Philippians notes
by Peter Philippi
Last updated 09/11/14
Apr 13, 2014 -- MP3 audio 01
Apr 27, 2014 -- MP3 audio 02
Greeting: grace and peace
- Paul’s love and deep appreciation for the Philippians
- I’m thankful for you - 3
- I rejoice over you - 4 & 5
- I’m confident about you - 6
- I hold you in my heart - 7
- I yearn for you - 8
- I pray for you - 4, 9-11
- Background
- Reasons for writing Philippians:
- - Gratitude for their partnership
- - Acknowledge their sufferings
- - Address the unrest among some
- Theme: the Christ-centered life
- Author: Paul (includes Timothy, Epaphroditus penned it)
- Servants of Jesus Christ
- Recipients:
- - Saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi
- - With the bishops and deacons
May 4, 2014 -- MP3 audio 03
Philippians 1
- The prominence of the gospel in Philippians
- Fellowship of the gospel 1:5
- Defense of the gospel 1:7, 17
- Confirmation of the gospel 1:7
- Furtherance of the gospel 1:12
- Live your life consistent with the gospel 1:27
- Striving together for the faith of the gospel 1:27
- Serving together in the gospel 2:22
- Laboring together in the gospel 4:3
- Support of the gospel ministry 4:15
May 12, 2014 -- MP3 audio 04
- Paul’s prayer for the Philippians
- The cause of Paul’s joy 1:1-8
Their partnership in the gospel
- The content of Paul’s prayer 1:9
That their love may keep abounding
That their knowledge may keep advancing
That their discernment may keep accumulating
- The consequences expected from Paul’s prayer
May 18, 2014 -- MP3 audio 05
- So that they may approve the things that differ
- Time past, ages to come and But Now
- Law and grace
- Conditional and unconditional blessing
- 12 and Paul
- Prophetic and Mystery
- Kingdom and Body of Christ
So that they may be pure and blameless
So that they may be filled with the fruit of righteousness
- Trees in relationship to Israel
- Olive tree: spiritual life (Romans 11:17-24)
- Fig tree: religious life (Luke 13:6-9)
- Bramble: apostate Israel (Luke 6:44)
- Vine: national life (John 15:1-8)
So that God may be praised and glorified
May 25, 2014 -- MP3 audio 06
- Paul’s perspective on his circumstances
The primary issue was magnifying Christ, the
furtherance of the gospel and the spiritual welfare of the
Philippians, and not what he was enduring
12-13 The imprisonment became an opportunity
14 The suffering emboldened other Christians
15-18 Even the attack from the ulterior motives of other Christians became a cause for rejoicing
19 The prayer of the Philippians was a source of encouragement and strength to Paul
20-30 When grace lays hold of a Christian there is no defeating him!
20: Paul’s supreme goal: ashamed in nothing and Christ magnified always
21: Paul’s unwavering perspective: to live is Christ and to die is gain
22-24: Paul’s great inner conflict: be with Christ or contribute to their spiritual welfare
25: I’m likely to stay for the benefit of your spiritual advancement and joy
26: That you may rejoice the more in Jesus Christ through my ministry
27: Make sure your life is compatible with the gospel
28: Do not be intimidated by your enemies (as you stand firm, they’re condemned)
29: Do not forget that suffering for Christ is graciously given to you as an opportunity to magnify Him
30: Your struggle will then be equal to mine
Philippians 2
Jun 01, 2014 -- MP3 audio 07
Four truths Paul brings to their attention
- Consolation in Christ
- Comfort of love
- Fellowship of the Holy Spirit
- Bowels and mercies
- If there be any consolation in Christ = fulfil ye my joy by being like-minded
- If there be any comfort of love = fulfil ye my joy by having the same love
- If there be any fellowship of the Spirit = fulfil ye my joy by being of one accord
- If there be any bowels and mercies = fulfil ye my joy by being of one mind
- Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves
- Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others
- Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus (In His incarnation and sacrifice for us)
- Who as God didn’t think of deity as something to be grasped 2:6
- Who made Himself of no reputation 2:7
- Who took upon Him the form of a servant 2:7
- Who was made in the likeness of men 2:7
- Who as a man humbled Himself 2:8
- Who as a man became obedient unto death, even death of the cross 2:8
- Who, having "served" mankind, was exalted by God 2:9
- Who, having been exalted, will be acknowledged as God by all of His creation 2:10-11
Jun 08, 2014 -- MP3 audio 08
- FOCUS ON THE PHILIPPIANS
- Paul urges consistent obedience 2:12a
- The mystery of man’s responsibility and God’s work in the believer 2:12b-13
- Our attitude as we live for God 2:14
- Our responsibility to this world 2:15-16a
- The believers’ quality of life, Paul’s great reward 2:16b-18
Jun 15, 2014 -- MP3 audio 09
- FOCUS ON TIMOTHY
- Timothy, the hope of good news 2:19
- Timothy, the caring, true partner 2:20
- Timothy, the selfless servant 2:21
- Timothy, the proven servant 2:22
- Timothy, the reliable messenger 2:23-24
Jun 22, 2014 -- MP3 audio 10
- FOCUS ON EPAPHRODITUS
- Epaphroditus, the faithful co-laborer 2:25
- Epaphroditus, the truly caring man 2:26
- Epaphroditus, the protected partner 2:27
- Epaphroditus, sent to encourage 2:28
- Epaphroditus, the honored servant 2:29
- Epaphroditus, the sacrificial and unselfish minister 2:30
Philippians 3
Jun 29, 2014 -- MP3 audio 11
Paul’s instructions and warnings
- Rejoice in the Lord 1a
IN the Lord in all that Christ has done for us (2:7-8; salvation in Christ our future )
Romans 5:1-2
Philippians 3:3; 4:4
- The need to repeat some instructions and warnings 1b
Grievous = slothful, inappropriate
Safe = suited to confirm, appropriate
- Beware of attackers!
Dogs: Mt. 15:21-28 (Gentiles) In Philippians 3 applied to Jews!!!
Verse 2 describes them further (Judaizers)
Jun 29, 2014 -- MP3 audio 11
- Understand who we are!
The true circumcision this in contrast to whom he describes in verse 2
Colossians 2:10-14
- That worship God in the spirit (versus outward religion)
- That rejoice in Christ Jesus (only happy when they are the center and focus of attention see Galatians!)
- That have no confidence in the flesh (it’s all THEY have!)
- If anyone could have confidence in the flesh certainly Paul could!
- Based on his pedigree 5a
- Based on his unequaled accomplishments 5b-6
- Once you become a Christian your values change dramatically
- Now, any and all religious assets that I trusted in I see as a liability 7
- Now, knowing Christ becomes everything 8a, 10a
- Now, all that I used to trust in I see as a complete and total waste 8b
- Now, pleasing Christ is everything 8c
- Now, possessing His righteousness is everything 9
- Now, living by the power of His resurrection is everything 10a
- Now, experiencing the partnership of suffering for Christ is everything 10b
Jul 20, 2014 -- MP3 audio 14
- Now, focusing on continuously advancing spiritually is everything 11-15
- Now, following Paul as our one and only apostle is everything 16-17
Jul 27, 2014 -- MP3 audio 15
- The tragedy of religion without the knowledge of THE TRUTH 18-19
The indictments:
- Enemies of the cross
- Whose end is destruction
- Whose god is their belly
- Whose glory is in their shame
- Who mind earthly things
- The glorious truth is that we are now citizens of heaven 20-21
- It's where Christ is coming from for us 20
- And when He will completely transform our sin-cursed bodies 21
Philippians 4
Aug 10, 2014 -- MP3 audio 17
- The depth of Paul's love and care 4:1
- The exhortation to help two women reconcile their differences 4:2-3
- The imperative to rejoice in the Lord always 4:4
- The appeal for gentleness 4:5a
- The reality that the Lord's coming is imminent 4:5b
Aug 24, 2014 -- MP3 audio 19
- The instruction to avoid anxiety and worry 4:6
- The Problem: anxiety, worry, stress (6a)
- The Need: the peace of God (7, 9)
- The Battleground: the mind (7, 8)
- The solution: a) what we feed the mind, and b) whom we listen to, whom we believe and whom we follow
- The issue: one of power and control; you can…
- Allow this worry and anxiety control YOU…but: 6a
OR, you can TAKE control, understanding:
- The power of communicating with God – 6
- The power of your attitude – 6
- The power of your thinking – 7-8
- The power of making God’s message TO US, OURS -9
- The power of generosity – 10, 15-16, 18
- The power of Christ’s enablement when we align ourselves with God’s plan – 13, 19
- The provision of God's peace as a sure guard of our hearts and minds 4:7
- The focus of our thinking 4:8
- The meaning of being followers of Paul 4:9
- The care of the Philippians for Paul 4:10, 14-18
- The complete sufficiency of Christ's strength 4:11-13
- The promise of God's supply 4:19
- The final farewells 4:20-23
Philippians Review
- Paul’s appreciation for the Philippians 1:1-8
- Paul’s prayer for them 1:9-11
- Paul’s perspective on his difficulties 1:12-26
- Paul’s encouragement to remain steadfast 1:27-30
- Paul’s appeal for true unity 2:1-4
- Paul’s presentation of Christ’s supreme example 2:5-11
- Paul’s exhortation to be faithful 2:12-16
- Paul’s co-laborers Timothy and Epaphroditus 2:17-30
- Paul’s warning of spiritual enemies and what really matters in the Christian life 3:4-21
- Paul’s direction to help sisters that are having conflicts 4:1-3
- Paul’s understanding of the struggles in the Christian life 4:4-9
- Paul’s gratitude for their constant support of his ministry 4:10-19
- Paul’s farewells 4:20-23