PHILIPPIANS OVERVIEW

INTRODUCTION TO PHILIPPIANS

1. Theme: Paul takes the opportunity to thank the Philippians

for the generous gift that Epaphroditus had brought from them

(Phil 4.10,18 with 2.25), to let them know about his spiritual

prosperity (effectiveness, spiritual deliverance, joy, contentment)

from living the daily plan of God even though he is in the center of

severe testing and suffering (Phil 1.7-26; 2.17; 3.7-14; 4.1, 11-

13, 18), and to communicate revelation God has given him for the

Philippian church and for the church at large (Phil 1.6,27-30;

2.3,5,12,13; 3.1,15; 4.6,8,19).

2. Chapter titles:

1. Chapter 1, Paul exploits pressure.

2. Chapter 2, Live out your own salvation life.

3. Chapter 3, Pursue knowing Christ.

4. Chapter 4, Stability, contentment and joy.

3. Title: Philippians. These are believers that live in the

city of Philippi, a prominent city that was situated on the Via

Ignatia, the highway from Italy to Asia (Phil 1.1.).

3.1. Paul founded this geographical church, the first

church founded on European soil, on his second missionary trip (Acts

16). Timothy, Silas, and Luke were with him (Acts 16.1-4, 10-12, 19;

18.5). The date was about AD 50-52. This church was composed of Gentile

believers. They were very responsive to his ministry (authority and

doctrine) (Acts 18.5; Phil 1.5-8; 2.12 4.10-16; 2 Cor 8.1-5; 11.8-9).

3.2. The city was named for Philip of Macedon in the iv

century BC. Philippi came under Roman rule about 167 BC. In 42 BC

Octavius (who would receive the title of Augustus on 16 Jan. 27

BC) and Antony defeated the armies of Brutus and Cassius (the

assassins of Julius Caesar). This battle took place at Philippi.

Philippi then became a Roman colony. The veterans of the army

were settled there. The city had great loyalty to Rome. In 31 BC

Octavius defeated Antony at Actium. He also settled a group of

Italian settlers in Philippi.

4. The immediate personal and political background for the

letter.

4.1. Paul had determined to go to Jerusalem even

though he was aware of the Jews' rampant religious pride and self

righteousness which made them violently opposed to him and his

message. He was arrested. He lost his freedom.

He was taken to Rome and imprisoned where he waited for the

decision from the legal system. He was chained by the hand to a

praetorian guardsman day and night. Some believers have been hostile

and competitive with him. He was under great pressure, but he

continued to live within the daily plan of God and so applied Bible

doctrine to life. In the middle of great pressure, testing, and

suffering Paul was an effective servant of Christ, was stable, content,

and happy.

4.2. Rome at this time was about to embark upon direct,

intermittent antagonism toward Christianity. Burrus (prefect of

the praetorian guard) and Seneca (Nero's tutor and then political

adviser and minister) had provided Nero and Rome with good

government since Nero became emperor in AD 54. As time passed Nero was

influenced more and more by those who agreed with his crimes. Seneca's

power grew less. When Burrus died in AD 62 (Suetonius and Dio say

poisoned) Seneca lost power and retired (In AD 65 he was forced to

commit suicide.) Nero was able to act more independently. Conditions

worsened. Paul wrote Philippians from Roman imprisonment during

this transition period.

5. Author: Paul (Phil 1.1). This letter has very strong

attestation of Pauline authorship. Polycarp mentioned letters

written by Paul to the Philippians in his own letter to the

Philippians (3.1-2). Philippians is also listed in Marcion's

Apostolicon (Marcion was a second century heretic who took Paul as

his hero. His canon listed ten Pauline epistles.) and in the

Muratorian Canon (This is a fragmentary list of recognized NT books

known at Rome about AD 200). Church fathers and apologists quote from

and allude to Paul's letter to the Philippians.

6. Paul wrote from where and when: Rome near the end of his

first Roman imprisonment about AD 62 (Phil 1.7, 13-18, 23-26; 4.22

and Acts 28.16, 30, 31).

GUIDE TO THE CONTENT OF PHILIPPIANS

Chapter 1

Paul exploits pressure

1. Paul and Timothy greet all the saints at Philippi (all

believers in the geographical church). They make a point to greet the

overseers (episkopos, also called pastor/teachers and elders,

the authoritative leader teachers. There is one over each local

church.) and deacons (diakonos, the official servants of the

overseer and local church) (1.1-2).

2. Paul appreciates and prays for the Philippians.

They genuinely accepted Paul's ministry (authority and

doctrine) so they became reliable participants with him in his grace

ministry (1.3-11).

2.1. The personal basis for Paul's appreciation and

prayer for them was their acceptance of his ministry and

their reliable participation with him (1.3-8).

2.2. Paul asks the Father that their love will excel in true

knowledge (epignwsis, understood and accepted knowledge of Bible

doctrine) and discernment (aisth8sis, insight, perceptive ability

based on learned Bible doctrine) so they will be able to make good

decisions in order to be genuine and unflawed (by Satan's plan) up

to the day of Christ (2.9-11).

3. While Paul was under arrest in Rome his travel and on

site teaching were stopped. Many believers subtly attacked him

because of their selfish ambition, envy, and rivalry. They were

occupied with themselves and things instead of with Christ and the

plan of God. But Paul passed the tests associated with all of this

by living the daily plan of God. The gospel spread, other

believers grew, and Paul experienced great spiritual growth (1.12-19).

4. Paul reflects on his life and death. Because he is so occupied

with Christ within the plan of God he has adjusted to either option

(1.19-24).

5. Paul's job profile, which became the profile of the

pastor/teacher, was to minister so believers will advance (mature) in

the Christian way of life (CWL) and from this spiritual progress

gain inner happiness (1.25-26).

6. The church's job profile is to live (politeuomai)

worthy of the gospel as patriotic citizens of heaven. These

citizens 1) must stand firm and operate from their spiritual

position of strength, 2) must actively strive together in

ministry for the faith like disciplined soldiers and athletes, 3)

and must maintain the winner's confidence while under pressure

instead of the loser's fear (1.27-30).

PHILIPPIANS CHAPTER 2

Live out your own salvation life

1. God has given believers (citizens of heaven)

grace spiritual blessings to support their proper

relationship with Him, their King. This grace

support includes 1) God's encouragement to enable

believers to advance in His plan, 2) genuine comfort

so the believer can regain balance and perspective,

3) partnership with the Holy Spirit for living the

plan of God, 4) genuine affection and sensitivity

to believers (2.1).

2. God has designed grace mental attitudes

that the believer must use. These will motivate and

support right thought and action among spiritual

(kingdom) citizens. They include 1) think the same

Bible doctrine, 2) practice Christian (source

dependent) love, 3) common or united Biblical

viewpoint and therefore common application of Bible

doctrine in life, 4) same accepted purpose in the

plan of God as to mission, preparation, practice,

and environment, 5) reject mental attitude sin

motives of subjective self-seeking and arrogant

delusion, 6) humility and grace orientation toward

other believers, 7) genuine interest in the

spiritual welfare of other (2.2-4).

3. Believers must have humility

(tapeinophrosun8, verse 3) like Christ did. Jesus

Christ's humility caused right action and the Father

then exalted Him. Humility is a mental attitude. The

humble person thinks the way God does about self in

relation to God and others. The humble person is

oriented to authority. Christ's humility showed what

kingdom citizenship mental attitude ought to be

(2.5-11).

3.1. He did not arrogantly show off and

claim His divine rights (did not regard, `8geomai, a

thing to be grasped, `arpagmos). He placed himself

under the authority and plan of God even though He

was God (form of God, en morph8 theou, preincarnate

Godness expressed in the OT period by power,

majesty, and holiness such as the burning bush, the

cloud and fire, and the glory in the temple which

reflected His unseen divine attributes) (2.5-6).

3.2. Jesus Christ emptied Himself (kenow,

aor act indic, gave of Himself for mankind) by

adding humanity to His person and accepting the

limitations of humanity (form of a slave means

humanness under the Father's authority; likeness of

men means similar throughout--body, soul, human

spirit--except for the sin nature; appearance means

outward looks) (2.7-8).

3.3. Jesus Christ humbled (tapeinow, aor

act indic) Himself by accepting the plan of God for

death on the cross. This demonstrated His humility

(right thinking about self in relation to God and

others, authority orientation to God the Father and

the plan of God) (2.8).

3.4. God the Father exalted and honored

Jesus Christ as God and man. All people will honor

Christ when He returns at the second advent (2.9-

11).

4. Live the salvation kind of life (Christian

way of life, CWL) 2.12-18.

4.1. Both God and the believer have a role

in the CWL. The believer's role is seen by people,

but God's unseen role inside the believer is most

important (2.12-13).

4.1.1. The believer must accept the

ministry of the gifted communicator and follow his

ministry (authority and doctrine). With this

training he must live out (katergazomai, achieve,

accomplish, produce, pres midd impv, deponent) his

own day to day salvation kind of life (2.12).

4.1.2. God has committed Himself to

energize (who is at work, energew, articular pres

act part) each believer's volition and action (to

thelein kai to energein, articular pres act

infinitives used as direct objects of God who is at

work) so that each may accomplish God's good will

(`uper t8s eudokias [eudokia], the execution of

God's plan for the church age believer) (2.13).

4.2. Do not grumble or dispute (mental

attitude sins and sins of the tongue). When

believers demonstrate good mental attitudes and good

use of the tongue, this becomes a clear witness for

God (2.14-15).

4.3. Maintain a continual commitment

(epechw, pres act part, to have and firmly hold

onto) to learned Bible doctrine. This saturation

with Bible doctrine will be the basis for one's

spiritual life. The believer that lives the plan of

God based upon the Bible doctrine that Paul taught

will be proof at the judgment seat of Christ of the

value of Paul's ministry (2.16).

4.4. Rejoice like Paul does about

spiritual privileges and opportunities even though

they include testing and suffering (2.17-18).

5. Paul reports about two loyal subordinates in

his ministry who are fulfilling the profile of Phil

1.27-30 to live worthy of the gospel as patriotic

citizens of heaven. They are Timothy and

Ephaphroditus. They live the plan of God. They serve

under Paul. They accept his authority and doctrine.

They specialize within their own gift and they are

able to exercise delegated authority without

becoming proud (Phil 2.19-30.

5.1. Paul planned to send Timothy to

Philippi to find out about the life of the church

there (2.19-24).

5.1.1. Timothy was right for the job

because he was in agreement with Paul (kindred

spirit, isopsuchos, of like soul, have much in

common) about spiritual life, growth, and ministry

(2.19-20).

5.1.2. The other believers around

Paul at the time that are gifted for this same kind

of ministry are occupied with themselves and details

of life instead of Christ (2.20-21).

5.1.3. Timothy has developed under

the training of Paul. He has learned Bible doctrine

from Paul. He has served under authority. He now can

take delegated authority. So Paul will send him to

Philippi as his representative. Paul will soon

follow if possible (2.22-24).

5.2. Paul sent Epaphroditus back to the

Philippians so he (Epaphroditus) and the Philippians

will be in the right place and continue their

ministry momentum (2.25-30).

5.2.1. Paul considered Epaphroditus a

valued team member (brother, adelphos, believer;

fellow worker, sunergos, fulfilled his

responsibility within the plan of God along with

Paul; fellow soldier, sustratiwt8s, comrade in arms

on the spiritual battlefield; messenger, apostolos,

delegate from Philippi to Paul; minister,

leitourgos, served Paul in the day to day details of

the ministry (2.25-26).

5.2.2. Epaphroditus became so sick

that he almost died. Paul could not heal him, but

God did heal him (Doctrine: temporary spiritual

gifts. Paul could have healed him earlier in his

ministry [Acts 28.8-9]) (2.27).

5.2.3. Paul commended Epaphroditus

(and all men that serve like he does) and sent him

back to the Philippians with the expectation of

blessing and joy for the Philippians. Epaphroditus

was committed to the Lord and the ministry that God

gave him. He was oriented to the plan of God. He was

dependable. He was humble, authority oriented, and

grace oriented. The Lord and Paul used him for the

spiritual benefit of others (2.27-30).

 

PHILIPPIANS CHAPTER 3

Pursue Knowing Christ

1. Paul commands the believers to rejoice

(chairw, pres act impv, second person plural, to

have genuine delight, to take pleasure in, be glad,

to have happiness or a good mood of the soul and

human spirit) in Christ. He is God, Savior, Head,

Priest, King, and Leader. Believers are in the plan

of God, under the headship of Christ, with spiritual

blessings. All this ought to motivate joy. To

rejoice in Christ protects the individual believer

from 1) preoccupation with self, 2) from

preoccupation with the world system and its

religion, human good, and evil, and 3) from

Satan's plan and demons (3.1).

2. Paul warns them to be alert to self

righteous religious people. He used to be one and

knows the danger (3.2-6).

2.1. They live outside the plan God

(dogs), claim to obey God but really produce evil

(evil workers), and emphasize ritual (false

circumcision) (3.2).

2.2. Grace believers 1) value spiritual

circumcision (true circumcision, baptism with the

Holy Spirit), 2) serve daily through the enabling

power of the Holy Spirit (worship in the Spirit of

God, latreuw, which is translated worship, means to

serve by the carrying out of religious duties. It

refers to each believer serving God by carrying out

His plan and will for his or her Christian way of

life [CWL]. See serve in Matt 4.10, Acts 26.7, Rom

1.9), 3) take great pride in Jesus Christ (glory in,

the only one worthy of boasting and glory), and 4)

do not depend upon human ability to please God (no

confidence in the flesh) (3.3).

2.3. Paul had great ability, intelligence,

heritage, education, zeal, and experience, but his

relationship with the resurrected Christ completely

changed his values and priorities (3.4-7).

3. Paul therefore greatly values (his divine

perspective) salvation knowledge of Christ (knowing

Christ Jesus my Lord) and union with Christ or

position in Christ with all the benefits (gain

Christ and be found in Him). Christ's righteousness

and life became Paul's righteousness and life. Paul

gained all this by faith. Identification with Christ

or positional truth, retroactive and current,

describes the believer's relationship and identity

with Christ. (3.8-9).

4. Along with salvation faith, union with

Christ, and all the grace benefits gained by union

with Christ, Paul greatly values (additional divine

perspective) experientially knowing Christ,

experientially knowing Christ's resurrection power,

experientially participating in Christ's kind of

suffering. Furthermore, he wants to live the

resurrection kind of life in the present time, and

looks forward to physical resurrection in the

future. Paul presses on toward them. Each believer

should do the same (3.10-16).

4.1. Paul purposes for his day to day life

(PERSONAL PRIORITIES) to know (ginwskw, genitive

articular aor act infin of purpose) 1) Christ

(genuine occupation with Christ through learning and

application of doctrine, especially Christology), 2)

Christ's resurrection power (God's omnipotent,

[dunamis] resurrection power that is available to

every believer through union with Christ and

spirituality), 3) the fellowship (koinwnia) of His

sufferings (to participate in the same kind of

sufferings that Christ endured and for some of the

same reasons. This was an honor) (3.10).

4.2. He also wants (PERSONAL GOAL) to

experience freedom from every trace of fallen Adam

(control by the sin nature with its results) which

Christ provided through His death (conformed to His

death, summorphizw, to grant or invest with the same

form, in the passive to take on the same form, pres

pass part, attendant circumstances. Application of

retroactive positional truth) so he can live like

his resurrected position (plan of God, current

positional truth, spirituality, spiritual maturity)

and then move into physical resurrection at the

right time (3.10-11).

4.3. Paul presses on (diwkw, to run, press

on, persecute, run after, pursue, strive for, pres

act indic) toward spiritual maturity and physical

resurrection (STRONG POSITIVE VOLITION) (3.12).

4.4. Paul's divine policy is to FORGET

(epilanthanw, to forget, neglect, overlook, care

nothing about, pres midd part, attendant

circumstance to I press on) THE PAST successes,

sins, and failures, REACH FORWARD (epekteinomai, to

stretch out, strain toward something, pres midd

part, attendant circumstance to I press on) AND

PRESS ON (diwkw, to run, press on, persecute, run

after, pursue, strive for, pres act indic) toward

consistent function in the plan of God, spiritual

maturity and resurrection kind of life in time, and

future physical resurrection. Preoccupation with the

past only distracts him from God's grace plan. He

tells all believers to do this (3.13-15).

4.5. Paul stresses that he and all

believers need to follow (translated keep living,

stoichew. It originally meant to be drawn up in a

line. In Christian literature it means to be in

line with, stand beside a person or thing, hold to,

agree with, follow [with the dative case which is

used here], pres act infin) their present level of

spiritual learning, application, and growth (ACT

YOUR SPIRITUAL AGE). They must not regress (3.16).

5. Believers are kingdom citizens. Their future

physical resurrection to be just like Christ is

certain. Because this is true Paul commands all to

follow his divine perspective for the CWL (personal

priorities; personal goal; positive volition; forget

the past, reach forward, and press on; and act your

spiritual age) of 3.10-16 (3.17-21).

5.1. There are those that accept the plan

of God (this is Paul's pattern) and those that

reject the plan of God (the enemies of Christ and

His work). Follow Paul's pattern, not the enemy's

pattern (3.17-19).

5.2. Kingdom or heavenly citizens

(politeuma, commonwealth, state) anticipate Christ's

return. At that time He will exert (energeia,

working, operation, action, activity) His unlimited

ability (dunamai, to be able, genitive articular

pres midd infin describing God's ability to actively

work) and will transform (metasch8matizw, to change

the form of, to transform from one form to another

form, future act indic) the physical body of every

believer so that each body will be exactly the same

kind of body as His resurrection body. Believers

will live in their resurrection bodies forever with

the Lord (3.20-21).

 

1986 By Tod M. Kennedy

 

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