THE THEME OF THE BOOK OF PHILIPPIANS

The theme of the Book of Philippians is humility. The Apostle Paul addressed the book to "all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons" (Phil. 1:1). "To all the saints" is not an unusual salutation, as Paul used it in some form in other epistles (Rom. 1:7; 1 Cor. 1:2; 2 Cor. 1:1; Col. 1:2). It is only in his address to the Church at Philippi that Paul tacked on with the bishops and deacons. That, in and of itself, is not sufficient to declare the theme to be humility, but as we shall see, the overall context suggests that his unusual greeting was sending a message. Some of the evidence is found in:

1:6-7 It is God's grace working your transformation in to Christ-likeness.
1:11 Your "fruits of righteousness" are the work of Jesus.
1:27 Unity requires humility.
1:29 Your faith in Christ was given to you.
2:3 Avoid self-seeking vanity; esteeming others better than yourself.
2:5-8 Be like Jesus and humble yourself.
2:12 Let the outworking of your salvation be "with fear and trembling."
2:13 Again, it is God who gets credit for your transformation.
3:4-9 The things Paul could brag about, he saw as worthless (dung).
3:12-13 Paul did not think he "had arrived," but that he needed to grow.
3:18-19 Do not be like those "whose glory is in their shame."
4:2 "...Euodias, and...Syntyche...be of the same mind in the Lord." (see 1:27 above)
4:9-13 Be like me; content even when abased; trusting in Christ's strength.

Based upon Paul's consistent theme throughout the epistle; that is, his focus upon Christ's and his example of humility (1:1; 2:7-8; 3:10; 4:3) and his call for the believers at Philippi to be like-minded (1:27-30; 2:2-5; 3:15-17; 4:2-9); I have to conclude his casual tacking on with the bishops and deacons in his greeting was the apostle's way of sending a message to the leaders of the church. Paul had warned about Christian leaders of becoming "highminded" (Rom. 11:20; 1 Tim. 6:17; 2 Tim. 3:4), and prideful (1 Tim. 3:6; Titus 1:10).

It is difficult to imagine deacons needing to be rebuked for becoming prideful, or of being guilty of "lording it over" the flock. The Greek word translated "deacon," is διακόνοις (diaconos)," meaning "servant." At least, bishops were to "rule" in the Church (Rom. 12:8; 1 Tim. 3:4-5; 5:17; Heb. 13:7, 17, 24). But apparently, those given the authority over the distribution of the church's goods (Acts 6:1-6), were allowing their position to give them a "big head." As a result, Paul addressed his letter to the saints at Philippi. It was as if he were saying, "O, and before I forget, to the bishops and deacons too."

It is far better to be on one's knees, than to stand upon a pedestal.