Philippians 1:1

I'm starting through Philippians in my devotions. Here's my interaction with the first verse of this book on the train today--the Greek text, the King James, my comments, and my paraphrase.

Textus Receptus:
παυλος και τιμοθεος δουλοι ιησου χριστου πασιν τοις αγιοις εν χριστω ιησου τοις ουσιν εν φιλιπποις συν επισκοποις και διακονοις
Paulos kai timotheous douloi iesou cristou pasin tois agiois en cristo iesou tois ousin en filippois sun episkopois kai diakonois

King James:
Paul and Timothy, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons

Comments:
Paul and Timothy: Paul does not serve alone. As Galatians 6:2-5 makes clear, even though every man must bear his own burden (and Paul certainly proves faithful in just such a manner by withstanding Peter, for instance, in Galatians 2:11-14) it is also true that God provides Christians support in the form of other Christians and that every believer needs the undergirding and strengthening of other believers.

servants: Both Paul's equality with Timothy in this verse and their identification as servants of Christ point to humility. The same word for servant is used about Christ in chapter 2:7. A disciple's life is used up in the service of Christ and others. No life could be more wasted than one spent on self.

to all the saints: Paul, the great evangelist of the Areopagus, is writing to Christians at Philippi while he is being faithful under duress in Rome. Neither calling, gifting, nor circumstance limits the Christian's responsibility. That Paul is called to the Gentiles in no way limits his responsibility to the Jews. Romans 9:1-4. That he is an evangelist in no way diminishes his responsibility to disciple the saved. That he is in Rome does not erase his responsibility to pray and care for the believers he knows in Philippi.

of Jesus Christ...in Christ Jesus: Twice in the first dozen words of this book Paul has made profoundly clear the focus of his life and ministry. It is not religion. It is not career. It is a named and knowable person, Jesus Christ. It is not just the memory of a man, either. It is a real man who walked the earth but also filled and fills the office of the Annointed One.

together with the overseers and servants: Just as Paul first identifies himself as a servant then writes with authority, so he addresses all the disciples of Christ, then reminds the leaders among them of their unique responsibility. The episkopois and diakonois are believers first, but bear a specific responsibility as leaders in the congregation through their servanthood. Mark uses this word (diakonos) for servant in Mark 9:35, and the earlier word (doulos) in Mark 10:44. If it is true that diakonos implies a little more dignity in the role of selflessness than doulos, then it is all the more notable that Paul uses the harshest word about himself and Timothy, humbling himself even before these servants of the Philippians church (or churches).

Paraphrase:
Timothy and I both have been enslaved to the annointed man, Jesus Christ. We write this letter to all of those who have been set apart for and by God, in this case being in Philippi. Those who oversee the congregation, and those who lead, serving it, should pay particular attention to what this epistle says.