Philippians
Author: Paul
Paul writes from prison to Philippi, a church that has supported him, and he urges them to rejoice and to be of one mind.
Outline
Partnership in the gospel (1)
Paul thanks God for them, tells them his bonds have advanced the gospel, and says to live is Christ.
The mind of Christ (2)
A hymn of Christ’s humiliation and exaltation is the pattern for a church asked to stop disputing.
Knowing Christ and contentment (3–4)
Paul counts his pedigree as loss and, having received their gift, says he has learned to be content.
Key verses
Philippians 1:21
For Paul, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
Philippians 2:5–8
The mind they are to have is the mind of Christ, who humbled himself and became obedient unto death.
Philippians 4:12–13
Paul has learned contentment in want and in plenty, and he can do all things through Christ who strengthens him.
Philippi was the first church Paul planted in Macedonia, born out of a vision, a prayer meeting by a river, a jail, and an earthquake. The believers there remained his partners. They sent gifts more than once. When they heard he was in prison, they sent Epaphroditus with another gift, and Epaphroditus nearly died on the way. Philippians is the letter Paul sends back with him. It is full of affection, and it is not soft about the church’s quarrels. Two women, Euodias and Syntyche, are named and told to be of the same mind. The joy in the letter is a decision made next to a real dispute and a real chain.
Paul thanks God on every remembrance of them, for their fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now. He is confident that the one who began a good work in them will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. He wants them to know that the things which happened to him have fallen out unto the furtherance of the gospel. His bonds are manifest in the palace, and many brethren wax confident to speak the word without fear. Some preach Christ of envy and strife, and some of good will. Paul rejoices either way, so long as Christ is preached. His own desire is that Christ be magnified in his body, whether by life or by death. To live is Christ, and to die is gain. He is in a strait between the two. For their sake he expects to remain. Only let their conversation be as becomes the gospel, standing fast in one spirit and not terrified by adversaries.
If there is any consolation in Christ, any comfort of love, any fellowship of the Spirit, they are to be likeminded. Nothing is to be done through strife or vainglory. Each is to look on the things of others. The pattern is not a technique. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, made himself of no reputation, took the form of a servant, and humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him, and given him a name above every name. Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you. Do all things without murmurings. Paul hopes to send Timothy, who will naturally care for their state. Epaphroditus is to be received with gladness. He was sick nigh unto death, and they are not to treat the recovery as a small thing.
Paul then warns them to beware of the concision, the party that would put confidence in the flesh. If anyone could, he could: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews, as touching the law a Pharisee, concerning zeal a persecutor, touching the righteousness in the law blameless. He counts those things loss for Christ. He wants to know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings. He has not already attained. He presses toward the mark. Their conversation is in heaven. The final appeals are concrete. Rejoice in the Lord always. Let your moderation be known. Be careful for nothing. The peace of God will keep your hearts. Think on what is true, honest, just, pure, and lovely. He rejoices that their care of him has flourished again. He has learned, in whatever state he is, to be content. He knows how to be abased and how to abound. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me is said in that paragraph, about hunger and fullness, not about a blank check. They have sent once and again to his necessity. My God shall supply all your need. Philippians is a thank-you from a prisoner who refuses to let a gift, a quarrel, or a chain become more important than Christ.