--- title: "Philippians 1 - Study King James Bible with barnes notes on the whole bible" description: "Read Philippians 1 with barnes notes on the whole bible commentary. 1 Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: 2 Grace be unto" image: "/_app/immutable/assets/missing.C7wGMEZ6.jpg" url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/barnes-notes-on-the-whole-bible/philippians/1" --- [ Read](/kjv/philippians/1)[ Commentary](/study/philippians/1)[ Interlinear](/interlinear/philippians/1) Audio 1 Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: 2 Grace *be* unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and *from* the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, 5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; 6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform *it* until the day of Jesus Christ: 7 Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace. 8 For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ. 9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and *in* all judgment; 10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; 11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. 12 But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things *which happened* unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; 13 So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other *places*; 14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. 15 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: 16 The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: 17 But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel. 18 What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice. 19 For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 20 According to my earnest expectation and *my* hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but *that* with all boldness, as always, *so* now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether *it be* by life, or by death. 21 For to me to live *is* Christ, and to die *is* gain. 22 But if I live in the flesh, this *is* the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. 23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: 24 Nevertheless to abide in the flesh *is* more needful for you. 25 And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith; 26 That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again. 27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; 28 And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. 29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; 30 Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear *to be* in me. [Ephesians 6](/study/ephesians/6) [Philippians 2](/study/philippians/2) ## Commentary To verse 1 **Paul and Timotheus -**Paul frequently unites some person with him in his epistles; see the notes at [1 Corinthians 1:1](/kjv/1-corinthians/1/1). It is clear from this, that Timothy was with Paul at Rome. Why he was there is unknown. It is evident that he was not there as a prisoner with Paul, and the probability is, that he was one of the friends who had gone to Rome with a view to show his sympathy with him in his sufferings; compare the notes at [2 Timothy 4:9](/kjv/2-timothy/4/9). There was special propriety in the fact that Timothy was joined with the apostle in writing the Epistle, for he was with him when the church was founded, and doubtless felt a deep interest in its welfare; [Acts 16:0](/kjv/acts/16/0). Timothy had remained in Macedonia after Paul went to Athens, and it is not improbable that he had visited them afterward. **The servants of Jesus Christ -**see the notes at [Romans 1:1](/kjv/romans/1/1). **To all the saints in Christ Jesus -**The common appellation given to the church, denoting that it was holy; see the notes, [Romans 1:7](/kjv/romans/1/7). **With the bishops -**σὺν επισκόποις sun episkopois; see the notes, [Acts 20:28](/kjv/acts/20/28). The word used here occurs in the New Testament only in the following places: [Acts 20:28](/kjv/acts/20/28), translated “overseers;” and [Philippians 1:1](/kjv/philippians/1/1); [1 Timothy 3:2](/kjv/1-timothy/3/2); [Titus 1:7](/kjv/titus/1/7); [1 Peter 2:25](/kjv/1-peter/2/25), in each of which places it is rendered as “bishop.” The word properly means an inspector, overseer, or guardian, and was given to the ministers of the gospel because they exercised this care over the churches, or were appointed to oversee their interests. It is a term, therefore, which might be given to any of the officers of the churches, and was originally equivalent to the term presbyter. It is evidently used in this sense here. It cannot be used to denote a diocesan bishop; or a bishop having the care of the churches in a large district of country, and of a superior rank to other ministers of the gospel, because the word is used here in the plural number, and it is in the highest degree improbable that there were dioceses in Philippi. It is clear, moreover, that they were the only officers of the church there except “deacons;” and the persons referred to, therefore, must have been those who were invested simply with the pastoral office. Thus, Jerome, one of the early fathers, says, respecting the word bishop: “A presbyter is the same as a bishop. And until there arose divisions in religion, churches were governed by a common counsel of presbyters. But afterward, it was everywhere decreed, that one person, elected from the presbyters, should be placed over the others.” “Philippi,” says he, “is a single city of Macedonia; and certainly there could not have been several like these who are now called bishops, at one time in the same city. But as, at that time, they called the same bishops whom they called presbyters also, the apostles spoke indifferently of bishops as of presbyters.” Annotations on the Epistle to Titus, as quoted by Dr. Woods on Episcopacy, p. 63. **And deacons -**On the appointment of deacons, and their duty, see the notes at [Acts 6:1](/kjv/acts/6/1). The word “deacons” does not occur before this place in the common version of the New Testament, though the Greek word rendered here as “deacon” frequently occurs. It is rendered “minister” and “ministers” in [Matthew 20:26](/kjv/matthew/20/26); [Mark 10:43](/kjv/mark/10/43); [Romans 13:4](/kjv/romans/13/4); [Romans 15:8](/kjv/romans/15/8); [1 Corinthians 3:5](/kjv/1-corinthians/3/5); [2 Corinthians 3:6](/kjv/2-corinthians/3/6); [2 Corinthians 6:4](/kjv/2-corinthians/6/4); [2 Corinthians 11:15](/kjv/2-corinthians/11/15), [2 Corinthians 11:23](/kjv/2-corinthians/11/23); [Galatians 2:17](/kjv/galatians/2/17); [Ephesians 3:7](/kjv/ephesians/3/7); [Ephesians 6:21](/kjv/ephesians/6/21); [Colossians 1:7](/kjv/colossians/1/7), [Colossians 1:23](/kjv/colossians/1/23), [Colossians 1:25](/kjv/colossians/1/25); [Colossians 4:7](/kjv/colossians/4/7); [1 Timothy 4:6](/kjv/1-timothy/4/6); “servant” and “servants,” [Matthew 22:13](/kjv/matthew/22/13); [Matthew 23:11](/kjv/matthew/23/11); [Mark 9:25](/kjv/mark/9/25); [John 2:5](/kjv/john/2/5), [John 2:9](/kjv/john/2/9); [John 12:26](/kjv/john/12/26); [Romans 16:1](/kjv/romans/16/1); and “deacon” or “deacons,” [Philippians 1:1](/kjv/philippians/1/1); [1 Timothy 3:8](/kjv/1-timothy/3/8), [1 Timothy 3:12](/kjv/1-timothy/3/12). The word properly means servants, and is then applied to the ministers of the gospel as being the servants of Christ, and of the churches. Hence, it came especially to denote those who had charge of the alms of the church, and who were the overseers of the sick and the poor. In this sense the word is probably used in the passage before us, as the officers here referred to were distinct in some way from the bishops. The apostle here mentions but two orders of ministers in the church at Philippi, and this account is of great importance in its bearing on the question about the way in which Christian churches were at first organized, and about the officers which existed in them. In regard to this we may remark: (1) That only two orders of ministers are mentioned. This is undeniable, whatever rank they may have held. (2) There is no intimation whatever that a minister like a prelatical bishop had ever been appointed there, and that the incumbent of the office was absent, or that the office was now vacant. If the bishop was absent, as Bloomfield and others suppose, it is remarkable that no allusion is made to him, and that Paul should have left the impression that there were in fact but two “orders” there. If there were a prelate there, why did not Paul refer to him with affectionate salutations? Why does he refer to the two other “orders of clergy” without the slightest allusion to the man who was set over them as “superior in ministerial rank and power?” Was Paul jealous of this prelate? But if they had a prelate, and the see was then vacant, why is there no reference to this fact? Why no condolence at their loss? Why no prayer that God would send them a man to enter into the vacant diocese? It is a mere assumption to suppose, as the friends of prelacy often do, that they had a prelatical bishop, but that he was then absent. But even granting this, it is an inquiry which has never been answered, why Paul did not make some reference to this fact, and ask their prayers for the absent prelate. (3) The church was organized by the apostle Paul himself, and there can be no doubt that it was organized on the “truly primitive and apostolic plan.” (4) The church at Philippi was in the center of a large territory; was the capital of Macedonia, and was not likely to be placed in subjection to the diocesan of another region. (5) It was surrounded by other churches, since we have express mention of the church at Thessalonica, and the preaching of the gospel at Berea; [Acts 17:0](/kjv/acts/17/0). (6) There is more than one bishop mentioned as connected with the church in Philippi. But these could not have been bishops of the Episcopal or prelatical order, if Episcopalians choose to say that they were prelates, then it follows: (a)That there was a plurality of such persons in the same diocese, the same city, and the same church - which is contrary to the fundamental idea of Episcopacy. It follows also, (b)That there was entirely missing in the church at Philippi what the Episcopalians call the “second order” of clergy; that a church was organized by the apostles defective in one of the essential grades, with a body of prelates without presbyters - that is, an order of men of “superior” rank designated to exercise jurisdiction over “priests” who had no existence. If there were such presbyters or “priests” there, why did not Paul name them? If their office was one that was contemplated in the church, and was then vacant, how did this happen? And if this were so, why is there no allusion to so remarkable a fact? (7) It follows, therefore, that in this church there were only two orders of officers; and further that it is right and proper to apply the term “bishop” to the ordinary ministers of the churches. As no mention is made of a prelate; as there are but two orders of men mentioned to whom the care of the church was entrusted, it follows that there was one church at least organized by the apostles without any prelate. (8) The same thing may be observed in regard to the distinction between “teaching” elders and “ruling” elders. No such distinction is referred to here; and however useful such an office as that of ruling elder may be, and certain as it is, that such an office existed in some of the primitive churches, yet here is one church where no such officer is found, and this fact proves that such an officer is not essential to the Christian church. ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#website","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com","name":"Real Bible Believers","description":"RBB","publisher":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#/schema/person/e966585dde703268e7f6ae890ea98509"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/search?q={search_term_string}","query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/barnes-notes-on-the-whole-bible/philippians/1#primaryimage","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/_app/immutable/assets/missing.C7wGMEZ6.jpg","contentUrl":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/_app/immutable/assets/missing.C7wGMEZ6.jpg","width":672,"height":448,"caption":"Real Bible Believers"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/barnes-notes-on-the-whole-bible/philippians/1#webpage","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/barnes-notes-on-the-whole-bible/philippians/1","name":"Philippians 1 - Study King James Bible with barnes notes on the whole bible","isPartOf":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/barnes-notes-on-the-whole-bible/philippians/1#primaryimage"},"author":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#/schema/person/e966585dde703268e7f6ae890ea98509"},"description":"Read Philippians 1 with barnes notes on the whole bible commentary. 1 Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: 2 Grace be unto","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/barnes-notes-on-the-whole-bible/philippians/1#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/barnes-notes-on-the-whole-bible/philippians/1"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/barnes-notes-on-the-whole-bible/philippians/1#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/","name":"Home"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/study","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/study","name":"Study Bible"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/barnes-notes-on-the-whole-bible","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/barnes-notes-on-the-whole-bible","name":"barnes notes on the whole bible"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"item":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/barnes-notes-on-the-whole-bible/philippians","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/barnes-notes-on-the-whole-bible/philippians","name":"Philippians"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":5,"item":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/barnes-notes-on-the-whole-bible/philippians/1","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/barnes-notes-on-the-whole-bible/philippians/1","name":"1"}}]},{"@type":["Person","Organization"],"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#/schema/person/e966585dde703268e7f6ae890ea98509","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#personlogo","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/android-chrome-512x512.png","contentUrl":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/android-chrome-512x512.png","width":512,"height":512},"logo":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#personlogo"},"sameAs":["https://twitter.com/RBiblebeliever","https://www.facebook.com/RBibleBelievers"]}]} ```