PAUL’S PRISON PRAYER 1:3-11 (Part 1)
The Philippian salutation is followed by a prayer. Physical
ministry to these believers due to his imprisonment, but his prayer ministry is
unlimited. We observe the text we see that this section is divided between
thanksgiving (v. 3-8) and request (9-11).
The thanksgiving is dominated by the pronoun “I” (v 3, 4, 7, 8, 9), while the request is dominated by the pronoun
“you” (v. 9, 10). However, the “I” is
always used in conjunction with “you” in this text:
I thank … remembrance
of you
My every prayer… for
you
I have you…
I long for you…’
I pray that your love
Thus, the “I” is always used in a selfless way, not in a
selfish way. The “I” always seeks out the “you” in this passage. “I” designates
Paul’s’ action, which cannot be separated from the Philippians. Paul’s action
has as its object the believers at Philippi . It
is the “I” of humility. “In his most dire need, he was benevolent, altruistic,
and other-centered,” observes Gromacki.[1]
Thanksgiving (1:3-8)
“I thank my God” (1:3) opens this first section of the
prison prayer. Thanksgiving is the first item of prayers by Paul. His thanksgiving
is always directed to God. It is also continual, for he is using the present
active indicative tense. In this case he adds the pronoun “my.” It denotes his
relationship with God; it is personal, not abstract nor impersonal. It denotes
not only a personal relationship, but a vital connection and dependence upon
God (cf. Acts 27:23; Gal. 2:20). It expresses intense devotion. It literally
reads: “the God of me.” “Gratitude to God is uppermost in Paul’s mind.”[2]
Gratitude is an element that drives us closer to God. It is the element of praising
and glorifying God. The lack thereof drives us away from God and robs Him of
glory (cf. Rom. 3:21).
The occasion of his prayer is “in all my remembrance of you”
(1:3). It is possible to translate this
phrase as “in all your remembrance of me,” but is not well supported.[3] However
both are valid translations. Paul’s gratitude is most likely based up his
memories of them, no doubt from their mutual ministry, fellowship, and
friendship in the gospel. Remembrance should spark our hearts to “always
offering prayer with joy” (1:4) for those believers we know, as it did in Paul.
(Interestingly the word prayer and request in verse 4 of the KJV is the same
Greek word).
The reasons for Paul’s thankfulness of the Philippians are
threefold:
1. “In view of your participation in the gospel from the
first day until now” (1:5). The word “for” as the KJV translates is not a
connective, but a preposition (epi) normally translated “upon.”[4] It
denotes the basis or ground upon which something is done.[5] It
is probably best to translate it as “because.” This verse sets forth three
things: First, their common participation or fellowship. The Greek is koinonia meaning
to share in; fellowship, communion or participation. It has a secondary meaning of contribution. Thus,
included in this idea of participation/fellowship may be the collection sent
for Paul’s ministry. Fellowship results in “tangible assistance.”[6] Paul
uses this word twice as often as other NT writers, often as a participant,
sharer (1 Cor. 10:18; 2 Cor. 1:7) or a partner (1 Cor. 10:20; 2 Cor. 8:23;
Philme 17).[7] Second, this participation/fellowship was “in
the gospel,” as well as grace (1:7), the Holy Spirit (2:1), suffering (3:20),
and in giving (4:14-15). It denotes active cooperation in ministry of taking
the gospel to the gentiles. The church
of Philippi
2. “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began
a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus” (1:6). Paul
is confident of both the Philippians and God. If the first reason of
thanksgiving centers upon the Philippians, the second centers on the work of
God. In verse 5 we saw the perseverance of saints; in verse 6 we see the
preservation of God. The two go hand in hand. One cannot persevere without the
preservation of God. Paul is confident in the work of God preserving them by
his work in them. God will not fail them in the work of ministry and in the
gospel. Here is the secret behind their participation in the gospel. First, what
God began was the good work. “He who began a good work in you” speaks of God’s
personal involvement in their lives and ministry from the very start. It began
in salvation. It has been noticed that the personal pronoun is used, and not
the name of God. Hendricksen notes that this is often done to emphasize the
activity of God,[8] rather
than the person of God. God’s preservation includes: an unending faithfulness
by God (Psa. 89:33), no separation (Rom. 8:29-30); the sealing of the
Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13-14), and His ability to keep His word (Rom. 4:21). It is
not our work, but God working in and through us as the reason we can persevere.
It is a co-labor relationship (1 Cor. 3:9; Phil. 2:12-13). Perseverance cannot
be created by the Philippians; rather it is the creative work or activity of
God, initiated by Him and will be completed by Him through the means of the
Philippians. God began the good work and He will finish it. He “will perfect it
until the day of Christ Jesus.” The word perfect (epiteleo) means to bring to
an end, complete, or realization. It speaks of His faithfulness (cf. 1 Thess.
5:24). It denotes certainty of completion and the assurance of that completion.
The time of completion is in the day of Christ Jesus. This speaks of the day in
which Christ comes for His church. It involves the resurrection and translation
of the saints (1 Cor. 15:51-53; 1 Thess. 4:16-17). Then we shall be what we
should be. We will be glorified in His sight (Rom. 8:30).
3. He is thankful for their relationship with one another.
“For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you
in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation
of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me” (1:7). While scholars
see an end of thanksgiving with verse 6,[9] I
think verse 7 indicates a new thought or reason for Paul’s thanksgiving for
this assembly. Hawthorne notes that Paul “frequently begins a sentence with
kathos not followed by outos, and in so doing gives to kathos something of the
meaning of “because”…He does that here and thus connects v 7 with vv3-6 to show
that his gratitude to God for each one of the Philippians, his joy over them,
his confident expectation of their constant fidelity, are feeling on his part
that are justly and rightly due them.”[10]
It is a reinforcement or confirmation of his feelings and thankfulness for
them. His affection for them is a spring to his thankfulness. The object is
that they “all are partakers of grace with me.” He was thankful because they
were sharers of grace together (with me). They share the grace of suffering
(bonds) and the ministry. “Both had been saved by grace, and both were
experiencing sustaining grace in the midst of their respective trials” says
Gromacki.[11] It is a reference to God’s sustaining grace
working through His people. They shared that grace together. It speaks of the
process of His completing His work in them
This affection and thankfulness created in him a desire for
them. “For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of
Christ Jesus” (1:8). He expresses that God witnesses his desire and longing for
them. The text brings out that this longing was a strong intense desire. The
object of this desire was them (for you), not their gifts (cf. Phil. 4:1). His
desire was wrapped in the affection of Christ. It was an affection that was
patterned after (Phil 2:5), and energized by Christ’s love (cf. Gal. 2:20).[12]
[1] Gromacki, STAND UNITED IN JOY, 34.
[2] O’Brien, NIGTC: PHILIPPIANS, 56.
[3] On this see Hawthorne , WBC: PHILIPPIANS, 16. However, O’Brien supports it,
58.
[4] Gromacki, 38
[5] Silva, PHILIPPIANS, 50
[6] Hawthorne ,
19.
[7] William Hendricksen, NTC:PHILIPPIANS, 94.
[8] Hendricksen, 54.
[9] O’Brien, 65.
[10] Hawthorne ,
22.
[11] Gromacki, 42.
[12] Hendricksen, 58.
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