Philippians

Paul greets the saints in Philippi with Timothy, thanks God for their partnership, and shares how his imprisonment advances the gospel, expressing that to live is Christ and to die is gain, while urging them to live worthy of the gospel.

Paul exhorts believers to unity and humility, imitating Christ's mindset (τοῦτο φρονεῖτε ἐν ὑμῖν ὃ καὶ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ), exemplified in the Christ Hymn (Philippians 2:5–11) where Jesus humbled himself in obedience to God the Father, even to death on a cross, and was exalted with the name above every name. He urges working out salvation with fear and trembling, commends Timothy and Epaphroditus as examples of selfless service.[1][3][5]

Paul warns against Judaizers ('dogs,' 'evil workers,' 'false circumcision'), lists his impeccable Jewish credentials as loss and rubbish for the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Iēsous, rejecting law-based righteousness for faith-righteousness, pressing on toward resurrection despite imperfection.[1][2] He condemns enemies of Christos' cross whose end is destruction and god their belly, contrasting with believers whose politeuma is in ouranos, awaiting Sōtēr Iēsous Christos who will transform their bodies like his glorious body.[1][2]

Paul urges the Philippians to stand firm in the Lord, pleads with Euodia and Syntyche to be of the same mind, encourages rejoicing, prayer, and meditation on virtuous things, and shares his secret of contentment through Christ who strengthens him.[1][2][3] He gratefully acknowledges their financial support via Epaphroditus as a pleasing sacrifice to God and assures them that God will supply all their needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.[1][2]