Four Terms To Understand in Philippians 1:1-11

Four terms to better understand Philippians 1:1-11
A) Slave-this term had a different connotation in Paul’s day than it does in modern America. For one thing there was no race attached to slavery in Paul’s day. Some slaves were temporary and others were life long slaves. They all were considered ‘living tools’ of their masters though with no personal rights. That was in common with America’s slave history.

B) Saint-Although millions of Christians today believe that saints are a special class of Christians who must be approved by a process in the Church, Paul means all Christians in the city of Philippi. Any Christian is a saint in the bible’s eyes because our sainthood is not based on what we have done but solely on Christ’s work for us through the atoning sacrifice on the cross. Saints are not people we go to in prayer because they have a special in with God. We all are saints the moment we choose to start trusting in Christ for our salvation as the Philippian jailer did in Acts 16.

C) Joy-this term is not referencing the feeling one gets when things go well for you or when your emotions are stoked. Joy here is attached directly to the progress of the gospel without regard to our personal comfort or discomfort.

D) Participation-This term means more than the common idea of ‘sharing thoughts or views in common’. It involves a deeper and more formal commitment. There was a sort of legally binding relationship that Paul may have had with the Philippian Church. Paul was bound to help them if they were in trouble ever as well. The fact that he was in prison meant that he may not have been in a position to reciprocate as he was obligated to do. The fact that he was facing potential execution underscored the gravity of his ‘debt’ to the Philippians. Gordon Fee and other scholars have developed the historical use of this term. See NICNT on Philippians by Fee for more on this and for other resources.