The primary objectives of these studies are a) to get you to read the Bible and b) to take in what you have read. At the end of each page of studies (normally a chapter) there will be a 'Recap' to remind you of what you have read. At the end of every 'set' (see the front Contents page) there will also be a 'Summary' and a 'Conclusions' that cover the pages in that set.

INTRODUCTION to Philippians

The Context

On his second missionary journey (about AD 51), the apostle Paul had received guidance to go to Macedonia (the north part of what we call Greece ), and had eventually arrived at the city of Philippi (see Acts 16:12 on). There a church had been established. He called in there again on his third journey (see Acts 20:6). Some three or four years after that third journey, Paul was imprisoned in Rome (AD 61-63). While there Epaphroditus arrived from Philippi with gifts for Paul.

The Purpose of Writing

Obviously Epaphroditus would have talked about what was happening back at Philippi and Paul's pastoral heart reached out to them by the means of this letter.

It is first and foremost a letter of love and encouragement. In it we find Paul expressing again and again his love and concern for them. He goes to some lengths to encourage them about his own position in prison. He wants them to be very positive about it and in no way be cast down over what is happening. He takes the opportunity to speak gently about the problems that he has heard about from Epaphroditus and gently exhorts or encourages them to go on with Christ and work out God's purposes for them fully.

This is an amazingly personal letter with Paul sharing himself with them again and again. It is not a book of deep and extensive doctrine but wonderful truths keep emerging in the midst of the personal testimony. Let your heart be moved by the grace of this man as you read.

Part 1 : "Relationship & Reality"

As we start into this lovely letter watch first of all, for the signs of the relationship that Paul has with this church. See his love and concern for them being expressed. Then watch as he seeks to reassure them about what has been happening to him. They will have heard that he is in prison, but he wants to reassure them, in respect of the reality of what is happening, that he sees it very positively. Humanly we may look at the situation and see a number of negatives, but Paul looks at all that is happening with positive faith. As you read, let the reality of this man's outlook challenge and change your own!

Chapter: Phil 1

Passage: Phil 1:1-2

A. Find Out:

1. Who are writing? v.1a

2. How do they describe themselves? v.1b

3. To whom do they write generally? v.1c

4. Who do they specifically mention? v.1d

5. What 2 things comprise their blessing? v.2

B. Think :

1. How does seeing yourself as God's servant help you in your ministry?

2. Why do we need grace in our lives?

3. Why do we need peace in our lives?

C. Comment :

Paul's letter opens with the conventional structure that is seen in all of his letters. First, there is the IDENTIFICATION OF SENDER. Although he writes it (see singular in v.3 etc.) Paul identifies Timothy as his associate, a man who had concern for them (see 2:20), who they already knew ( 2:22 ). It is implicit that they knew Paul for he only writes to churches with whom he had a relationship. His only designation is "servant of Jesus Christ". Servanthood brings both humility and strength; humility because it makes us remember that we have a master or Lord whom we serve, and strength because it helps us realise that we only do what the master wants and when we do that He will bless it.

Second, comes the IDENTIFICATION OF RECEIVER of the letter: the saints in Philippi, which indicates not moral purity but spiritual relationship with Christ. Interestingly, Paul also writes specifically to the leaders at this church (which he doesn't do in any other letter), the inference being that the leaders were in dispute (see later in chapter 2). Finally comes the BLESSING, the desire for God's provision of grace and peace for them. Grace is that ability to help us cope and peace is that foundation we need to hold us in days of turmoil.

D. Application?

1. How we perceive ourselves determines how we exercise our ministry.

2. TODAY we NEED grace and peace. Ask for it!

Chapter: Phil 1

Passage: Phil 1:3-8

A. Find Out:

1. What had Paul been doing? v.3

2. How had he done that? v.4

3. Why had he been able to do it like that? v.5

4. Of what was he confident? v.6

5. What was the basis of that confidence? v.7

6. What was he feeling for them? v.8

B. Think :

1. What does this tell us about Paul's prayer life?

2. What does it say about the work of God in the Christian?

3. What, in the purposes of God, is hinted at?

C. Comment :

First let's observe the EVIDENCE OF RELATIONSHIP that Paul displays for these Philippians: his praying for them. A sure sign that we have a strong relationship with someone is that we pray for them, and Paul does this regularly, and has joy for them. Joy is a great motivating force for prayer.

Second, note the BASIS OF THE RELATIONSHIP: they had worked together with Paul to spread the gospel, and as the gospel was so important to him, their working with him in this was very special to him.

Third, note the CONFIDENCE OF THE RELATIONSHIP: Paul was confident, in his knowledge of them, that the Lord would be able to work out His purposes in them right through to the day when Jesus would take them to Himself. Although we may take this for granted, Paul didn't, as we shall see later in the letter. He didn't assume that because they had started off well they would continue like that to Jesus' return, but because he knows them well he was able to say that he WAS confident that they would make it through to the end.

Finally, note the FRUIT OF THE RELATIONSHIP: thanks to God for what they meant to him. A good relationship is a blessing which brings joy and thanksgiving.

D. Application?

1. Christian relationships based on serving the Lord are a special blessing.

2. Don't take such relationships for granted.

Chapter: Phil 1

Passage: Phil 1:9-11

A. Find Out:

1. What did Paul want to abound in them? v.9a

2. What was to be the basis for that? v.9b

3. What would that enable them to do? v.10a

4. What would that result in? v.10b

5. With what would be they filled? v.11a

6. With what result? v.11b

B. Think :

1. On what is love seen to be based here?

2. And how will that help their lives generally?

3. From where does all this come?

C. Comment :

We saw above that Paul's relationship with the Christians at Philippi prompted him to pray for them. Now we see the FOCUS (or direction) of his petition: that their love would abound more and more. God is love (1 John 4:16 ) and His presence is to be experienced and expressed more and more in the life of the Christian.

Second, we see the FOUNDATION (or basis) of his petition: that this love will grow as they receive more and more knowledge (experience) of the Lord and insight (revelation) into the depth of that love. For the Christian, our love is deepened as we experience and perceive more and more the wonder of His love for us (1 John 4:10 ).

Third, we see the FRUIT (results) of his petition: as they love, as they experience and understand more and more the wonder of God's love for them, so they will find that, in the light of that, they will also be able to see what is good and what is not good for their lives. This will enable them to avoid what is bad or harmful and they will thus be living lives of righteousness. Not only that, but this love which opens up a righteous life will also bring glory and praise to God for the wonder of what He HAS done and IS doing through the work of His Son, Jesus Christ in us and in others.

D. Application?

1. Experiencing and understanding the love of God more and more, touches

the heart and changes the life to become more like Jesus.

2. Let His love release praise in your heart.

Chapter: Phil 1

Passage: Phil 1:12-14

A. Find Out:

1. What was the outcome of what had happened? v.12

2. What had become clear? v.13c

3. Where had it become clear? v.13b

4. Who had been encouraged? v.14b

5. Why had they been encouraged? v.14a

6. What had they been encouraged to do? v.14c

B. Think :

1. What obviously was Paul's state at the time of writing?

2. How did he see this as working to further the spread of the Gospel?

3. How did he see it as serving to encourage the church?

C. Comment :

These few verses are triumphant verses of an overcomer! Paul is in chains, obviously in prison in Rome for his faith. That should dispel any foolish ideas that westernised Christianity might put about that nothing ever “goes wrong” for Christians. Indeed Scripture promises that the godly will be persecuted (John 15:20 / 2 Timothy 3:12). What is important is how we respond to it. Paul saw his imprisonment as a double blessing. First, because he was in chains under guard, he had a constant audience with whom he shared the Gospel. Subsequently everyone throughout the palace guard (possibly nine thousand men) had heard the Gospel.

The fact that he was able to go on sharing the Gospel while in chains encouraged the other believers to be bold to share the Gospel as well. Therefore, as far as Paul was concerned, his being in chains was being used to further the spread of the Gospel and nothing could stop it! Whatever the situation Paul looked on it positively and used it to fulfil his one desire, to glorify his Lord.

D. Application?

1. God does not guarantee us peace and quiet when we become Christians,

in fact it is quite the contrary.

2. God in all situations?

Chapter: Phil 1

Passage: Phil 1:15-17

A. Find Out:

1. What was motivating some to preach? v.15a

2. Why were others preaching? v.15b

3. How were the second group doing it? v.16a

4. Why? v.16b

5. What was the heart of the first group? v.17a

6. What were they hoping to achieve?

B. Think :

1. How would you sum up the first group that Paul spoke about?

2. How would you sum up the second group?

3. How does Paul seem to be a provoker?

C. Comment :

In these few verses Paul touches on a subject that we would perhaps prefer to avoid: the motivation of those who share the Gospel. First, we should observe that not everyone shares the Gospel with a pure heart, in response to the wonder of the love of God and the calling of God! Some, that Paul knows about, are sharing it for a mixture of human reasons that are very unChrist-like. Within some there was a competitive spirit, that saw Paul's success in ministry and wanted to be better than him, not for Christ's glory, but so they could get the credit. Wherever there is a successful ministry, blessed of God, the enemy will always seek to raise up a spirit of rivalry with division and competition. In Paul's case these people even hoped that by sharing the Gospel it would stir up the authorities who would even take action against Paul already in chains.

But there was another group, preaching out of love for Paul, wanting to stand alongside him in the Gospel, who preached just hoping for Paul's good. While we might wish that everyone shares the Gospel out of a pure love for Christ, we have to recognise that, as human beings, we serve the Lord from a mixed bunch of motives. Tomorrow we'll see Paul's response to this.

D. Application?

1. Do I serve the Lord or serve myself?

2. Do I have a sense of competition with others who are serving God?

Chapter: Phil 1

Passage: Phil 1:18-19

A. Find Out:

1. What was the important thing to Paul? v.18

2. What did that release in him? v.18

3. What from them was going to help him? v.19a

4. What from God was also going to help? v.19b

5. In what would they result? v.19c

B. Think :

1. How did Paul's goal in life help him overcome wrong feelings about

people's wrong motives?

2. How is the God-man partnership seen in these verses?

3. What hope did Paul hold onto?

C. Comment :

When we look at other people's wrong motives it is very easy to get worked up in a wrong way about them. After having spoken strongly about those he knows are preaching the Gospel with mixed motives, he calmly ends up saying, "So what?". As far as he is concerned the most important thing in life is that Christ is preached and whether people do it from good or bad motives doesn't affect Paul, it is just good!

So, says Paul, I'm going to rejoice because others will be hearing about Jesus, it doesn't matter what people say about me along the way! Having reached that point in triumphant thinking, it is suddenly as if Paul is released in another area of his thoughts: yes, and just as that situation will turn out well and cause me rejoicing, he says, so this whole matter of me being in prison will also turn out well as you pray for me and the Holy Spirit encourages me.

Again and again in these verses of this letter comes the challenge to us to follow Paul's example in the way he doesn't let his circumstances and other people's wrong attitudes overcome him. How does he do it? He sees himself again and again in God's hands, as God's servant. Do we see ourselves like this?

D. Application?

1. Are we so motivated to see God glorified that that overrides all other

possible feelings?

2. Do circumstances get on top of me or do I hold my position in Christ and

reign over them?

Chapter: Phil 1

Passage: Phil 1:20-26

A. Find Out:

1. For what aim did Paul want courage? v.20

2. What two options did he consider? v.21

3. What would life mean? v.22

4. How did he view death? v.21b,23

5. Why did he feel it essential to remain? v.24,25

6. What did he want for them? v.26

B. Think :

1. How is Paul's total submission to the will of Christ seen here?

2. How is the Christian's hope supremely exampled here?

3. How is Christian love supremely exampled here?

C. Comment :

These are truly amazing verses from an amazing person. Perhaps more than anywhere else, the maturity of Paul in the Christian faith is displayed. He wonders if the end of his life has come. He is in prison and wonders if death awaits him. As he faces it he realises that in many ways his greatest desire is just to go to be with Christ. He is quite sure of his destination for he has run the race faithfully and relies on his Lord's promises. He is sure that death is good for him!

Yet there is also in him a longing for these Philippians to whom he is writing. He longs to see them and bless them, that they may have great joy. There is the awareness in Paul that he is a servant of God to bring blessing to the church and he just wants to keep on and keep on doing that. What an example!

Finally observe the humility of this giant in the Christian faith: he "hopes" he will "have sufficient courage" to face oncoming death. This is no proud boasting apostle, but a humble servant of God who is all out for his master, whether the next stage of his service involves death or life! He trusts in God's grace for him in it, whatever it is!

D. Application?

1. Have we the assurance that having run the race we will be with Christ?

2. Is our desire to bless, and carry on blessing, the church?

3. A heart that is truly a servant of God is prepared for whatever is to

come, whether it be life or death!

Chapter: Phil 1

Passage: Phil 1:27-30

A. Find Out:

1. What is Paul's first instruction? v.27a

2. What two things will he then know? v.27c

3. What will then not happen to them? v.28a

4. Of what will that be a sign? v.28b

5. In what are they to share? v.29

6. How were they sharing with Paul? v.30

B. Think :

1. Of what, from this passage, might we be frightened?

2. How is that a normal part of Christian life?

3. How are we to deal with it?

C. Comment :

Having just spoken so gloriously about his own hopes for the future, Paul now turns to instruct those he is writing to, how to conduct their future. First of all they apparently had NEED of encouragement, they were apparently going through similar opposition in the Gospel to that which Paul had said he had experienced and was experiencing. It is easy to sound super-spiritual about opposition but it is never easy to cope with. We ARE promised persecution if we are going to follow Christ but it still isn't easy to handle the thought of it, fear can come in.

Second, we see Paul's DIRECTIONS. Again he doesn't make super-spiritual noises but simply says, make sure there is unity within you and that you keep on going for the Gospel. His first call was for unity in purpose. In battle we need to know that we have others who are standing with us in it, going through the same things, sharing the same load and with the same objective. His second call was to stand firm. When the going gets tough the essential ingredient to deal with it is perseverance, that determination to keep on going until we see the blessing of the Lord revealed in it all.

D. Application?

1. In the Christian faith, opposition is guaranteed, therefore we need close

fellowship and unity of heart to be able to contend for the Lord.

2. In the face of the battle, a rugged determination to triumph for Christ is

needed.

RECAP: "Relationship & Reality" Phil 1

SUMMARY :

In this first group of 8 studies we have seen :

- Paul expressing something of his relationship with them:

  - their partnership with him in the gospel

  - his ongoing prayer for them

  - his desires for them

- Paul sharing from prison about

  - how his experience can encourage others

  - his hope of going to be with Christ one day

  - his certainty of remaining with them a while

     longer

  - how they should continue preaching fearlessly

COMMENT :

Perhaps more than in any other place in the New Testament, we see in this chapter something of the incredible inner resources there must have been in this amazing apostle. Here he was in prison and yet all he is concerned about is to encourage the people in this church at Philippi. He has had the opportunity to preach in prison, he believes his experience will encourage others outside, and he has complete assurance about his future. Wow!

LESSONS?

1. What we think about ourselves governs the extent of our ministry.

2. Good relationships with other workers can be a real blessing.

3. Peace and quiet are not guaranteed for the Christian worker.

4. We want all others to hear the Gospel.

5. In tough circumstances God's grace will be sufficient

PRAY :

Thank the Lord for the wonder of the Gospel and the wonder of His grace that is available to you to face opposition.

PART 2 : "Unity, Humility & Servanthood"

In this next Part Paul moves on from straight forward encouragement to challenging the church in Philippi to be united with the same sort of humility that was seen in Christ. Watch for the servant heartedness revealed in two of his co-workers.