Philippians The Christians Joy in the Lord Pauls

Philippians The Christian’s Joy in the Lord

Paul’s Prison Epistles l Ephesians: Wealth and Walk in Christ l Philippians: The Christian’s Joy in the Lord

Background l Author: Paul (1: 1) l Date: c. A. D. 60 -63 l Place of writing: Paul’s Roman prison house (1: 7, 12 -14, 17; 4: 22; see Ac. 28: 16 -31; there are 4 “prison epistles”: Eph. , Phil. , Col. , & Phile. )

Background l Recipients: The saints at Philippi (Ac. 16: 6 -40 [c. A. D. 51]; and Ac. 20: 1, 6; 2 Cor. 2: 13 [c. A. D. 54]). l The epistle was delivered by. Epaphroditus (2: 25 -30)

Background l Occasion of writing: Paul used his time in prison to thank the Philippians for their recent gift (2: 25 -30; 4: 10 -18) and to encourage them to have joy in the Lord

Background l Theme: The Christian’s joy in the Lord l Theme: Rejoice and joy is found in the following verses: 1: 4, 18, 25; 2: 2, 17, 28, 29; 3: 1; 4: 1, 4, 10; the noun chara is used 5 times; the verb chairein is used 9 times

Background l Paul was in jail and beaten the first time he was in Philippi (Ac. 16). When he writes to Philippi, he is in bonds in a house and in conflict again (Phil. 1: 30). Yet, he writes of joy in the Lord! Amazing!

Outline Philippians 1 -4: Joy l l l Opening salutation (1: 1 -2) Joy in suffering (1: 3 -30) Joy in serving (2: 1 -30) Joy in salvation (3: 1 -21) Joy in satisfaction (4: 1 -20) Closing salutation / benediction (4: 21 -23)

Joy in Suffering (1: 3 -30) l Thank God for good works (1: 3 -7) and for good Christians (1: 8 -11) l Ungrateful and unthankful people can never be truly happy

Joy in Suffering (1: 3 -30) l Focus on preaching the gospel of Christ (1: 12 -30) l Preaching the gospel: the example of Paul (1: 12 -14); the example of other preachers (1: 15 -18); the example of Paul (1: 19 -26); and the example of Philippi (1: 27 -30)

Joy in Suffering (1: 3 -30) l When you stop talking about the gospel, you’ll lose your happiness l Joy in suffering (Mt. 5: 11 -12; Ac. 5: 41; Heb. 10: 34; 1 Pet. 4: 13) l Joy in suffering makes us a better person (Jas. 1: 2)

Joy in Serving (2: 1 -30) Continue in unified, humble, sacrificial, selfless service (2: 1 -4) l Follow the examples of service: the example of Christ (2: 5 -11); the example of Philippi (2: 12 -16); the example of Paul (2: 17 -18); the example of Timothy (2: 19 -24); and the example of Epaphroditus (2: 25 -30) l

Joy in Serving (2: 1 -30) l Divisive, selfish, lazy people are never really happy in life l Sacrificial, serving Christians are joyous (2 Cor. 8: 2)

Joy in Salvation (2: 1 -30) l Focus on what you’ve gained spiritually in Christ (3: 1 -21) l The spiritual salvation in Christ (3: 1 -11); the spiritual goals for Christ (3: 12 -16); and the spiritual home with Christ (3: 17 -21)

Joy in Salvation (2: 1 -30) l Paul does not command “rejoicing” in this book, he commands rejoicing “in the Lord. ” There is a temptation to put our joy in persons, places or things other than Christ.

Joy in Salvation (2: 1 -30) Earthly, fleshly, material or social things in life can never make you truly happy (see the book of Ecclesiastes) l Joy in salvation (Lk. 10: 20; Ac. 8: 39) l

Joy in Satisfaction (4: 1 -20) l Satisfaction in standing fast in Christ (4: 1) - those who have fallen away from the Lord are never truly happy l Satisfaction in uniting together in Christ (4: 2 -3) – those who divide are never truly happy

Joy in Satisfaction (4: 1 -20) l Satisfaction in peace in Christ (4: 49) – those who worry (4: 4 -7) and who do not think right (4: 8 -9) are not truly happy l Satisfaction in the contentment of Christ (4: 10 -20) – those who are discontent are never truly happy

Joy in Satisfaction (4: 1 -20) l Joy because we possess “all things” in Christ (2 Cor. 6: 10)

Joy in the Lord l Joy in suffering, serving, salvation, and satisfaction l “The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Neh. 8: 10)