Thankful for the Saints

Intro

When a missionary goes onto the field, having first visited the location and then prayerfully committed to working there, they begin collecting funds from churches or congregations who may wish to partner with them. Paul and John both speak of this sharing as a partnership in the work, and this partnership has consequences, especially if we partner with works of evil (2 Jn.).

Paul opens his letter to the Philippians by telling them how thankful he is for them and their continued partnership in the Gospel despite his chains and persecution.

Paul is going to show us in these opening verses how much he so loves the Philippian Christians. This love from Paul toward them should challenge us and our love for the brothers today, and the urgency with which we pray for and desire the company of our brethren.

The Greeting

Philippians 1:1–2 LSB

1 Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the overseers and deacons: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

To the Saints

The recipients of this letter are Christians.

“saints” — holy ones

To be holy means to be set aside for use and dedication to God alone and not the world. This is exactly how we are to live. For the Christians in Philippi, it means separating themselves from their culture in very significant ways.

“with the overseers and deacons”

The many congregations of the Church were always intended to have these leaders among them, who guide and lead them in their activities.

The Thanksgiving

Philippians 1:3–5 LSB

3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, 5 because of your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now.

Philippians 1:8 LSB

8 For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.

See what love Paul has for these brothers!

… in all my remembrance … in every prayer”

Paul was devoted to praying for the brothers. So devoted that in every remembrance he prays for them

“with joy”

Joy, in the literal meaning of the Greek, is an experience of gladness. Most often, it is spoken of in the New Testament as the experience of the Christian in response to salvation. It is a fruit of the Spirit which through which God helps us endure trial and tribulation because we know what happens in the next life.

Paul here says he prays with joy over the brothers in Philippi. Why? Because of the work God is doing in them! This is a magnificent reason for a joyful prayer over the saints of God. When faithful brethren are living faithfully and bearing fruit through the power of Christ and the Holy Spirit it should cause us to offer joyous prayer to God for the Body.

The Prayer

Philippians 1:9–11 LSB

9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in full knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and without fault until the day of Christ, 11 having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Paul’s prayer on their behalf

Love in full knowledge and discernment

Knowledge is epignosis or that complete and intimate sort of knowledge. Discernment is the “ability to use the faculty of which allows a person to make a moral decision,” says one commentator.

As Christians, love is a necessary characteristic. However, another necessary aspect of the Christian life is growth in learning, because we cannot increase in love, virtue, holiness without a growth in knowledge of the Truth as well.

Therefor, Paul prays for their love to abound in their growth in knowledge and discernment.

Approve what is excellent

To approve here means to approve of by way of testing and proving.

This is where the discernment is taking place: We must grow in knowledge, and use apply that faculty in our lives to choose morally good things

This discernment will, through faith and the power of Christ, allow us to be found pure before Him in His return so that no fault will be found with us.

Filled with the fruit of righteousness

Filled here means to be completed or made whole, rather than “full to the brim” — Paul says he prays that the Philippian Christians would come to full maturity in righteousness through Jesus. This fruit is not solely from us — we cannot bear righteousness in ourselves. It only comes through Jesus and full subjection to Him.

This righteous fruit is the product of the aforementioned love and discernment. As our love abounds in complete knowledge of the truth and discernment of excellent things, we will be completed to maturity and bear the fruit of righteousness in our lives!

Conclusion

We will not bear that fruit, however, if we forget to pursue the truth and apply it.