“Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ — the Trinitarian structure (Father and Lord Jesus, with Spirit's work implicit) establishes the theological foundation. The preposition 'from' (apo) indicates the source: both Father and Son are equally sources of grace, a radical claim about Christ's status. This greeting is not mere politeness but a pronouncement of blessing that frames the entire letter's concern with rejoicing and peace.
Church Fathers on Philippians 1:2
Here, as writing to those of equal honor, he does not set down his rank of Teacher, but another, and that a great one. And what is that? He calls himself a “servant,” and not an Apostle. For great truly is this rank too, and the sum of all good things, to be a servant of Christ, and not merely to be called so. “The servant of Christ,” this is truly a free man in respect to sin, and being a genuine servant, he is not a servant to any other, since he would not be Christ's…
Read all 2 entries in the readerNicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS
Publish a reflection on this verse
No reflections on this verse yet. Be the first to write one!