The introduction of the epistle makes known the writer, the Apostle Paul, and Timothy his companion, presenting them as bondslaves of Jesus Christ. The addressees include all of the saints in Philippi with their spiritual leaders. As members of the body of Christ in this dispensation of grace, we know we too are included as recipients of the message of this great epistle. In fact, someone has well said that every believer in America who traces his ancestry back to Europe, in a real sense traces his spiritual heritage back to this Philippian congregation!
The usual apostolic greeting is given, “Grace and peace”, and then the apostle gets right into the message of his letter.
