Philippians 1 – Living and Dying for Christ

philippians 1

Chapter with Audio

1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,

To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving and Prayer

3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 7 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

The Advance of the Gospel

12 I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. 14 And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

15 Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. 16 The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.

To Live Is Christ

Yes, and I will rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, 20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.

27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. 29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, 30 engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

Chapter Analysis

Philippians 1: Partnership In The Gospel And Living For Christ

Grace, Peace, And Fellowship In The Gospel

📖 Philippians 1:1–7

¹ Paul and Timothy, servants of Jesus Christ, write to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons. ² Grace and peace come from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. ³ Paul thanks God every time he remembers them. ⁴ In every prayer for them, he prays with joy, ⁵ because of their fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now. ⁶ Paul is confident of this very thing: that God, who began a good work in them, will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. ⁷ It is right for Paul to think this way about them, because they are in his heart. They share with him in God’s grace, both in his chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.

🔹 The Truth

Paul and Timothy were servants of Jesus Christ.

Believers are saints because they are in Christ Jesus.

Grace and peace come from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Philippians shared in the work of the gospel.

God began the good work in them.

God will complete what He begins in His people.

🔹 The Promise

God, who began a good work in believers, will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.

✅ Conclusion

Paul begins with thanksgiving and joy because the Philippian believers were partners in the gospel. Their faithfulness encouraged him, and his confidence rested in God’s continuing work in them.

Abounding Love With Discernment

📖 Philippians 1:8–11

⁸ God knew how deeply Paul longed for the Philippians with the affection of Jesus Christ. ⁹ Paul prayed that their love would abound more and more in knowledge and all discernment, ¹⁰ so they would approve the things that are excellent and be sincere and without offense until the day of Christ, ¹¹ being filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

🔹 The Truth

Paul loved the Philippians with the affection of Christ.

Christian love should keep growing.

Love must be joined with knowledge and discernment.

Believers are to approve what is excellent.

The fruit of righteousness comes through Jesus Christ.

God is glorified when His people bear righteous fruit.

🔹 The Promise

God produces the fruit of righteousness through Jesus Christ in His people.

✅ Conclusion

Paul did not pray only that they would love more, but that their love would grow with truth and discernment. True love seeks what is excellent and brings glory to God.

The Gospel Advances Through Paul’s Chains

📖 Philippians 1:12–18

¹² Paul wanted the believers to know that the things which happened to him had actually turned out for the progress of the gospel. ¹³ His chains had become known as being in Christ among the whole palace guard and to all the rest. ¹⁴ Many of the brothers in the Lord had become confident because of Paul’s chains, and they were much bolder to speak the word without fear. ¹⁵ Some preached Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from goodwill. ¹⁶ Those who preached from love knew that Paul was appointed for the defense of the gospel. ¹⁷ Others preached Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing they could add trouble to Paul’s chains. ¹⁸ But Paul rejoiced that Christ was being preached, whether in pretense or in truth, and he would continue to rejoice.

🔹 The Truth

God can use suffering to advance the gospel.

Paul’s imprisonment became a testimony for Christ.

Other believers became bold because of Paul’s chains.

Some preached Christ with right motives, while others preached with wrong motives.

Paul rejoiced that Christ was being preached.

The progress of the gospel mattered more to Paul than his own comfort.

🔹 The Promise

God can advance the gospel even through suffering, opposition, and difficult circumstances.

✅ Conclusion

Paul’s chains did not stop the gospel. God used them to spread the message of Christ and strengthen others to speak boldly.

To Live Is Christ, And To Die Is Gain

📖 Philippians 1:19–26

¹⁹ Paul knew that his situation would turn out for deliverance through the prayers of the believers and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. ²⁰ His earnest expectation and hope was that he would not be ashamed in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ would be magnified in his body, whether by life or by death. ²¹ For Paul, to live was Christ, and to die was gain. ²² If he continued living in the body, it would mean fruitful labor for him. Yet he did not know which he would choose. ²³ He was hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which was far better. ²⁴ Yet to remain in the body was more necessary for the Philippians. ²⁵ Being confident of this, Paul knew he would remain and continue with them for their progress and joy in the faith, ²⁶ so that their rejoicing in Christ Jesus would abound because of Paul’s coming to them again.

🔹 The Truth

Paul trusted God’s work through prayer and the Spirit of Jesus Christ.

Paul’s desire was that Christ would be magnified in his body.

For the believer, to live is Christ.

For the believer, to die is gain.

Departing to be with Christ is far better.

Remaining in this life can mean fruitful labor for the good of others.

🔹 The Promise

Those who belong to Christ will be with Christ, which is far better.

✅ Conclusion

Paul’s life was centered on Christ. Whether he lived or died, his desire was that Christ would be honored. Life meant serving Christ, and death meant being with Christ.

Stand Firm In One Spirit

📖 Philippians 1:27–30

²⁷ Whatever happened, the Philippians were to live in a way worthy of the gospel of Christ. Whether Paul came and saw them or only heard about them, he wanted to know that they were standing firm in one spirit, with one mind, striving together for the faith of the gospel. ²⁸ They were not to be frightened by their opponents. This would be a sign of destruction to their enemies, but of salvation to them, and that from God. ²⁹ It had been granted to them on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake. ³⁰ They were experiencing the same conflict they had seen in Paul and now heard was still in him.

🔹 The Truth

Believers are called to live worthy of the gospel of Christ.

The church should stand firm in one spirit and one mind.

Believers must strive together for the faith of the gospel.

Opposition should not terrify God’s people.

Faith in Christ is a gift of grace.

Suffering for Christ is also part of the believer’s calling.

🔹 The Promise

God strengthens His people to stand firm, strive together, and suffer for Christ’s sake.

✅ Conclusion

Paul calls the Philippians to live faithfully no matter what happens. Their unity, courage, and endurance would show that God was at work among them.

Overall Conclusion

Philippians 1 is full of gospel joy, confidence, and Christ-centered purpose.

Paul thanks God for the Philippians because of their partnership in the gospel. He is confident that God, who began a good work in them, will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.

Paul prays that their love will grow with knowledge and discernment, so they may approve what is excellent and bear the fruit of righteousness through Jesus Christ.

Even Paul’s imprisonment did not stop the gospel. God used his chains to spread the message of Christ and make other believers bold.

The heart of the chapter is Paul’s declaration: to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Paul desired Christ to be magnified whether by life or by death.

The chapter ends with a call to live worthy of the gospel, stand firm together, and suffer faithfully for Christ.

Final Questions For You

  1. How does knowing that God will complete His work in believers give you confidence?
  2. What does it mean for your love to grow in knowledge and discernment?
  3. How can you live in such a way that Christ is magnified in your life?