Advent Season · Second Sunday of Advent · Year C
Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11
Thanksgiving and Prayer
December 5, 2027
Overview & Insights
“He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6)
Prescript The prescript, or introductory salutation, of an ancient letter regularly contained three elements: (a) the name of the sender or senders; (b) the name of the recipient or recipients, and (c) a word of greeting or good wishes. Examples abound from letters of the New Testament period, in Greek and in Latin, both literary and nonliterary; earlier examples are the extracts from the official correspondence of the Persian court quoted in the book of Ezra; compare Ezra 7:12, “Artaxerxes, king of kings, To Ezra the priest, a teacher of the Law of the God of Heaven: Greetings.” This pattern is followed here, as in all the NT letters: Paul and Timothy are named as the senders and “all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi” as the recipients, and the word of good wishes is “grace and peace.”
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Commentary
Commentary on Philippians 1:3-11 Working Preacher
Luther Seminary reading of Paul's joyful thanksgiving and prayer for the day of Christ.
Philippians 1:3-11 Commentary Enduring Word · David Guzik
David Guzik's verse by verse notes on Paul's love and confidence for the Philippians.
Philippians 1 Resources Precept Austin
Verse by verse study library on Paul's prayer for love to abound in knowledge and insight.
Philippians 1:4 Commentaries BibleHub
Classic commentators compiled verse by verse on Paul's joyful prayer.
The Second Sunday of Advent, Year C Catholic Productions · Brant Pitre
Dr. Brant Pitre situates Paul's prayer for completion by the day of Christ within Advent 2.
Background & Word Study
Philippians 1:4 Interlinear BibleHub
Greek text of the passage word by word with parsing and Strong's numbers.
Book of Philippians Overview BibleProject
Animated overview of Philippians and its themes of joy and partnership in the gospel.
Philippians Enter the Bible
Luther Seminary background on the setting and occasion of Paul's letter.
The Church Fathers
Questions preachers ask
How does Paul open Philippians?
With joyful thanksgiving for the church’s partnership in the gospel, confident that God will complete his work in them, and praying their love may abound more and more in knowledge (Philippians 1:3–11).
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