ADDRESS ** GREETING * PHILIPPIANS 1:1-2 1 *Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus, to all the holy ones in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the overseers and ministers: 2 *grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. *Philippians 1:1; Slaves: Paul usually refers to himself at the start of a letter as an apostle. Here he substitutes a term suggesting the unconditional obligation of himself and Timothy to the service of Christ, probably because, in view of the good relationship with the Philippians, he wishes to stress his status as a co-servant rather than emphasize his apostolic authority. Reference to Timothy is a courtesy: Paul alone writes the letter, as the singular verb throughout shows (3-26), and the reference (2:19-24) to Timothy in the third person. Overseers: the Greek term episkopos literally means one who oversees or one who supervises, but since the second century it has come to designate the bishop, the official who heads a local church. In New Testament times this office had not yet developed into the form that it later assumed, though it seems to be well on the way to such development in the Pastorals; see 1 Tim. 3:2 and Titus 1:7, where it is translated bishop. At Philippi, however (and at Ephesus, according to Acts 20;28), there was more than one episkopos, and the precise function of these officials is uncertain. In order to distinguish this office from the later stages into which it developed, the term is here translated as overseers. Ministers: the Greek term diakonoi is used frequently in the New Testament to designate servants, attendants, or minister. Paul refers to himself and to other apostles as ministers of God (2 Cor. 6:4) or ministers of Christ (2 Cor. 11:23). In the Pastorals (1 Tim. 3:8.12) the diakonos has become an established official in the local church; hence the term is there translated as deacon. The diakonoi at Philippi seem to represent an earlier stage of development of the office; we are uncertain about their precise functions. Hence the term is here translated as ministers. See Rom.16:1, where Phoebe is described as a diakonos (minister) of the church of Cenchreae. AMEN, TO GOD BE THE GLORY, IN JESUS NAME, AMEN!!! NAB C.CS.U.U.C. R.E.KIRK
Posted on: Sun, 09 Nov 2014 16:23:47 +0000
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