In this context, Paul wrote and expressed the unusual relationship he had with the Philippians.
What is Christian Fellowship?
Paul had planted more churches than any other person that is recorded in the New Testament. Each of these congregations must have been a source of personal joy and accomplishment to him, but none as much as the church in Philippi.
From the day Lydia and her family were baptised and invited him into their home to the day ten years later from his prison cell in Rome when he wrote this letter, there grew a relationship between this congregation and the apostle that seems to be unparalleled in his life. It is a personal letter. It differed from his other epistles in that it was not a sermon on the great doctrines of the faith, as in Romans the doctrine of grace, in Ephesians the teachings about the church and in the Thessalonians’ letters the doctrine of the resurrection. He did not avoid the fundamentals of their faith because in Philippians we have one of the strongest and most meaningful statements of the incarnation to be found in Scripture, but that was not the purpose of his writing to them.
It is a friendly letter to the Philippians. Unlike his letters to the Corinthians and Galatians, he does not correct irregularities among them or attempt to check an apostasy, but he does get right to the heart of practical Christian living.
There are four words that describe the relationship that existed between Paul and the Christians at Philippi:
1. Friendship
Friendship is a priceless gift. The friendships that are made in Christ and bonded through fellowship and service in Him are the most sacred of all. Therefore, the friendship of these saints was important to Paul, whose sudden conversion from Judaism to Christianity must have cost him most of the friends he had. He had new friends in the Lord, who were more precious than the one he had lost. The Philippians supplied Paul’s needs and supported of his ministry (spreading the gospel), proving their loving friendship with him over and over again. The life of our Lord demonstrates that when the supreme trial came, even his disciples forsook him and fled (Mat. 26:56). Out of all the multitudes that followed him who saw the miracles, heard his teaching, and witnessed his compassion, only a handful of women were at the cross. Paul experienced the same thing when he was on trial, “no man stood with me, but all men forsook me,” (II Tim. 4:16) so the genuine friendship which the saints at Philippi had shown Paul, was something he would never forget and it brought him great joy.
2. Remembrance
We tend to forget our brethren easily, because we are not born of the same physical family. We should not forget that the new family in Christ Jesus is more valuable as we will be eternally bound in heaven. We should be like Paul who said in Philippians 1:3, “I thank my God upon all my remembrance of you.”
3. Joy
Philippians 1:4, “Always in every supplication of mine on behalf of you all making my supplication with joy.”
Paul’s relationship with the Philippians is of joy and within his short epistle, we can read of the words “joy and rejoice” some 20 times. Contrast that with the mood of sorrow and heaviness that characterises his letters to the Corinthians and the firm tone found in Galatians. Though Paul was concerned with their irregularities, it was not the purpose of his writing to them. Instead, Paul praised the Philippians for their generosity, which is found in II Corinthians 8:2-7. What a marvellous example: a great trial of affliction and their deep poverty on one hand and joy on the other, adding up to the riches of their liberality. Even in a great trial of affliction and deep poverty, there was joy.
4. Fellowship
Philippians 1:5, “For your fellowship in furtherance of the gospel from the first day until now.”
This fellowship is far more meaningful than our modern versions of the term where our fellowship is more about enjoying food, drinks and conversation, or other worldly activities. The fellowship between Paul and the Philippians was more than that. The word “koinonia” is sometimes translated as “contribution” (Romans 15:26; II Cor. 9:13).
In Philippians 4:14-18, Paul writes, “Howbeit ye did well that ye had fellowship with my affliction. And ye yourselves also know, ye Philippians, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church had fellowship with me in the matter of giving and receiving but ye only; for even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my need. Not that I seek for the gift; but I seek for the fruit that increaseth to your account. But I have all things, and abound: I am filled, having received from Epaphroditus the things that came from you, an odour of sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God.”
“Koinonia” also broadly means “partnership” or “partaker.” The Philippians had become Paul’s partners in his evangelism and partakers of the fruits of his labours in areas where Christ had never been preached.
In all these, we learn of the very special relationship between the church in Philippi and the apostle Paul. It can serve as a role model for modern churches and missionaries in establishing meaningful and life-long fellowship. It can only be achieved in the family of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is our advocate and saviour.