Philippians 1:1-2

We surveyed the book of Philippians last week and now it’s time to get into the details of the book. This morning I want to start with the greeting. We are going to do a little biography today.

It’s easy for someone like myself who was raised in church to wrongly believe that everyone knows who I’m talking about when I say something like, “The Apostle Paul says…”

There may be people in here this morning or who will watch online or listen to the audio and not know who Paul is or Timothy for that matter. We are looking at these letters of Paul. We started with Colossians and now Philippians but who is Paul?

Look at the beginning of verse 1.

“Paul and Timotheus…”

Timotheus is another way of saying the name Timothy. We will come back to him in a few minutes. I want to start with Paul. It’s common to hear someone say that Paul wrote most of the New Testament. This is actually not true.

Paul wrote 13 or 14 books depending on how you feel about Hebrews. I’m not convinced Paul wrote Hebrews for a few reasons.

It does not have Paul’s name nor his customary greeting. This is not a small thing. Paul had a consistent pattern to his writing.

The reference in Hebrews 2:3 is another reason.

“How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him.”

We know from Galatians 1:15-17 that Paul was taught by Christ.

“But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace,To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.”

It’s believed by many, me included that during this period Jesus Himself taught the Apostle Paul. It’s also likely that Paul met Jesus or heard Him teach in his lifetime.

The person who wrote Hebrews did not meet Christ and only has knowledge received from those who heard Him. One candidate is Luke although this theory has problems.

Luke was saved after Christ returned to heaven and the writer points out in Hebrews 13:22 that he had written the exhortation in few words. Both of Luke’s books are the longest in the New Testament.

A possible problem with Luke is that some believe he was a Gentile. This is a problem because we are told in Romans 3:2 that the Jews were given the oracles of God, in other words they wrote the Bible. Since Luke wrote Scripture that’s a problem.

I believe there is strong grounds to believe Luke was a Jew. Let me give you a few. The passage used to say Luke wasn’t Jewish is not convincing.

“And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me.” (Colossians 4:11)

“Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you.” (Vs. 14)

The argument is that Luke was mentioned separate from the circumcision. The reference in verse 11 is to those of the circumcision party. If Luke were a Hellenized Jew then he wouldn’t be grouped with them.

It’s thought that Theophilus who Luke wrote his books to was a Gentile which means Luke was as well. It’s true we don’t know the exact identity of Theophilus but Josephus does tell us there was a deposed Sadducean high priest of Israel named Theophilus ben Annas.

We also know from archeology that he had a granddaughter named Joanna which is a name mentioned in the Gospel of Luke only. As a former Sadducee he wouldn’t believe in the afterlife, angels and so on. Luke emphasizes these things in his Gospel.

He mentions the rich man and Lazarus, and the angelic visitations leading up to Christ’s birth. Whether Luke was a Hellenized Jew or Gentile It seems unlikely he would have made such an Old Testament application of the Gospel.

Some argue Hebrews is a sermon Paul preached and Luke wrote down but the objection of Hebrews 2:3 would stand. In my opinion Apollos is the most likely candidate because he came to faith after Christ returned to heaven, and heard of Him from the apostles. He also made powerful arguments to the Jews which is what Hebrews is about.

“And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.” (Acts 18:24-28)

I want to get back to Paul but I said all of that to demonstrate why I believe Paul didn’t write Hebrews. It’s a strongly held tradition and I wanted to make a Biblical case for why I disagreed. So I believe Paul wrote 13 books of the New Testament. Luke who wrote The Gospel of Luke and Acts actually wrote more of the N. T. by volume than Paul did.

Paul was born in Tarsus but raised largely in Jerusalem for his studies.

“I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.” (Acts 22:3)

Paul was a Pharisee in his prior life.

“Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.” (Philippians 3:5-6)

There is a tradition (but a wrong one) that God changed his name after he was saved from Saul to Paul. This isn’t true and there is no place where we see this supposed name change. Saul is the Hebrew form of his name and Paul is the Gentile form.

We see the name change when he sets out for his work among the Gentiles.

“Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him.” (Acts 13:9)

In verses 1-2 we see the sending out of Paul as a missionary. Then in verse 9 we saw the change in his name. The next time we see his name is in verse 13 and he is called Paul. So his name is not actually changed from Saul they just use his Greek name which is Paul.

I’m Rick if I went to another country I may go by Ricardo. It’s not really a name change but a different form of my name.

Through his belief system Paul did what the Pharisees did to Jesus and that was persecute the followers of Christ.

“Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.” (Acts 7:57-58)

“And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.” (Acts 8:1-3)

Look at how Paul himself describes his former life.

“I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews:Especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews;Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God, unto our fathers:Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope’s sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews.Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.” (Acts 26:2-11)

What happened to Saul that changed his life? Turn to Acts 9:1-6.

“And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.”

Paul after his conversion goes into Arabia for 3 years then returned to Damascus. 3 years later he went to Jerusalem to see Peter. After 15 days with Peter he returned to his home and 14 years later returned to Jerusalem to tell them the Gospel he preached to the Gentiles.

Paul went on 3 missionary journeys which are recorded in the book of Acts. He traveled some 10,000 miles and on his second missionary journey answered a call to Macedonia thus bringing the Gospel for the first time to Europe.

It’s very possible the Gospel was preached in every nation on earth in the life of the apostles and I’ve heard some say that the Gospel reached the shores of modern day England within 60 years of Christ’s return to heaven.

Paul is called the apostle to Gentiles for a few reasons. First of all that’s where God sent Him.

“Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel.” (Acts 9:13-15)

Secondly he uses similar wording to describe himself.

“But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;(For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles.” (Galatians 2:7-8)

“For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office.” (Romans 11:13)

“That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.” (Romans 15:16)

Paul and Barnabas were ministry partners until they had a falling out.

“And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do.And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.” (Acts 15:36-41)

Paul reconciled with Mark at some point.

“Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister’s son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him.” (Colossians 4:10)

“Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.” (2 Timothy 4:11)

It also appears that he reconciled with Barnabas as well. 2 Corinthians 9:5-6.

“Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?”

Here Paul mentions the right of Barnabas to be supported in the ministry.

Paul had a debilitating eye disease that caused him near blindness. Others had to write for him.

“I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord.” (Romans 16:22)

“Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.” (Galatians 4:13-15)

When he did write it was a big thing.

“Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand.” (Galatians 6:11)

“If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account;I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.” (Philemon 1:18-19)

Some speculate this was the thorn in the flesh.

“And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.” (2 Corinthians 12:7)

Paul was executed by beheading in Rome in 68 A.D. His life can be summed up by 2 Timothy 4:7.

“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.”

The other greeting in the book is from Timothy. We know less about him but the Bible does tell us a few things.

Timothy, received from Paul 2 letters which are first and second Timothy. He was the son of a Greek father and a Jewish mother. He joined Paul during one of Paul’s later missionary journeys.

Timothy probably heard and responded to the gospel when Paul came through Derbe and Lystra on his first missionary journey. He was probably not much older than late teens or early twenties.

“Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” (1 Timothy 4:12)

Don’t despise the youth of a Godly person. I have been in churches where elderly members constantly picked fights with the pastor because they weren’t going to let a young kid tell them how to live. This is worldliness.

Timothy was special to Paul.

“Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.” (1 Timothy 1:2)

Paul won a lot of converts but his words for Timothy are words of closeness. Timothy came from a Godly family.

“I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.” (2 Timothy 1:3-5)

Never discount the influence of Godly parents or grandparents. Timothy’s grandmother gets a mention due to her influence. Much of who I am today is owed to my grandparents. They co-raised us for the first 9 years of my life. I only went to Christian school after my parents divorce because my grandmother paid for the tuition, uniforms, supplies and everything else.

If you have children or grandchildren be that influence for them. His family taught him the Scriptures. Turn.

“And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 3:15)

If you have children or grandchildren teach them the Scriptures. That is the only thing that can bring them to salvation in Christ. Bring them to church to hear the preaching of the Word. I am amazed when parents say they want their children saved then barely bring them to church or bring them only 1 service a week.

Secular parents have their kids spend hours and hours playing sports or doing gymnastics because they want them to go pro or compete in the Olympics. At least they are being consistent by saying that’s what they want then immersing them in it.

Then we say we want our kids saved and never bring them to the place where the Bible is being preached even though we know faith comes by hearing the Word of God.

Timothy had a health condition that was chronic and required him to follow maybe a certain diet to treat it. Turn.

“Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities.” (1 Timothy 5:23)

Between Paul and Timothy we see that God can use anyone regardless of health. Don’t rest on excuses. I just can’t serve God I’m too old, too sick, and on and on. Even someone like Tom can make a powerful kingdom impact if given to prayer.

Again I don’t think we really and truly believe in the power of prayer as we ought to. Corrie Ten Boom ministered for 5 years without being able to talk, Amy Carmichael ministered for 20 years unable to get out of bed. We sing it all the time, do we believe it?

“Are you laid aside from service,
Body worn from toil and care?
You can still be in the battle,
In the sacred place of prayer.

Timothy represented Paul to churches on several occasions.

“For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.” (1 Corinthians 4:17)

“But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state.For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state.For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel.Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me.” (Philippianes 2:19-23)

Paul gave Timothy several pieces of advice that I think we can use today.

1. Obey the Scriptures and continue in the faith.

“Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.” (1 Timothy 4:16)

2. Study God’s Word and handle it properly.

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15)

3. Be a good soldier.

“Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” (2 Timothy 2:3-4)

A soldier has no claim to his life.

Hold this world at arms length.

Endure hardness. We are soft as a society.