Philippians 1:2Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He adds the usual greeting, wishing them to be filled with grace, so that they may not exalt themselves over one another and thereby lose peace and oneness of mind. For grace is received by those who are free from pride.

“Grace to you and peace from God our Father,” who has called us into His adoption, “and from our Lord Jesus Christ,” and not through our Lord Jesus Christ.

It is evident that God is the Father, and Jesus Christ is our Lord. Should it not be thought that a lord is greater than a father? This is so among men. But between God the Father and Christ the Lord there is complete concord.

"Paul and Timothy, servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus, to all who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons" (Phil 1:1).

"Someone may ask," says St. Chrysostom, "why Paul writes to the clergy in no other Epistle, neither to the Romans, nor to the Corinthians, nor to the Ephesians, but generally to all the saints, or faithful, or beloved, while here he writes to the clergy.

The answer is that the clergy wrote, bestowed alms, and sent Epaphroditus to him.

"With the bishops and deacons: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."

Were there many bishops in one city? St. Chrysostom asks and answers, "No. The Apostle called the presbyters by this name. For at that time these names were still common. Even a bishop was called a deacon.

The Apostle's greeting is customary. Compare Rom 1:7 and 1 Cor 1:3. He imparts grace to them as the totality of all gifts, and wishes them peace before all else, as the first fruit of spiritual and grace-filled life.

"Grace is the active principle of God's life in man, and peace is the property of that life," says one recent commentator. "Grace brings with it all spiritual blessings, and peace is the tasting of these blessings."

Bishop Theophan gives special attention here to the fact that "the Apostle places everything in dependence upon Jesus Christ."

"God was well pleased that we should draw near to Him, and that every blessing should descend from Him to us, in no other way than through the Lord Jesus Christ.

Apart from Him no blessing comes from heaven to earth, and from earth there is no other ascent to heaven."

The Apostle sends the usual greeting to his readers not only from himself, but also in the name of his companion Timothy, who helped him order the Philippian Church. By mentioning bishops, that is, presbyters, cf. Acts 20:28, and deacons in the greeting, the Apostle probably wished to indicate the persons through whose hands the offerings presented to him by the Philippians had been gathered.

To say, "Grace to you and peace," is the same as saying, "I wish you every good thing from the Lord."

Peace means peace in the conscience with God, the pacification of the heart from passions and hostile attacks, and mutual concord in the family and in relations with others.

Grace means power given from above for the enlightenment of the mind, for guidance and strengthening in a life pleasing to God, and for most inward communion with God. Whoever has all this has everything that one thirsting for salvation can desire.

Here, as everywhere, the Apostle presents the Lord Jesus Christ as the source of blessings, placing Him nearer to us. After Him he also indicates God the Father, or God worshiped in Trinity.