"THE EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS"
Introduction
AUTHOR: The apostle Paul (1:1), joined in his salutation by Timothy.
Personal references by the author (1:12-14; 2:19-24; 3:4-7; 4:15-16)
are certainly consistent with what we know of Paul from other New
Testament sources. Paul's authorship of this letter is also supported
by the testimony of early "church fathers" such as Polycarp and
Irenaeus.
THE CITY OF PHILIPPI: Named after Philip of Macedonia, the father of
Alexander the Great, it was a major city of Macedonia on the road from
Rome to Asia known as the Egnatian Way. It was the site of a famous
battle in 42 B.C. in which Antony and Octavius defeated Brutus and
Cassius. In 30 B.C., Octavian made the town a Roman colony where
retired soldiers could live and enjoy the full privileges of Roman
citizenship (to which Paul may have alluded in 3:20).
THE CHURCH AT PHILIPPI: During his second missionary journey (A.D.
49-52), Paul and his traveling companions (Timothy and Silas) were
making their way across Asia Minor (Turkey) when Paul received a vision
at Troas. In the vision, a man of Macedonia pleaded, "Come over to
Macedonia and help us." Perceiving that the Lord was calling them to
go to Macedonia, they sailed from Troas (Luke having joined them) and
eventually arrived at Philippi (Ac 16:6-12).
With the conversion of Lydia (Ac 16:13-15) and the Philippian jailor
(Ac 16:25-34), the church was established at Philippi. The lack of a
synagogue seems to indicate that Jews were not prevalent, and so the
church may have consisted primarily of Gentiles. From the conversion
of Lydia and references in the epistle itself (4:2-3), it is evident
that a number of women played a role in the growth of the church.
When it became necessary for Paul to leave, Luke seems to have stayed
at Philippi (based upon careful observations of personal pronouns;
e.g., "we, they," cf. Ac 16:12; 17:1). As Paul left Macedonia, the
church at Philippi became a significant source of support (4:15-16;
2 Co 11:9).
Paul visited the church at Philippi again on his third missionary
journey (Ac 20:3,6).
TIME AND PLACE OF WRITING: Philippians is one of Paul's four "prison
epistles" (1:7,13,17; cf. Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon). The
general consensus is that these epistles were written during Paul's
imprisonment at Rome (cf. Ac 28:16,30-31). If such is truly the case,
then Paul wrote Philippians around A.D. 61-63 from Rome.
PURPOSE OF THE EPISTLE: The church at Philippi had sent a gift to Paul
in Rome by the hand of Epaphroditus (4:10,18). Paul uses this occasion
not only to thank them, but to comfort them concerning his situation as
a prisoner for Jesus Christ (1:12-14). He also writes of his plans to
send Timothy soon (2:19-24), and why he considered it necessary to send
Epaphroditus back to them (2:25-30). There also may have been a
problem at Philippi involving two women, for Paul has a few words to
say concerning them (4:2-3).
THEME OF THE EPISTLE: Throughout this short and rather personal
epistle, one keynote resounds again and again. That keynote is joy.
Five times the word "joy" (Grk., chara) is found (1:4,25; 2:2,29; 4:1),
and the verb "to rejoice" (Grk., chairein) occurs eleven times (twice
in 1:18; 2:17,18; 4:4; once in 2:28; 3:1; 4:10). For this reason, the
epistle to the Philippians often has been called Paul's "hymn of joy,"
in which the theme is: "Rejoice in the Lord!"
KEY VERSE: Philippians 4:4
"Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!"
OUTLINE:
INTRODUCTION (1:1-11)
1. Salutation (1-2)
2. Thanksgiving and prayer (3-11)
I. THE SITUATION IN ROME (1:12-26)
A. PAUL'S IMPRISONMENT AND OPPOSITION (1:12-18)
1. Imprisonment has actually created opportunities to spread the
gospel (1:12-14)
2. Even opposition has provided opportunity for Christ to be
preached (1:15-18)
B. PAUL'S EXPECTATION OF DELIVERANCE (1:19-26)
1. By their prayers and the provision of the Holy Spirit, he
knows all will turn out well for his salvation (1:19-20)
2. Whether he lives or dies, it will be a blessing (1:21-23)
3. Knowing their need of him at the present, he is confident of
coming to them once again (1:24-26)
II. EXHORTATION TO BEHAVIOR WORTHY OF THE GOSPEL (1:27-2:18)
A. STAND FAST IN ONE SPIRIT (1:27-30)
1. Strive together for the faith of the gospel (1:27)
2. Do not be terrified by your adversaries (1:28-30)
B. BE OF ONE MIND BY FOLLOWING THE EXAMPLE OF CHRIST (2:1-11)
1. Make Paul's joy complete by being like-minded, having the same
love (2:1-2)
2. In humility, look out for the interests of others (2:3-4)
3. Follow the example of Christ's humility (2:5-11)
C. SHINE AS LIGHTS IN THE WORLD (2:12-18)
1. By working out their own salvation, for it is God who is at
work in them (2:12-13)
2. As children of God, blameless and harmless (2:14-16)
3. Consider Paul's imprisonment as a reason to rejoice (2:17-18)
III. PLANS INVOLVING TIMOTHY AND EPAPHRODITUS (2:19-30)
A. TO SEND TIMOTHY SOON (2:19-24)
1. Paul plans to send him shortly (2:19)
2. Commendation of Timothy (2:20-22)
3. Timothy to come soon, hopefully followed by Paul himself
(2:23-24)
B. TO SEND EPAPHRODITUS AT ONCE (2:25-30)
1. Why Paul felt it necessary to send Epaphroditus (2:25-28)
2. Receive him in the Lord with all gladness (2:29-30)
IV. WARNINGS AGAINST JUDAISM AND ANTINOMIANISM (3:1-21)
A. AGAINST JUDAISM (3:1-11)
1. Rejoice in the Lord, being wary of those who place confidence
in the flesh (3:1-3)
2. If anyone had reason to boast in the flesh, it would have been
Paul (3:4-6)
3. But he gave it all up, that he might know Christ and the power
of His resurrection (3:7-11)
B. AGAINST ANTINOMIANISM (3:12-21)
1. Paul's attitude of pressing on to perfection (3:12-14)
2. An exhortation for them to have the same mind (3:15-17)
3. A warning against those who serve their own desires (3:18-19)
4. A reminder of our true citizenship, and the hope it entails
(3:20-21)
V. EXHORTATIONS TO UNITY, JOY, AND PEACE (4:1-9)
A. AN APPEAL TO EUODIA AND SYNTYCHE (4:1-3)
1. Prefaced with an exhortation to stand fast in the Lord (4:1)
2. A plea for them to be of one mind, assisted by others (4:2-3)
B. EXHORTATION CONCERNING JOY AND PEACE (4:4-9)
1. Rejoice in the Lord always, and be gentle to all (4:4-5)
2. Through prayer, let the peace of God guard your hearts from
anxiety (4:6-7)
3. Meditate upon things worthy of virtue and praise, and follow
Paul's example (4:8-9)
VI. THANKSGIVING FOR THEIR GENEROSITY (4:10-19)
A. THEIR GIFT A SOURCE OF JOY TO PAUL (10-14)
1. Paul rejoiced when they were able to care for him again (4:10)
2. Not that he really had need, for he had learned contentment
(4:11-13)
3. But they have done well to share in his distress (4:14)
B. THEIR GIFT A SOURCE OF BLESSING FOR THEMSELVES (15-19)
1. A brief history of their giving to Paul (4:15-16)
2. Their giving abounds to their own account, viewed as an
acceptable sacrifice to God, who will supply all their need
(4:17-19)
CONCLUSION (4:20-23)
1. Praise to God (4:20)
2. Greetings from those with Paul, even those of Caesar's household
(4:21-22)
3. Final benediction (4:23)
REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE INTRODUCTION
Move your mouse pointer underneath each question to see the answer.
1) On which missionary journey was the church at Philippi established?
2) Where can we read about the beginning of the church at Philippi?
3) Who seems to have stayed at Philippi after Paul left? (cf. "we,
they," Ac 16:12; 17:1)
4) From where and when did Paul write Philippians?
5) What three other epistles were written about this time? What are
the four epistles sometimes called?
6) What prompted the writing of Philippians? (cf. Ph 4:10,18)
7) From Acts 16 and Philippians 4, who were some of the members of the
church at Philippi?
8) What is the theme running throughout this epistle? Which verse
stands out as the key verse?
9) List the six main sections of this epistle as given in the above
outline.
