PHILIPPIANS 1:1-2
1Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,
To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:
2Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
10 POINTS TO PONDER
Paul loved to partner with people. In all of his letters, he often names many people who are partnering with him in his ministry. Here, even though he is Timothy’s teacher, he chooses to name him as an equal. In doing so, Paul demonstrates the humility that is necessary to lead like Jesus.
Even though Paul did great things for Jesus, and even though he was perhaps responsible for more church growth than anyone else in his lifetime, he still viewed himself as a servant to Jesus. He served Jesus because Jesus had done so much for him.
The first group Paul addresses is the “saints”. The Greek word here is most literally translated, “the holy”. Paul was making a statement about WHO they were, not WHAT they had done. They hadn’t acted holy, they had been made holy by Jesus. That’s why he wrote that they were “holy in Christ Jesus.”
The second group, the overseers, were called by a title familiar to everyone at the time. ἐπίσκοπος was the word and it usually referred to people who were appointed by a higher authority to watch over a community. The intent was not that they “control” people, but that they “protect” people.
The third group mentioned by Paul is the deacons. In Matthew 20:26-27, Jesus said that whoever wants to be first must choose to be a servant and a slave. The word Jesus used for “servant” is the same word Paul uses here for “deacon.” The point is clear: leaders in a church must choose to serve the people of the church.
Paul uses the expression “grace and peace” in almost all of his writings. It would appear that these two concepts are absolutely foundational in the life of the church.
Grace and peace are central to the person of Jesus. Isaiah calls Him the “Prince of Peace”, Ephesians says that “He Himself is our peace.” John describes Jesus as being “full of grace and truth.”
In every usage by Paul, grace precedes peace. We can observe that “grace” is the input; it’s what we give. Peace is the outcome for a person or community that is generous with grace.
Those who receive God’s grace can live at peace with God. Those who give grace to others can live at peace with them. Where conflict reigns, grace is usually absent.
Do you love that God has extended GRACE to you? Extend GRACE to others. Do you love that God has pursued PEACE with you? Pursue PEACE with others.
WHERE PEACE IS ABSENT, GRACE IS LIKELY LACKING
C riticism
O ffended easily
N egative perspective
F ault-finding
L isting past wrongs
I nterupting
C omplaining
T earing Down
CHOOSING A GRACE-FIRST MINDSET
- GIVE the benefit of the doubt
- REMEMBER what Jesus did for you
- ACCEPT that you cannot control others
- CHOOSE compliments over criticism
- EXPECT less
Click on the image to download the DiscipleQuest PDF
The DiscipleQuest PDF includes 7 days of verse study prompts. You can use these seven studies to dig deeper into what the Bible teaches about giving grace:
- Proverbs 16:24
- Ephesians 4:29
- 1 Peter 4:8
- Colossians 4:6
- Luke 6:36-37
- James 2:13
- Proverbs 15:1
Use these questions as journal prompts or as conversation starters with a group of friends or a Bible study group:
How would you describe a person who is “grace-filled”? What do you think would be their strong character traits? What would be their weaker character traits?
How does God show himself to be “grace-filled”?
Read Ephesians 2:4-5. How would you summarize these verses in one sentence? What are the most important words in these verses?
What do you think it means to be “dead in our sins”? (Read Galatians 5:19-22 for a list) Where do you see yourself (or your former self) in this list?
How have you experienced the grace of God in your life?
Have a few group members share stories about times other people have extended God’s grace to them. How did it impact their life?
As a group, make a list of opportunities you might have to show grace to other people. When is it easy to show grace to people? When is it difficult to show grace to people?
How would your life be different if you were determined to be a person who showed grace to everyone with whom you came into contact? Are there limits to the amount of grace you should show some people? Why or why not?
For groups with families: How would your family life change if everyone in your house tried to show more grace to one another?
How can this group be a more grace-filled place? How can you be a more grace-filled person? What are some specific next steps?
PHILIPPIANS: Line by Line
1-2: Grace and Peace
1a. Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus:
Paul chooses to define himself in two powerful ways. First, in his relationship with someone else. Even though Paul was the teacher, mentor, and leader of Timothy, he chose to describe their relationship as equals. Secondly, he defines himself as a servant of Jesus. Although Paul had much he could be proud of, and he had plenty of reasons he could have grasped for power and recognition, he chose to humble himself before God and before others.
1b. To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi,
Paul is teaching the new Christians how they should view themselves. Their first loyalty is to Jesus; their second loyalty is to their city. To be “in Christ” means to be fully submitted to His will, His plan, His commands, and His values. When one is so fully united with Jesus, they realize that they are more connected to their brothers and sisters in Christ from other countries than they are to the non-believers of their own.
1c. …including the overseers and the deacons.
Just as Paul named Timothy as a partner, he is reminding the leaders of the Philippian church that they also are partners with all the saints. God’s church is not a place where His people should play politics or grasp for power and position. The church is one body, fully submitted to the headship of Jesus. The body does not exist for the sake of the leaders, and the leaders are not separate from the body. The body “includes” the leaders, and the leaders work “together” with the body.
2. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
We are at peace with God because He extended grace to us in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. In the same way, we can be at peace with others if we are willing to extend grace to them. Where peace is lacking, grace is likely missing. Where grace is not given, peace will not grow. If you want to live at peace, be a person who extends grace.
Lake Bible Notes 
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