Sunday, January 14,
2018 pm
STUDIES IN
PHILIPPIANS (1)
Introduction
Tonight, we begin an expository study of the letter to the Philippians.
As with previous books, this will be a monthly study in which we
will examine the entire book.
In this study our goal will be to understand the overall message
of the book, how each context applies to that message and make various
applications to our lives.
a.
Written by Paul
– He so introduces himself in vs. 1.
He describes himself here as a bondservant of Jesus Christ.
b.
Written from prison,
probably in Rome
– Acts 28 ends with Paul in Rome in prison for about 2 years.
This easily fits the timeframe for this letter, as Paul has been
with these a couple of times and has a relationship with them.
Philippians 1:1, a bondservant of Jesus Christ; 1:7, 13, 16 – he is in
chains.
c.
Written to the saints
in Philippi
–
Philippi was a prominent city in Macedonia with the main road that
connected Rome & Greece with Asia. It was very loyal to Rome - a Roman
colony (ca 31 BC) which meant considerable privilege, including Roman
citizenship, which meant freedoms, the right to vote and
self-government. They
valued their citizenship which explains some of the behavior in Acts 16.
About the church at Philippi.
Recorded in Acts 16.
The first recorded place in Europe where the gospel was preached.
You recall the Macedonian call – Paul was in Asia, and summoned
by the Holy Spirit, through visions and perhaps other ways to go into
Macedonia. Acts 16:6-10
records Paul was forbidden to go into Asia and other places. He then
sees a man saying to come to Macedonia to help.
They seek a way to go there.
Philippi is the first recorded city where they preach – Acts 16:11-12.
On the Sabbath, they go out by the riverside where some women were
meeting in prayer.
Evidently, the Jewish population was relatively small in the city, as
there is no synagogue. 16:13-15
– they meet Lydia there who hears the word of God and is baptized with
her household. She
persuades Paul and Silas to stay with her.
Acts 16:16-24 – as Paul and Silas are teaching in the city, they cast a
demon out of a girl who had a spirit of divination.
Here masters were angry as they lost their means of revenue.
They cause an uproar in the city.
They are imprisoned which leads to the conversion of the
Philippian jailer (Acts 16:25-34).
The next day the magistrates want to let them go, but Paul and
Silas refuse until THEY come because they had beaten them (Roman
citizens) unjustly. Paul
and Silas leave after saying goodbye to the brethren in Lydia’s house.
(Acts 16:35-40)
They then make their way to Thessalonica.
We next read of Philippi in Acts 20:6 on Paul’s third preaching
journey as he is headed to Rome.
This was a church that was evidently prosperous and remained faithful
even in the face of opposition from Rome.
a.
A thank you for their
fellowship and concerns
– this is personal
letter as Paul.
He thanks them for their fellowship (support more than once) –
Philippians 1:3-5; 4:14-17.
We have recently addressed this, noting this is how congregations
support preachers in other locations.
The support was sent directly to the one preaching.
He assures them that he is doing fine – Phil. 1:12. Things have
turned out ok and even furthered the gospel.
Personal comments about Epaphroditus (who seems to be the
messenger) – Philippians 2:25-30.
Personal admonitions in chapter 4 – somehow Paul has heard some things
of concern. For example He
encourages Euodia and Syntyche to get along (4:2-3)
In this letter you can see an example of brethren that love each
other and have concerns for one another. (Romans 12:10-16, etc.)
This is a principle we are called upon to live by as Christians.
WHAT are we doing to comfort those who have concerns for us? How
do we respond. Do we show
gratitude for those who have helped us?
b.
Joy and Peace in
Christ
– As we go through this letter we will see the attitude of joy.
We will see it is not contingent upon our possessions or station
in life. It is based upon
that which is beyond this earthly realm.
And with proper perspective, our joy and true peace will
complement each other.
i.
Joy (4 times) –
Philippians 1:4 – praying with joy; 1:25 – their joy of faith; 2:2 –
Paul’s joy based upon unity; Philippians 4:1 – Paul described these
brethren as “my joy and my crown”
ii.
Rejoice (10 times) -
1:18 (2x) – Paul rejoices in the preaching of Christ (even from those
with impure motives), 2:16-18 (3x) – he hopes to rejoice in the day of
Christ, to rejoice with them and they with him (reciprocal rejoicing);
2:28 – he is returning Epaphroditus to that they may rejoice;
3:1 – rejoice in the Lord; 3:4 –
we rejoice in Christ Jesus:
Philippians 4:4 (2x)* - rejoice in the Lord always, again I will say,
rejoice,
4:10 – he rejoiced that their care for him flourished again.
iii.
Glad (3 times) – 2:17
– glad and rejoice with your all; 2:18 – be glad and rejoice with me;
2:29 – receive Epaphroditus with all gladness
iv.
Peace –
joy goes hand in hand with our
peace: 1:2 – his greeting
(typical Gentile greeting) , 4:7, 9 – where Paul speaks of the peace of
God guarding our hearts.
As we examine this
letter and Paul’s call for joy, remember that he is writing from prison,
having both suffered and sacrificed greatly.
c.
A call to sacrifice
and suffering
– being a Christian is not a ticket to freedom from suffering,
in fact at times, it provokes suffering, difficulties and sacrifice.
Yet we are not alone. Paul in this letter demonstrates that
noting several things about suffering:
First, Paul uses his suffering to encourage – looking for the
good in it.
- 1:12 – He notes these things turned out for the furtherance of the
gospel.
- In his sufferings he looks beyond this life, ready even to die –
Philippians 1:21-24
-3:3-8 – his disposition concerning the things of this life.
He counted it as rubbish.
Consider what he was willing to give up.
He follows this with his hope of what is to come.
Christ suffered and sacrificed – Philippians 2:5-8, He gave up
heaven and died on the cross.
A call for them to be willing to suffer and endure - 1:27-28 –
stand fast and don’t be terrified by your adversaries.
d.
He addresses the mind
of a Christian
– Another oft mentioned theme is the mind of the Christian.
As we have thoroughly emphasized, our mind is where what we are
and what we will become begins.
Philippians 1:27 – with one mind, we strive together. 2:2 – it is
a characteristic of our unity (like-minded); Philippians 2:5 –we need
the mind of Christ in us ; Philippians 2:20 - Paul’s confidence
manifested in Timothy; Phil 3:15 – the mature mind is described; Phil.
3:19 – those who belong to the devil set their mind on earthly things;
Philippians 4:2 – unity found in being of the same mind
Also thinking – Phil
4:8 – think (meditate) on these things
One final observation: One preacher (David Padfield) summarized four
points from this book:
1:21-24 – Christ is the PURPOSE of my life; 2:5-8 – Christ is the
PATTERN of my life;
3:13-14 – Christ is the PRIZE of my life; 4:12-13 – Christ is the POWER
of my life
And thus we introduce the book of Philippians.
May we in coming studies find the joy Paul describes and God
intends for us to have, even in the face of difficulties in this life.
What is the source of your joy?