INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF PHILIPPIANS The Epistle

INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF PHILIPPIANS The Epistle of Joy

Fact sheet about Philippians… �Author: It was written by Paul under house arrest �Date: A. D. 62 (ten years after the church’s founding in A. D. 52) �Location of writing: Rome (Acts 28. 30) �Purpose of the book: A thank you note from Paul to the Philippians for their financial assistance But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, wellpleasing to God. Philippians 4 18

Occasion for Philippians When the Philippians heard of Paul’s imprisonment in Rome, they sent Epaphroditus with a financial gift. Epaphroditus becomes gravely ill but through God’s mercy recovers. Paul sends him back to the church of Philippi with this letter in hand, what we know today as the Book of Philippians.

Question: What part of Scripture does Philippians belong? Answer: The Prison Epistles 1. Ephesians 2. Philippians 3. Colossians 4. Philemon

What is the great lesson of the occasion for the prison epistles? Answer: When Paul was near the end, when he felt that he could no longer fulfill his basic calling to church plant, God works through him to produce the greatest height of spiritual truth ever given to mankind, the Prison Epistles.

What is truly unique about Philippians in comparison to the other epistles Paul wrote? Paul is not writing to admonish or correct false doctrine. It is a warm friendly letter.

Philippians chapter by chapter… Living out one’s life purpose in light of one’s difficult personal circumstances 2. Practical advice based on solid theology on how to have the mind of Christ 3. The knowledge, truth, and warnings regarding how to be in righteous standing with God. 4. The requirement to live in harmony with fellow believers, the Lord, and yourself 1.

Basic Themes of Philippians… v. Joy v. Unity v. Encouragement v. Attitude (think) v. Knowledge

What are the candidates for the most favorite verse or passage in Philippians?

From Chapter 1 21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22   But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. 23 But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; 24 yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.

From Chapter 2 3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4   do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 5   Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but   emptied Himself, taking the form of a bondservant, and being made in the likeness of men.

From Chapter 3 8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, 9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and   the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;

From Chapter 4 4   Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. 6   Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Persons of Interest in the Philippian Church 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Lydia The Philippian jailer (Name not given) Epaphroditus (2. 25) Euodia (4. 2) Syntyche (4. 2) The True Companion (Syzugus) (4. 3) Clement (4. 3)

Part 2 How was the Church of Philippi planted? Answer: By Paul and Silas in Acts 16

Background… �At the end of Acts 15, Paul and Barnabas decide to begin their second missionary journey �Paul and Barnabas breakup over whether John Mark goes with them �In Acts 16. 1 -5, Paul recruits Timothy to make up for the loss of Barnabas and John Mark. Silas becomes second in command �It is in this section that the infamous “we” passages begin where Luke himself joins the group. They begin in 16. 10 �So we pick up in Acts 16. 6 -12 which describes Paul’s itinerary

Life lessons about the will of God �Acts 16. 6 -10 – A basic spiritual truth is that God often directs our lives while we are on the journey rather than before we start. �Also, God’s plan was to evangelize Asia, just not at this time. �Apparently, timing is important to the Lord

1. Lydia, Philippi’s first convert – Acts 16. 14 -15 �Lydia appears to be a successful business woman with means �A worshipper of God, not a Jewish proselyte but a gentile who worshiped the true Lord �The Lord opened her heart to make sense of what Paul was sharing �She and her household were immediately baptized �She welcomed the missionary group into her home

2. The exorcism of the slave girl – Acts 16. 16 -18 �Paul casts out the demon of a girl who was able to foretell the future �The rub was she was a money making machine for her pimp masters and they went ballistic at the loss revenues �An irony of the situation is that the demon was proclaiming the truth of the gospel. Like Jesus, Paul wanted no part of the demon’s proclamation. It would be like an endorsement from Adolf Hitler.

3. The missionary team imprisoned – Acts 16. 19 -25 �Paul ands Silas were beaten �The trumped up charge was that they were teaching unlawful customs �Paul does not proclaim his Roman citizenship at this time, but rather waits for an opportune time �Perhaps the most remarkable incident in this entire account is the team’s ability to be singing Christians songs and praising God in the midst of immense pain and persecution.

4. The Philippian Jailer’s conversion – Acts 16. 26 -40 � About midnight an earthquake hits the area giving an opportunity for the prisoners to escape � When the jailer sees this, knowing that Rome has a zero tolerance for prisoner escape, prepares to take his life but Paul stops him � The jailer’s heart is open to the four spiritual laws and receives Christ along with his household � The next day the city authorities want Paul to leave town, Paul declares his Roman citizenship frightening them of their lack of due process. This may have taken the heat off the new church’s beginnings.