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Philippians 1 Bible study: Partners in the Good News
Philippians 1 has bonds three times and chains once, the same Greek noun each time (1:7, 1:13, 1:14, 1:16), and still says "the things which happened to me have turned out rather to the progress of the Good News" (1:12). Of Christ proclaimed it says, "I rejoice in this, yes, and will rejoice." (1:18).
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“This I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment,”
Try it · Did you catch it?
“Philippians 1:1 opens with "Paul and Timothy".”
Is that in Philippians 1, or not? Make your call.
What's really going on
Paul and Timothy
The letter opens, "Paul and Timothy, servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and servants" (1:1). It names two senders, and then speaks as I: "I thank my God whenever I remember you" (1:3). Since it opens with more than one sender, these notes say the letter for its I, and don't name the I. Its readers are the ones 1:1 names, and the greeting is "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." (1:2). These notes quote "the overseers and servants" (1:1) as the WEB has them and say no more of them than the verse says. They say nothing of when or where the letter was written, or of Philippi and the believers there, beyond what the letter says.
Honest questions
Questions people ask about Philippians 1
- "so that it became evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my bonds are in Christ" (1:13). Where was the letter's I in these bonds?
- "Some indeed preach Christ even out of envy and strife" (1:15). Who were they?
- "What does it matter?" (1:18). How can the letter rejoice when some preach Christ out of envy?
That was a taste
The rest of Philippians 1 is waiting in Favor
- Partners in the Good News
- The progress of the Good News
- Worthy of the Good News
- Set beside this chapter elsewhere in Favor
- Asked elsewhere in Favor
- 12 questions as you read
- 11 more Greek words
- A short check at the end
- Your notes, saved as you go
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The Greek word behind it
κοινωνίαkoinoniasay koy-nohn-EE-ah
Strong's: "partnership, i.e. (literally) participation, or (social) intercourse". "for your partnership in furtherance of the Good News from the first day until now" (1:5): behind partnership is this noun. Philippians has it three times (in all eight editions TAGNT compares): here, at 2:1 and at 3:10, where the WEB gives it as fellowship. Favor's Romans 15, 1 Corinthians 1 and Galatians 2 study it.
For your group
Philippians 1 Bible study questions
- 1"I thank my God whenever I remember you" (1:3). Who do you find yourself thanking God for when you remember them?
- 2"This I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment" (1:9). Where would you like your love to grow in knowledge and discernment?
- 3"are more abundantly bold to speak the word of God without fear" (1:14). What helps you to speak without fear?
Leading a group? In Favor, everyone reads Philippians 1 during the week and answers these questions privately. Answers stay sealed until you meet, then appear together, and you can print the week's sheet.
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Questions
What is Favor?
Favor is a Bible study app that explains every chapter as you read: the Hebrew and Greek behind the words, the details most readers miss, and how each part of the Bible leads to Jesus. Read on your own, or start a Bible study with friends, family or your church.
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Last reviewed October 8, 2026. Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Hebrew and Greek words are checked against the original-language texts and public-domain lexicons. What we believe · Favor home