Again, please refer to the first post in this series for what this is about, and some details on formatting and the like. Alright, here’s the fifth post in the series: Philippians!
Phil 1:1-11
- Co-written by Paul and Timothy, like many(?) of Paul’s letters. Timothy was very much involved in Paul’s evangelistic mission.
- Blessing of grace (favor) and peace (calm).
- Paul is very happy and pleased with the Philippians, filled with joy, because they spread the Gospel, the Good News, starting right after they heard it.
- God started His work in them and won’t finish until Jesus comes again.
- Paul has a special place in his heart for the Philippians for they too were evangelists and defenders of the Truth.
- Paul prays for growth in love for each other and for growth in knowledge and understanding, which leads to living “pure and blameless lives” until Christ’s return. Peter says much the same thing in 2 Peter 1!
- Salvation/Jesus produces fruit in us – good works!
- Good fruits from salvation glorify God because He is responsible for said salvation, so it’s a positive return on interest.
1:12-19
- Paul’s imprisonment still benefited the spread of the Good News because all the soldiers in the guard know and many Christians were emboldened to go out and share the Gospel.
- Some preach with bad motives; jealousy and rivalry (presumably regarding Paul himself); selfish ambition; insincerely.
- ? Intending to make Paul’s chains more painful to him? What are they mad at him about?
- Others preach with pure motives: their love for Paul and his position as defender of the Good News.
- In either case, the Good News is being preached, so Paul rejoices. The spread of the Gospel is good, regardless of underlying motives.
- Paul also continues to rejoice because as the saints pray and the Holy Spirit works, he will be delivered. Either by being set free or by execution, as noted in the footnote.
1:20-26
- Paul trusts that he will be delivered because he expects and hopes that nothing he does is shameful, that everything he does honors Christ, and that he is always bold for Christ.
- Paul was torn between living and dying, but ultimately made the choice to live, which was better for others (and Christ). This is a truly self-less decision. I pray that I too would be so selfless.
- Paul is set on this, so he will continue to live so he can help the Philippians (and others) grow in their faith and experience the joy that comes from it.
- ? Not sure what v26 means. Why would the Philippians have even more reason to boast about what Christ has done for Paul when he returns?
1:27-30
- Paul wants the Philippians to live honorably, as citizens of Heaven, regardless of what happens to him so he can be assured that they will continue to fight for the Good News in his absence.
- We need not be intimidated by our enemies because our God is greater and He has the final say; ultimately destroying them and saving us.
- v29 – it is a privilege to suffer for Christ! If more Christians lived this way, how different would the world be? Oh wait, most Christians in places like China and the Middle East already do.
- Comradeship in the fight for Christ. Also, Paul points out that they’ve seen him fighting and suffering and that he’s still in the thick of things. Encouragement via solidarity?
2:1-4
- Paul’s questions in v1 seem almost rhetorical. They should be ‘duh’ questions, answered with ‘Of course!’, but that’s not guaranteed.
- The effect is that if we are encouraged by belonging to Christ and comforted by his love, and we fellowship in the Spirit with tender and sympathetic hearts, then we should agree with one another, love one another, and work together with one heart and purpose (that is, be united as a Church).
- v3 and 4 – encouragement/commandment to connect to others instead of being greedy, proud, and isolated.
- I remember being inspired by v4 when I read it months ago, and making more-deliberate attempts to know other people better.
2:5-11
- We should have the same attitude as Jesus: humility, self-sacrificial love, and servanthood.
- Jesus had every right to act as God, but he did the opposite, putting it all aside and becoming a human. Then he went even further by dying on the cross like a criminal.
- Because Jesus humbled himself so, God raised him to the pinnacle of glory and honor and authority. Which in turn glorifies the Father.
- In the end, everyone will acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord. Better to do so sooner rather than later (John 21:20).
- ♦ He who descended to the lowest of depths was raised to the greatest of heights. To be exalted, one must be humbled first. Which is ‘backwards’ to us, but perfectly sensible to God.
2:12-18
- Paul wants the Philippians to be very careful and deliberate in living as Christians ought to, especially without him there to remind them. Part of this is obeying God “with deep reverence and fear”.
- ♦ We have the desire to obey God and the power to do so because God gives them to us.
- Subtle expression of the Trinity here? Desire from the Son and power from the Holy Spirit?
- v14-15 – live good lives so no one can really slander you and to glorify Christ. A common theme across books/letters. Shine with light in a dark world.
- At first blush, Paul seems selfish because he wants the Philippians to remain committed to Christ for his benefit. But considering the work he’s done and the suffering he’s gone through, his desire is quite reasonable. He wants to know his work wasn’t in vain.
- Regardless of what will happen, Paul rejoices and wants the Philippians to rejoice too. Why? Because of the Good News.
2:19-24
- Paul is very grateful to have the service of Timothy, who does much work in his stead.
- ? I am a bit confused by the use of “all the others” at the beginning of v21, especially because Paul commends Epaphroditus for serving Christ (esp. v30). Perhaps this is slight hyperbole?
- Paul expects that he will be released from prison and is looking forward to visiting the Philippians. I don’t recall Paul being so eager to visit the Ephesians or Colossians. He sends Epaphroditus and Timothy first, though, because he loves them.
2:25-30
- Epaphroditus was another great servant to Paul and helped him with his work. He was willing to stay with Paul as long as needed or wanted, even though he greatly desired to return home to his church, and even to the point of death. Just to serve Paul as a representative and in stead of the Philippian church. Such a man certainly deserves the praise he gets in v25.
- Honor these people. Those who selflessly give their lives in service of Christ.
- Paul sees Epaphroditus’ survival as being merciful to him too and part of why he sends Epaphroditus is so he doesn’t have to worry about his health. Also because he knows the Philippian church will be glad to see him.
3:1-11
- Joy in all circumstances, we ought to have.
- What is “this” in v1? Footnote suggests what Paul is about to say, not what he has just said. But anyway, clearly Paul sees the following as highly worth repeating.
- Human effort is worth nothing when it comes to salvation. It is only our dependence on what Jesus did for us that saves us.
- Paul ‘boasts’ of his excellence in Jewish (human) effort, as a pure full-blooded Jew that was a Pharisee and so followed the Law most strictly. No fault was found in him and he displayed his zeal by harshly persecuting Christians. He was as good a Jew as he could be.
- Yet he considers it all worthless garbage compared to knowing Christ and receiving his priceless gift. Human effort is nothing; faith is all.
- So Paul suffers with Christ and will die too, but he has hope and expects he will be resurrected too, just like Christ was.
3:12-4:1
- A couple days ago, I had the realization that God doesn’t look to the past very much, but instead looks to the future. v12-14 pretty much confirms this. Look forward, not back.
- v15-16: obey the truth we already know and be open to correction.
- v17 – footnote says that Paul doesn’t mean for us to copy him, but rather use him as an example, inspiration.
- v18-21 contrasts nominal Christians and true Christians, citizens of Earth and citizens of Heaven, those who don’t look ahead and those who do.
- ♦ One day we will be transformed physically like we already were spiritually.
- Paul really does like the Philippians, and he encourages them to stay committed to Christ.
4:2-9
- Paul wants Euodia and Syntych to finish arguing because they are Christians and should be focusing more on unity and reaching the lost, like they have been doing. He enlists the help of “loyal Syzygus”, or his “true teammate”, in helping them resolve their dispute.
- Paul is fairly insistent on being joyful. Huh.
- Just like we ought to tell our loved ones and family that we love them to avoid ‘last words regret’, so we should avoid ‘last action’ regret (the Lord could come at any time) by being kind and considerate always.
- Keep calm and always pray. Tell God what you need and want and thank Him for everything. The result: wonderful, supernatural, protective peace.
- ♦ Parting shot: think about good things. We should live and think like citizens of Heaven, which we are.
- Paul again offers himself as an example, like he did in 3:17.
4:10-23
- Another reason Paul really likes the Philippians and is grateful for them: they sent him financial aid while he was traveling. The Philippian church accurately recognized the importance of Paul’s mission and sent him money to make sure he could continue doing it.
- v17 sets Paul apart from televangelists – “I’m not saying this so you’ll send me more money, but to tell you that you will be rewarded.”
- Paul learned to be content in all circumstances, but is still grateful for the help, and tells them that the same God who took care of him will take care of them from His endless riches.
- Immediately after saying this, he praises God.
- ‘Say hi for us’, says Paul and all the Christians with him, including those who work for Caesar! The Good News has spread all over the place and throughout all of society.
- Ends with invoking Jesus’ grace for us.
Okay, now for major themes…
- Paul really likes the Philippians and had nothing bad to say about them.
- Spreading and fighting for the Good News, the Gospel, is incredibly important.
- When it comes to how we should live, use Paul as inspiration and emulate Christ.
- Being citizens of Heaven means, among other things, having good thoughts, living good lives, building good relationships with one another, and developing a relationship with Jesus.
- Work we do under our own power or for our own benefit is worthless. Only God’s work and our work for God are worth anything.
- God works in us, through us, and with us to produce good fruit for Him.
Okay, that’s all for now. Next time: 1 Thessalonians!
El'endia Starman's Blog 