Written at the same time as Ephesians, it is one of the prison epistles.
CITY OF PHILIPPI:
Philippi was a Roman colony. Although it was a miniature of Rome and imitated and aped Rome in every way, it was nonetheless a city which had a higher cultural level than other cities visited by Paul.
CHURCH OF PHILIPPI:
1. It was less Jewish and more Gentile than were all others (the names of individuals mentioned are Greek and Roman). This was the first church established in Europe (Act_16:6-40), which gives special meaning to Gentiles.
2. Women occupied a prominent place in this church. Paul attended, first of all, not the synagogue, but a prayer meeting of women (Act_16:12-15). A woman named Lydia was the first convert in Europe. Two women were prominent in the church (Phi_4:2), and there were others who labored in the church (Phi_4:3).
3. It was generous in its gifts to the Lord’s work (Phi_4:10-16). Paul cited them as examples to others in giving (2Co_8:1-5).
OCCASION FOR EPISTLE:
There were two specific circumstances that occasioned the writing of this epistle:
1. The church at Philippi had been generous in support of Paul, and he wrote this letter to thank them. When he was in prison in Rome, they sent help by the hands of Epaphroditus. Epaphroditus became ill in Rome, and when he recovered, Paul wrote this letter and sent it by the messenger who had brought him help.
2. A deeper reason was evidently the division that was arising because of the misunderstanding between two of the women (Phi_4:2). One of the phrases that Paul used again and again is “you all,” speaking to and of all the believers in the church.
KEY:
The epistle is practical; its key thought is joy. It has been labeled “The Secret of Joy.” Some form of the word occurs 19 times. It answers the question, “How may I have joy in my heart?” The man who wrote, “Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I say, Rejoice” (Phi_4:4), was in the Mamertine prison in Rome. Joy does not depend upon circumstances.
REMARKS:
After Paul and Barnabas had completed their first missionary journey, they determined to visit again the Galatian churches to see their progress. A sharp division arose over the feasibility of taking John Mark along again.
The result was that Paul took Silas and departed for the Galatian country. After visiting the churches, Paul was evidently planning to extend the circumference of his missionary activity by taking the gospel to Asia (the province of Asia, of which Ephesus was the leading city). This was a very prominent, populous, and prosperous region at that time. The Spirit of God put up a roadblock, however, and they “were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia” (Act_16:6). Then Paul attempted to go north into Bithynia, along the coast of the Black Sea, where there was a very large population. Again the Spirit put up a roadblock — “but the Spirit allowed them not” (Act_16:7). They had come from the east, they could go neither south nor north, so there was only one way to go — west. It was not Horace Greeley of the New York Tribune who first said, “Go west, young man, go west,” it was the Spirit of God speaking to Paul.
Paul proceeded then to Troas where he waited for orders. He was given the vision of a man of Macedonia beseeching him to come over to Europe. The party of Paul crossed over to Samothracia, went on to Neapolis, and to Philippi. Luke joined the party at this juncture (Acts 16:10). Silas and Timothy were already with Paul.
When Paul arrived in Philippi, he discovered that the man of Macedonia was actually a woman by the name of Lydia, holding a prayer meeting by the riverside (Act_16:13-15). Paul got rough treatment in the city because he cast the demon out of a girl who, by the spirit of divination, was making money for her owners. Paul and Silas were imprisoned. When they sang praises to God at midnight, the prison was shaken, and this led to the conversion of the jailer (read Acts 16). He and his family were some of the converts in this church who were especially drawn to the apostle Paul in the bonds of Christian love.
Paul visited Philippi at least one other time, possibly more. The church in Philippi kept in close touch with the apostle (Phi_4:15) but apparently lost track of him when he was arrested in Jerusalem, and for two years there was no communication. They finally heard he was in prison in Rome and immediately dispatched their pastor, Epaphroditus, to Rome with words of sympathy, a gift, and many expressions of love.
The Epistle to the Philippians is the answer of Paul to their communication and the coming of Epaphroditus. It is his thank-you letter.
OUTLINE:
I. PHILOSOPHY for Christian living, Chapter 1
A. Introduction, Phi_1:1-2
B. Paul’s tender feeling for the Philippians, Phi_1:3-11
C. Bonds and afflictions further the gospel, Phi_1:12-20
D. In life or death — Christ, Phi_1:21-30
II. PATTERN for Christian living, Chapter 2
(Key verses: Phi_2:5-11)
A. Others, Phi_2:1-4
B. Mind of Christ — humble, Phi_2:5-8
C. Mind of God — exaltation of Christ, Phi_2:9-11
D. Mind of Paul — things of Christ, Phi_2:12-18
E. Mind of Timothy — like-minded with Paul, Phi_2:19-24
F. Mind of Epaphroditus — the work of Christ, Phi_2:25-30
III. PRIZE for Christian living, Chapter 3
(Key verses: Phi_3:10-14)
A. Paul changed his bookkeeping system of the past, Phi_3:1-9
B. Paul changed his purpose for the present, Phi_3:10-19
C. Paul changed his hope for the future, Phi_3:20-21
IV. POWER for Christian living, Chapter 4
(Key verse: Phi_4:13)
A. Joy — the source of power, Phi_4:1-4
B. Prayer — the secret of power, Phi_4:5-7
C. Contemplation of Christ — the sanctuary of power, Phi_4:8-9
D. In Christ — the satisfaction of power, Phi_4:10-23
COMMENT:
I. PHILOSOPHY for Christian living, Chapter 1
A. Introduction, Phi_1:1-2
Phi_1:1 — In ascribing this epistle to himself, Paul links his name with that of Timothy. Since there is no doctrine to correct or conduct to condemn, Paul does not assert his apostleship, but identifies himself with Timothy as “servants [bond slaves] of Jesus Christ.” “All the saints” — apparently there is one ripple on the surface of the church: two women, Syntyche and Euodia, are not of the same mind (Phi_4:2). Paul is careful not to address either one or the leader of a group.
The saints are “in” Christ, but they are “at” Philippi.
He is addressing a local church with officers:
bishops — the office
elders — the individuals (bishops/elders: the same)
deacons — spiritual men performing a secular service
(Acts 6)
Phi_1:2 — “Grace” (charis) is the Greek form of greeting; “peace” (shalom) is the Hebrew greeting. We must know the grace of God before we can experience the peace of God. Grace is love in action.
B. Paul’s tender feeling for the Philippians, Phi_1:3-11
Phi_1:3 — It is a lovely and delightful relationship.
Phi_1:4 — Paul prays for the Philippians in every prayer. “You all” is not only a good Southern idiom, but it includes all the saints in Philippi — none are left out.
“Joy” — this is the first of 19 occurrences of this word or its cognates. Joy is the fruit of the Spirit, and it was not turned off when Paul went to prison.
Phi_1:5 — “Fellowship” is koinonia. Anything that believers can share together is koinonia — fellowship. Prayer, Bible reading, celebrating the Lord’s Supper, and giving are all areas of fellowship that can be shared.
Phi_1:6 — “Being confident” is causative, meaning “since I am confident,” implying certainty.
“Perform” (perfect) is translated “will finish it up” (Lenski) or “carry through” (Vincent).
“Day of Jesus Christ” is the Rapture.
If God has brought you up to the present hour, He will consummate His work in you. He will not let you down. You can count on Him. (This has been my personal life verse from the day I graduated from college.)
Phi_1:7 — “Meet” (KJV) is right. “You all” — here it is again. “In my heart” is a good place to carry friends.
“Partakers” (sugkoinonous) is fellowship compounded. This speaks of the close relationship between the Philippians and Paul. There is no credibility gap.
Phi_1:8 — “You all” includes all believers in the church, not just one segment.
“Bowels” (KJV) means tender feelings. This has definite reference to the emotions and drives. Here is where many decisions are made — not in the mind.
Phi_1:9 — Love of the believer is to be exercised in knowledge. He is not to express his love and help to any and every person in sight. He should know the individual and then exercise judgment. He does not love indiscriminately.
Phi_1:10 — “That ye may approve things that are excellent” may rather be expressed, “That ye may try the things that differ.” “Without offense” is blameless.
C. Bonds and afflictions further the gospel, Phi_1:12-20
Phi_1:12 — Obviously, the Philippians had sent their sympathy to Paul, expressing their distress that his imprisonment had ended the preaching of the gospel. Paul makes it clear that, rather, the gospel is being extended by his imprisonment. He mentions two areas, and we see another, also:
Phi_1:13 — (1) Paul is now able to witness to the Praetorian guard of Caesar’s palace. These soldiers, representing the elite of Roman patricians, were guarding the apostle (Act_28:16).
Phi_1:14 — (2) Many believers who felt inadequate as long as Paul was out witnessing now feel free to go. I suppose literally hundreds of believers took to the Roman roads with the gospel.
(3) Paul does not mention it, but with the perspective of history we see that the Spirit of God was giving Paul the time to write these prison epistles.
Phi_1:15-18 — Some brethren who preached Christ were of goodwill, but others, motivated by envy and jealousy, were giving Paul a rough time. In either case, he rejoiced that Christ was being preached.
Phi_1:19 — “Salvation” evidently refers here to Paul’s physical deliverance.
Phi_1:20 — Paul’s motivation is that Christ shall be magnified in his body either in life or death.
D. In life or death — Christ, Phi_1:21-30
Phi_1:21 — This is Paul’s philosophy of life:
To live — Christ;
To die — gain (more of the same thing).
Phi_1:22-26 — Paul recognizes that to be with Christ is far better, but for the Philippians’ sake it is better to continue on with them.
Phi_1:27 — Regardless of his presence, Paul urges them to continue living in a manner that is honoring to Christ.
Phi_1:28 — He also urges them not to be terrified by their enemies.
Phi_1:29 — Suffering is the badge of the child of God. (With the use of a concordance, look up the Scripture references to the suffering of the saints, beginning with Joh_16:33).
II. PATTERN for Christian living, Chapter 2
(Key verses: Phi_2:5-11)
A. Others, Phi_2:1-4
Php_2:1 — “If” is not conditional, but argumentative. It could be translated, “Since there is consolation in Christ….” Again, “bowels” is tender mercies.
Phi_2:3 — “Strife” and “vainglory” are the causes of most church divisions.
“Lowliness of mind” and consideration of others will produce harmonious relationships.
Phi_2:4 — “Others” is the key to the entire passage as the motivation of Christian conduct.
B. Mind of Christ — humble, Phi_2:5-8
Phi_2:5 — This is not the imitation of Christ, but it is the impartation of the mind of Christ which only the Holy Spirit can accomplish.
This gives the humiliation of Christ. There are 7 steps down:
Phi_2:6 — (1) He was not in danger of losing His place in the Godhead because of any lack on His part or because of the ability and ambition of a contender. He was God without effort.
Phi_2:7 — (2) This is the kenosis. He emptied Himself. He did not empty Himself of His deity — He was very God of very God and very man of very man. He did empty Himself of His glory (Joh_17:5).
(3) He was a root out of Jesse. Jesse, David’s father, was a peasant in Bethlehem. Although Jesus was of the royal seed of David, the line had long since become merely a vassal of Rome.
(4) To become a man was a humiliation for Him, as God. To comprehend something of this, we might imagine the humiliation it would be for you or me to become an ant.
Phi_2:8 — (5) He was not humbled by others, but He willingly and gladly humbled Himself. Real humility is not a Mr. Milquetoast, nor is it a false front like Uriah Heep in David Copperfield. Pride is the opposite of humility (1Pe_5:6).
(6) Death is the result of sin. It is a judgment upon man. “The soul that sinneth, it shall die” (Eze_18:20). He bore the penalty of our sin.
(7) The cross was the method of execution used by Rome for criminals. It was a badge of ignominy and shame.
C. Mind of God — exaltation of Christ, Phi_2:9-11
There are 7 steps upward:
Phi_2:9 — (1) God has highly exalted Him and
(2) given Him a name above every name.
Phi_2:10 — (3) The name of Jesus.
(4) Every knee in heaven shall bow.
(5) Every knee in earth shall bow.
(6) Every knee under the earth shall bow.
Phi_2:11 — (7) Every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
D. Mind of Paul — things of Christ, Phi_2:12-18
Phi_2:12 — To “work out your own salvation” is to work out what God has worked in.
Phi_2:13 — God works out what He works in.
Phi_2:15 — The believer shines like a light in the darkness as God looks upon the world.
Phi_2:16 — “Holding forth the word of life” is an appropriate motto for a Bible-teaching church.