Gospel Partnership

Paul usually begins his letters with the designation “apostle,” but here he describes himself and Timothy as “servants of Christ Jesus” (1). This is significant, given the servant nature of Jesus himself (2:7). For their part, the Philippians are called “God’s holy people,” or “saints,” a title used for Old Testament Israel but now applied to all those who are “in Jesus Christ”–Gentiles as well as Jews. Like them, we too are privileged recipients of grace and peace (2).Paul regularly gives thanks to God for the congregations to whom he writes–for the way God is working in their lives. The main focus of his thankfulness here is their “partnership in the Gospel” (5). The Gospel is the message of what God has done in Christ for the salvation of the world, but the Philippians share with Paul in its ministry. As such, Paul is confident–not just because of their good work, but because of his assurance that God is at work in them. Our confidence, too, is rooted in the God who does what he sets out to do.