Philippians 1:1

King James Version (KJV)

Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

Translations

Philippians 1:1 - Amplified Bible

PAUL AND Timothy, bond servants of Christ Jesus (the Messiah), to all the saints (God's consecrated people) in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the bishops (overseers) and deacons (assistants):

Philippians 1:1 - American Standard Version

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus that are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

Philippians 1:1 - Bible in Basic English

Paul and Timothy, servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, with the Bishops and Deacons of the church:

Philippians 1:1 - Darby Bible

Paul and Timotheus, bondmen of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with [the] overseers and ministers;

Philippians 1:1 - English Standard Version

Paul and Timothy, servants

Philippians 1:1 - King James Version

Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

Philippians 1:1 - La Biblia de las Americas

Pablo y Timoteo, siervos de Cristo Jesùs:
A todos los santos en Cristo Jesùs que están en Filipos, incluyendo a los obispos y diáconos:

Philippians 1:1 - The Message

Paul and Timothy, both of us committed servants of Christ Jesus, write this letter to all the followers of Jesus in Philippi, pastors and ministers included. We greet you with the grace and peace that comes from God our Father and our Master, Jesus Christ.

Philippians 1:1 - New American Standard Bible

Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus,
To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons:

Philippians 1:1 - Nueva Biblia Latinoamericana de Hoy

Pablo y Timoteo, siervos de Cristo Jesùs:
A todos los santos en Cristo Jesùs que están en Filipos, incluyendo a los obispos (supervisores) y diáconos:

Philippians 1:1 - World English Bible

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus; To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:

Philippians 1:1 - Young's Living Translation

Paul and Timotheus, servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with overseers and ministrants;

Philippians 1:1 - Additional Comments

Philippi was a chief city of the western part of Macedonia (Acts 16:12). Macedonia, generally covering the mainland area of modern Greece, was established as a kingdom around 700 B.C. Under Philip II of Macedon (359-336 B.C.), from whom Philippi was named, the mountain tribes of Macedonia were unified and exercised dominion over the whole of mainland Greece. Philip had fortified the city to defend it from attacks. His son, Alexander the Great, overthrew Persia and founded the largest Near Eastern empire then known, which maintained dynastic rule throughout the East Mediterranean until the rise of Roman power.
Philippi was the first city in Europe to receive the gospel. Paul first visited there on his second missionary journey (Acts 16:12-40), around AD 49 or 50. Luke was with Paul there, but when Paul left the city, Luke stayed behind. In Philippi, Lydia (the seller of purple) became a Christian, and housed Paul and company. There Paul exorcised the demon from the slave girl who was telling the future for the prophet of her masters. They got Paul to be beaten with rods and put Paul in prison. There the earthquake came, and opened the doors. The prison guard saw what happened, that they hadn't left, and became a Christian, he and his household. Paul and company were released the next day, and were asked to leave Philippi.
Later, Paul spent 3 months in Macedonia, chiefly in Philippi (Acts 20:1-6), around AD 56 or 57.
Philippians was written by Paul from the Roman prison, one of 4 letters from prison in Rom (1:7-13), around AD 61 or 62. He adds Timothy as a sender of the letter to honor Timothy (see 2:19). Since he was instrumental in starting the church, he had strong affection for them, and called them his children. He acknowledges the receipt of a present they had sent him (4:18), and this when no other church communicated with him as concerning giving and receiving (4:15).
The subsequent development of Christianity in Philippi is well-attested, notably by a letter from Polycarp of Smyrna addressed to the community in Philippi around 160 and by funeral inscriptions.
Even though Paul was the author of this letter, he honors Timothy but adding him to it. This great apostle and minister still has his primary focus on being a servant to others. From the smallest to the greatest in the Christian world, those who are truly honoring Christ are those whose focus is to serve others (2 Cor 4:5). You can see this focus, as he addresses the lay people before the leaders, because their focus should also be as servants.
This is addressed to *all* the saints, regardless of their standing in the community. Paul was never one to distinguish between persons except for their faith. With these eyes is how he saw people, in the same way that Christ did. And this is what we are challenged to do - without partiality (James 2:1). Think of each saint as they stand before God, clothed in righteousness (Gal 3:27), with *everything* else left behind.
But Paul also honored the bishops (elders) and deacons, as they have shown themselves worthy of distinction because of their service to Christ.
Paul started the church in Philippi, and apparently now the church was solid and healthy because it had this leadership.

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