Philippians 1:1-2 (Lee)

Philippians 1:1–2 ESV

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.

Co-Authorship?

Remainder of letter doesn’t seem to indicate Timothy participated in writing the letter.

Timothy was likely present when the letter was being written.

One thought is that Timothy was the messenger who carried the letter to Philippi.

See Philippians 2:23

Philippians 2:23 ESV

23 I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me,

Paul doesn’t mention his apostleship. This was different from other letters.

Likely due to the nature of the letter. It was More of a letter of friendship and not a letter of persuasion.

Paul had a relationship with this church and didn’t need to introduce himself in this way.

Paul Included both he and Timothy in his greeting. Timothy was not an apostle, but was a servant to Jesus.

Servants – Actual translation of the Greek word is “Slave”

How would the audience have interpreted the idea of Paul & Timothy being “Slaves”?

Who is the audience? “Saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons” - Christians in Philippi; Gentiles;

Was slavery common among the area/time?

How does this compare to other cases where Paul says we are free in Christ?

Servants “of Christ Jesus”

Their lives were fully committed to serving Christ Jesus. So much so, that it defined who they were.

How do we define ourselves?

Paul’s Letter to the Philippians A. Salutation (1:1–2)

Everything is in, of, by, and for Christ Jesus. Christ Jesus is the basis of their common existence; he is the focus and content of the gospel in which Paul, Timothy, and the Philippians are partners; and he is the Lord, to whom every knee shall bow, including those in Philippi who are currently bowing to “Lord Caesar,” the emperor Nero.

“To all the saints in Christ Jesus”