Philippians - Verse-by-Verse Biblical Exegesis
Philippians - Verse-by-Verse Biblical Exegesis Philippians - Verse-by-Verse Biblical Exegesis
Philp. 1:5 Because of (causal; on the basis of) your (Abl. Source) generous contribution (Instr. Cause; demonstrative definite article points to the gift aspect rather than mere fellowship) towards the purpose of (furthering) the Gospel (Acc. Purpose; good news, "true fellowship is in doctrine"), from that (definite article used as a demonstrative pronoun) first (Gen. Spec.) day (Gen. Time; special occurrence or circumstance - prior contribution to Paul at Thessalonica) until (improper preposition; includes the 2nd contribution in Corinth) now (Gen. Time; the most recent contribution at Rome), WHO Philippians 1:5 evpi. th/| koinwni,a| u`mw/n eivj to. euvagge,lion avpo. th/j prw,thj h`me,raj a;cri tou/ nu/n VUL Philippians 1:5 super communicatione vestra in evangelio a prima die usque nunc LWB Philp. 1:6 Being confident of this thing [doctrinal truth] itself: that the One and only One [God the Father] Who started a good work in you [justification salvation], will fully complete His work [glorification salvation] until the day of Christ Jesus [the rapture], KW Philp. 1:6 Having come to this settled and firm persuasion concerning this very thing, namely, that He who began in you a work which is good [their financial support of Paul] will bring it to a successful conclusion right up to the day of Christ Jesus. KJV Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: TRANSLATION HIGHLIGHTS Paul is completely confident that God the Father will bring the Philippian believers to the state of glorification (Intensive Perfect tense) because He was the One Who started the work by justifying (Ingressive Aorist tense) each one of them. It should go without saying that God never leaves anything in His plan unfinished; everything He begins, He finishes. Because Paul can look at each individual Philippian believer and see the results of the initial work of God, justification, he has no problem seeing the end result of God’s work, glorification. Glorification will occur when we receive our resurrection bodies. This will occur at the rapture for most believers, and at the 2 nd advent for tribulation believers. Since Paul is addressing believers who already exist on earth at the time of his writing, “the day of Christ Jesus” is the rapture. There is a possibility that the good work that God started in us at the point of justification will either be (a) fully completed (Gnomic Future tense) when we are glorified, or will (b) keep on being completed (Progressive Future tense) as we live the Christian way of life. This
depends on how you translate the Future tense of the Greek verb. Option “a” would be a reference to glorification salvation, while option “b” would be a reference to sanctification salvation. I believe the parallels point to option “a” because it refers to God the Father as the “One and only One” who accomplishes both works. Justification is entirely by God and glorification is entirely by God; sanctification is a work in which believers cooperate with God. I see no mention of our cooperating with God in this passage, so I choose ultimate sanctification or glorification as the end reference. In other words, this verse is referring to Phase I and Phase III of the Christian life. Phase I is justification salvation, which occurred at a point in time when our status changed from unbeliever to believer. Phase II is our spiritual walk on earth, often referred to as sanctification. Phase III is eternity, which we enter spiritually when we are glorified and receive our resurrection bodies. Phases I and III depend entirely on the sovereignty and omnipotence of God. Phase II is a partnership between God and each believer. Since this passage is an acknowledgement of God’s faithfulness in completing a work that He Himself started, Phase II is not in mind and option “b” is not included in the scope of Paul’s thoughts at this time. There is no mention of a believer’s volition in this text. REVELANT OPINIONS The thought here stresses not only the sovereign initiative of God in salvation, but also the sovereign faithfulness of God in Christ. (R. P. Martin) The first two grounds (verses 3 & 5) stress the achievements of the Philippians; the 3 rd emphasizes the activity of God. There is, however, no final distinction since the first two are the outworking of God’s activity in their lives. (P. O’Brien) Philippians 1:6 is perhaps one of the three greatest verses in the Bible that teach the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints, the doctrine that no one whom God has brought to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ will ever be lost. There are many people who do not like this teaching because they like to think human beings are responsible for their own salvation … People do not seek God; they reject Him. If we are saved, it is only because God comes to us first in grace. You do not seek the One who can help you. Still God comes to you, opens your eyes, gives you the faith to believe, and draws you to Himself. (J. Boice) The Philippians needed to hear that their growth in sanctification, already evident through their participation in the gospel, was really God’s work. (M. Silva) The time of completion is “the day of Christ Jesus.” This phrase points to the imminent rapture of the church before the seven-year period of tribulation, the seventieth week of Daniel’s prophecy. It looks at the coming of Christ to take believers unto Himself. At that day it will involve the resurrection of the Christian dead and the translation of the living saved. According to God’s sovereign purpose, believers are already glorified in his sight. People observe what is presently happening, but God looks at His people as what they will be when He has finished His work in them. It is a biblical axiom that God calls into being that which does not exist. (R. Gromacki) An advocate of free will is an enemy of God’s grace. He believes God can do nothing for him until he gives God permission. Thus, he appoints God as the second rather than the first cause. This would indicate that there are as many gods as there are free wills, thus classifying those who believe in free
- Page 1 and 2: Philippians Benjamin W. Brodie Sept
- Page 3 and 4: [perfect integrity & scale of value
- Page 5 and 6: is: from Bible doctrine], if there
- Page 7 and 8: as a student-teacher [apprentice],
- Page 9 and 10: objective [the pinnacle of spiritua
- Page 11 and 12: Philp. 4:10 Now I have received gre
- Page 13 and 14: Church founding is the work of God.
- Page 15 and 16: paramount importance, both to Paul
- Page 17 and 18: thinking is sucked into his mind (
- Page 19 and 20: deacons. KJV Philippians 1:1 Paul a
- Page 21 and 22: himself more or less exclusively to
- Page 23 and 24: city as a whole. I would go so far
- Page 25: he was in prison. “Fellowship in
- Page 29 and 30: faith and to grow in holiness, God
- Page 31 and 32: ule too absolutely. If one article
- Page 33 and 34: Remember when I said Paul was think
- Page 35 and 36: virtue love? Yes, but he is piling
- Page 37 and 38: one enters fully into this entire c
- Page 39 and 40: extremely rich and abundant (PASubj
- Page 41 and 42: always be ready for action, to inst
- Page 43 and 44: time and eternity. Spiritual maturi
- Page 45 and 46: REVELANT OPINIONS For Paul the goal
- Page 47 and 48: itself and its Messiah Christ were
- Page 49 and 50: WHO Philippians 1:14 kai. tou.j ple
- Page 51 and 52: TRANSLATION HIGHLIGHTS Paul again c
- Page 53 and 54: words is to regard the opposition t
- Page 55 and 56: their conduct and speech in public.
- Page 57 and 58: apartment to live in, and attorney
- Page 59 and 60: the Lord gives him more years to li
- Page 61 and 62: face-to-face with Christ. So either
- Page 63 and 64: spiritual autonomy, which is the ne
- Page 65 and 66: united with him in death. In one se
- Page 67 and 68: said to enter Sheol or Hades. After
- Page 69 and 70: Philp. 1:24 Yet (adversative, post-
- Page 71 and 72: KW Philp. 1:26 In order that your r
- Page 73 and 74: Present tense), holding their groun
- Page 75 and 76: doom] for them, but for you, delive
Philp. 1:5 Because of (causal; on the basis of) your (Abl.<br />
Source) generous contribution (Instr. Cause; demonstrative<br />
definite article points to the gift aspect rather than mere<br />
fellowship) towards the purpose of (furthering) the Gospel<br />
(Acc. Purpose; good news, "true fellowship is in doctrine"),<br />
from that (definite article used as a demonstrative pronoun)<br />
first (Gen. Spec.) day (Gen. Time; special occurrence or<br />
circumstance - prior contribution to Paul at Thessalonica)<br />
until (improper preposition; includes the 2nd contribution in<br />
Corinth) now (Gen. Time; the most recent contribution at<br />
Rome),<br />
WHO <strong>Philippians</strong> 1:5 evpi. th/| koinwni,a| u`mw/n eivj to. euvagge,lion avpo. th/j prw,thj h`me,raj a;cri tou/<br />
nu/n<br />
VUL <strong>Philippians</strong> 1:5 super communicatione vestra in evangelio a prima die usque nunc<br />
LWB Philp. 1:6 Being confident of this thing [doctrinal truth] itself: that the One and only<br />
One [God the Father] Who started a good work in you [justification salvation], will fully<br />
complete His work [glorification salvation] until the day of Christ Jesus [the rapture],<br />
KW Philp. 1:6 Having come to this settled and firm persuasion concerning this very thing,<br />
namely, that He who began in you a work which is good [their financial support of Paul] will<br />
bring it to a successful conclusion right up to the day of Christ Jesus.<br />
KJV <strong>Philippians</strong> 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in<br />
you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:<br />
TRANSLATION HIGHLIGHTS<br />
Paul is completely confident that God the Father will bring the Philippian believers to the<br />
state of glorification (Intensive Perfect tense) because He was the One Who started the work<br />
<strong>by</strong> justifying (Ingressive Aorist tense) each one of them. It should go without saying that<br />
God never leaves anything in His plan unfinished; everything He begins, He finishes.<br />
Because Paul can look at each individual Philippian believer and see the results of the initial<br />
work of God, justification, he has no problem seeing the end result of God’s work,<br />
glorification. Glorification will occur when we receive our resurrection bodies. This will<br />
occur at the rapture for most believers, and at the 2 nd advent for tribulation believers. Since<br />
Paul is addressing believers who already exist on earth at the time of his writing, “the day of<br />
Christ Jesus” is the rapture.<br />
There is a possibility that the good work that God started in us at the point of justification<br />
will either be (a) fully completed (Gnomic Future tense) when we are glorified, or will (b)<br />
keep on being completed (Progressive Future tense) as we live the Christian way of life. This
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