December 15, 2021 — Philippians 1:1–11  

“I always pray with joy in my every prayer for all of you because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. For I am sure of this very thing, that the one who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. For it is right for me to think this about all of you, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel all of you became partners in Godʼs grace together with me. For God is my witness that I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. And I pray this, that your love may abound even more and more in knowledge and every kind of insight so that you can decide what is best, and thus be sincere and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.” Philippians 1:3–11  

It is common for Paul to begin his letters with an expression of thanksgiving. What is interesting about this statement of thanksgiving is that Paul uses the verb “deomai” which in Greek is  translated as “praying” and “prayers”. The verb praying here describes some sort of lack or deficiency, and so by extension means “to request” or “to beseech.” In this instance, we understand Paul to be praying requests for the people, although he doesn’t tell us immediately what the content of his request is. Paul then adds that he makes these requests “with joy.” This is unparalleled among Paul’s thanksgiving statements. In fact, many scholars point to joy as the hallmark of this letter. Joy, Paul says, comes with the gospel of Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit.  

Another interesting comment from Paul in this expression of thanksgiving is “koinōnia” (in Greek) here translated as “sharing”. Koinonia is translated differently in various parts of the New Testament, although usually as “fellowship”. Koinōnia is a word that expresses the essence of Christianity — something held in common, as opposed to something held in private; koinōnia refers to the community and its participants. 

This “Koinonia” is the body of Christ — the church — people working together to protect and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul prayed for the church in Philippi — Paul prays for our church today.

Let us pray,

Lord Jesus, our prayer is for the world, for all people to come to know Jesus and to share the gospel. Help us to celebrate and bring Koinonia every week. Amen.

Pastor Dave