Philippians begins with a warm greeting from the Apostle Paul. Paul was not ashamed of the gospel (Romans 1:16). He taught it clearly without compromise, and his teachings brought maturity, sacrifice, and love from the Philippian church.
“Partnership” in this sentence is the Greek word "koinonia," which is deep, meaningful fellowship. It's the word Paul uses it in Philippians 3:10 to describe suffering for Christ.
The Philippians gave generously in prayer, help, and finances despite their own needs. We know this because Philippi was a city in Macedonia, and Paul commends Macedonian Christians in 2 Corinthians 8:1-5 saying “In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.”
Paul didn’t offer the Philippians a soft, permissive gospel. He shared the truth about sin, sacrifice, and service. What a contrast with many modern teachers who promote comfort instead of sacrifice, selfishness instead of denial, sympathy instead of repentance (1 John 3:6-9).
Finding the true gospel means letting the Lord work in our lives continually, drawing us closer to the completion we will experience in heaven. Don't settle for anything less, dear Christians!
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For a quick overview of Philippians see, Philippians: Joy-filled, Loving, Powerful. And for some ideas for maturing in your faith, see 8 Evening Habits of Maturing Christians.
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