Philippians 1:3-6 is Paul telling the church at Philippi that he thanks God for them every time he thinks of them, and that he is confident God will finish the good work he started in their lives. The passage is warm and personal, and it sets the emotional tone for the whole letter. Paul wrote it from prison, probably in the early 60s AD, to a congregation he had helped start on his earlier journey into Macedonia.
3 I thank my God whenever I remember you, 4 always in every request of mine on behalf of you all, making my requests with joy, 5 for your partnership in furtherance of the Good News from the first day until now; 6 being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:3-6 (WEB)
Philippians 1:3-6 Summary
Paul begins with gratitude. Each time he remembers the believers in Philippi, he thanks God, and he prays for them with joy rather than with strain or worry. The reason for that joy is their partnership in spreading the good news, a partnership that has continued from the first day he met them until the present moment.
Then Paul states his confidence. The same God who started a good work among them will carry it through to completion when Jesus returns. His gratitude rests on that promise, so he can look back at their past faithfulness and look forward to their future with hope.
Context of Philippians 1:3-6
Philippians is one of Paul’s letters to a church he founded, and the opening verses show the affection and partnership that marked his relationship with them. Paul writes with Timothy as a co-sender, calling himself and Timothy servants of Jesus Christ, and addressing the saints along with their overseers and servants. The letter as a whole is marked by joy even though Paul is in chains, which makes these opening lines especially striking.
Verses 7 and 8 explain why Paul feels this way. He holds the Philippians in his heart, and he counts them as partners with him in grace, both in his imprisonment and in the defense of the gospel. Verse 9 then turns to prayer for their love to grow in knowledge and discernment, which sets up the practical concerns of the rest of the letter.
Philippians 1:3-6 Verse by Verse
Romans 8:28
We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose.
(WEB)
Paul reminds believers that God works all things together for good for those who love Him. It echoes the confidence of Philippians 1:6 that God does not waste what He has begun in His people.
1 Thessalonians 1:3
Remembering without ceasing your work of faith and labor of love and perseverance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father.
(WEB)
Paul again gives thanks for fellow believers, remembering their work, labor, and steadfastness. It shows the same pattern of gratitude and prayer that shapes his letter to Philippi.
A Prayer Based on Philippians 1:3-6
Father, thank You for the people You have placed in my life, especially those who have helped me grow in faith. I confess that I often forget to thank You for them, and I ask You to bring them to mind so that I can pray with real gratitude. Help me to take up my part in the work of the good news, however small it may seem. When I grow discouraged about my own faith, remind me that You began a good work in me and will finish it on the day of Jesus Christ. I rest in that promise today. Amen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who wrote Philippians 1:3-6?
The letter is traditionally attributed to the apostle Paul, who wrote it with Timothy named as a co-sender. Paul was in prison when he wrote it, and he addressed the church he had founded at Philippi in Macedonia.
What does “the good work” in Philippians 1:6 mean?
Paul is referring to God’s ongoing work of salvation and growth in the lives of believers. It includes their faith, love, and partnership in the gospel, all of which God begins and carries forward.
Does Philippians 1:6 mean I can stop trying to grow spiritually?
The verse does not excuse passivity, since Paul elsewhere calls believers to work out their salvation with reverence. It does mean that your growth ultimately depends on God’s faithfulness, which gives you security as you pursue faithful living.
