Philippians 1:1-11

Exegesis with sentence structure

Sentence 1

1 Paul and Timothy,

servants of Christ Jesus:

To all the saints (indirect object)

in Christ Jesus (location)

who are in Philippi, (relative clause)

including the overseers and deacons. (accompaniment)

2 Grace to you and peace

from God our Father and (source)

the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul is writing from a Roman jail.

Servants - duolos - means "unfree" it is used of servants and slaves who are personal property of their owner.  Since "we are bought with a price" Paul sees believers as the property of Jesus and committed to obedience to Him.

Saints - hagios - holy, dedicated, set apart

All - means everyone of them

Romans 1:7  To all who are in Rome, loved by God, called as saints.

1 Cor 1:2 - To the church of God at Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called as saints, with all those in every place who call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord—both their Lord and ours.

All believers are called saints - there is not as special group/level of believers who are considered saints.

In Christ Jesus - preposition of location - in union with Jesus.

Including - syn preposition - together with as one

Overseers - episkopos - bishop, church leader (one of three words used for the office of pastor)

Plural - means they had more than one pastor/elder

Deacons - diakonos - servants - context is the office of deacon, not just one who serves or ministers.

Matt 22:13 references people serving, this references the office of the deacon.

There are two offices in the church; pastor and deacon

Grace - charis - kindness, gift, beauty, (Greek greeting)

Peace - eirene - freedom from worry, welfare (shalom - Hebrew greeting)

Paul extends a greeting FROM God and Jesus - could you say that to someone.

Note the greeting is from God AND Jesus - so we get more Trinitarian doctrinal truth.

Timothy was with Paul when they started this church and he has visited them twice since.

Sentence 2

3 I give thanks

to my God (indirect object)

for every remembrance (reference)

of you,

Give thanks - eucharisteo - present active

Remembrance - have in one's head

4 always (adverb to give)

praying

with joy (accompaniment)

for all of you (reference)

in my every prayer, (means)

Always - at all times

Praying - supplication, petition

with Joy - delight, gladness (with - meta - side by side, preposition of accompaniment)

For all of you - preposition of reference -

In my every prayer - preposition of means - how he makes supplication for them.

5 because of your partnership (reference) (goes back to "praying")

in the gospel (location)

from the first day until now. (time)

Because - prep of reference,

Partnership - koinonia - fellowship, willing contributor,

Often this is used as partnering by giving money together

This time could also just be working together or sympathetic cooperation

In the gospel - euangelon - good news (prep of location - where they fellowship)

From the first day - time reference, the original day

Until now - up to this day

6 I am sure of this, (goes back to praying)(might be causative - since)

that he who started a good work

in you (location)

will carry it on to completion

until the day of Christ Jesus. (time)

Sure - (perfect active participle) I am persuaded, convinced, trust this,

Started - aorist active part -

Completion - future active indicative - to accomplish, complete

Started/completed - might have a religious ceremony word use

The day of Christ Jesus - reference to His return. Used many times in Scripture

The work continues - progress not a destination (the preposition is not "at")

7 Indeed, it is right for me to think this way

about all of you,

because I have you (purpose)

in my heart, (location)

and you are all partners

with me

in grace,

both in my imprisonment and (means)

in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. (means)

Right - right, just,

Think - present active indicative - phroneo - have an attitude, ponder, hold a view

About - for the sake of, on behalf of - (prep of advantage - shows a gain)

Because - purpose

Have - present active - possess, hold on

Heart - inner self (prep of location)

Could go either way - because I have you in my heart OR because you have me in your heart.

1 - pastors love their church

2 - churches love their pastors

3 - believers love those they serve with (partner/fellowship).

Partners - syn koinonia - together with ones in fellowship

Defense - apologia

Confirmation - verification

Sentence 3

8 For God is my witness,

how deeply I miss all of you

with the affection (manner)

of Christ Jesus. (direct object)

Witness - martyr

Deeply miss - deeply desire, have strong affection for you

Affection - splanchnon - in the gut, compassion, emotions

Sentence 4

9 And I pray this:

that your love will keep on growing

in knowledge and (means)

every kind of discernment, (means)

10 so that you may approve the things that are superior and (direction and purpose)

may be pure and blameless in the day of Christ,

11 filled with the fruit of righteousness

that comes through Jesus Christ (means)

to the glory and (direction)

praise of God.

Pray - present middle -

Will keep on growing - present active subjunctive - emphatic - in abundance

Knowledge - epignosis - know and experience

Discernment - ability to understand, perception

So that - flows toward, the knowledge and discernment flows toward this OR the purpose of the knowledge is to approve.

Approve - present active - examine, regard as worthwhile

Superior - present active participle - different, better

May be- present active -

pure - sincere, pure, unmixed quality

Blameless - not giving offense

Filled - pleroo - like a sail with wind or a glove with your hand

Fruit of righteousness - refers to our behavior as believers. Salvation produces a changed life. The fruit (result) of our union with Christ is righteous behavior.

Glory - doxa

Praise - approval, commendation