A Guided Tour Through the First Chapter of Philippians

When touring a historic site, it can be beneficial to hire a guide to make sure you get the most out of your visit. If this is true for touring a historic site, then how much truer is it for studying the Word of God? Yes, a guide can be a tremendous help to us in our desire to know more about the Word of God and the God of the Word. In this post, we’re going to embark on a tour of the first chapter of Philippians by one of America’s best-known Bible teachers, Dr. Warren W. Wiersbe. Let’s look at five things we can learn from Philippians 1 in these excerpts from Dr. Wiersbe’s BE Series commentary on the Bible.

Joy Amid Trials

“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

– Philippians 1:21

In AD 62, Paul wrote Philippians from a Roman prison, chained, awaiting a trial that could end in freedom or execution (Acts 28:30–31). Yet joy permeates the letter, cited 19 times.

Contrast this with Mark Twain, the famed humorist whose public wit masked private despair. After his daughter Jean’s sudden death from an epileptic seizure in 1909, Twain, too ill to attend her funeral, told a friend, “I have never greatly envied anyone but the dead. I always envy the dead.” Having lost his wife and two other children earlier, his humor couldn’t shield him from grief’s weight.

Paul, however, echoed Jesus’ promise: “that my joy might remain in you” (John 15:11). Facing imprisonment, divisive believers (Phil. 1:15–17), scarcity, and worry, Paul’s single mind—“to live is Christ” (1:21)—triumphed. His chains built fellowship (1:1–11), spread the gospel (1:12–26), and defended its faith (1:27–30). Paul’s single-minded service to Christ framed his joy, rooted in purpose, not circumstance.

Respond: List three joy-stealers you face. Pray for a Christ-centered mind, then journal how this reframes one challenge today.

Joy in Gospel Partnership

“I thank my God every time I remember you… being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

– Philippians 1:3–6

Philippians 1:1–11 unveils Paul’s joy in the church he planted on his second missionary journey (Acts 16:12–40), a Roman colony in Macedonia. Writing from Rome in AD 62, bound by chains, he reflected on their bond despite hundreds of miles separating them. He held them in his mind (1:3–6), thanking God for their faithfulness—from Lydia’s conversion by the river to the jailer’s salvation after an earthquake.

In his heart (1:7–8), he loved them with Christ’s own affection, a tie unbroken by his plight. In his prayers (1:9–11), he sought their maturity in love and discernment, preparing them for Christ’s return. Their envoy, Epaphroditus, risked his life to bring aid (Phil. 2:25–30; 4:18), embodying this partnership. Paul saw their shared faith as a “good work” (1:6), begun by God and destined for completion, a source of joy no prison could dim. This unity, rooted in the gospel, thrived amid trials, proving fellowship fuels resilience.

Respond: Write or call a believer who’s stood by you. Thank them and pray Philippians 1:9–11 for their spiritual growth.

Chains as Gospel Catalysts

“Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.”

– Philippians 1:12–14

Philippians 1:12–26 chronicles Paul’s journey to Rome—arrested in Jerusalem for preaching (Acts 21:27–36), held two years in Caesarea (Acts 24), then shipwrecked en route (Acts 27). By AD 62, he was in a rented house, chained to Praetorian Guards (Acts 28:30). Yet he rejoiced: his chains advanced the gospel (1:12).

Praetorian Guards, elite soldiers of Caesar, heard Christ daily, some even believing (1:13); their shift changes gave Paul four new hearers every 24 hours. Roman believers, inspired, spoke boldly (1:14). Critics of Paul preached out of envy (1:15–17), hoping to worsen his lot, but Paul celebrated Christ’s name spreading nonetheless (1:18).

Facing a trial that could mean death, he aimed to honor Jesus (1:20). His single mind turned confinement into a mission hub. Showing joy flows from God’s purpose in his life, not in his freedom or circumstances. This “pioneer advance” broke new ground, proving trials can serve as opportunities to advance the gospel.

Respond: Name a “chain” limiting you. It may be a circumstance or a trial of some kind. Pray for God to open a gospel door through it, then share Christ with someone this week.

United Defense of the Gospel

“Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ… striving together as one for the faith of the gospel.”

– Philippians 1:27

Philippians 1:27–30 calls believers to defend the gospel’s truth, a mission Paul launched in Philippi on his second journey (Acts 16:12–40). There, he faced riots and imprisonment (Acts 16:19–24) after freeing a slave girl from demonic possession. In Rome by AD 62, chained, he urged consistency—living worthy of Christ (1:27a)—and unity, striving as one against opposition (1:27b).

Philippi’s church faced internal rifts, like Euodia and Syntyche’s feud (Phil. 4:2), risking division. Paul stressed confidence: suffering for Christ (1:29) proves to those around us that we have been saved, a privilege and opportunity he knew well—beaten in Philippi, now bound in Rome (1:30).

This shared struggle mirrored Jesus’ warning: “In the world you will have tribulation” (John 16:33). Satan targets this faith (Jude 3), but Paul’s resilience fostered joy through teamwork, relying on God’s strength. Their stand as heaven’s citizens (Phil. 3:20) defied earthly threats.

Respond: Study Philippians 1:27–30 with someone today. Pray together for unity and courage to defend the gospel in your community.

Christ Shines in Crisis

“I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.”

– Philippians 1:20

Philippians 1:20–26 captures Paul’s crisis after a grueling path: arrested in Jerusalem (Acts 21), jailed two years in Caesarea (Acts 24-26), shipwrecked (Acts 27), and now, in AD 62, facing trial in Rome. Chained, he could stay to serve or depart for Christ (1:23–25). Yet he rejoiced, aiming to exalt Jesus (1:20). His chains made Christ known to guards (1:13), critics preached Him despite envy (1:18), and his fate—life or death—glorified Him.

Torn between Philippi’s need for growth (1:25) and heaven’s gain, his single mind chose joy, trusting God’s plan. His body became a lens, bringing Christ near to a watching world, echoing “to live is Christ” (1:21). Unlike earthly fears, this crisis amplified faith, proving joy endures when Christ is central.

Respond: In your toughest moment, pray to exalt Christ. Share with someone how He’s your strength, sparking their hope.

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