “bond(ed)” is the heart of its New Testament meaning - so “bond servant” – Romans 6 v20-22 - “For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.” - free from bonded to sin being bonded to God.
Philippians 3 v12 - he belongs to Jesus.
1 Corinthians 6 v19 - Jesus’ death the purchase cost. Paul not bonded to Jesus unwillingly!-has fallen in love with Jesus! - Paul now “captivated” with Lord who took him “captive”! He now lives to please Jesus! Philippians 1 v20b-21 - all of us are slaves of something! Romans 6 v16 - Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?
Being bonded to sin is our basic human problem - it amounts to pleasing myself! - we think living the way we want equals freedom. Not so! To live as we ought is freedom! Pressure on young people today is unbearable when taught this false view of freedom - we wonder if the slave girl was still in Philippi and hearing this read - she could relate to this - She once lived to please her owners, now freed from this by the power of Christ - What’s life about for you? Jesus the “Servant”- note the same word used in Philippians 2 v7.
(2) SAINTS IN CHRIST JESUS
“saints” – meaning not as we commonly use “saint” of some people - it comes from “make holy”. It means God “setting apart” people for himself - note “all the saints” v 3. Every Christian in the Philippian congregation regarded as a “saint” - How can this be when disunity/rivalries etc existed church there?
“in Christ Jesus” – this phrase is the key to how this can be
“in Christ" equals His death/resurrection/righteousness etc have become theirs! - same for everyone "in Christ" Fully accepted by God forever!
Romans 6 v20-22 - For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.
Note what both these “slave relationship lines” lead to - You and I are in one or other of these two lines! But which one?
Follow Up Study:
1. (a) What is the essential meaning of the word “servants” in Paul’s use of it?
(b) In what ways should we apply this to our service as disciples of Jesus?
(c) How did Jesus provide the perfect example of being a “Servant”? (see 2 v 5-9)
2. In using the word “saints”, Paul did not mean that the Christians in Philippi were perfect.
(a) What did he mean?
(b) Why is the word “all” (v. 1) significant?
3. “In Christ Jesus” is an important element in Paul’s theology.
Describe why it is important in relation to:
(a) personal salvation
(b) Christian unity
