Philippians

Paul wrote this letter while he was in prison. But it is a very happy letter. It has many references to joy. (Read 1:4, 18; 2:17, 28-29; 3:1; 4:1, 4, 10.) The people who belonged to the church at Philippi city sent Paul a gift. They sent him some money while he was in prison. And this was not the first time. They had been generous to him before. So this book was Paul's ‘thank you letter’ to them. He told them how much he appreciated their gift. Their lives pleased him too. They were living as true Christians should live.

Two things are most important for the Christian believer. They are that:

The believer is confident (1:12-14). God is all-powerful, and he can use anything to bless other people. He can even use prison.

The believer is content (4:11-13). Christ is all that the Christian needs. (Read 4:19.)

The Christian's Task (Chapter 1)

Paul was in prison. But there were still important things that he could do. And this was true for the other Philippian believers too. [Note: This refers to Christians who lived in Philippi.] There were three essential tasks. They were:

Sincere prayer (1:3-11. Compare 1:19). Paul prayed for the Philippian Christians. He also depended on their prayers for him. Notice the kind of prayer. It was:

  • grateful (1:4-5)
  • confident (1:6)
  • loving (1:7-8)
  • definite (1:9)
  • great (1:9-11). Paul chose to pray for the most important things in the Christian life. He prayed that their love would increase. He asked that they would have knowledge and understanding. Then they would choose what was best. He prayed that they would be holy.

Brave witness (1:12-26). Bad things had happened to Paul. He was in prison. But even that had helped the progress of the gospel (1:12-13). The fact that he was in prison had helped other Christians too. They had more courage (1:14). Some people said that they were believers. But the devil (Satan) sometimes used them. They tried to spoil the Christians’ witness (1:15-18).

Paul had many troubles. But he was still glad about two things. First, people were preaching Christ's gospel (1:18). Second, he could bring honour to Christ (1:19-20). If he lived, he wanted to live for Christ. If he died, he would be with Christ. He said, ‘To me, the important thing about life is Christ. Death, then, would be better’ (1:21). Death would bring him nearer to Christ.

Good behaviour (1:27-30). Our actions must recommend the gospel. It is not enough to witness with words. The true Christian will witness by what he or she does (works). This would be in a natural way. The person might not even be conscious of it. A Christian believer would be glad to suffer for Christ too (1:29).

The Christian's Character (Chapter 2)

The main passage here is 2:5-11. Some Bible students believe that it is one of the first Christian songs. It gives honour to Christ. He always had the nature of God. But he became a Servant. He gave himself as a sacrifice for our sins. He died on the cross. Then ‘God raised Christ to the most important place. God made the name of Christ greater than every other name’ (2:9).

Christians need to have Christ's attitudes (2:5). They must think and act like Christ. So chapter 2 is an explanation of three great subjects. They are:

To possess the mind of Christ (2:1-11). In practical daily life, this means certain things. It means having a mind that is:

  • loving (2:1-2)
  • humble (2:3-4)
  • not selfish (2:5-6).

It:

  • chooses God's way (2:7)
  • obeys (2:8)
  • is brave (‘even death on a cross’ 2:8).

People like this declare that Jesus is Lord. And they bring honour to the Father (2:9-11).

To use the mind of Christ (2:12-13). We must not just study and possess this salvation. We must use it. We must link it to daily life. God is always at work in us (2:13). And this should show in our daily lives (2:12). Christ worked because he wanted to please God. And we must do the same (2:13).

To show the mind of Christ (2:14-30). Here there is a study of three people. They each showed Christ's mind and Christ's character. There was Paul himself (2:14-18). There was Timothy (2:19-24). And there was Epaphroditus (2:25-30). Those who showed Christ's mind would be certain kinds of people. They would become like:

  • lights in the dark world (2:15)
  • a sacrifice to God (2:17)
  • servants who really cared for people (2:20-22)
  • soldiers who were brave (2:25-30).

The Christian's Ambition (Chapter 3)

This letter is full of joy. But there were two problems in the Philippian church. And Paul dealt with both of them. There was:

A problem about their beliefs (3:2-3). Some Jews insisted that all believers must obey Jewish laws. Many Gentiles (people who were not Jews) became believers. These Jews said that Gentiles must obey the laws too. They said that it was necessary for salvation. The particular problem here is in 3:2-3. Paul dealt with the same problem in the book of Galatians. He described this group of Jews as ‘dogs’. This was a bad word that Jews often used about Gentiles. Paul thought that it was a very serious matter. It was against the gospel of grace. It made it a gospel of ‘works’.

A problem about their behaviour (4:2).

Notice Paul's desire to ‘gain Christ’ (3:8).

  • Everything else was worth nothing compared with Christ (3:8).
  • It would mean two things. First, Paul would become like Christ when he died. Second, it would mean that he would suffer (3:10).
  • He had a certain hope. Like Christ, he would come alive again too (3:11).
  • He must continue to try hard (3:12).

Paul explained these great spiritual ambitions. He used three divisions;

  • Past (3:4-11). Paul achieved much before he knew Christ. This was true in a moral, social and religious way. He thought about his experience of Christ. Then all those previous ‘good’ things are like ‘skubala’. This is the Greek word for ‘rubbish’. It referred to the waste bits that somebody has left on a dish. And someone else throws them to the dogs (3:8).
  • Present (3:12-16). The past does not interest Paul now (3:13). He wanted better spiritual things. He wanted better moral things too, in the present (3:14). His only ambition was to be mature in a spiritual way.
  • Future (3:17-21). Paul spoke about two fates. Christ's enemies must go to hell (3:18-19). Christ's citizens would go to heaven (3:20). The true Christian believer will then have a new body. It will be like Christ's body (3:21).

The Christian's Confidence (Chapter 4)

This is a wonderful chapter. First, Paul urged the Philippians to ‘stand firm’ (4:1). He continued with an appeal to two women. He urged them to ‘try to agree’. They were ‘sisters in the Lord’ (4:2). A lack of unity and a lack of agreement prevented a good witness (4:2-3).

Paul had a further appeal. They should always be ‘full of joy in the Lord’ (4:4). Then he told them about some things that were certain. They could be confident about them. Paul did not know what would happen in the future. But he did know God. Notice how he repeated the words ‘God...will’ (4:7, 9, 19).

Some things are certain for a Christian. A Christian can be confident about these things. They are in Christ's work for him or her:

Christ's salvation. It is eternal. Paul spoke about people ‘whose names are in the book of life’ (4:3). Read Exodus 32:32; Psalm 69:28; Daniel 12:1; Luke 10:20; Revelation 3:5; 13:8; 20:12; 21:27. These verses give other examples of ‘the book of life’. And they show God's ruling power. Notice how God used these words in hard times. They encouraged believers very much.

Christ's return. It is his promise (4:5). When people believe in the Lord's return, it should help them. It should help them to be gentle and to be kind (4:5. Read 2 Corinthians 10:1 too).

Christ's peace. It is his protection (4:6-7). Prayer is very important. It:

  • removes worry
  • gives reasons for thanks
  • encourages trust
  • removes fear.

Paul uses a military word (4:7). God's peace protects us like a guard.

Christ's friendship. It brings a calm attitude (4:8-9). We must think about the right things (4:8). Then we will be certain that God is with us (4:9). ‘Think’ here has a particular meaning. It is ‘count these things as your property’. People who dealt with money used this word.

Christ's strength. It is available (4:10-13). Paul did not desire material things. This was because Christ's power was in him. So he could say ‘I can do all things’ (4:13). He had strength whatever the situation was. Paul said that this was ‘because he gives me the strength’ (4:13).

Christ's wealth. It has no limits (4:14-23). God gives us everything that we need (4:19). There is no lack for those who are ‘in Christ’. The writer of this letter was in prison. He had very little. But, as a believer, he had everything that he needed. He had all that was necessary for:

  • a life that was content
  • a life that had power
  • a life that was useful.

[Note: An example of this is in 4:22. It is in the words ‘Caesar's palace’. The name Caesar described a job. Caesar was the ruler of Rome, which was a city and an empire. Read 1:12-14. So, some of Paul's guards in prison became Christian believers.]