Theres no time for quarreling amongst Christians. Pauls joy at the mere thought of the Philippian church is undeniable in the letter, and its that same joy that he wanted the recipients to possess as well. Being familiar with these literary devices helps us understand the meaning the author is wanting to communicate. The chiasm (from step one) and the literary structure of Philippians (from step two) come together on step three. 3:8, Our citizenship is in heaven. Phil. Paul is encouraging the Philippians to hold fast to the Word of life so that his work among them will not be in vain and that he would have reason to glory at the appearing of Christ. Athletics The Christian life compared to a foot-race Pressing toward the goal. Paul knew, as did the Philippians, that true joy comes only through humble faith in the saving work of Jesus Christ, joining ourselves in harmony with His followers, and serving others in the name of Christ. Philippians may be divided as follows: Introduction, 1:1-7 I. Christ the Christians Life: Rejoicing in Spite of Suffering, 1:8-30 II. Joy in all circumstances, even suffering - Philippians 1. Both come from the beautiful description in Philippians 2:611 of what Christ, the pinnacle of the story of redemption, has done. 1:1218 ). As a result, Paul felt a great amount of kinship and affection for the people he addressed in this letter and this level of familiarity and care comes out in the text. The Book of Philippians was written by the apostle Paul as a letter to the church located in the city of Philippi. Your browser does not support JavaScript. These two centers of the letter call the Philippians from lives of self-centeredness to experience the gift of life centered in ones identity in Christ. [5] In two ways, in particular, Philippians gives us glimpses into the whole scope of redemptive history. WebPhilippiansMajor Themes Ch. Suffering because of Jesus is a way of living out the Gospel. The New Testament 2 Humility And Unity Christ's Humiliation And Exaltation Holding Fast To The Word Of Life Luke-Acts Historical Books In these verses we see Paul giving the church more instructions. H. Theme. 25 But I thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger and minister to my need, 26 because he was longing for you all and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. The first thing we should notice is the word therefore. The letter to the Philippians breaks down into the following sections. (NKJV). As Paul left Macedonia, the church at Philippi became a significant source of support (Phl 4:15-16; 2 Co 11:9). Where do you find joy in the midst of a trying circumstance? One of the major trade routes between Europe and Asia, Philippi was a chief commercial center with a mixture of different nationalities, religions, and social levels. Overview: the Epistles of the New Testament, Philippians 3:13-14: Forgetting What Is Behind, Biography of Ignatius of Antioch: Apostolic Father, Christian Martyr, Meet Thaddeus: The Apostle With Many Names, Meet the Apostle Paul: Christian Missionary Giant, General Biblical Studies, Interdenominational Christian Training Center. Early in the letter, Paul devotes much time to outlining and reflecting upon precisely what this example ishe details what, precisely, Jesus did. Have you ever wondered what Paul meant when he told the Philippians that his life was being poured out as a drink offering? Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Johannine Writings Philippians is essentially a thank you letter for the sacrificial giving that the Philippians had made on Pauls behalf. Which raises the question: how can the common modern reader discover these deeper layers of meaning? Cookie Notice:
God gives us the desire and the ability to, Philippians 2:14-15 Explained Do All Things Without Grumbling, grumbling: goggysmos murmur, a secret debate, a secret displeasure not openly avowed, the cooing of doves, Disputing: dialogismos internal consideration, imagination, cast together in the mind, bringing pieces together to form, Makes us appear as lights in a crooked and perverse world, Philippians 2:16-17 Explained Poured Out As A Drink Offering, Drink offering spendo: to pour out as a libation. 
The source of his joyous contentment was rooted in knowing Jesus Christ : Paul uses this occasion not only to thank them, but to comfort them concerning his situation as a prisoner for Jesus Christ (Phl 1:12-14). These are all of the chapters of the book of Philippians. As the Old Testament unfolds, however, we see that Adam failed to do this, as did all those who followed him. Verse 2:8: by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. This is the key idea! They have four grown children and ten grandchildren. Ruminating on the work of Christon the humility, obedience, and love that characterizes who Jesus is, Paul urges us to let our lives be guided by this example. With the three steps for reading epistles fresh in your mind, we recommend choosing a letter (Ephesians, Galatians, etc.) Listen to Chuck Swindolls overview of Philippians in his audio message from the Classic series Gods Masterwork. First, Jesus Christ is the second Adam, the perfect human. Wisdom Literature Lets back up to the end of chapter 1 to see what this word is. In general, joy is described as the product of a healthy relationship between a church and a minister. WebTHEME OF THE EPISTLE: Throughout this short and rather personal epistle, one keynote resounds again and again. General Epistles WebPhilippians 3:14 (show verse) Ambition Ambition, worldly, examples of Holy ambition, general references to. Paul charges the congregation to be reconciled with one another, and the Holy Spirit, so the grace of God can manifest itself to all mankind. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. The New Testament letters are more than just collections of good verses to be lifted out of context and memorized. The gospel will multiply not as Christians around the world display superior intellect, or material blessing, or social influence. Besides expressing thanks to the believers in Philippi for their gifts and support, Paul took the opportunity to encourage the church concerning practical matters such as humility and unity. Pauls imprisonment and hardships havent meant his ruin; rather, they are the very way God has blessed him (and others through him) and through which he has experienced Gods strengthening in any circumstance. Individual instructors or editors may still require the use of URLs. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Select an Ending Point He also addressed the letter to church elders and deacons. Andy Patton is a former staff member at L'Abri Fellowship in England. At that time Christ will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body (3:21). But the people Paul met, and the experiences of Gods great mercy and power in Philippi left a deep impression and care upon the apostle who wrote: My brothers whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved (Philippians 4:1). Read my full disclosure. Seeing Pauls ideas in their literary context deepens the meaning of what he is saying, connecting them to the deeper reality of what God accomplished in Jesus. Blue Letter Bible study tools make reading, searching and studying the Bible easy and rewarding. Rhonda ministers alongside her husband Steve, who for 20 years has pastored First Baptist Church of Patterson, California. Pauls affection for these people is clear throughout the letter as he encouraged them to live out their faith in joy and unity (1:35, 2526; 4:1). This chapter gives us a glimpse into the mind and attitude of Christ.
Basically, in these first two verses Paul is asking them what they believe. Among them were Lydia, a businesswoman who opened her home to Paul and his coworkers (16:1315), and the Philippian jailer, who was converted under Pauls ministry after an earthquake miraculously broke open the prison (16:2234). So why is all of that important? Forms of the words joy, rejoice, and gladness appear in 15 of the letters 104 verses. Rhonda Stoppe is the NO REGRETS WOMAN. Purpose Paul wrote to the Philippians from prison. Paul himself says that he is content even with imprisonment as long as Christ is lifted up ( Phil. Paul had first visited the city during his second missionary journey and was instrumental in founding the church there. The girls proclamation was in no way an expression of her salvation, but it would have confused the crowds. 1 Greeting Thanksgiving Prayer For Spiritual Maturity The Progress Of The Gospel Stand Firm For The Gospel Living Is Christ To Live Is Christ Paul Honors Christ Whether He Lives Or Dies Paul's Life For Christ Ch. The Apostle Paul wrote the letter to the Philippians to express his gratitude and affection for the Philippian church, his strongest supporters in ministry. to practice for yourself. In this summary of Philippians 2, we will unpack one of the most beautiful passages of scripture about the humility and attitude of Christ. More than any other church, the believers in Philippi offered Paul material support for his ministry (2 Corinthians 8:11; Philippians 4:1518).
These two centers of the letter call the Philippians from lives of self-centeredness to experience the gift of life centered in ones identity in Christ. WebIn its present canonical form, Philippians is, according to several scholars, a later collection of fragments of the correspondence(s) of Paul with the congregation in Philippi. Thanks for the good work you do. First, he commends Timothy because he puts the needs of Gods people before his own. PaulA Christian missionary who once persecuted the church More voices his concerns for issues present in the Philippian community in 3:2-19 and 4:2-3. -To urge them to remain loyal to their faith and to stand firm against opponents.
Unlike some of Pauls other letters, such as Galatians and Colossians, Philippians was not written in response to a crisis or a false teaching. 4:13, And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory. Phil. Allow the joy you find in Christ to keep you from useless quarrels and divisions and to instead guide you into harmonious relationships with Gods people. Whatever our circumstances, whether we are rich or poor, comfortable or afflicted, we are called to rejoice in God (4:1013).
When you develop eyes to see these repetitions, new layers of meaning will open up throughout the Bible. He was equal with God, but He did not hold on to or grasp that equality. Discover more resources related to Philippians. Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon). Thank you for registering.
H. Theme. Paul encourages the Philippians to live as citizens of a heavenly city, growing in their commitment to serve God and one another. Email / username or password was incorrect! Please see Blue Letter Bible's Privacy Policy for cookie usage details. Early in the letter, Paul devotes much time to outlining and reflecting upon precisely what this example ishe details what, precisely, Jesus did. Then they said to Him, what must we do to be doing the works of God? Jesus answered them, This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent. John 6:29. He rejoices in being poured out as a drink offering for their faith. Themes: Hardship, humility, hope beyond suffering. WebToday, a number of scholars believe that Philippians is a composite of multiple letter fragments.
Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/book-of-philippians-701040. Pauline Epistles Philippians 2:12-13 Explained Work Out Your Salvation, God works in us to will and work for His pleasure. Wisdom Literature 3:20, Rejoice in the Lord always. Phil. As Paul referred to the Philippians as partners in the gospel, let this be said of us. Paul preached that salvation comes through the death of Christ on the cross which redeemed sinners from death and for a grace-filled life. It was the site of a famous battle in 42 B.C. In all of this it is the gospel that fuels such self-giving. WebThe letter to the Philippians breaks down into the following sections. The general consensus is that these epistles were written during Paul's imprisonment at Rome (cf. Our lives are on display. Hard work for Gods sake. Themes: Hardship, humility, love, service, hope beyond suffering, Gods glory. Major Prophets -To inform the Christians at Philippi about his own circumstances. 3:18; 4:4; Col. 1:15; 3:10). Or consider the Gospels, to learn more about the story of Jesus Christ.
Poetical Books Philippians may be divided as follows: Introduction, 1:1-7 I. Christ the Christians Life: Rejoicing in Spite of Suffering, 1:8-30 II. WebThe predominant theme of the epistle to the Philippians is joy. God gives us the desire and the ability to work out what He has worked in us through Christ! To lead the Philippians to this truth, Paul took them directly to Jesus, teaching them that a community of believers living in harmony with one another comes only through mutual humility modeled after the To devote ones life or blood as a sacrifice; spend; be offered, Philippians 2:19-24 Explained Examples of Christ-likeness, He has a genuine concern for the Philippians welfare. While the central message of the Bible for Gods people is his great love for them in Christlove that has eliminated the need for anyone to work his way into Gods favorthis does not mean Christians around the world are encouraged to be passive or apathetic. Paul says he is straining forward and pressing on in the upward call of God in Christ (Phil. Perfect God. Again I will say, rejoice! 1 Greeting Thanksgiving Prayer For Spiritual Maturity The Progress Of The Gospel Stand Firm For The Gospel Living Is Christ To Live Is Christ Paul Honors Christ Whether He Lives Or Dies Paul's Life For Christ Ch. Hear about the latest products and content. We need to look different attractive in this world that is full of darkness and hopelessness. We must allow our faith in the work that He has accomplished for us to be the force that motivates our actions, thoughts, and behaviors. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13). Jesus is the supreme example of this way of life. Philippians brims over with often quoted passages: He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6), To live is Christ and to die is gain (1:21), and I can do all things through Him who strengthens me (4:13) are just a few. His tender love for the believers in Philippi is apparent in this most personal of Paul's writings. Johannine Writings Gossip, slander, envy, disunity, laziness, grumbling, and simply the ongoing temptations and failings of believers all take their toll on the church and the churchs witness around the world. It touched me, so I would recommend it to anyone. Although Paul had faced severe hardships, poverty, beatings, illness, and even his current imprisonment, in every circumstance he had learned to be content. The answer is, and has always been, repentance and wholehearted devotion to knowing Christ and making Him known. In order to have the form, or attributes, of God, He must be God. Throughout Philippians Paul exhorts his readers to give of themselves gladly for the sake of Christ and others. Date Written: Most scholars believe the letter was written around AD 62, while Paul was imprisoned in Rome. WebThe predominant theme of the epistle to the Philippians is joy. General Epistles Apprehensive that his execution was close at hand, yet hoping somehow to visit the Philippians again, Paul explains Warnings in the letter introduce Pauls concern for what is taking place in Philippi. Most scholars concur that Paul penned Philippians during his first imprisonment in Rome (A.D. 60-62). 3:89). 20 For I have no one else of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare. Since the text and audio content provided by BLB represent a This section begins with a greeting and ends with a prayer that introduces Pauls main themes. 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