Filipenses 1

ARC · Chapter 1/4

1Paulo e Timotheo, servos de Jesus Christo, a todos os sanctos em Christo Jesus, que estão em Philippos, com os bispos e diaconos:

2Graça a vós, e paz da parte de Deus nosso Pae e da do Senhor Jesus Christo.

3Dou graças ao meu Deus todas as vezes que me lembro de vós,

4Fazendo sempre com gosto oração por vós em todas as minhas orações,

5Pela vossa communicação no evangelho desde o primeiro dia até agora.

6Tendo por certo isto mesmo, que aquelle que em vós começou a boa obra, a aperfeiçoará até ao dia de Jesus Christo;

7Como tenho por justo sentir isto de vós todos, porquanto retenho em meu coração que todos vós fostes participantes da minha graça, tanto nas minhas prisões como na minha defeza e confirmação do evangelho.

8Porque Deus me é testemunha das muitas saudades que de todos vós tenho, em entranhavel affeição de Jesus Christo.

9E peço isto: que a vossa caridade abunde mais e mais em sciencia e em todo o conhecimento,

10Para que approveis as coisas excellentes, para que sejaes sinceros, e sem escandalo algum até ao dia de Christo;

11Cheios de fructos de justiça, que são por Jesus Christo, para gloria e louvor de Deus.

12E quero, irmãos, que saibaes que as coisas que me aconteceram contribuiram para maior proveito do evangelho.

13De maneira que as minhas prisões em Christo foram manifestas em toda a guarda pretoriana, e em todos os demais logares;

14E muitos dos irmãos no Senhor, tomando animo com as minhas prisões, ousam fallar a palavra mais confiadamente, sem temor.

15Verdade é que tambem alguns prégam a Christo por inveja e porfia, mas outros tambem de boamente.

16Uns por amor, sabendo que fui posto para defeza do evangelho.

17Mas outros, na verdade, annunciam a Christo por contenção, não puramente, cuidando accrescentar afflicção ás minhas prisões.

18Mas que importa? comtanto que Christo seja annunciado em toda a maneira, ou com fingimento ou em verdade, n'isto me regozijo, e me regozijarei ainda.

19Porque sei que d'isto me resultará salvação, pela vossa oração e pelo soccorro do Espirito de Jesus Christo,

20Segundo a minha intensa expectação e esperança, de que em nada serei confundido; antes, com toda a confiança, Christo será, tanto agora como sempre, engrandecido no meu corpo, seja pela vida seja pela morte.

21Porque para mim o viver é Christo, e o morrer é ganho.

22Mas, se o viver na carne este é o fructo da minha obra, não sei então o que deva escolher.

23Porque de ambos os lados estou em aperto, tendo desejo de ser desatado, e estar com Christo, porque isto é ainda muito melhor.

24Mas julgo mais necessario, por amor de vós, ficar na carne.

25E confio n'isto, e sei que ficarei, e permanecerei com todos vós, para proveito vosso e gozo da fé.

26Para que a vossa gloria abunde por mim em Christo Jesus, pela minha nova ida a vós.

27Sómente vos porteis dignamente conforme o evangelho de Christo, para que, quer vá e vos veja, ou quer esteja ausente, ouça ácerca de vós, que estaes n'um mesmo espirito, combatendo juntamente com o mesmo animo pela fé do evangelho.

28E em nada vos espanteis dos que resistem, o que para elles, na verdade, é indicio de perdição, mas para vós de salvação, e isto de Deus.

29Porque a vós vos foi gratuitamente concedido, em relação a Christo, não sómente crêr n'elle, como tambem padecer por elle,

30Tendo o mesmo combate, que já em mim tendes visto, e agora ouvis de mim.

📖 Chapter study

Summary

Paul, writing from prison, expresses deep gratitude and affection for the Philippians, praying for their growth in love and discernment. He explains that his imprisonment, far from hindering the gospel, has actually helped spread it even further, and declares that for him to live is Christ and to die is gain.

Explanation

Philippians is known as the “epistle of joy,” written by Paul while in prison, likely in Rome, yet filled with gratitude and confidence rather than bitterness. He recounts how his imprisonment, instead of silencing the gospel, encouraged other believers to preach with greater boldness, and even the guards of the imperial palace heard about Christ because of his situation. The famous statement “for to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (v.21) sums up Paul’s outlook in the face of the real possibility of execution: he does not fear death, since that would mean being with Christ, but he also sees value in continuing to live in order to serve the church. The practical application today is to find purpose and genuine joy even in difficult circumstances, trusting that God can use adverse situations to advance his purposes.

Fun facts

  • Philippi was the first European city where Paul preached the gospel, an event recorded in Acts 16, including the conversion of Lydia, a merchant of purple cloth, and the dramatic conversion of the jailer after an earthquake.
  • The mention of the “praetorian guard” (v.13) strongly suggests that Paul was writing from Rome, since this was the elite military unit responsible for the personal security of the Roman emperor.

Verse-by-verse explanation

  1. Filipenses 1:1Philippi was a Roman colony full of army veterans, proud of their Roman citizenship — that same pride in belonging to an organized community is what Paul draws on when he greets “the bishops and deacons.” A bishop (episcopos) was the overseer who cared for the local house-church, and a deacon handled practical matters like distributing aid to the poor; the later structure of a bishop over a whole city didn’t exist yet. These were just two service roles in a small community that met in homes.
  2. Filipenses 1:2Paul’s greeting of grace and peace is his standard opening, but here it carries a warmer tone than usual, fitting how close he was to this particular church.
  3. Filipenses 1:3Paul opens the personal part of the letter saying that every time he thinks of the Philippians, his automatic reaction is to thank God, not complain or find fault.
  4. Filipenses 1:4Paul explains that his prayers for them are not a tiresome duty: he prays with genuine joy every time he remembers the church at Philippi.
  5. Filipenses 1:5Paul gives thanks specifically for the Philippians’ partnership in the gospel from their first contact until that very moment, a long friendship and collaboration.
  6. Filipenses 1:6Paul expresses confidence that God, who began the work of transformation in the Philippians, will carry it on and finish it until the day Christ returns.
  7. Filipenses 1:7Paul writes from inside a Roman prison, likely under house arrest in Rome awaiting trial before the emperor — which is why he keeps mentioning “my bonds” as the backdrop of the letter. It wasn’t an ordinary jail: he could receive visitors and write letters, but he lived chained to a soldier, not knowing if he would come out alive. That climate of uncertainty explains why the book talks so much about dying and living at once.
  8. Filipenses 1:8Paul reinforces, almost like an oath, the sincerity of how much he misses the Philippians, using a strong word for affection that echoes the very love of Christ.
  9. Filipenses 1:9Paul reveals the content of his prayer for them: that their love would grow more and more, but paired with knowledge and discernment, not just feeling.
  10. Filipenses 1:10Paul explains the purpose of that discerning love: to help the Philippians tell what really matters, living sincerely and without cause for offense until Christ’s day.
  11. Filipenses 1:11Paul closes the prayer wishing that their lives produce the practical fruits of righteousness, which come only through Jesus Christ, resulting in glory to God.
  12. Filipenses 1:12Paul reassures the Philippians about his imprisonment: instead of hindering the gospel, it actually ended up helping it spread even further.
  13. Filipenses 1:13The Praetorian Guard was the elite troop that protected the emperor himself in Rome — the soldiers closest to the center of imperial power. Paul says that even while imprisoned, his situation became known among these soldiers, which he sees as a victory: news of Christ reached the very center of the power holding him.
  14. Filipenses 1:14Paul says his imprisonment had an unexpected effect: many other Christians gained courage to preach more boldly, without fear, seeing his example.
  15. Filipenses 1:15Paul admits that not everyone who started preaching more after this had good intentions: some did it out of envy or rivalry toward him.
  16. Filipenses 1:16Paul highlights the other group, the ones who preached out of genuine love, knowing he was there specifically to defend the gospel before the authorities.
  17. Filipenses 1:17Paul describes the group motivated by rivalry in more detail: they preached insincerely, hoping to make his situation in prison even worse.
  18. Filipenses 1:18Despite some people’s bad intentions, Paul shrugs off the motive and rejoices in the result: one way or another, Christ is being proclaimed, and that is enough for him.
  19. Filipenses 1:19Paul expresses confidence that this whole situation will turn out well for him, thanks to the Philippians’ prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.
  20. Filipenses 1:20Paul describes his deepest hope: not to be ashamed, but that Christ would be magnified through him, whatever the outcome of the trial, whether he lives or dies.
  21. Filipenses 1:21Paul sums up the dilemma of someone imprisoned awaiting a trial that could end in execution: if he keeps living, his whole life already revolves around Christ; if he dies, he counts death as “gain,” not loss, because it would bring him even closer to Christ. It isn’t a wish to die out of despair — it’s the logic of someone who no longer sees his own life as separate from his faith.
  22. Filipenses 1:22After saying that to live is Christ and to die is gain (previous verse), Paul reflects: staying alive would mean more fruitful work, so even he isn’t sure which of the two he would choose.
  23. Filipenses 1:23Paul describes the dilemma with honesty: he feels torn between two desires, to depart and be with Christ, which would be even better for him personally.
  24. Filipenses 1:24Paul resolves the dilemma by thinking of others: staying alive, even though it is worse for him in a certain sense, is more necessary for the Philippians’ sake.
  25. Filipenses 1:25Paul expresses a practical confidence that he will remain alive and stay with them, to help their faith move forward and grow in joy.
  26. Filipenses 1:26Paul anticipates the result of a future visit: seeing him again will make the Philippians’ joy in Christ increase even more.
  27. Filipenses 1:27Paul uses words here that the Philippians, proud citizens of a Roman colony, recognized well: terms of citizenship and military training side by side. He asks the church to behave as one united body, like a troop that never breaks rank, when facing opposition from outside.
  28. Filipenses 1:28Paul asks them not to be frightened by outside opponents: in his view, that opposition is a sign the opponents are lost, while the Philippians are saved.
  29. Filipenses 1:29Paul reminds them that Christian faith doesn’t come alone: along with the privilege of believing in Christ comes also the privilege of suffering for Him, as part of the same package.
  30. Filipenses 1:30Paul ties this struggle to his own example: the Philippians face the same kind of conflict they already saw in him and keep hearing about through the letter.

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