Read 350.) Philippians 1:1 through 4:23. This is the last of the 4 epistles written from prison about AD 61, the key word found some 17 times is joy… REALLY! It has so much to do with the Christian life, our attitudes, and thought life. There is a most awesome explanation of the incarnation of the Word and Son of God as a man with 2:5-11, with its application to our own lives.
Chapter 1 has 3 parts, a greeting v.1+2, the state of his personal prison circumstances v.12-26, and an exhortation to live a life worthy of the Gospel v.27-30. Verse 2 refers to the present modern offices in a church as the overseer, bishop, elder or, as we popularly use today, ‘pastor’. The other office is deacon. We’ll see these comport perfectly with I Tim.3 and Titus 1. A favorite verse of mine is 1:6 as it relates to my sanctification. God will be working on me all the days of my life in His effort to make me to be more like His Son, Jesus Christ. You too? It goes perfectly with 2:13 to explain how that he is doing this. Then, see this… you are either a 1:21 Christian, or a 2:21 Christian! Which are you? That’s powerful, isn’t it? We learn that believers, from v.23 and as II Cor.5:1-8 taught, we are here on earth in this body, or we will be with Christ in our glorified heavenly body in the Holy City, new Jerusalem! No ‘soul sleep,’ no purgatory. Such truths are important to learn and know.
Chapter 2 continues with life attitude, and how it is to be that of a servant, as Christ’s was v.1-18. In v.7 we read He emptied Himself. The word there is ‘Kenosis’. He did not empty Himself of His deity, rather, He emptied Himself of His prerogative to exercise His attributes of deity. He was still all God, but chose to live as a perfect man, in full dependence upon His Father and the Holy Spirit, as our model of the Christian life; a life lived out solely by faith and dependence upon God the Father. With verse 19 to the end, Paul writes of his associates Timothy and Epaphroditus, but note his illness and near death from it! Paul was not able to heal him? Is this significant? Was the transitional period coming to its end? We will soon learn.
Chapter 3 warns against Judaizers even then! This was an issue more than 10 years before, in Galatia and Acts 15. It’s still an issue today! There are those who put religious works of human effort into God’s plan for our salvation. If you have to work for it… it is NOT by God’s grace, and you cannot be saved, as Romans 11:6 plainly declares! See 3:9 here for an explicit explanation concerning our salvation. It is a “righteousness that comes from God and is by faith” in Jesus Christ! This is just as Galatians and Romans taught over and over. From 3:12 thru 4:1, we go to our Christian life after our conversion. There is great counsel in 3:13+14… It is helpful to forget issues behind us, and to press on toward the goal that is ahead! 3:20+21 is glorious and a source of great comfort and encouragement as well!
Finally, chapter 4, Paul gives final exhortations, thanks, and a closing. Verses 6 thru 9 are classic! Do that of v.6, and receive the benefit of v.7, the peace of God will be with you. And do that of v.8, and receive the benefit of v.9, the God of peace will be with you! What do you need? What would you have? You can go for and have one or BOTH!!! No need to live in fear, anxiety, and uncertainty… seek a close relationship with the One, True and Living God!
The famous verse of 4:19 is not an unconditional promise. It is predicated upon what we see in 14-18 about their generous giving unto Paul. This corresponds perfectly with what we saw in II Cor. 9:6-11 and how we can give, to get, in order to give yet again and again, and even more! It’s what the Book is all about!
ForeverKingdom,
Harold F Crowell
ForeverKingdom's Blog 