INTRODUCTION TO
Philippians
CIRCUMSTANCES OF WRITING
Paul the apostle wrote this short letter, a fact that no scholar seriously questions. The traditional date for the writing of Philippians is during Paul’s first Roman imprisonment (AD 60–62); few have challenged this conclusion.
Paul planted the church at Philippi during his second missionary journey (AD 51) in response to his “Macedonian vision” (Ac 16:9-10). This was the first church in Europe (Ac 16).
The text of this letter from Paul suggests several characteristics of the church at Philippi. First, Gentiles predominated. Few Jews lived in Philippi, and, apparently, the church had few. Second, women had a significant role (Ac 16:11-15; Php 4:1-2). Third, the church was generous. Fourth, they remained deeply loyal to Paul.
Philippi, the ancient city of Krenides, had a military significance. It was the capital of Alexander the Great, who renamed it for his father Philip of Macedon, and it became the capital of the Greek Empire (332 BC). The Romans conquered Greece, and in the civil war after Julius Caesar’s death (44 BC), Antony and Octavius repopulated Philippi by allowing the defeated armies (Brutus and Cassius) to settle there (eight hundred miles from Rome). They declared the city a Roman colony. It flourished, proud of its history and entrenched in Roman political and social life. In his epistle to the Philippians, Paul alluded to military and political structures as metaphors for the church.
Paul wanted to thank the church for their financial support (4:10-20). He also addressed disunity and the threat of heresy. Disunity threatened the church, spawned by personal conflicts (4:2) and disagreements over theology (3:1-16). The heresy came from radical Jewish teachers. Paul addressed both issues personally and warmly.
The church at Philippi sent Epaphroditus to help Paul in Rome. While there he became ill (2:25-28). The church learned of Epaphroditus’s illness, and Paul wished to ease their concern for him. Some people possibly blamed Epaphroditus for failing his commission, but Paul commended him and sent him home. Perhaps Epaphroditus carried this letter with him.
CONTRIBUTION TO THE BIBLE
Paul’s letter to the Philippians teaches us much about genuine Christianity. While most of its themes may be found elsewhere in Scripture, it is within this letter that we can see how those themes and messages impact life. Within the NT, Philippians contributes to our understanding of Christian commitment and what it means to be Christlike.
STRUCTURE
Philippians can be divided into four primary sections. Paul had definite concerns that he wanted to express, and he also wrote to warn about false teachers who threatened the church. Many of Paul’s letters can be divided into theological and practical sections, but Philippians does not follow that pattern. Paul’s theological instruction is woven throughout the fabric of a highly personal letter.
SPURGEON ON PHILIPPIANS
Paul had not yet reached his own ideal of what a Christian might be. He had not yet obtained from Christ all that he expected to obtain. He was not sitting down to rest and be thankful, but he was still hurrying on, reaching after something that was yet beyond him. He could not say, “Soul, take your ease, you have much goods laid up for many years,” but he still felt his own spiritual poverty, and he cried, “Not that I have already reached the goal or am already perfect,” and he continued reaching.
GREETING
1Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus:
To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons.
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
THANKSGIVING AND PRAYER
3 I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, A 4 always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you B will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. 7 Indeed, it is right for me to think this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart, C and you are all partners with me in grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how deeply I miss all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And I pray this: that your love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment, 10 so that you may approve the things that are superior and may be pure and blameless in the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.
ADVANCE OF THE GOSPEL
12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually advanced the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard, and to everyone else, that my imprisonment is because I am in Christ. 14 Most of the brothers have gained confidence in the Lord from my imprisonment and dare even more to speak the word D fearlessly. 15 To be sure, some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of good will. 16 These preach out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; 17 the others proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, thinking that they will cause me trouble in my imprisonment. 18 What does it matter? Only that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is proclaimed, and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice 19 because I know this will lead to my salvation E through your prayers and help from the Spirit of Jesus Christ. 20 My eager expectation and hope is that I will not be ashamed about anything, but that now as always, with all courage, Christ will be highly honored in my body, whether by life or by death.
LIVING IS CHRIST
21 For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 Now if I live on in the flesh, this means fruitful work for me; and I don’t know which one I should choose. 23 I am torn between the two. I long to depart and be with Christ — which is far better — 24 but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. 25 Since I am persuaded of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that, because of my coming to you again, your boasting in Christ Jesus may abound.
QUOTE 1:21
It would be gain to him, for then he would be delivered from all suffering. And he would find, above all, his Savior, and be a partaker of his glory.
27 Just one thing: As citizens of heaven, live your life worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or am absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit, in one accord, A contending together for the faith of the gospel, 28 not being frightened in any way by your opponents. This is a sign of destruction for them, but of your salvation — and this is from God. 29 For it has been granted to you on Christ’s behalf not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are engaged in the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I have.
1:6 “I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” He speaks of a good work —the work of divine grace in the soul that is of the operation of the Holy Spirit. This is eminently a good work since it works nothing but good in the heart that is the subject of it. To bring a man from darkness into light is good. This good is the best that a man can receive. To make a man healthy in body, and wealthy in estate, to educate his mind and train his faculties; all these are good, but in comparison with the salvation of the soul, they sink into insignificance.
1:21 “For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” If he lived, he lived to know more of Christ studying his person and learning by his happy experience so that he increased in his knowledge of his Lord and Savior. Paul might well say, “For to me to live is Christ”—to know Christ more, to imitate Christ more, to preach Christ more, and to enjoy Christ more. “And to die is gain,” because death, he felt, would free him from all sin and from all doubts as to his state in the present and the future. It would be gain to him, for then he would be delivered from all suffering. And he would find, above all, his Savior, and be a partaker of his glory.
1:27 “Just one thing: As citizens of heaven, live your life worthy of the gospel of Christ.” The phrase “live your life” refers to the whole course of our life and behavior in the world. It signifies the actions and the privileges of citizenship, and we are to let our whole citizenship—our actions as citizens of the new Jerusalem—be such as becomes the gospel of Christ.
CHRISTIAN HUMILITY
2If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 make my joy complete by thinking the same way, having the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. 4 Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
CHRIST’S HUMILITY AND EXALTATION
5 Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus,
6who, existing in the form of God,
did not consider equality with God
as something to be exploited. B
7Instead he emptied himself
by assuming the form of a servant,
taking on the likeness
of humanity.
And when he had come as a man,
QUOTE 2:7-8
In the cross there is a cure for every spiritual disease. There is food for every spiritual virtue in the Savior. We never go to him too often.
8he humbled himself by becoming obedient
to the point of death —
even to death on a cross.
9For this reason God highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
10so that at the name of Jesus
every knee will bow —
in heaven and on earth
and under the earth —
11and every tongue will confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
LIGHTS IN THE WORLD
12 Therefore, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, so now, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to his good purpose. 14 Do everything without grumbling and arguing, 15 so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world, 16 by holding firm to the word of life. Then I can boast in the day of Christ that I didn’t run or labor for nothing. 17 But even if I am poured out as a drink offering on the sacrificial service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 In the same way you should also be glad and rejoice with me.
TIMOTHY AND EPAPHRODITUS
19 Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon so that I too may be encouraged by news about you. 20 For I have no one else like-minded who will genuinely care about your interests; 21 all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know his proven character, because he has served with me in the gospel ministry like a son with a father. 23 Therefore, I hope to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. 24 I am confident in the Lord that I myself will also come soon.
25 But I considered it necessary to send you Epaphroditus — my brother, coworker, and fellow soldier, as well as your messenger and minister to my need — 26 since he has been longing for all of you and was distressed because you heard that he was sick. 27 Indeed, he was so sick that he nearly died. However, God had mercy on him, and not only on him but also on me, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 For this reason, I am very eager to send him so that you may rejoice again when you see him and I may be less anxious. 29 Therefore, welcome him in the Lord with great joy and hold people like him in honor, 30 because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up what was lacking in your ministry to me.
2:1-4 “If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, make my joy complete by thinking the same way, having the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” The apostle knew that to create unity and harmony you need first to have humility of mind. People do not quarrel when their ambitions have come to an end. When everyone is willing to be least; when everyone desires to place others higher than themselves—there is an end to contentious cliques. Factions and divisions pass away. Now, in order to create lowliness of mind, Paul, under the teaching of the Spirit of God, spoke about the lowliness of Christ. He would have us become low, and so he takes us to see our Master becoming low. He leads us to those steep stairs down which the Lord of glory took his lowly way and Paul bids us stop while he points us to the lowly Christ.
2:7-8 “And when he had come as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even to death on a cross.” Paul wishes to unite the saints in Philippi in the holy bands of love. To do this, he takes them to the cross. In the cross there is a cure for every spiritual disease. There is food for every spiritual virtue in the Savior. We never go to him too often.
2:12-13 “Therefore, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, so now, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to his good purpose.” The Holy Spirit, in regeneration, descends into a man and creates in him a new nature. He does not destroy the old that remains still to be battled with, and to be overcome. Though the nature which the Spirit implants is perfect in its kind and in its degree, yet it is not perfect in its development. God, having first worked it in, it becomes the business of the Christian life to work out the secret inner principle till it permeates the entire system, till it overcomes the old nature, till it in fact utterly destroys inbred corruption, and reigns supreme in the man’s every part—as it shall do when the Lord takes us to dwell with himself forever. Understand then, it is not at all to the work of Christ, it is not at all with regard to the pardon of our sins, or the justification of our persons that Paul speaks, but only with regard to our inner spiritual life.
KNOWING CHRIST
3In addition, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. To write to you again about this is no trouble for me and is a safeguard for you.
2 Watch out for the dogs, watch out for the evil workers, watch out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3 For we are the circumcision, the ones who worship by the Spirit of God, boast in Christ Jesus, and do not put confidence in the flesh — 4 although I have reasons for confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised the eighth day; of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; regarding the law, a Pharisee; 6 regarding zeal, persecuting the church; regarding the righteousness that is in the law, blameless.
7 But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ. 8 More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them as dung, so that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own from the law, but one that is through faith in Christ A — the righteousness from God based on faith. 10 My goal is to know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death, 11 assuming that I will somehow reach the resurrection from among the dead.
QUOTE 3:8
The Savior held the same place in Paul’s esteem as the crown did in the esteem of the runner at the Olympic games. To gain that crown, the competitor strained every nerve and sinew, feeling as though he were content to drop down dead at the goal in order to win it.
REACHING FORWARD TO GOD’S GOAL
12 Not that I have already reached the goal or am already perfect, but I make every effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not B consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, 14 I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly C call in Christ Jesus. 15 Therefore, let all of us who are mature think this way. And if you think differently about anything, God will reveal this also to you. 16 In any case, we should live up to whatever truth we have attained. 17 Join in imitating me, brothers and sisters, and pay careful attention to those who live according to the example you have in us. 18 For I have often told you, and now say again with tears, that many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction; their god is their stomach; their glory is in their shame. They are focused on earthly things, 20 but our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. 21 He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of his glorious body, by the power that enables him to subject everything to himself.
QUOTE 3:20-21
We live because he lives, and never is our life more joyous than when we look most steadily to him.
3:8 “I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them as dung, so that I may gain Christ.” The very high value that the apostle Paul set on the Savior is most palpable when he speaks of gaining him. This shows that the Savior held the same place in Paul’s esteem as the crown did in the esteem of the runner at the Olympic games. To gain that crown, the competitor strained every nerve and sinew, feeling as though he were content to drop down dead at the goal in order to win it. Paul felt that if he were to run with all his might, straining soul and body to gain Christ, it would be well worth the effort. Christ would be well worth dying to gain.
3:12 “Not that I have already reached the goal or am already perfect, but I make every effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus.” He had not yet reached his own ideal of what a Christian might be. He had not yet obtained from Christ all that he expected to obtain. He was not sitting down to rest and be thankful, but he was still hurrying on, reaching after something that was yet beyond him. He could not say, “Soul, take your ease, you have much goods laid up for many years,” but he still felt his own spiritual poverty, and he cried, “Not that I have already reached the goal or am already perfect,” and he continued reaching.
3:20-21 “But our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of his glorious body, by the power that enables him to subject everything to himself.” How intimately is the whole of our life interwoven with the life of Christ! His first coming has been to us salvation, and we are delivered from the wrath of God through him; we live because he lives, and never is our life more joyous than when we look most steadily to him. The completion of our salvation in the deliverance of our body from the bondage of corruption, in the raising of our dust to a glorious immortality, that is also wrapped up with the personal resurrection and quickening power of the Lord Jesus Christ.
4So then, my dearly loved and longed for brothers and sisters, my joy and crown, in this manner stand firm in the Lord, dear friends.
PRACTICAL COUNSEL
2 I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to agree in the Lord. 3 Yes, I also ask you, true partner, A to help these women who have contended for the gospel at my side, along with Clement and the rest of my coworkers whose names are in the book of life. 4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your graciousness B be known to everyone. The Lord is near. 6 Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
QUOTE 4:6-7
Live with that holy carelessness which is the very beauty of the Christian life—when all our care is cast on God, and we can joy and rejoice in his providential care of us.
ILLUSTRATION 4:6-7
A little London girl, who had gone into the country, once said, “Look, mamma, at that poor little bird. It has not got any cage!” That would not have struck me as being any loss to the bird—and if you and I were without our cage, and the box of seed, and glass of water, it would not be much of a loss if we were cast adrift into the glorious liberty of a life of humble dependence upon God!
8 Finally C brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable — if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy — dwell on these things. 9 Do what you have learned and received and heard from me, and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.
APPRECIATION OF SUPPORT
10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly because once again you renewed your care for me. You were, in fact, concerned about me but lacked the opportunity to show it. 11 I don’t say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I find myself. 12 I know both how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content — whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. 13 I am able to do all things through him A who strengthens me. 14 Still, you did well by partnering with me in my hardship.
“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep
your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
We who dwell in England in times of peace know little of its value. War is one of the most awful scourges of the world. It is the destroyer of every holy thing. Peace, the angel of heaven. The apostle here speaks of a wondrous peace.
I.INTERNAL PEACE, THE PEACE WHICH GOD CAUSES.
There is no civil war in the renewed soul. The soul is at war with the enemies in its walls, but not with itself.
1.Peace of mind or intellect. The soul finds rest in the doc and precepts of the word.
2.Peace of the affections. There is a holy content and satisfaction.
3.Peace of the emotions. Fear and dread are banished.
4.Peace of conscience. By obedience to its dictates and giving its demands.
II. EXTERNAL PEACE, OR PEACE WITH OTHERS.
1.With all men we are at peace. Jesus gives us love even to our enemies. Humility, calmness, and holiness secure this.
2.Peace with God. So necessary since God is so mighty and we so weak. It is a peace:
a.Profound and Perfect. There are not the slightest bickerings. No truce nor superficial peace, like the peace of France with its president, or parties bound to keep the peace, but a peace arising from moral conformity, sympathy, and love.
b.Unbroken Peace. Justice breaks it not. Holiness cannot. Truth cannot. Yea, these are all engaged to defend it. God will not and we cannot, for the covenant is in Jesus. And afflictions cannot.
c.Eternal peace. Justification and Sanctification are eternal. The covenant making and keeping God is eternal.
d.Heavenly peace. As the babe and its mother, the lamb and the shepherd, the peace of man with his maker on earth is as great as that in heaven.
III. THE TRIUNE GOD, ITS AUTHOR.
1.God the Father. The planner, the giver of the son.
2.God the Son. The procurer, the covenant fulfiller and sustainer.
3.God the Spirit. The executor in our soul.
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15 And you Philippians know that in the early days of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving except you alone. 16 For even in Thessalonica you sent gifts for my need several times. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the profit B that is increasing to your account. 18 But I have received everything in full, and I have an abundance. I am fully supplied, C having received from Epaphroditus what you provided — a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 19 And my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
FINAL GREETINGS
21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send you greetings. 22 All the saints send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household. 23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. D
4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” In the first place, this is a very delightful thing. What a gracious God we serve, who makes delight to be a duty and who commands us to rejoice. Should we not at once be obedient to such a command as this? We should be cheerful—more than that, that we should be thankful, and that we should rejoice. This word, “rejoice,” is not only joy once, but it is joy over again, rejoice! We are to joy, and then we are to re-joy. We are to chew the cud of delight—we are to roll the dainty morsel under our tongue till we get the very essence out of it.
4:6-7 “Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Oh, that God might teach us how to avoid the evil that is here forbidden, and to live with that holy carelessness which is the very beauty of the Christian life—when all our care is cast on God, and we can joy and rejoice in his providential care of us.
4:13 “I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me.” Paul here meant that he could endure all trials. It matters not what suffering his persecutors might put upon him, he felt that he was quite able, through divine grace, to bear it. He daily expected that he might be led out to die, and the daily expectation of death is bitterer than death itself. He was ready to be offered up, and made a sacrifice for his Master’s cause. Every child of God, by faith, may say, “I am able to do all things.”