Receiving grace and peace; putting the gospel first; anchoring our hope in our sure future (discussion from English & Chinese group called Grace Int'l LifeGroup

CNV5 Philippians 1:2 願恩惠平安從我們的父　神和主耶穌基督臨到你們。 3 我每逢想到你們，就感謝我的　神； 4 每次為你們大家祈求的時候，總是歡歡喜喜地祈求。 5 為了你們從頭一天直到現在都在福音的事工上有分，我就感謝我的　神。 6 我深信那在你們中間開始了美好工作的，到了基督耶穌的日子，必成全這工作。 ESV Philippians 1:2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 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. BGT Philippians 1:2 χάρις ὑμῖν καὶ εἰρήνη ἀπὸ θεοῦ πατρὸς ἡμῶν καὶ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ. 3 Εὐχαριστῶ τῷ θεῷ μου ἐπὶ πάσῃ τῇ μνείᾳ ὑμῶν 4 πάντοτε ἐν πάσῃ δεήσει μου ὑπὲρ πάντων ὑμῶν, μετὰ χαρᾶς τὴν δέησιν ποιούμενος, 5 ἐπὶ τῇ κοινωνίᾳ ὑμῶν εἰς τὸ εὐαγγέλιον ἀπὸ τῆς πρώτης ἡμέρας ἄχρι τοῦ νῦν, 6 πεποιθὼς αὐτὸ τοῦτο, ὅτι ὁ ἐναρξάμενος ἐν ὑμῖν ἔργον ἀγαθὸν ἐπιτελέσει ἄχρι ἡμέρας Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ· A few key terms to consider here: Grace-this means favor or kindness. It is not a word reflection action here. In general the term usually means kindness or favor in the NT and falls under the category (semantical domain) of kindness/harshness words (not behavior words). In some cases it means unmerited favor, but probably only in Romans 5. Here it means simply favor or kindness. The idea is something being given to us by Paul or wished up on us by Paul as he writes. Peace-A sense of wholeness and well being. More than the absence of conflict, this means all is well with God. Jesus embodies grace and truth. We will receive Him (see vs. 6) but we have already received grace and peace (see vs. 5) so the sense here is probably inclusive of both ideas. For sure it is a prayer for grace and peace to enter us! Thank (Εὐχαριστῶ) This word is related to the word for Eucharist-or in contemporary churches 'communion'. The idea is that communion is a celebration and thanksgiving for what Christ has done for us on the cross. Linking this to vs six is interesting because Paul knows Christ will complete what He began in us because of the finished work of the cross. Very interesting indeed to meditate on that! Prayer Powerful apostolic prayer is wrapped with tidings of gratefulness for what God has and is doing in others as well as where they are going. This breathes great life into people. Partnership Paul was a missionary who had only one church that helped him-Philippi. His project was failing because he was thrown into prison for a long time. Yet the Philippians continued to support him. They put the gospel first. Their partnership was not in Paul only. Their partnership was also in the gospel! They supported a man who was a bearer of the good news from heaven! Partnerships can still be a valuable way to share the gospel. Just because a missionaries stated goals do not pan out, it does not mean God is not using him. The apostle Paul wrote some of the Bible while he was 'stuck in prison'. This was because Paul walked in the way of the Lord through faith and was empowered by the presence of the Holy Spirit to do amazing things while in chains. This reminds me of the idea that when we are weak, God is strong. Gospel This references the work that resulted in joy to the whole world. Jesus died with the sin of mankind borne in his body. Therefore we are forgiven! It's done!! "Day of Jesus Christ" This is the day when Christ comes back to raise the dead in Christ first and to give us all our eternal bodies. Faith in the return of Jesus and what He is going to do for and to us then is essential! Paul's paragraphs typically have an 'eschatological' pull. Eschatological means future coming end of the world or 'last days of the world' pull. Paul writes with the hope that Jesus Christ will bring His kindgom to overthrow completely every kingdom of this world at the very end. Justice will prevail. Martyrs will receive justice and even if we die in the midst of an unjust world, we will ultimately see truth and victory when He comes back to the earth.