“Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons”
“Paul and Timothy”
There are two primary landmarks in an introduction: the addresser and the addressee. The above phrase identifies the addressers. The Holy Spirit (using human instruments) is the real author of Scripture.
Here were an older and a younger man serving together. Timothy was a “vest pocket edition” of the Apostle Paul. This was a beautiful fellowship. An older man and a young man have little in common. Their desires, pursuits, and interests all differ. However, there was one thing they had in common—the Lord Jesus. Jesus Christ annihilates the distance that separates people.
They had a different cultural background from each other. Paul was a full-blooded Hebrew. Timothy was half Jew and half Gentile—he was a mongrel! He was neither Jew nor Gentile, fish nor fowl! Yet, here these men were together; Jesus Christ made the difference.
They were poles apart in their education. Paul was brought up at the feet of Gamaliel (Acts 22:3). He had the equivalent of graduate training today. He was well trained, not like the original 12 who were fishermen. He wrote half of the New Testament. But there is no record of Timothy having a formal education. He had no academic standing whatever. Yet, here they are, united in Christ. Only in Christ is there a common meeting ground.
“bondservants of Jesus Christ.”
Paul, as his custom was, set forth his relationship to Jesus Christ. There is no neutrality when it comes to Christ! He and Timothy were “bondservants of Jesus Christ.” In viewpoint, they were slaves, entirely given to Jesus Christ. There were 50 million slaves in the first century in the Roman Empire. A slave did not have the rights of an animal. Paul and Timothy had no rights: “We belong to Jesus—body, soul, and spirit. He can do anything he wants with us. We have relinquished our rights to our life. We belong to King Jesus.” That is where we find true liberty!
It will make very little difference where we stood regarding the great men of our day one hundred years from now. But in 100 years from now, it will be of utmost importance where we stand in reference to Jesus Christ. That will determine where we will be in eternity; it will demarcate how we lived our lives in time.
Are you interested in becoming a slave? To be a slave of Jesus is to possess liberty that no one else can own. We are already slaves: “Whosoever sins is the slave of sin” (John 8:34). It is not a question of slavery; it is a question about who we are a slave to—sin or Jesus Christ.
Paul concluded his brilliant career in a dungeon, and he was promoted to heaven by a guillotine—Rome decapitated him. This a thumbnail sketch of the erstwhile Saul of Tarsus. He gave his life to Christ unflinchingly.
PRINCIPLE:
We serve the King out of appreciation.
APPLICATION:
We belong to King Jesus by virtue of his death for us on the cross. We should serve him out of appreciation.
Are you serving yourself? Are you willing to give yourself unreservedly to Jesus Christ? Will you serve Him out of gratitude?
Grace to you and peace Pastor… I don’t know if you remember me. I met you at the Christocentric conference in Indiana Pa. I was sitting beside Pastor Troy when we were out at Lukenbach .. If you don’t remeber me thats O.K. I just wanted to say that I am enjoying the teachings here on Philippians.. I been doing my own study on the person of The Lord Jesus Christ in the book of Philippians.. Im blessed to enjoy the fruits of your labor in this book and also the labor of many others in their service to The Lord in the study of the scriptures.. There is such a pleroma and wealth of teaching made available to us all. My hope is to learn more of our great God and Saviour ..
P.S. I enjoyed your teaching at the Christocentric conference… Its always a special time for me especially the felowship of the saints in Christ Jesus.. Grace to you, peace and mercy be multiplied in Him Who is, who was and is to come….. Joe :o)
Joe,
Sorry for the delay in response. I was in Bangladesh last week ministering to Christian leaders.
Thanks for your encouraging words. I am blessed that people do not take for granted that because Verse-by-Verse Commentary is free that is it is not valuable.
God’s richest blessing on your life,
Grant
Hello Dr. Grant you have truly been a blessing with the information you have provided Continue to allow God to use you I was wondering are you in the process of doing verse-by-verse with the entire bible if so how can I get a copy and lastly do you have resources that I can purchase concerning expository teaching thanks in advance Grace to you Pastor
Derick, sorry for the delay in getting back to you. I just returned from overseas. As you can see Verse-by-Verse Commentary is very detailed so it takes a long time to do a given book. I am just beginning to start Romans again because I have been working on a book (Certainty, a Place to Stand) which will come out this week. You can order Verse-by-Verse (different than this website but a DVD by the best Bible Software in the world–Logos) by going to the right column. See endorsements on my home page.
Beloved Dr. Grant,
I just want to say that your ministry is a very helpful for me & i know to everybody who visit your site & i praise GOD for you for your hardworking in verse by verse comments in every books in the Bible.
I know this is a very hard job knowing this is a free service from you i praise again GOD for your generous heart may GOD bless & keep you…
You are really a great blessing i appreciate all your works SIR!
I am sorry for my english grammar.
Dear Brother Dr Grant
I have just come to know your teaching for what I have been longing for. We are doing verse by verse bible study in our church .we finished book of philippian but after reading your teaching,I like to do again.such excellent commentary you made.Thank you Sir.I am pastor Devadas from India.
Devadas, thank you for your comments. There are 24 commentaries on books of the Bible verse-by-verse for your availability free. I have ministered many times in India. I love the Christians there.