Thy Strong Word – Philippians 1:1-18a: Preaching out of envy and rivalry—thanks be to God!

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Rev. John Schmidtke, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, St. Louis, MO joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Philippians 1:1-18a.

Paul gives thanks to the LORD for the church in Philippi for their partnership in the Gospel. Despite his imprisonment, the Gospel had been advanced. This advancement of the Gospel is proof of Paul’s words in Romans chapter 1, “The Gospel is the power of salvation for those who believe.” As partakers of God’s grace, we rejoice that He has called us to Him in Christ and the honor of proclaiming His Truth. “Heavenly Father, thank You for our salvation in Christ. We humbly ask that You would use us in any circumstance so that the Gospel would be advanced. Bring us together as the body of Christ to pray, encourage, & strengthen us in His work. Amen”

Thy Strong Word reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two LCMS pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations.

Thy Strong Word is hosted by Rev. Brady Finnern, pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church in Sartell, MN, and graciously underwritten by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation.

Philippians 1:1-18a

Greeting

1 Paul and Timothy, servants[a] of Christ Jesus,

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

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,[d] 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,[e] 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[f] 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[g] 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.

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Footnotes

Philippians 1:1 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface

Philippians 1:1 Or bishops; Greek episkopoi

Philippians 1:1 Or servants, or ministers; Greek diakonoi

Philippians 1:7 Or you all have fellowship with me in grace

Philippians 1:12 Or brothers and sisters. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, the plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters; also verse 14

Philippians 1:13 Greek in the whole praetorium

Philippians 1:14 Some manuscripts add of God

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. esv.org