Get Ready
Philippians is one of Paul’s most personal letters. He reveals his own struggles to spread the Gospel among people in the eastern Mediterranean region, and also talks about his relationships with the believers in Philippi and his appreciation for their spiritual as well as financial support.
Author
There is a consensus that the Apostle Paul did write this letter.
However, there is considerable disagreement about when he wrote it and where he was at the time. The majority holds that Paul wrote this letter during his confinement in Rome, which would mean 61 or 62 CE, (largely due to his reference to his “imprisonment,” [1:7]).
But there are two other views:
- Some scholars believe the prison reference points to Paul’s incarceration in Caesarea under the Roman Governor Felix before he was sent to Rome [the details are in Acts 23-24].
- Others suggest Paul wrote from Ephesus. He spent three years in this region, which would account for the visits Paul mentions in the letter [chapter 2]. However, there is no record of any imprisonment in this city.
Context
The church at Philippi was the first in Europe. During his second missionary journey Paul responded to a vision of a man asking him to “Come over to Macedonia and help us,” [Acts 16:9]. He established the church among the Gentiles, including Lydia and her family [Acts 16:14]. He left the city after a miraculous release from the local jail [all the details are in Acts 16].
The Philippian believers were some of Paul’s most consistent and generous supporters, even though the region was not as prosperous as Corinth or Ephesus. But they were like the other churches in developing and having to deal with disagreement. The scholars who support the Roman theory (above) believe Epaphroditus had brought news of the problems along with the contributions toward Paul’s support. This letter is Paul’s response to the situation.
Structure
Some consider this letter a “handbook” for believers. There are four major sections between the introduction and the conclusion. The content – concerns and admonitions – is quite directive; Paul is telling the Philippians how to conduct their lives and share their faith with very little explanation. The sections are:
- Guidance for living the Christian life.
- Concerns about the welfare of the church and its leaders.
- Warning about incorrect beliefs and encouragement toward correct beliefs.
- (More) Guidance for living the Christian life.
This letter also demonstrates Paul’s close relationship with the Philippians in his extensive blessing at the beginning and his expression of personal appreciation of the conclusion.
Major Themes
Paul states his primary purpose early in the letter: This is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight . . . to produce the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, [1:9-11]. Paul wants the Philippians to live lives that spring from and reflect the Gospel, and the way to do this is to be united in fellowship – to love and support each other as Christ loves and supports all believers.
Paul presents two other concepts to support his message:
- Joy – this is probably Paul’s most “joy-full” letter. He uses the word sixteen times, including joy in his work, in suffering, in unity and fellowship, in support from his friends, and in knowing that others are also sharing Christ’s Gospel. C.S. Lewis said that joy was the complete and real experience of God’s grace and love that we “glimpse” in earthly pleasures; he titled the story of his discovery of Christ, Surprised by Joy.
- Paul’s own spiritual goal – Paul uses his own aspirations, that by my speaking with all boldness, Christ will be exalted now as always in my body, whether by life or by death, [1:20]. He further describes his life as, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead. I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus, [3:13-14.
While encouraging unity Paul also deals with some practical matters that evidently are causing disagreement in the church:
- He deals once again with the Judaizers’ argument that Gentile believers must be cirucumcised: Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of those who mutilate the flesh! [3:2], and urges the Philippians to worship in the Spirit of God and boast in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh, [3:3].
- And he encourages two women who had worked with him in ministry, Euodia and Syntyche, to be of the same mind in the Lord, [4:2].He does not identify the dispute but asks others to assist them.
Paul closes this letter with a very personal acknowledgement and appreciation for the Philippians’ support over the years.
Get into the Word
1. Who wrote this book? What do we know about the circumstances of writing this book? Why is there disagreement about when Paul wrote this letter?
2. Who is the intended recipient of this letter? What kind of church is it? Where is it? What is significant about this church’s location? Why did Paul start a church here? Who was involved in the beginning of this church?
3. How does this church compare with some of the other churches Paul started in this region? How is this group similar to the other churches? How is it different? How does this situation influence Paul’s approach to the letter?
4. How do some people describe this letter? Why is this appropriate? Or not? How is this letter organized? What are the primary sections? What topics does Paul cover in each section? What is unusual about the way Paul begins and ends this letter?
5. What is Paul’s major purpose in this letter? How does he express this theme? Who does Paul use as the model or standard for living as he encourages the Philippian believers to live? Who else does he suggest these people could emulate? How do you think they responded to this idea? How do you?
6. What other matters does Paul deal with in this letter? What is his objective with these admonitions? Why is unity so important to Paul?
Bible Trivia:
Philippians contains one of the best descriptions of Christ in the entire Bible:
Who though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross.
Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father, [2:6-11].
69: Knowing Christ, pressing toward the goal – Philippians 3:4-4:14
Get Ready
How do you feel about “Who’s Who” listings of a person’s accomplishments? Or how do you feel about putting together a resume of your own work and successes? Do you tend to focus on the “things” you have achieved or the relationships you have had?
The Word
3If anyone else has reason to be confident in the flesh, I have more:
5 circumcised on the eighth day, a member of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.
7 Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. 8 More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith.
10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death,
11 if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
12 Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let those of us then who are mature be of the same mind; and if you think differently about anything, this too God will reveal to you. 16 Only let us hold fast to what we have attained.
17 Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us. 18 For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears. 19 Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. 21 He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself.
Exhortations
4Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.
2 I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 Yes, and I ask you also, my loyal companion, help these women, for they have struggled beside me in the work of the gospel, together with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. 6 Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.
10 I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned for me, but had no opportunity to show it. 11 Not that I am referring to being in need; for I have learned to be content with whatever I have. 12 I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. 14 In any case, it was kind of you to share my distress. NRSV
Get into the Word
1. What is Paul talking about in this passage? Who is he comparing himself with? What “credentials” does he mention? Is he really boasting here?
2. What does he say about his assets and credits? How valuable are they? What image does he use? Why does he believe they are worthless? What is the real value he seeks? How did he accomplish this?
3. What does he say about his own situation regarding this goal? Who gave him this goal? What is he doing to get closer to the goal? How does his past relate to this goal?
4. What does he urge the Philippine believers to do? Who does he suggest as an example to follow? How do you suppose they reacted to this idea? How do you react?
5. What personal matter does Paul mention? What does he hope will happen? What does he encourage the believers to do? What attitude does he want them to have? How does he want them to be known by others? What does he tell them to think about?
Get Personal
How is your “pressing on” going lately? How about your “worrying about anything”? How has God helped you to live like he really will take care of things for you?
Notes . . .
3:4. Confident in the flesh — Paul is not boasting when he says “I have more” – even though he has more “credentials” than most Jews [vv. 5-6], they are worthless in gaining a relationship with God.
3:7. Everything as loss — Paul sees all his former assets and successes as “rubbish” or food only a dog would enjoy (and his culture did not regard dogs as worthy).
3:9. Righteousness — the only thing that matters to Paul is his relationship with God – and that exists not because of Paul’s checklists, but because of Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection.
3:10. Know — the Greek word means “know by experience” – this is heart knowledge, not head knowledge.
3:12. Press on — ironically this is the same
word Paul used for his persecution of the church. Paul knows he has not reached the point where he is a “perfect” Christ-follower, and neither have the Philippians.
3:17. Imitate me — Paul was never afraid to set himself as a good example to follow, [check 1 Cor 4:16, 1 Thes 1:6 and 2:10, 2 Thes 3:7-9].
3:19. Their god — Paul often criticized believers who focused on satisfying their earthly desires (gluttony, lust, deceit), rather than serving others as Jesus did.
4:2. Euodia – Syntyche —these two women, who had worked with Paul in his ministry, had a disagreement that was affecting the church.
Loyal companion — this person is not identified further, nor is Clement.
Memory Verse
Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus,
[Philippians 4:6-7].
Bonus:
I can do all things throughs him who strengthens me, [Philippians 4:13].
Next Lesson
Colossians 3: The new life in Christ
