U ND E R S T A ND E X P L O R E A P P L Y Philippians .

which Paul wrote these letters, though the case for each location also hasits problems.Traditionally all four of these letters have been assigned to Paul’simprisonment in Rome. Some Bible students have suggested that thedistance between Philippi and Rome makes Rome an unlikely source for thePhilippian letter. They argue that all of the information in the letter aboutPaul’s imprisonment and the sickness of Epaphroditus would have requiredfour to six round trips between Rome and Philippi (about 800 miles oneway). However, other Bible teachers have suggested that four round tripsbetween the two cities could have been completed in about ten months. Paulwas imprisoned in Rome for two years. There is no reason to abandon thetraditional view that all four of these letters were written from Rome. In thatcase the letters would have been written some time between AD 60-62.Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon have much in common and wereprobably written around the same time period. Ephesians and Colossians attimes have similar content and wording, and many of the persons who sentgreetings to the Colossians are also mentioned in the Letter to Philemon.Philippians is distinct enough that it may have been written at a slightlyearlier time. Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon were delivered by Tychicus .OVERVIEWThe churches at Philippi and Colossae were both dealing with conflictscreated by false teachers and other opponents. The church at Philippi hadexperienced internal conflict as evidenced by the disagreement betweenEuodia and Syntyche (Phil. 4:2). Paul also warned against those whoadvocated for Jewish circumcision (3:2) and those who were “enemies of thecross,” focused on earthly rather than heavenly things (vv. 18-19). At thesame time, Paul had been experiencing conflict in Rome from those whowere preaching the gospel out of selfish ambition, hoping to cause problemsfor Paul (1:17). Apparently the church at Philippi had been experiencing someof the same issues that plagued Paul in Rome (v. 30), causing fear amongsome of the believers (v. 28). Paul pointed out that suffering for the gospelwas a gift granted to believers by God (v. 29). These problems ran the risk ofcreating disunity within the body, so throughout the letter Paul urged thebelievers to adopt an attitude of humility and seek unity in the example ofChrist (2:1-11). The solution to the issues that created conflict was for thebelievers to contend “together for the faith of the gospel,” living lives “worthyof the gospel of Christ” (1:27).Since Paul had not visited Colossae, he must have learned about thechurch’s trouble with false teachers from Epaphras. While Paul did not layout the nature of the false teachings in great detail, he left hints throughoutE x pl or e t h e B i bl e 2021 Lifeway Christian Resources7

the letter. He called the false teachings a philosophy and an empty deceitthat was based on tradition and “elements of the world” (Col. 2:8). The falseteachers insisted on regulations related to food and drink and the observanceof festivals, new moons, and the Sabbath (v. 16). They also were involvedin the practice of asceticism, the worship of angels, and visions (v. 18).The primary fault of the false teachers was that they did not focus on Christ.Paul encouraged the Colossian believers to walk in Christ in the same waythat they had received Him and had been taught. If they were “rooted andbuilt up in him and established in the faith,” they would not fall prey tothese false teachings (vv. 6-7). Paul ended his Letter to the Colossians withinstructions on how believers were to live in the world.Both Philippians and Colossians contain poetic descriptions of the natureof Christ, especially His deity (Phil. 2:5-11; Col. 1:15-20). Some Bible teachershave suggested that Paul incorporated hymns likely used in early Christiancorporate worship into the letters. The depiction of Christ in these passagesanchors the unity that the Philippians needed and the proper stance fromwhich the Colossians could evaluate the errors of the false teachers.Paul’s Letter to Philemon is directed not to a church but to specificindividuals: Philemon, Apphia, and Archippus. The relationships betweenthese three people are unclear. Traditionally, Philemon is seen as the primaryaddressee and owner of the slave Onesimus; some have suggested thatApphia was Philemon’s wife and Archippus was their son. The title givento Archippus, “our fellow soldier” (Philem. 2), was the same title given toEpaphroditus in Philippians 2:25. Archippus is also mentioned in the Letterto the Colossians, where the church was to encourage him in his assignedtask (Col. 4:17). Some have suggested that his ministry was related to thesituation with Philemon and Onesimus. Whatever the case, we simply do nothave enough information to sort out these relationships with any certainty.It is significant to note that in his greeting Paul included “the church thatmeets in your home” (Philem. 2). The matter Paul addressed in the letter wasnot just between Philemon and Onesimus; it affected the entire house church.Paul gave very few concrete details related to the events that had transpiredbetween Philemon and Onesimus. For some reason Onesimus left Philemonand met Paul while the apostle was imprisoned in Rome. Paul led Onesimusto faith in Christ. The letter was Paul’s attempt to reconcile the two men andto lead Philemon to view Onesimus as a brother in Christ and not as a slave.These three letters give us a glimpse into the lives of believers in twoearly churches. Paul’s concern for unity and doctrinal integrity centeredin the Person of Christ provides us with ways to model our own churches.His concern with the relationship between Onesimus and Philemon providesus with insights into how to solve relational problems in our own churches.8E x pl or e t h e B i bl e 2021 Lifeway Christian Resources

OUTLINESP H I L I P P I ANSI.II.III.IV.V.Salutation (1:1-2)Paul’s Concerns (1:3–2:30)Living the Christian Life (3:1–4:9)Thankfulness (4:10-20)Benediction (4:21-23)C O LO SS I AN SI.II.III.IV.V.VI.Greeting and Thanksgiving (1:1-12)God’s Work in Christ (1:13-23)Paul’s Ministry (1:24–2:3)False Teaching Denounced (2:4-23)The Christian Life (3:1–4:6)Conclusion (4:7-18)P H I L EM O NI.II.III.IV.V.Paul’s Greeting (vv. 1-3)Paul’s Thanksgiving (vv. 4-7)Paul’s Appeal (vv. 8-20)Paul’s Plans (vv. 21-22)Paul’s Conclusion (vv. 23-25)ON THE COVERRuins of store buildings inLaodicea. Laodicea waslocated in the Lycus Valleynear Colossae and Hierapolis.The city was known for an eyeointment that local merchantsproduced. (See session 8.)ILLUSTRATOR PHOTO/ BOB SCHATZ (11-31-2)E x pl or e t h e B i bl e 2021 Lifeway Christian Resources9

Session 1 Philippians 1:1-11Joy in PrayerBelievers find joy in praying for the spiritual growth of others.Many years ago, I had the privilege of working with a fellow believer in anoverseas setting. We met regularly to pray for each other and the ministriesin which we were involved. We encouraged each other and challenged eachother. We shared together the tough times and the victories. The variousactivities that we were involved in often took us in different directionsduring the week. However, we considered all of our ministry to be kingdomministry, and though often separated during the week, we were partnersin ministry.After a relatively short period of time together, my friend and his familymoved to another country to serve, and shortly after that my family movedback to the United States for me to teach here. My friend and I kept in touch,as we were able. One day my friend’s work brought him to the city whereI serve, and after a decade our friendship was renewed. We picked up ourpartnership as though we had seen each other the week before. The memoriesof our time together flooded us with joy. Our ministry together had forged abond that did not break.In today’s session we see Paul renewing his friendship with the PhilippianChristians. Word had reached the congregation that Paul was in prison(under house arrest, Acts 28:30-31), and they had sent Epaphroditus witha gift to help meet Paul’s needs. The renewed contact with these believersreminded Paul of the joy of ministry that he had shared with them over theyears. Like Paul, we need to pray joyfully that God will cause the love of ourpartners in the gospel to abound in knowledge and discernment.UNDERSTAND THE CONTEXTPHILIPPIANS 1:1-11In Paul’s day letters usually opened by identifying the writer and therecipients of the letter, followed by a brief greeting. Paul followed that basic10E x pl or e t h e B i bl e 2021 Lifeway Christian Resources

pattern, adapting it to fit what he wished to communicate to the church. Pauland Timothy were servants of Christ Jesus; the believers in Philippi were inChrist Jesus; grace and peace came from God the Father and the Lord JesusChrist. Jesus was the theme around which Paul built his letter, anticipatingthe Christ hymn in Philippians 2:5-11. From the beginning of his letter Paulestablished Jesus as central to everything going on in Paul’s life.Ancient letters often included a brief health wish or prayer of thanksgivingfor the recipients. Paul expressed his thanksgiving for the shared faith thathe and the believers in Philippi had experienced. The repetition of the phrase“all of you” in 1:3-8 introduced Paul’s desire for unity within the body, a pointthat he drove home in 2:1-4.Reflecting back on the partnership in the gospel that Paul had shared withthe Philippian Christians brought joy to Paul’s prison life. From the riversideprayer meeting (Acts 16:13) to the healing of the slave girl (vv. 16-18) to thesalvation of the jailer and his household (vv. 29-34), the Philippian believershad come to share in the partnership of gospel proclamation as well as thesuffering and hardship that came with it. Prayer for the spiritual growth ofthese believers enabled Paul to continue as a partner in the gospel with hisbrothers and sisters in the faith. Paul looked forward to believers standingbefore God pure and blameless in the day of Christ. Paul saw the day of Christas a time of validation for his ministry, a time when the Philippian believerswould stand with him “blameless and pure” (Phil. 2:14-16).EXPLORE THE TEXTSHARED FAITH (Phil. 1:1-2)VERSE 1Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus: To all the saints inChrist Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers anddeacons.Paul began his letter to the Philippians in the style common in his day, listingthe senders, the recipients, and giving a short greeting. Timothy was includedas a co-sender of the letter, as he was in five other letters of Paul (2 Cor. 1:1;Col. 1:1; 1 Thess. 1:1; 2 Thess. 1:1; and Philem. 1:1). However, Paul should beconsidered the sole writer of the letter. Timothy was a coworker with Paul.On Paul’s second trip through Derbe and Lystra, he recruited Timothy as amissionary companion (Acts 16:1-4). Over the years Timothy became one ofS e s s ion 1: Joy in Prayer 2021 Lifeway Christian Resources11

Paul’s most trusted associates. While Paul was the sole author of the Letterto the Philippians, as Paul’s coworker Timothy was to play an important rolein resolving the issues raised in the letter (Phil. 2:19-24).Paul normally identified himself using the title “apostle”; however, herehe referred to both himself and Timothy as servants of Christ Jesus.The Greek word translated servants literally means “slaves” and referred toa class of people who had no legal rights. By using this term, Paul indicatedthat both he and Timothy were entirely under the authority of Jesus, withno rights of their own.Paul identified the recipients of his letter as saints (“God’s holypeople,” NIV), a title he frequently used for those who were receiving hisletters. The letter was meant for all the saints, not just a select few. Saintswere those people who were holy, dedicated to God, and consecrated to Hisservice. These saints were spiritually in Christ Jesus and they were physicallyin Philippi. Their location in Christ created a bond among fellow believers inPhilippi as well as with those believers ministering to Paul in prison.Paul’s addition of the phrase including the overseers and deacons(“bishops and deacons,” KJV) is surprising for at least two reasons. First,the only other places that Paul mentioned either of these two titles is inhis Letters to Timothy and Titus (1 Tim. 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9). Second, thesetwo groups of people are not mentioned anywhere else in this letter, at leastnot by these titles. Numerous explanations have been given as to why Paulincluded them here. Some Bible teachers have suggested that these churchleaders were responsible for the collecting and sending of the gift delivered byEpaphroditus (Phil. 4:18). Others have suggested that by mentioning themspecifically, Paul was challenging them to exercise their rightful authority indealing with problems in the church, especially the rift that had developedbetween Euodia and Syntyche (vv. 2-3).VERSE 2Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord JesusChrist.The greeting Paul used here appears with some occasional variation in all ofhis letters. The combination of grace and peace reflect more than just a tritegreeting. They point to the heart of Paul’s letter. God’s grace, His unmeritedlove extended to believers through His Son, leads believers into the peacethat protects and guards their hearts and minds in Christ (4:7). The threefold repetition of the name of Jesus (“servants of Christ Jesus,” “saints inChrist Jesus,” and grace and peace from God our Father and the LordJesus Christ) foreshadows Paul’s emphasis on Jesus throughout his letter.12E x pl or e t h e B i bl e 2021 Lifeway Christian Resources

E X PL OR E F UR THERRead the article titled “Philippi” on pages 1261–1262 in the HolmanIllustrated Bible Dictionary, Revised and Expanded. As we begin a study ofthe Letter to the Philippians, reflect on how Paul’s relationship to thechurch impacted his letter.THANKFUL FAITH (Phil. 1:3-8)VERSE 3I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you,Letters written in Paul’s day normally followed the opening of the letter witha health wish for the recipients. However, Paul almost always followed hisletter opening with a prayer of thanksgiving for the recipients.When memories of Paul’s experiences with the Philippian believerssurfaced, Paul’s response was to give thanks to God. The potential problemsin the church (3:2; 4:2-3) needed solving, but they did not dampen the joyand thanksgiving that Paul felt for all of his fellow believers in Philippi.VERSE 4always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer,The Greek word for prayer often is translated “petition” (4:6) and refers to anurgent request to God to meet a specific need. Though separated physically,nevertheless Paul actively prayed for God to meet the needs of the Philippians.Praying for fellow believers was a habit for Paul (always praying).These prayers for his friends were always offered up with joy. When Paulremembered his friends, he was moved to pray for them, and those prayerswere characterized by gratitude to God and joy for the Philippian Christians.Paul’s prayer practices give us insight into his character and his devotion tolifting up in prayer all of those working for God’s kingdom.VERSE 5because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day untilnow.The basis of Paul’s joy and thanksgiving was the Philippians’ partnershipin the gospel. The Greek word translated here as partnership is sometimestranslated “fellowship” (2:1; 3:10). The word was used to describe a closeS e s s ion 1: Joy in Prayer 2021 Lifeway Christian Resources13

relationship that involved mutual interests that led to participation insomething. In this case, the participation was in the partnership in thegospel. The word also was used of a concrete sign of fellowship, such as agift (2 Cor. 8:4; 9:13). The gospel is the good news that salvation is availablethrough faith in Jesus Christ.The phrase from the first day refers to Paul’s initial visit to Philippi(Acts 16:12-40). That visit was characterized by effective gospel proclamationas well as persecution and imprisonment. The Philippian believers did notstop sharing with Paul when he left their city. Paul explained that whenhe left Macedonia “no church shared with me in the matter of giving andreceiving except you alone” (Phil. 4:15). Their support for Paulhad continuedall the way to Paul’s current imprisonment, as evidenced by the financialgift Epaphroditus had brought on behalf of the congregation (v. 18).Their partnership began when they heard and responded to Paul’s gospelproclamation, and it continued through their own gospel proclamation andtheir financial and spiritual support of Paul’s gospel ministry.VERSE 6I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you willcarry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.Paul had told the Philippian believers that his prayer life was characterizedby gratitude and joy. Every remembrance of them caused Paul to give joyfulthanks to God. In addition, his prayers were characterized by his confidence(I am sure of this). This confidence was not based on the faithfulness ofthe Philippian believers or on Paul’s own ability; it was based on the onewho started a good work in you. Paul closed his First Letter to theThessalonians with a similar reminder: “He who calls you is faithful; he willdo it” (1 Thess. 5:24).Some Bible teachers have suggested that a good work refers to thefinancial gift that had been given to Paul. The meaning, in that case,would be that God would continue to stir the generosity of the Philippians.However, this interpretation does not fit well with the statement that thisgenerosity would be completed until the day of Christ Jesus. Other Bibleteachers have looked back at Philippians 1:5 and suggested that the work inquestion is the “partnership in the gospel.” Beginning from that first visit toPhilippi, a partnership in grace (Phil. 1:7) had been formed between Paul andthe Philippian believers. Their partnership had faced adversaries outside thechurch (v. 28) as well as difficulties within the church (4:2). However, Paulcould see God’s hand working in the past, and he was convinced that Godwould continue to bless their gospel partnership.14E x pl or e t h e B i bl e 2021 Lifeway Christian Resources

This passage frequently has been applied to confidence in God’s work ofsalvation and sanctification of the individual believer. This application tothe individual believer is not wrong. However, to see this as the primaryapplication is to miss Paul’s point. God is working through individualbelievers who are united by a common partnership to advance the gospel ofJesus Christ. We can have confidence that God will carry on to completionthe work of proclaiming His gospel (2:12-13).The day of Christ Jesus is a reference to Jesus’ second coming. Paulprayed that believers would be pure and blameless in that day (1:10). Theapostle said that in that day his labor in the Lord would be vindicated (2:16).Until that day believers eagerly wait and work: “Our citizenship is in heaven,and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ” (3:20).VERSE 7Indeed, it is right for me to think this way about all of you,because I have you in my heart, and you are all partners withme in grace, both in m

CONTENTS SESSIONS SUGGESTED FOR THE WEEK OF Sept. 5 Session 1: Joy in Prayer (Phil. 1:1-11) . 10 Sept. 12 Session 2: Joy of Adversity (Phil. 1:12-26) 20 Sept. 19 30Session 3: Joy Through Humility (Phil. 2:1-15) Sept. 26 Session 4: Joy in Knowing Jesus (Phil. 3:8-21) 40 Oct. 3 Se