This week, we shall begin the study
of the Book of Philippians in the New Testament.
Philippians
You may want to consult some good
commentaries as to the background of this epistle, but for those who may not
have access to commentaries or a study Bible, it suffices to point out the following:
(1) Paul wrote this letter while in a Roman prison and he most likely died as a martyr a few years after this letter was written.
(2) The church in Philippi was probably established during Paul’s visit in Acts 16:14-34 (characters mentioned there include Lydia, the converted jailor and his household).
(3) This was a rather personal letter in which less was mentioned about heresies and more about his own intense pursuit of Christ.
(1) Although many might consider the greeting one that is standard to Paul’s letters, it does represent the genuine attitude of how Paul sees himself as a “doulos” (i.e. slave) of Christ Jesus and the people of God as “saints”.
a. If you also consider yourself as a “slave” of Christ Jesus, what should be the most important marks of your life? Try to think of at least three.
b. Look at the brothers and sisters around you in the church. Why did Paul call them saints and how should you, then, treat them?
(2) Repeatedly, Paul uses terms like “every time" (v. 3), “always” (v. 4) and “long for all of you” (v. 8) in describing his intercession for the church in Philippi. In fact, it appears that Paul also prays for many other churches (as evidenced by what he wrote in other epistles):
a. Why does Paul feel obliged to intercede for all these churches which he either founded, ministered to or only heard of (like the church in Colosse)?
b. How does he find the time to do so? (Was being in jail a likely reason? Why or why not?)
c. How might you emulate Paul’s example in this respect?
(3) Paul gives one of the reasons for such bonding between him and the church in v. 5, citing that they are partners (koinonia, i.e. sharing life in common) in the gospel. Are you in real “partnership” with brothers and sisters in the gospel? To be in true partnership (i.e. koinonia) in the gospel, what would it look like?
(4) Paul says that he has the church in Philippi in his heart and the reason is because they share in God’s grace with him in gospel ministry (v. 7). What is Paul referring to? (see 4:14-19; 2 Cor. 11:8-9)
(5) Paul shared one of the major emphases of his prayer for the church in vv. 9-11.
a. V. 9 is the content of this prayer: What is it and how special is this prayer?
b. V. 10 the reason of such a prayer: What is it and how important is it?
c. V. 11 seems to be the ultimate goal of this prayer: What is this ultimate goal?
(6) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
Paul is indeed a “man with a big heart”:
(1) Was Paul’s imprisonment his deliberate choice or an involuntary outcome? (See Acts 26:32 in which he could have been freed had he not insisted on appealing to Caesar in Rome.)
(2) How did he look at his imprisonment (v. 12)?
(3) What proof did he give to support it (vv. 13-14)?
(4) How important was it to be able to share the gospel at the center of world-power at the time?
(5) Why were the Roman believers not intimidated by Paul’s imprisonment but were encouraged to proclaim the gospel “courageously and fearlessly”?
(6) What can you learn from Paul’s attitude when it comes to looking at the trials in your own life?
(7) Before Paul’s arrival in Rome, it is likely that they already had a local church:
a. Do you think that these Christian leaders were necessarily preaching the gospel out of the wrong motive before Paul’s arrival?
b. With Paul’s reputation, even in the palace, and the likely respect that he commanded from the local believers, what impact might he have had in the ministry and status of the existing local leaders?
c. What might these leaders do with their preaching that might “stir up trouble” for Paul?
(8) Can you think of any impure motives you might have in trying to evangelize others?
(9) How could Paul rejoice seeing others zealous for the gospel for the wrong reason (and perhaps being praised as well)? How and what can you learn from Paul in this respect?
(10) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
(1) Paul was sensing that his death might be imminent and he was wrestling with this possibility. If you “were” facing imminent death, what might be the things that you would be wrestling with? Would you pray for life, likely healing from your sickness? Why or why not?
(2) Paul was quite sure that the eventual outcome of his situation “will turn out for... (his) deliverance” (1:19) — deliverance could mean being freed from jail or his final salvation:
a. If it is the latter, why would this still give him courage?
b. What is the source of such strength? (v. 19)
(3) Paul looked at life and death and said, “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain” (v. 21). What did he mean by that?
(4) Paul eventually appeared to prefer life to death (v. 24). What was the reason for him to prefer to “remain in the body”? (vv. 24-26)
(5) If you also prefer the same, what might your reason be? How different is your reason from Paul’s?
(6) Paul pointed out that the church did have enemies, and as a church in Philippi (an important military outpost for Rome), the church would be facing persecution from both the secular/political authorities and also from Pharisaic Jews. In the face of persecution, what were the things that Paul urged the church to do (vv. 27-28)?
(7) Why was “oneness” so hard to achieve even though they were facing persecution (see 4:2 also)?
(8) Paul pointed out that God has granted us, “not only to believe on Him”, but also to “suffer” (v. 29). Were you told that suffering came with the territory of following Christ before your conversion? If you were told at the time of your decision to believe in Christ, would you have? Why or why not?
(9) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
(1) Paul is speaking of authentic Christian fellowship in v. 1: What does it include?
(2) Paul implies that Christian fellowship can be done without being like-minded, without being in the same love and without being one in spirit and purpose. How can it be so? Examine yourself in light of Paul’s reminder here.
(3) Paul, in fact, suggests that the problem lies with wrong motives. What might they be? (v. 3a)
(4) What remedies does Paul suggest? (vv. 3b-4) How can you put his suggestions into action?
(5) Paul recognizes that the ultimate strength to achieve oneness is to adopt Christ’s attitude (the mind, in the original Greek). Read vv. 6-8 several times, reflecting on the following:
a. Jesus in nature and form is God: Can you write down 3 things or aspects of what is meant by being God?
b. Instead of holding fast to it, He emptied it: Of course, Jesus has not emptied His nature as God, but His “equality” with God. Write down 3 things concerning Christ’s equality with God that He “emptied Himself" of by becoming a man.
c. In place of this form, He took the form of a slave: Look at your notes on 1:1 about what it means to be a slave. What are three things that applied to Christ?
d. Being in fact in the likeness of man: What does taking the likeness of man mean to Christ, the Son of God?
e. He humbled himself, further, to be obedient till death: Why was death a further expression of Christ’s humility?
f. His death was not just of any form but death on the cross: For Christ, why did His death on the cross epitomize the ultimate act of obedience and humility? (Deut. 21:23; 1 Pet. 2:24)
(6) When you see Christ one day, what might be the first thing you want to tell Him and why?
(7) Vv. 9-11 is about the power of His name. What is in a name that is so important, and in His case, why does it carry so much power? How then should we treat His name, especially in our prayer to the Father? (Jn. 16:24)
(8) What is the "one thing" (the most important thing) that you should imitate of Jesus and how?
(9) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
(1) Paul continued here, after the marvelous hymn of praise of Christ’s obedience and exultation, and commended the church for their past obedience as well (i.e. they indeed have followed Christ), and urged them to continue to “work out” their salvation (v. 12).
a. Why do we have to still work out our salvation? Are we not saved already?
b. What is meant by “working out”?
c. Why should we be in fear and trembling? (see the world we are in v.15) Of what?
(2) The respective roles in working out our salvation (v. 13):
a. What is God’s role?
b. What is our role as far as Paul is concerned, and how should we work “with” God then?
c. What then do you understand by “salvation”? (see Note below)
(3) From v. 14 onward, Paul elaborates on the specifics of “working out” our salvation:
a. What is the ultimate goal in “working out our salvation”? (v. 12a)
b. What is its ultimate effect? (v. 15b)
c. Why then did Paul cite “without complaining or arguing” as “the” admonishment to this effect?
d. How would complaining or arguing taint our blamelessness and purity as children of God?
e. How then would such actions distinguish us from the world and cause us to shine?
(4) A personal appeal (vv. 16-18)
a. How does such a personal appeal speak to the relationship between Paul and the believers in Philippi?
b. How does such a personal appeal speak to the “attitude” or “mind” of the Apostle in being the “slave” of Christ Jesus? (1:1)
(5) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
Note:
“A great deal of ink has been spilt over this passage, as to whether ‘salvation’ has to do with the individual believers or with the corporate life of the community. But this is a false dichotomy. The context makes it clear that this is not a soteriological text per se, dealing with ‘people getting saved’ or ‘saved people persevering’. Rather, it is an ethical text, dealing with ‘how saved people live out their salvation’ in the context of the believing community and the world” (Fee, NICNT, 234-5); hence Fee’s use of the term, to “flesh it out” (Fee, 230).
2:19-24—Timothy
(1) Why does Paul see that it is necessary to give an explanation for not sending Timothy to deliver this letter to the Philippians?
(2) When it comes to their relationship with the Philippians, in what way does Paul say that he had no one else like him among Paul’s co-workers? (v. 20)
(3) In serving with Paul, how does Timothy distinguish himself? (vv. 21-22)
(4) What appears to be the reason that Paul could not have sent Timothy away to the Philippians at that point? (vv. 23-24)
(5) What was the most admirable quality of Timothy as far as you are concerned? Why?
(6) How might you be a “Timothy”?
2:25-30—Epaphroditus
(7) Why did the church in Philippi send him to Paul in the first place?
(8) What does this say about the church in Philippi?
(9) What happened to Epaphroditus as he went to minister to Paul on behalf of the church? (vv. 27, 30)
(10) Why does Paul choose to send him instead of Timothy to be the bearer of this letter? (vv. 26 -28)
(11) What do you think happened that has caused Paul to call him his “brother, co-worker and fellow solider”? (v. 25)
(12) Based on the way the church in Philippi related to Paul and Epaphroditus, what kind of a church is the church in Philippi?
(13) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
(1) “Joy” appears to be one of the emphases of this letter (see 4:4). Was there a reason for the church in Philippi not to rejoice? Is there a reason for you not to rejoice in the church? Yet, Paul admonished us to rejoice. He did not appear to give us any reason, except to urge us to rejoice “in the Lord”. Is it good enough for you to rejoice? Why or why not?
(2) Paul does not even hold any grudges against those who preach the gospel out of wrong motives (1:15ff) , but he calls these people “dogs” as they apparently insisted on circumcision as part of salvation. Read Galatians 5:2-6. Can you summarize in one sentence why was Paul so bitterly against those who insisted on observing circumcision?
(3) What is meant by “confidence in the flesh”? Apart from observing circumcision, is there anything you can think of that might also amount to “confidence in the flesh”?
(4) The “credentials” of Saul — reflect also on things that we might still boast about, trust in or love as Christians other than in Christ:
a. Circumcised exactly on the 8th day. What is so special about it? (see Gen. 17:3-14) What might be our equivalent today?
b. Born as a Jew, from the tribe of Benjamin: Which king of Israel came from this tribe? (1 Sam. 10:21ff) What might be our equivalent boast today?
c. A Hebrew of Hebrews: The pride of being “pure breed”. What might be the equivalent pride you have today?
d. A Pharisee: What were the Pharisees known for? What kind of pride is this? (Jn. 3:1, 10)
e. Persecutor of the Christian church: He had a misplaced zeal for God (Acts 8:3). What might be the equivalent today?
f. Faultless adherent to the Law: Saul was proud to be a moral person. How might we exhibit the same pride today?
Why did Saul so eagerly pursue these “credentials” before he met Christ? Why did he consider these to be his “profit”? What profit was there?
(5) Honestly examine your life: What are the things that you are pursuing that you consider, consciously or subconsciously, as being profitable to you? In your soul-searching, use the following questions to gauge if you are pursuing them:
a. Do any of those credentials mentioned above happen to be a reason for pride for you as well?
b. Is there anything below that describes how you are preoccupied in your life?
- A matter that causes you to worry quite a bit
- A heavy weight on you
- Something that takes up the bulk of your time regularly
- Something that you are most afraid to lose
- Something that you do not have and yet you covet
(6) Given all this prideful past, why would God choose such an arrogant person to be His “Apostle to the Gentiles”? What does it prove?
(7) Why did Paul consider these former credentials a “loss” and even “rubbish”, now that he has “the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus”?
(8) Can you echo Paul in saying that it is a “surpassing greatness” in knowing Christ? And what should you now look at as a “loss” or even “rubbish”?
(9) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?