Lesson 10
CHAPTER TEN
PHILIPPIANS
OBJECTIVES:
Upon completion of this chapter you will be able to:
C Name the author of the book of Philippians.
C Identify to whom the book of Philippians was written.
C State the purpose for the book of Philippians.
C Write the Key Verse of the book of Philippians from memory.
C State the Life and Ministry Principle for the book of Philippians.
INTRODUCTION
AUTHOR: Paul
TO WHOM: The Church at Philippi
PURPOSE: To present an appeal for Christian unity. KEY VERSE: 2:2
LIFE AND MINISTRY PRINCIPLE: Unity in Jesus brings joy. MAIN CHARACTERS: Paul, Timotheus, Epaproditus, Ceasar
OUTLINE
I. Introduction: 1:1-26
A. Greeting: 1:1-2
1. From Paul and Timotheus: 1 :1
2. To: Saints in Christ Jesus, bishops, and deacons at Philippi: 1:1
3. Grace and peace: 1:2
B. Prayer for Philippians: 1:3-11
1. His thanksgiving for them : 1:3-5
a. Motivation for thanksgiving: 1 :3
b. Expression of thanksgiving: 1:4
c. Cause for thanksgiving : 1:5
2. His confidence in them : 1:6-7
a. The nature of the confidence : 1:6
b. The justification for this confidence: 1:7
3. His longing : 1:8
4. His prayer for them: 1:9-11
a. That love may abound in knowledge and judgment: 1:9
b. That you may approve things that are excellent: 1:10
c. That you may be sincere and without offense: 1:10
d. That you will be filled with the fruit of righteousness: 1:11
C. Personal matters: 1:12-26
1. Events which have served to spread the Gospel: 1:12-18
a. Imprisonment: 1:12-14
b. Preaching: 1:15-18
c. Prayer: 1:19
2. Questioning as to whether it is best to live or die: 1:19-26
a. The contrast of life and death: 1:20-21
b. The appeal of life: 1:22
c. The competing desire for death: 1:23-24
d. Assurance for a longer life: 1:25-26
II. Exhortations for unity 1:27-2:18
A. Appeal for unity in suffering: 1:27-30
1. Proper conversation: 1:27
2. Stand fast in one spirit with one mind: 1:27
3. Striving together for the faith of the Gospel: 1:27
4. In nothing terrified by your adversaries: 1:28-30
B. Unity in Christ: 2:1-11
l. Through proper conduct: 2:1-4
a. Love : 2:1-2
b. Fellowship: 2 :1
c. Mercy: 2:1
d. One accord: 2:2
e. One mind : 2:2
f. Nothing done through strife or vainglory, but in lowliness of
mind esteem others : 2:3
g. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the
things of others: 2:4
2. Christ’s humiliation: Unify your minds after the pattern of His: 2:6-8
a. No reputation: 2:7
b. Form of servant: 2:7
c. Likeness of men : 2:7
d. Humbled self: 2:8
e. Obedient to death of cross: 2:8
3. Christ’s exaltation : 2 : 9 – 1 1
a. Highly exalted: 2:9
b. A name above all others: 2:9
c. Every knee shall bow: 2:10
d. Every tongue will confess: 2:11
C. Spiritual growth brings unity: 2:12-18
1. Work out your salvation in fear: It is God: 2:12-13
2. Do all things without murmuring: That ye be blameless: 2:14-15
3. Hold forth the Word of life: That I may rejoice: 2:16-18
III. Paul’s plans: 2: 1 9-30
A. His plans for Timothy: 2:19-23
1. The plan: 2:19
2. The motive for the plan: 2:19
3. Reasons for choosing Timothy: 2:20-21
4. The relation of Timothy and Paul: 2:22
5. The timing of Timothy’s trip: 2:23
B. Plans for himself: 2:24
C. Plans for Epaphroditus: 2:25-30
1. Statement of the plan: 2:25
2. Testimony of Epaphroditus: 2:25
3. The reason for sending Epaphroditus: 2:26-27
4. The welcome to be given: 2:28-30
IV. Warnings 3:1-4 :1
A. Against Judaizing teachers: 3:1-16
1. The joy of the Lord as a defense against them : 3:1
2. Admonition to watch them: 3:2
3. Identification of true Israelites: 3:3
4. Paul’s experiences in relation to this matter: 3:4- 11
a. His grounds for legalistic pride: 3:4-6
(1) Circumcised: 3:5
(2) Of the stock of Israel: 3:5
(3) Of the tribe of Benjamin: 3:5
(4) A Pharisee: 3:5
(5) Zealous (persecuted Church): 3:6
(6) Righteous under the law: 3:6
b. His change of values: 3:7-11
(1) Nature of the change: 3 :7
(2) Reasons for the change: 3:8
(3) Motives for the change: 3:8-11
5. Perfection as a defense against legalism: 3:12-16
a. Attitude towards perfection: 3:12
b. Efforts to reach the goal: 13-14
c. Exhortation to perfection: 3:15-16
B. Against false teachers: 3:17-21
1. Their character: 3:18
2. Their fate: 3:19
3. The response of the believer: 3:20-21
V. Exhortations: 4:1-9
A. Unity between Euodias and Syntyce: 4:1-3
B. Unity in joy: 4 :4
C. Unity in moderation: 4:5
D. Unity in prayer: 4:6
E. Unity in peace: 4:7
F. Unity in mind: Proper thought process: 4:8
1. True.
2. Honest.
3. Just.
4. Pure.
5. Lovely.
6. Good report.
7. Things of virtue.
8. Things worthy of praise.
G. Unity between knowledge and actions: 4 :9
VI. Thanks for their gift: 4:10-20
A. The secret of contentment: 4:10-13
1. His thanks for their gift: 4:10
2. His independence of material need: 4:11
3. Explanation of his secret: 4:11-12
4. His source of strength: 4:13
B. The secret of provision: 4:14-20
1. His appreciation of the gift: 4:14
2. His reminder of their past record: 4:15-16
3. His attitude towards their gift: 4:17
4. His receipt of the gift: 4:18
5. The secret of provision: 4:19-20
VII. Benediction 4:21-23
A. Salute the saints in Christ Jesus: 4:21
B. The brethren with Paul send greetings: 4:21
C. The saints and those of Caesar’s household send greetings: 2:22
D. Grace be with you: 2:23