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Trinity/After Pentecost · The Twenty-Second Sunday after Trinity

Philippians 1:3-11

Thanksgiving and Prayer

November 1, 2026

Weaving and Spinning, Kehar Singh
Weaving and Spinning, Kehar Singh, c. 1860Cleveland Museum of Art (CC0)
An Indian painting from the Punjab hills of women at the loom and the wheel, made for a local patron in the mid nineteenth century.The one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ. The image is of work that takes a long time and is finished.Kehar SinghA painter of the Punjab hills in the mid nineteenth century, working in the Pahari tradition for local patrons.Cleveland Museum of Art (CC0)A large encyclopaedic museum in Ohio, free to enter since it opened in 1916.Cleveland Museum of Art (CC0)
Historic One-Year Lectionary
GospelMatt. 18:21-35Mt 18:21-35
EpistlePhil. 1:3-11Phil 1:3-11
Old TestamentMic. 6:6-8Mi 6:6-8
PsalterPs. 116:12-19Ps 116:12-19

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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Take it further: Philippians 1:3-11

Commentary

Philippians 1 Commentary: Paul's Love and ConcernPhil 1 Commentary: Paul's Love and Concern Enduring Word · David Guzik

Verse by verse on Paul's thanksgiving and prayer that their love abound in knowledge and discernment.

Commentary on Philippians 1:3-11Commentary on Phil 1:3-11 Working Preacher

Luther Seminary commentary on love overflowing with knowledge toward the day of Christ (this exact reading in the Revised Common Lectionary).

Philippians 1:3-11Phil 1:3-11 Center for Excellence in Preaching

Reformed commentary on partnership in the gospel and a love that grows in insight.

Philippians 1:3-5 CommentaryPhil 1:3-5 Commentary Precept Austin

Detailed word study on Paul's thanksgiving that opens this reading.

Philippians 1:3 CommentariesPhil 1:3 Commentaries BibleHub

Classic commentators assembled on 'I thank my God in all my remembrance of you.'

Background & Word Study

Book of Philippians Summary (Overview Video)Book of Phil Summary (Overview Video) BibleProject

Animated overview of the letter's themes of partnership, humility and joy.

Philippians 1:3 InterlinearPhil 1:3 Interlinear BibleHub

Greek text with parsing for Paul's opening thanksgiving and prayer.

The Church Fathers

Philippians 1 - Catena Bible & CommentariesPhil 1 - Catena Bible & Commentaries Catena

Patristic comment on Philippians 1 gathered verse by verse.

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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