The Excellency of the Knowledge of Christ

The letter to the Philippians will mainly occupy our attention, but before we come to it, actually we shall be more in that chapter which brings before us the establishing of the Lord's Testimony in Philippi, namely, chapter 16 of the book of the Acts. I think that very few of the Lord's people who have read it thoughtfully have failed to be impressed very deeply with the little letter to the Philippians. It is one of the gems of Scripture, and perhaps its outstanding feature is that more than in any other instance the Apostle found it possible to open his heart widely, and just pour out a stream of affection. In no other place do we find him in that matter so unrestrained. ...the Philippians represented something very precious for the Lord. They stood in a position which—if the Apostle himself reflected the Lord's own relationship to them—brought great joy to the heart of the Lord. We have come to know this letter as the letter of triumphant joy.