A LOOK AT THE BOOK

PHILIPPIANS

Ralph Porter

© 2003


AUTHOR AND DATE


    External and internal testimony combine to give strong evidence for Pauline authorship.


    The letter was written during Paul's Roman imprisonment in about A.D. 60.



HISTORICAL BACKGROUND


    The church at Philippi was founded by Paul on his second missionary journey.


         It was the first church founded in Macedonia following Paul's vision to go there and

              help them.


    From the beginning, the churches in that region suffered persecution on account of their

         faith.


    The church appears to be doctrinally sound since no corrections are included.


    They were a generous church, noted for their support of Paul and other brethren in

         need.


    Paul has much praise for their positive characteristics.



    Nevertheless, two problems are revealed in the letter:


         First, they are discouraged.

              Times are hard.

              They are suffering.

              Their leader is in jail.

              Their messenger to Paul is sick.

              Everything seems to be going wrong.


         The second problem revealed is division.


              There is a personal conflict between two women in the church.


              The larger problem of Judaistic divisions, between Judaizers and Gentiles, are

                   evident here as in other areas where Paul has ministered.



PURPOSE AND THEME


    The two problems indicate the two major purposes of the letter:


         1.    Due to their discouragement, Paul wants to encourage them in the midst of their

                        affliction.

                             Therefore he writes concerning joy.


         2.    Due to their division, Paul wants to resolve the conflicts between the brethren.

                             Therefore he emphasizes unity.



What are the lessons this letter teaches us about living in the midst of difficult

    circumstances today?


How should we deal with discouragement? See any solutions?

 

 

 

 

 

PHILIPPIANS


REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAYS!                                                                             Ralph Porter

Prayer for 

Them

 

 

1:1-11

Report

concerning

Imprisonment


1:12-26

Exhortation 

to Unity



1:27-2:18

Report

concerning

Their

Ministers

2:19-30

Instruction

concerning

True 

Spirituality

3:1-21

Specific

Exhortations

4:1-9

Thanksgiving

for Their Gift



4:10-23

Greeting

1:1-2

 


Prayer for them

1:3-11


   Thanks-

  giving

1:3-8

      For the

      memories

1:3-4

      For their

      fellowship

1:5

      Because

      of God's

      continuing

      work in

      them

1:6

      Because

      of his

      love for

      them

1:7-8


   Petition

  that their

  love might

  grow

1:9-11

      Sphere

      of deve-

    lopment

1:9

      Purpose

      of deve-

      lopment

1:10

      Cause

      of deve-

      lopment

1:11

 

Advance

of the

gospel

1:12-14


   Testimony of

  Paul in

  prison

1:12-13


   Testimony by

  others

  outside of

  prison

1:14



Division

among the

preachers

1:15-18


   Their

  attitude

1:15-17


   His

  attitude

1:18



Liberation 

of Paul

1:19-26


  Means of

  salvation

1:19


   Desire of

  salvation

1:20-26

 

Conduct

yourselves

worthily of

the gospel

1:27-30



Be of

one mind

2:1-4


   Motivation

  for unity

2:1


   Means

  of unity

2:2-4



Think as 

Christ 

thought

2:5-11



Work out salvation

2:12-13



Do

everything

without

complaining

2:14-18

 

Timothy

2:19-23





Paul

2:24





Epaphro-

ditus

2:25-30

 

Warning

against

Judaizers

3:1-2



Character-

istics of

true

spirituality

3:3



Capacity

not to trust 

the flesh

3:4-6



Attitude

concerning

accomplish-

ments

3:7-21


  Paul's loss

3:7-9


  Paul's

  goals

3:10-11


  Paul's

  progress

3:12-14


  Paul's

  exhortation

3:15-21

 

Stand firm

4:1




Be of

one mind

4:2-3




Rejoice in 

the Lord

4:4




Be gra-

cious to

all men

4:5




Be anxious 

for nothing

4:6-7




Think properly

4:8




Act 

properly

4:9

 

Thanksgiving

for their gift

4:10-19


  His

  gratitude

4:10


  His

  attitude

4:11-13


  His

  thanks

4:14-19

  For the

  gift

4:14

  For the

  support

4:15-16

  His

  desire

  for them

4:17

  His  

  satisfaction

4:18

  God's

  reward

4:19



Personal notes

4:20-23


  Prayer for

  God's glory

4:20


  Greetings

4:21-22


  Benediction

4:23

 



 

 

A LOOK AT THE BOOK

PHILIPPIANS

REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAYS!


Ralph Porter


If I were to ask you to select the church in the New Testament that you would most like to pastor, which church would you choose?

 

    The great majority of the time, when I ask that question, people respond: Philippians!

 

        It was a great church!  
        It had lots of positive traits!

        Only two problems: they were discouraged and divided!

 

    Would you like to lead a church like that?

    Let's look at what Paul has to say to them.


 

AUTHOR AND DATE                                                                


    External and internal testimony combine to give strong evidence for Pauline authorship.


    The letter was written during Paul's Roman imprisonment in about A.D. 60.




HISTORICAL BACKGROUND


    The church at Philippi was founded by Paul on his second missionary journey.


         It was the first church founded in Macedonia following Paul's vision to go there and

              help them.



    From the beginning the churches in that region suffered persecution on account of

        their faith. 


    The church appears to be doctrinally sound since no corrections are included.


    They were a generous church, noted for their support of Paul and other brethren in

        need.



    Paul has much praise for their positive characteristics.


        This is an ideal church!



    Nevertheless, two problems are revealed in the letter:


        First, they are discouraged.


             Times are hard.

            They're suffering.

            Their leader is in jail.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Their messenger to Paul is sick.

            Everything seems to be going wrong.


        Second, they are divided.


             There is a personal conflict between two women in the church.


            The larger problem of Judaistic divisions, between Judaizers and Gentiles, is evident

                here as in other places where Paul has ministered.




PURPOSE AND THEME


    The two problems indicate the two major purposes of the letter:


         1.    Concerning the problem of discouragement, Paul writes to  encourage them in

                   the midst of their affliction.


                        Therefore he emphasizes joy.


         2.    Concerning the problem of divisions, Paul writes to resolve the conflicts

                   between the brethren.


                        Therefore he emphasizes unity.




ORGANIZATION


    The content of Philippians follows more closely the format of a personal letter than most

         books.


    It contains nine main sections:




GREETING   1:1-2


    Paul's greeting follows the normal three-part format, with general references to the

         author, recipients, and his personal greeting to them.

 

 

 

PRAYER FOR THEM   1:3-11


    After his customary greeting, Paul shares his specific prayer for them.



THANKSGIVING   1:3-8


          When he remembers them, Paul thanks God for the memories he has of them, and for

               the fellowship they have enjoyed together (1:3-5).


    For the memories   1:3-4


    For their fellowship   1:5


         Paul praises God, because he's certain that God is going to continue to do the work in

              them that He has obviously begun (1:6-8).


         Throughout the book, Paul's emphasis is on perfecting the good which he already sees

              in them.


    Because of God's continuing work in them   1:6


    Because of his love for them   1:7-8



PETITION THAT THEIR LOVE MIGHT GROW   1:9-11


         His prayer for them is that the love which is already present might grow even

              greater.


    Sphere of development   1:9


         The love which he wants to see develop in us will be evident by its combination with

              knowledge and mature understanding-a discerning love.


    Purpose of development   1:10


         This will enable us to determine what is most important in life.


    Cause of development   1:11


         Such a manifestation can only come as the result of God's work in us to produce His

              own character. Therefore it results in praise to Him.




REPORT CONCERNING IMPRISONMENT   1:12-26

    Paul sends a report concerning his situation in prison.


    He wants them to know that what has served to discourage them, is not a

         discouragement to him.


    3 Examples of the importance of God's perspective:


        1.    GOD WORKS THROUGH DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES

                -TO GLORIFY HIMSELF


                             God is at work in this too! --Encouragement



ADVANCE OF THE GOSPEL   1:12-14


         God is using his imprisonment for His glory and to spread the gospel.


    Testimony of Paul in the prison   1:12-13


         The guards have come to realize that he is not in prison for a crime, but because of

              Jesus.


    Testimony by others outside the prison   1:14


         Even more significant, since Paul has been in prison, others have gained courage to

              speak concerning the Lord.



DIVISION AMONG THE PREACHERS   1:15-18

         2.    GOD WORKS THROUGH DIVISIVE CIRCUMSTANCES

                -TO GLORIFY HIMSELF


         While there has been division among the preachers, that is not a cause for

              discouragement.


         At least the gospel is being preached because of it.


    Their attitude   1:15-17


         If they are preaching to spite Paul, that's their problem.


    His attitude   1:18


         Paul will rejoice because people are hearing the gospel.


              Two things Paul doesn't say:                                                                                                                                                                                       

                1)    He doesn't say, "Any old message will do!"


                   2)    He doesn't say, "Praise God for their rotten attitudes!"



LIBERATION OF PAUL   1:19-26


         Concerning his trial, Paul is convinced that he's soon going to be released.


        3.    GOD WORKS THROUGH DIVERSE CIRCUMSTANCES

                    -TO GLORIFY HIMSELF

 

    Means of salvation   1:19


         This will end up in his deliverance-whatever happens will be good!


              Either he'll be free to preach, OR he'll be home with the Lord!


              Either way, he wins!


    Desire for salvation   1:20-26


           That he might not be embarrassed   1:20a


              That he might not fail and bring God into disrepute.


                   He doesn't want to be a cause for people to think poorly of God.


         That God might be glorified by life or death   1:20b-26


                    Either by his life or by his death, God will be glorified.


                    LIFE IS NOT THE GOAL!

              His reason   1:20b-22a


                 1:21     To live     =     Christ

                                         To die      =     gain


                        If he lives, it will produce more fruit 1:22a

              His doubt   1:22b-24

                   Paul can't decide which to choose.


                   For himself, death is the better option because he'll be with the Lord.


                   But it's more important to remain, for their sake 1:24


                        [Therefore,]


         His plan   1:25-26


              Since he believes God still has a job for him to do, he expects God to release him.


              This will be better for them because it will increase their confidence in the Lord.


                Paul gives up what's best for him--for their good!


                   For Paul, the most important thing is to do God's will, for the benefit of the

                        brethren.




EXHORTATIONS TO UNITY   1:27-2:18


    Regardless of what happens to him, we need to conduct ourselves worthily of the

         gospel.


              A series of five imperatives reveals the conduct Paul desires from us.


                   Most important is unity, which is reflected in all five exhortations.



CONDUCT YOURSELVES WORTHILY OF THE GOSPEL   1:27-30


    We should stand firmly together so that we can help one another when confronted by

         opponents.



BE OF ONE MIND   2:1-4


         We ought to be more concerned for one another than for ourselves and our own

              interests.


    Motivation for unity   2:1


         This should be sufficient.

 

          It should be enough to make anyone happy!


         Only one more thing is needed: to be of one mind-united.


    Means of unity   2:2-4


        What is our attitude when confronted by others who don't have the liberty to do

            the things we do?


        Are we willing to give up our rights in order to avoid offending others?



THINK AS CHRIST THOUGHT   2:5-11


         We should follow Christ's example and humble ourselves for the good of our brethren.

 

    Didn't cling to equality with God   2:5-6

    Gave up rights   2:7

     Humbled Himself   2:8

    Exalted by God   2:9-11



WORK OUT SALVATION   2:12-13


    They ought to resolve the conflict they are currently facing and thereby demonstrate the

         work God is doing in their lives.


    Work hard at this! (emphatic) -take this seriously!