Paul Writes to the Philippians While a Friend Encourages HimBible World
1:5Philippians 1:5
For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;
The fellowship in the verse is shared participation in, commitment to, and unbroken partnership in the gospel and its work, continuing from its beginning among the believers, from the first day, through to the present time. It is harmony, Christian fellowship and tender union between newly converted believers and those who labored for them. It means being true converts who continue in sincerity of faith, good works and Christlike character, keeping the day of Christ constantly in view and continuing in the good work begun in them.
At Philippi it meant steadfastness in the faith even while not escaping persecution, highly prizing the precious truths, giving whole-hearted devotion to the cause of the Redeemer, steadily increasing in numbers as a church, and remaining under the deep and lasting influence of the example of zeal, devotion and willingness to suffer for Christ. The precious truths they prized were those for which much had been sacrificed to bring to them. The Philippian church had been established by labors among them, and its converts were shaped above all by willingness to suffer for Christ, enduring the same conflict they had seen in him.
This fellowship is the ground for thanking God upon every remembrance of the believers and always making request for them all with joy in every prayer. Joyful thanks for this continuing partnership expresses confidence and sympathy toward believers still struggling against temptation, with confidence that the good work begun in them will be performed, continued and brought to completion until the day of Jesus Christ. Believers are to live so that thanks and joyful prayer can be made for them, and those who labor for newly believing churches are to encourage them by pen and voice.
In its context the fellowship belongs together with grace and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, with having the believers in the heart as fellow partakers of grace both in bonds and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, and with great longing for them. It belongs with prayer that their love may abound still more in knowledge and all judgment, so they may approve excellent things, be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, and be filled with the fruits of righteousness through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.
The fellowship in the verse is shared participation in, commitment to, and unbroken partnership in the gospel and its work, continuing from its beginning among the believers, from the first day, through to the present time. It is harmony, Christian fellowship and tender union between newly converted believers and those who labored for them. It means being true converts who continue in sincerity of faith, good works and Christlike character, keeping the day of Christ constantly in view and continuing in the good work begun in them.
At Philippi it meant steadfastness in the faith even while not escaping persecution, highly prizing the precious truths, giving whole-hearted devotion to the cause of the Redeemer, steadily increasing in numbers as a church, and remaining under the deep and lasting influence of the example of zeal, devotion and willingness to suffer for Christ. The precious truths they prized were those for which much had been sacrificed to bring to them. The Philippian church had been established by labors among them, and its converts were shaped above all by willingness to suffer for Christ, enduring the same conflict they had seen in him.
This fellowship is the ground for thanking God upon every remembrance of the believers and always making request for them all with joy in every prayer. Joyful thanks for this continuing partnership expresses confidence and sympathy toward believers still struggling against temptation, with confidence that the good work begun in them will be performed, continued and brought to completion until the day of Jesus Christ. Believers are to live so that thanks and joyful prayer can be made for them, and those who labor for newly believing churches are to encourage them by pen and voice.
In its context the fellowship belongs together with grace and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, with having the believers in the heart as fellow partakers of grace both in bonds and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, and with great longing for them. It belongs with prayer that their love may abound still more in knowledge and all judgment, so they may approve excellent things, be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, and be filled with the fruits of righteousness through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.