Book of PhilippiansNew Testament Workshop Morrison Heights Baptist Church November 22, 2020

OverviewThe name “Paul” is the first word, appearing once in the letter (1:1).

“to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi” (1:1)

Author

Philippians is one of four “Prison Epistles.” In three of the letter’s

chapters (1:3-7, 12-14, 29-30; 2:12, 19-24; 4:12, 14), Paul mentions his

predicament.

New Testament scholars debate the location of the jail: Ephesus,

Caesarea, or Rome.

Recipient

OverviewRecipient

Greece

LOCATION: Northern Greece (Macedonia)

intensely loyal to Rome

therefore, granted lots of rights and privileges

(e.g. NO taxes); women enjoyed a higher status

medical center—maybe Luke’s hometown

Eerdmans’ Handbook to the Bible; Walter A. Elwell and Robert

W. Yarbrough, Encountering the New Testament

OverviewAccording to the Book of Acts, Paul’s relationship to the Church at Philippi began during his Second Missionary Journey, after the Macedonian Vision.

Acts 16:11-40 documents Paul’s stay in Philippi.

Conversion of Lydia Exorcism of a Slave-Girl Beating and Imprisonment Conversion of the Jailer and His Family

Background

And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a certain man of Macedonia

was standing and appealing to him, and saying, “Come over to

Macedonia and help us.” (Acts 16:9)

Highlights

Overview To update the church about his condition

1:12-26; 2:17-24 To explain why Epaphroditus had been sent back

2:25-30 To encourage and advise

[a] resist false doctrine3:2, 18-19

[b] overcome dissension in the ranks 1:27; 2:1-4, 14; 4:2-3

To express thanks for the church’s gift 4:10-20

Occasions

Eerdmans’ Handbook to the Bible; Elwell and Yarbrough, Encountering the New Testament

OverviewJoy The noun “joy” occurs seven times (1:4, 25; 2:2, 17, 18, 29; 4:1); the verb “rejoice” occurs nine times (1:18 [2x]; 2:17, 18, 28; 3:1; 4:4 [2x], 10).

1:1-11 Introductory Section 1:12-2:30 News and Instructions 3:1-21 Warnings Against False Teachings with Paul’s Experience

and Life as a Model to Follow4:1-9 Exhortations to Harmony, Joy and Mental Soundness 4:10-20 Gratitude Expressed for the Philippians’ Generosity 4:21-23 Conclusion

Theme

Outline

Gerald F. Hawthorne, Word Biblical Commentary

Content“For to me, to live is CHRIST, and to die is gain.” (1:21) SEE also 1:23; 3:4b-14. why Paul, despite hardships, could remain joyful: “through Christ”(4:11-13)

“possibly a quotation from an early hymn in praise of Christ”

Paul’s Obsession

Christ Hymn: 2:5-11

Eerdmans’ Handbook to the Bible

Elwell and Yarbrough, Encountering the New Testament

“This view first gained prominence in the 1920s. It is a plausible

theory since the passage has powerful poetic qualities, but hard

evidence for it is lacking.”

ContentThree-Step Christology (Doctrine of Christ)

2:6 2:7-8 2:9-11(SEE also the Gospel of John)

Pre-Existence

Crucifixion

Exaltation

Incarnation

Christ Hymn: 2:5-11

1

2

3

Two-Step Christology occurs in the

Synoptic Gospels.

1 Incarnation

2 Exaltation

Content“who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but EMPTIED Himself.”

Christ Hymn: 2:5-11

In 1889, Englishman Bishop Gore addressed the question, “To what does

emptying refer?” He reasoned that Jesus relinquished omnipresence,

omniscience, and omnipotence: relative attributes; however, Jesus retained

holiness, love, and truth: immanent attributes.

Kenosis Theory

Critique

Jesus was fully God and fully man.

“He did not cease to be what He essentially and eternally was.”Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words

ContentThe Greek verb , translated “empty,” means to give up or to lay aside what one possesses.

“The point, then, is that Christ does not selfishly exploit his divine form but lays it aside to take the form of a servant.”

“Instead, he gave up his divine privileges.” (New Living Translation)

Christ Hymn: 2:5-11

Commentary

Theological Dictionary of the New Testament

“What did the Logos [Word] lay aside? His essential divine nature? No. His

glory? Yes. His prerogatives? Yes. His privileges? Yes. He lived in the form of a

servant as a man. He lived a self-limited life. Jesus could have ‘pulled rank’ as

God, but He did not.”Larry Garner and Ivan Parke, Reclaiming the Real Jesus

ContentThree Phases of Salvation

MOMENT PROCESS MOMENT “I am saved.” “I am being saved.” “I will be saved.”Born Again Growth/Maturity 1 Corinthians 15:50-58

What God does What God and I do What God does

“He who began a good work “Work out your salvation “The Lord Jesus Christ;

in you.” (1:6) with fear and trembling; who will transform the bodyfor it is God who is at work of our humble state intoin you, both to will and to conformity with the body ofwork for his good pleasure.” his glory.” (3:20-21)(2:12-13)

Sanctification: 2:12-13

JUSTIFICATION SANCTIFICATION GLORIFICATION