OUR FATHER WHO OFFERS GRACE AND PEACE THROUGH THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

The Apostle Paul, writing to the believers in the city of Phillipi, starts of with an introduction of himself as a bondservant along with his protege Timothy.

He then warmly greets the Phillippians with grace and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ. Paul tells them of his gratitude to God when he remembers them every time he prayed for them and he recalled how they started in the fellowship in the gospel from the very beginning with confidence that what Jesus began in them He would surely complete it until the great day of the Lord.

The Apostle declared that his delight in them was valid because they were a sign that the bondage he had been placed in was not in vain.

Paul prays that the Phillippians would grow in love as well as in knowledge and disernment so that they would only accept things of excellence and be sincere and filled with the fruits of righteousness.

Phillippians chapter 1 verses 1 - 11 reads this way;

1 Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, 5 for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; 7 just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace. 8 For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.

9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, 10 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, 11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Amen.

6