PHILIPPIANS CHAPTER 1 VERSES 1-2
1. A PERSONAL LETTER Can you imagine receiving a handwritten letter from the apostle* Paul addressed to you personally? How excited you would be to receive a piece of inspired writing from the leading spiritual teacher of the day. That is precisely what the early believers in Philippi must have felt when this correspondence was delivered to them. There was Paul’s name on the epistle*—and their name right beside it! We can count on both hands the number of churches in history that have been so privileged—and the Philippians church was one such body of believers. Yet in a broader sense, every authentic church in every generation has been so privileged. Far more than this being merely an ancient letter, this letter is intended for every church and every Christian in every generation. In this letter, God himself is still speaking to each one of us today. Though this letter was written two thousand years ago to the church at Philippi, it finds itself in the Bible for our spiritual good and growth, preserved for you and me and our benefit as well. This epistle is for you and me even today. As we begin this study of the book of Philippians, it is my prayer that there will be ignited within your heart a growing closeness to the Lord, and a new joy in him. In this chapter, we will consider together the first two verses of this highly personal epistle, which form the opening section known as a salutation.
* Words in gray are defined in the Glossary (page 231). 15
fyphil internals.indd 15
02/05/2017 14:59