Paul Expresses His Continual Concern For Them In The Light Of His Certainty That God Will Preserve his True People To The End (Philippians 1:3-9).
Paul now proceeded to thank God for every remembrance of them. He had a physical cause for gratitude in that they had sent him a monetary gift (Philippians 4:10), but far more important to him was their ‘sharing in common' (fellowship - koinonia) with him in their spiritual lives, of which that gift was a token. What mattered most to him was that they were fellow-labourers in the service of Christ. And what was equally important to him was his recognition that that they were not dependent solely on their own efforts for their salvation. It was God Who had begun a good work in them, and he was confident that it was He would see it through so that in the Day of Jesus Christ they would be presented perfect before Him.
In these introductory words we have a foretaste of what is to come. Paul remembers them prayerfully (he ‘has them in mind') because they share in common with him a desire for the furtherance of the Gospel. He has them in his heart because he knows that they partake along with him of the grace of God, experiencing the tender mercies of Jesus Christ. And he has them in his prayers as he longs that their love for each other may abound yet more and more, not in a sentimental way but in a caring way, as they seek to spur each other on to fruitfulness in readiness for the Day of Christ.
Analysis.
a I thank my God on all my remembrance of you, always in every supplication of mine on behalf of you all making my supplication with joy, for your fellowship in furtherance of the gospel from the first day until now (Philippians 1:3-5).
b Being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6).
c Even as it is right for me to be minded in this way on behalf of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as, both in my bonds and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace, for God is my witness, how I long after you all in the tender mercies of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:7-8).
b And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent; that you may be sincere and void of offence unto the day of Christ (Philippians 1:9-10).
a Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are through Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God (Philippians 1:11).
Note that in ‘a' he is filled with thanksgiving and prayer at the way in which they have abounded towards him and towards God, and in the parallel prays that through Jesus Christ they will accordingly be filled with the fruits of righteousness to the praise and glory of God. In ‘b' he is confident that having begun a good work in them God will bring it to completion until the Day of Jesus Christ, and in the parallel prays that this will be manifested by the fruitfulness and purity of their lives, unto that Day of Christ. Centrally in ‘c' he expresses the depths of his love and concern for them.