Philippians Challenge - Day Two + Three

Sorry – this is a bit long today as I am making up time.

OK – so yesterday I called it Day One – but we should have actually been on Day Two (On Monday I posted generic stuff about the challenge.)

Since I am taking this little crow-hop let me regroup around Phil. 1:4-6 with some things I did not share yesterday – then we will go into today’s verses - if you are following the three verse per day approach.

Day Two - Philippians 1:4-6

First — the structure of verses 3–6 in Greek is one long sentence. Paul doesn’t come up for air until verse 7.

… 3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.  

Gasp, gasp, gasp.

How about you.  This was a bit taxing to try and remember – but by day 4 and 5 it becomes smooth as butter.  This is also a good time to remember how he likes to use that word “All” and he likes to talk about himself a lot (“I”, and “Me”).

Verse 6 is the climax of his thanksgiving sentence. It can be easy to isolate: “He who began a good work in you…” But grammatically, it belongs to the flow of gratitude.

In other words, Paul’s confidence in God’s future work grows out of remembering Philippi’s past faithfulness. This is important later.
 
Second — the phrase “being confident of this” (pepoithōs). It’s a perfect participle. I had the hardest time remembering those four words (it is a jolting use of a comma).
But when you realize that Paul is cheering them on in Philippi, as well as for himself, it makes sense.  Paul didn’t wake up optimistic that morning. His confidence has history.

Third — “He who began.” Interestingly, the verb “began” was often used for initiating a sacrificial act. There’s temple imagery lurking there.

I also found myself reflecting internally and thinking – wow – He has “began” a “good work” in me too. I bet my fruits of righteousness are about to pop out – but not yet – that’s in another verse.  Lol

Fourth — “the day of Christ Jesus.” That phrase is not sentimental. It is a judicial context that the prophets used. In the prophets, “the day of the Lord” was a day of reckoning and vindication. Paul applies that framework to Christ.

Which means his horizon is not simply that someday “things will work out.”  But rather, Christ is coming again!  Someday.

Now — here’s the connection as we get to verse 7-9 today.
7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. 8 God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,

If Paul believes God initiated something sacred among them, If he is historically settled in that confidence, If he sees their story moving toward Christ’s final vindication —
Then of course he says: Verse 7 - “It is right for me to feel this way…”

His affection is not emotional excess. It is eschatological (what happens when Jesus returns) logic. He feels deeply because he sees clearly.

Short Pause in the blog
By the end of today, we are nearly halfway through memorizing an entire chapter of Scripture.

If you had told yourself last week that you’d have half of Philippians 1 lodged somewhere in your frontal lobe, you probably would’ve laughed and reached for more coffee. And yet — here we are.

Some of you are cruising.
Some of you are muttering verses in the shower like a spiritual lunatic.
Some of you are discovering that your brain has strong opinions about word order.

All of that counts.  So let me provide one quick Tip for the Day here!

Tip For the Day: Verse 9 begins a whole new train of thought and is not a complete sentence.  It would not hurt for you to only memorize 7 and 8 today.  

Two verses only today if you want too.   Then start tomorrow with 9-11.  

Why not – verse 12 is another new start to a train of thought and has three verses. I know I laid out the plan on a strict three verse boundry – but I am finding it easier to not have - half sentences at the end of the day.
 
Day Three - Philippians 1:7-9.  (Yes I will discuss verse 9 today).

Paul writes: “It is right for me to feel this way about all of you…”
That word “right” isn’t Hallmark sentiment. It’s dikaion — just, proper, morally fitting. Paul is saying his emotional intensity is theologically justified.

That’s interesting. Because most of us separate theology and emotion. Paul doesn’t.  He is connecting the Love of God he feels on himself to and outflowing of Love from God he sends to the Philippians. I found that helpful – his near apology was odd and then I got it.

Now before we move further, we need to deal with the chains…

How exactly is Paul writing letters from prison? When we hear “prison,” we picture isolation. Silence. No contact. That’s not what Paul is experiencing.

Most scholars believe Philippians was written during Paul’s first Roman imprisonment (around AD 60–62), described in Acts 28. He wasn’t in a dungeon. He was under house arrest. Acts 28:16 says he was allowed to live by himself, “with a soldier to guard him.”

Acts 28:30 says he welcomed all who came to see him and proclaimed the kingdom of God boldly and without hindrance.

That phrase — without hindrance — is almost humorous. He’s chained. But unhindered.
Which explains verse 7: “…whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel…”
He is literally chained to a Roman guard. Likely rotated every few hours. That means the Praetorian Guard — Caesar’s elite soldiers — are hearing the gospel on repeat. Tomorrow that becomes very important.

Now, what does he mean by “defending and confirming”?

“Defending” (apologia) is legal language. It’s courtroom speech. Paul is awaiting trial before Caesar. He is preparing to articulate why the message of Jesus is not treason against Rome.

“Confirming” (bebaiōsis) carries the idea of establishing something as valid or guaranteed. His suffering isn’t undermining the gospel — it’s authenticating it.

And yes — if you’ve read Corinthians, you can see the contrast between this letter to Philippi and the two he sends to Corinth. In Corinth, Paul has to defend his apostleship because false teachers are undermining him. He spends whole sections saying, “Am I not an apostle?” and reluctantly listing credentials.

But here? He doesn’t defend himself. The Philippians aren’t questioning his authority. They are partnering in his chains. They sent financial support (Phil 4:14–16). They identify with him publicly. (Wait till next week when I describe Philippi in more detail to you...  wow)

So, when he says they “share in grace” with him, that includes sharing in the stigma. This isn’t abstract theology. To align with a prisoner awaiting trial under Nero was risky. Their partnership costs them something.

Which makes his affection even deeper! This is why it is a joyful love letter!

And now verse 8 hits differently: “God can testify how I long for all of you…”

Paul is a Roman citizen - He is chained to Rome — but emotionally he is anchored in Philippi. Yet, somehow, the gospel is not stalled. It is spreading through prison walls.
Which raises a question for us: If the gospel advanced through chains… what exactly do we think is holding it back in our lives?

I was thinking about this in the morning – by his action’s others were witnessing the Gospel in action.  Made me wonder if I do a good enough job of that.  How about all of you? Can folks tell you are a Christian?

Back to verse 8 - “God can testify how I long for all of you…” That’s oath language.
Paul is effectively saying, If you doubt me, call God to the stand. He isn’t being dramatic. He’s being precise. He knows affection can be misread. Leaders can sound strategic. Polite. Politically warm.

So he invokes God as witness.  And then he says something even more layered: “…with the affection of Christ Jesus.”

That word “affection” is splagchna. It literally refers to the inward parts — the gut, the internal organs. In the ancient world, that was the seat of deep emotion. Paul is saying that “with all I have within…”

This is not surface fondness, but more of a visceral attachment. But here’s the part that stops me: He says it is the affection of Christ Jesus.

Not merely affection for Christ. Not merely affection from Paul. But Christ’s own affection flowing through him toward them. That reframes Christian community entirely.
Paul is not generating this love through personality strength. He is participating in Christ’s love for the church.

Which makes sense. Because if you are chained to a guard for months at a time, your emotional reserves would thin out quickly unless the source was bigger than you.

Now for verse 9.  Read this tomorrow if you are stopping today at 8.
This is where Paul shifts from affection to formation: “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight…”

Notice what he does not pray. He does not pray for their comfort or for his release or even pray first for their safety. He prays for their love. But not vague love or sentimental love.

 He prays that their love would abound — overflow, exceed limits — and in two specific directions:
Knowledge (epignōsis) — full, experiential knowledge. Not trivia or collecting data. But deep relational understanding of God and His ways.
Depth of insight (aisthēsis) — moral perception. Discernment. The ability to sense what is fitting and true.

I will talk about this more tomorrow because there is a comma here and the next verse (10) stopped me in my tracks!  You’ll have to wait and see why
.
Back to Knowledge and Insight a moment - You know, we often separate these things. Some of us lean toward emotion without depth. Some lean toward knowledge without tenderness. Paul refuses that split.

The mature Christian life is not hotter feelings or sharper arguments. It is love growing wiser.

And again – I have to keep reminding myself where this is being written. From a man in chains, awaiting trial and uncertain of his future.

Tomorrow, we’ll see where that kind of discerning love leads.

Spoiler: it gets even more precise.

Prayer
Lord,
Thank You for beginning a work You intend to finish.
Settle our confidence in Your faithfulness.
Grow our love — not just wider, but wiser.
Shape our hearts with truth, and steady us when circumstances feel restrictive.
Carry Your work in us all the way to completion.
Amen.

I wish I had thought of this Sunday but here is a link to the BibleProjct overviewof the Letter tot he Philippians.  It is a great insight into what is going on.