An older man was thinking back over his life. As his eyes fell on the chains which bound him he contemplated the series of events which had led to his captivity. He remembered his teachers and the fine education they had given him. He remembered his burning zeal for God which had led him to persecute the followers of Jesus, to the point of imprisoning and killing them. He thought back over the stunning events which had led to his own conversion to being one of Christ’s followers. He thought of the high social and political status on which he had turned his back in his passion for following Christ. He remembered all of the hardships and dangers he had undergone during his extensive evangelistic tours. But now he found himself a prisoner. Was it really worth it? What would the future hold? Was he merely waiting for an executioner’s sword? And what had he really been able to accomplish during his long career? Had he spent his life and his strength for nothing? As he contemplated these questions he began to smile as remembered a gift which had recently been sent to him. His smile grew broader as he remembered the people who had sent the gift. His life and work had made a difference. No matter what would happen to him in the future, it was worth it all. As he basked in these thoughts he felt the gentle urging of God’s Holy Spirit to send a letter to these people. He summoned a companion and with his assistance began to write. The prisoner was the Apostle Paul, and the people to whom he wrote were the followers of Christ in the city of Philippi.
The letter begins, “Paul and Timothy, servants of Jesus Christ; To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and servants [that is, deacons]: Grace to you, and peace from God, our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:1-2)
Paul describes himself and Timothy as ‘servants’ of Christ Jesus. The word which is used actually means ‘slave.’ If one is a slave of Christ he is not only controlled by Christ, but is dependent upon Him. Christ is the Master and it is He who assigns each one of his followers their place and task. Paul can rejoice, even though he is in chains, because his circumstances are in the Master’s control.
Paul calls the people to whom he is writing ‘saints.’ Many people think that a saint is someone who has performed some special act of merit which has earned them God’s favor. But this is not what Paul means. According to Scripture a saint is someone who believes (2 Thessalonians 1:10), is faithful (Ephesians 1:1), who acknowledges Jesus as the Son of God (1 Corinthians 1:2) and most of all, has been sanctified by Christ (1 Corinthians 1:2). In other words, Paul is writing to the followers of Christ, that is, Christians. The flip side of this is that if someone has not been sanctified by Christ, he or she is not a saint.
The people to whom Paul is writing are in Philippi. The city was built by the father of Alexander the Great, Philip, king of Macedon. At the time Paul wrote it was an important Roman colony in the province of Macedonia on the main road linking Rome with the East. Today its ruins are in the country of Greece. Philippi holds a special place in the history of the church. Paul traveled to Macedonia as a result of a vision from God. It was at the city of Philippi that he preached in Europe for the first time. The church at Philippi was the first congregation which he established in Europe. Philippi is also where the incident recorded in Acts 16 took place in which Paul and Silas were unjustly imprisoned and their faith so impressed their jailer that he became a follower of Christ.
Some of the saints to whom Paul is writing are identified as ‘overseers and deacons.’ These titles refer to office holders in the church. In Scripture, overseers are also called bishops, elders, and shepherds or pastors. The spiritual health and growth of the church is their responsibility. Deacons are assistants to the overseers. They take care of the physical or material needs of the church so that the overseers can concentrate on its spiritual needs. It is worth noting that in contrast to the practice of many churches today, each congregation in New Testament times did not have only one bishop or pastor, but several.
Paul greets the people to whom he is writing in the name of ‘God our Father.’ This is a reminder that the followers of Christ have been included in God’s household. God is not a remote, unapproachable tyrant, but is near, approachable and caring. By calling God ‘our Father,’ Paul is emphasizing unity between himself and the people to whom he is writing. Though he is an Apostle, he is also their brother in God’s household.
In his greeting, Paul calls Jesus ‘Lord.’ In chapter two of this letter, Paul will explain that God has exalted Jesus by giving him this name or title which, by right, belongs only to God. By calling him Lord, God has made Jesus the supreme ruler. This in no way diminishes God’s glory, but rather enhances it. For, when we call Jesus ‘Lord’ we are agreeing with what God has done.
Not only is Jesus ‘Lord,’ but he is also the ‘Christ.’ This means that in addition to appointing Jesus as the supreme ruler or king, God has anointed him to be both prophet and priest. As prophet, Jesus delivers God’s word to us. He said, “…The words that I tell you, I speak not from myself; but the Father who lives in me does his works.” (John 14:10) But Jesus did not merely deliver God’s words, he is the actual personification of God’s word. He is called the ‘Word.’ Not just his actions or his life, but his very person is a message from God. In his role of priest, Jesus gave his own life as a sacrifice for our sins. In addition, he presents the requests of his followers to God. Scripture says, “Having then a great high priest, who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God… Let us therefore draw near with boldness to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace for help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:14-16)
One of the things which Paul desires for the followers of Christ in Philippi is grace. Grace can be thought of as undeserved favor. In contrast to grace, the law always brings condemnation. Breaking God’s law is called sin. Sin always carries a penalty. But the followers of Christ are given grace, even though they are sinners, because Jesus has paid the penalty for their sin.
The other thing which Paul desires for those to whom he is writing is peace. Peace is not the absence of hardship but the serenity of soul which makes it possible to face and overcome hardship. Grace and peace can only come through God and Jesus Christ. If we do not have peace, perhaps we are looking for it in the wrong place.