Philippians 1:3-6 is Paul’s opening thanksgiving to the church at Philippi, in which he says he thanks God for them every time he remembers them and is confident that the good work God began in them will be brought to completion. The passage explains why Paul prays for this church with joy, and it grounds that joy in their shared partnership in the gospel and in God’s faithfulness to finish what he starts.
Paul wrote this letter from prison, probably in the 50s or early 60s AD, to a congregation he had founded on his second missionary journey. Philippi was a Roman colony in northern Greece, and the believers there had supported Paul in practical and financial ways. The opening verses set a warm, grateful tone that runs through the whole letter.
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 by telling the Philippians that every time he thinks of them, he gives thanks to God. He adds that he prays for them constantly and that his prayers are full of joy rather than strain or complaint. The reason for his gratitude is their partnership in the good news from the very first day they heard it up to the present moment.
From there Paul states his confidence. He trusts that the God who started a good work in the Philippians will carry it through until Christ returns. The passage moves from memory to prayer to confidence, and each step rests on what God has already done among these people.
Context of Philippians 1:3-6
The letter of Philippians is one of Paul’s most personal writings. Its immediate context, verses 1 and 2, names Paul and Timothy as servants of Christ and greets the saints along with their overseers and deacons. Verse 2 then offers grace and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, which frames everything that follows.
Verses 7 through 9 continue the thought. Paul says he holds these believers in his heart, whether he is in chains or defending the gospel, because they share God’s grace with him. He then prays that their love will grow in knowledge and insight. The thanksgiving of verses 3 to 6 is therefore the groundwork for a prayer that will fill the rest of the opening section.
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 elsewhere affirms that God works all things together for good for those who love him. This verse shares the conviction behind Philippians 1:6, that God is actively working toward a good end in the lives of 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)
In this letter Paul also thanks God for fellow believers and remembers their work of faith and labor of love. It shows the same pattern of thanksgiving and prayer for a congregation that appears in the opening of Philippians.
A Prayer Based on Philippians 1:3-6
Father, thank you for the people you have placed in my life who have shared the good news with me and stood with me over the years. When I remember them, help me give thanks for them honestly and specifically. Fill my prayers with the same joy Paul felt, even when my circumstances are hard. Thank you that the good work you started in me is still yours to finish. Keep me steady in that confidence, and bring me to the day of Christ Jesus with a heart that belongs to you. Amen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who wrote Philippians 1:3-6?
The letter is traditionally attributed to the apostle Paul, who writes together with Timothy in the opening greeting. Paul was likely imprisoned when he wrote it, and he addresses the believers in Philippi.
What does it mean that God will complete the good work?
Paul means that God, who began the work of salvation and transformation in the Philippians, will carry it forward until it reaches its full goal. The completion is tied to the day of Jesus Christ, when God’s purposes come to fruition.
Why does Paul say he prays with joy?
Paul’s joy comes from the Philippians’ partnership in the gospel and from his confidence in God’s faithfulness. Even while in prison, he finds gladness in remembering and praying for this church.
