Have you ever wondered what Paul meant when he told the Philippians that his life was being poured out as a drink offering? Lets back up to the end of chapter 1 to see what this word is there for. Though we all have much to be thankful for, the pace and the pressure of life often squeeze the joy from us. But during his time in Rome, Epaphroditus took ill, which delayed his return home and, therefore, the delivery of the letter (2:2627). Pauline Epistles TIME AND PLACE OF WRITING: Philippians is one of Paul's four "prison epistles" (Phl 1:7,13,17; cf. Paul preached that salvation comes through the death of Christ on the cross which redeemed sinners from death and for a grace-filled life. The source of his joyous contentment was rooted in knowing Jesus Christ : , then verse 2-4 describe the proper response and how that belief should have motivated them to love each other. As we gaze upon the meaning behind these verses we see that Christ maintained an attitude of humility and love. Recognizing the value of consistent reflection upon the Word of God in order to refocus one's mind and heart upon Christ and His Gospel of peace, we provide several reading plans designed to cover the entire Bible in a year. Section 2: Pauls Imprisonment 1:12-26 Step Two: Look for the Literary Devices The New Testament letters are ancient works of literature. -To tell them that Epaphroditus had recovered from his dangerous illness.
We are going to look at three helpful steps for reading the epistles. in the resource materials are not necessarily affirmed, in total, by this ministry.
Verse 2:6: Though he was in the form of God, he didnt consider equality with God something to be grasped., B Jesus Service to Others. Verse 2:10: so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, A2 Jesus Gives Glory to God. These two centers of the letter call the Philippians from lives of self-centeredness to experience the gift of life centered in ones identity in Christ. 2:511), an invincible hope is given to all Christians everywhere, whatever we are facing. Paul wrote his letter to the Philippians while in prison, probably in Rome. You can learn more about each of these types of repetition with our How to Read the Bible series. We must allow our choices and behavior to be motivated by our faith in our Savior and by His example of love and humility. THE CITY OF PHILIPPI: Named after Philip of Macedonia, the father of Alexander the Great, it was a major city of Macedonia on the road from Rome to Asia known as the Egnatian Way. As we gaze upon the meaning behind these verses we see that Christ maintained an attitude of humility and love. In all of this it is the gospel that fuels such self-giving. conservative Christian faith, which includes a firm belief in the inerrancy (Hint: these themes are all condensed in the amazing Jesus poem in chapter 2). Jesus is the supreme example of this way of life. in which Antony and Octavius defeated Brutus and Cassius. 29 Receive him then in the Lord with all joy, and hold people like him in high regard, 30 because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to compensate for your absence in your service to me. As we reflect on the lessons and implications of Philippians, let us briefly consider the context in which this letter was originally written. Here are the main points of the humility of Christ: For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich. (NKJV). 1 Greeting Thanksgiving Prayer For Spiritual Maturity The Progress Of The Gospel Stand Firm For The Gospel Living Is Christ To Live Is Christ Paul Honors Christ Whether He Lives Or Dies Paul's Life For Christ Ch. The girls proclamation was in no way an expression of her salvation, but it would have confused the crowds. Instagram:@RhondaStoppeTwitter:@RhondaStoppeFB Page:Rhonda Stoppe No Regrets WomanYouTube:Rhonda Stoppe No Regrets Woman, Bonus: Watch & Share this video of Rhonda Stoppe sharing the gospel message. (, Concluding Encouragement and Thanksgiving (.
3:20). Christian race The Christian life compared to a foot-race Pressing toward the goal. God gives us the desire and the ability to work out what He has worked in us through Christ! If we keep reading this passage, we see why its important to do all things without this kind of grumbling and disputing. Pentateuch As we gaze upon the meaning behind these verses we see that Christ maintained an attitude of humility and love. As children of God, we should not allow our circumstances to determine how we are going to treat others. Philippians brims over with often quoted passages: He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6), To live is Christ and to die is gain (1:21), and I can do all things through Him who strengthens me (4:13) are just a few. Certainly his letters are inspirational, but sometimes we can find ourselves neglecting the larger context or, worse, pulling a verse out of context. Lets go through and summarize Philippians chapter 2 verse by verse. Because she was a known fortune teller. range of evangelical traditions, all of the ideas and principles conveyed Section 1: Opening Prayer 1:1-11 This section begins with a greeting and ends with a prayer that introduces Pauls main themes. There may have also been a problem at Philippi involving two women, for Paul has a few words to say concerning them (Phl 4:2-3). 21 For they all seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus. Paul encourages the Philippians to live as citizens of a heavenly city, growing in their commitment to serve God and one another. Minor Prophets One literary device in particular stands out when we are trying to understand the literary meanings in Philippiansthe chiasm. Whatever happenspersonally, politically, economicallyGod has freely granted to those who trust in Christ a righteousness that is not dependent on their obedience but on Christ (3:9). Gossip, slander, envy, disunity, laziness, grumbling, and simply the ongoing temptations and failings of believers all take their toll on the church and the churchs witness around the world. Jesus life plotted the path for the return journey that all his followers get to take: give yourself away to be found in God, humble yourself and God will exalt you, die to yourself in order to find true life. Note: MLA no longer requires the URL as part of their citation standard. Yet at the climax of history God sent forth another head for mankind, his own Son. At that time Christ will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body (3:21).
Notice the contrast in these verses. Historical Books He tells the Philippians that he will be glad to be poured out as a drink offering if it will strengthen their faith (2:17). of Scripture. In order to have the form, or attributes, of God, He must be God. Of the four Prison Epistles, Paul likely wrote Philippians last, near the end of his Roman imprisonment in AD 61 or 62. Seeing Pauls ideas in their literary context deepens the meaning of what he is saying, connecting them to the deeper reality of what God accomplished in Jesus. in theology from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and if there was such a thing as a card-carrying Bible nerd, he would hold one of those too. Pauls letter to the Philippians has some of the greatest hits verses of the New Testament: He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ. (Philippians 1:6) The word joy has a rich meaning in Philippians. 1:1218 ). Philippi was the site of a key military victory by Augustus Caesar, and as a result it was made a Roman colony. Assurance that Jesus strengthens and preserves us in all things and a desire to share the love of God with all he encountered move Paul to rejoice and give thanks even in the midst of challenging circumstances. Whatever our circumstances, whether we are rich or poor, comfortable or afflicted, we are called to rejoice in God (4:1013). Pauls picture of Jesus Christ as a humble servant serves as the core of this letter, laying the foundation for the major teachings that follow. Rhonda ministers alongside her husband Steve, who for 20 years has pastored First Baptist Church of Patterson, California. During this first stay in Philippihe later briefly visited the city on his third missionary journey (20:6)Paul brought to faith in Christ people who would form the core of the burgeoning congregation in the city. Chiasms have a symmetrical structure that can look like this: If we look for repetition, we can find a chiasm in Philippians 2:6-11 that tells the story of Jesus life, death, and resurrection in a poetic format. Paul charges the congregation to be reconciled with one another, and the Holy Spirit, so the grace of God can manifest itself to all mankind. God gives us the desire and the ability to, Philippians 2:14-15 Explained Do All Things Without Grumbling, grumbling: goggysmos murmur, a secret debate, a secret displeasure not openly avowed, the cooing of doves, Disputing: dialogismos internal consideration, imagination, cast together in the mind, bringing pieces together to form, Makes us appear as lights in a crooked and perverse world, Philippians 2:16-17 Explained Poured Out As A Drink Offering, Drink offering spendo: to pour out as a libation. Paul himself says that he is content even with imprisonment as long as Christ is lifted up ( Phil. 2023 Christianity.com. Because of what Christ has done, believers worldwide are invited into the practice of joyful self-giving that marked Christs own life. Paul sent the other three Prison EpistlesEphesians, Colossians, and Philemonby the hand of Tychicus, as their destinations were near one another. The answer for our troubled world lies not in politics, possessions or power. C2 Jesus Exaltation. 19 But I hope, in the Lord Jesus, to send Timothy to you shortly, so that I also may be encouraged when I learn of your condition. Distressed because Philippians heard he was sick, Sent back by Paul to the Philippians to be received with joy, A man of high regard / honor who risked his life in service, Summary of Philippians Chapter 2: Final Thoughts, 6 Inspiring Bible Verses About New Beginnings. WebTHEME OF THE EPISTLE: Throughout this short and rather personal epistle, one keynote resounds again and again. Themes: Hardship, service, death, love. Pauls central theme is to unify the church while rejoicing and giving thanks to God for all things. 3:89). Paul's love for Jesus and for the Philippian church is infectious. Suffering because of Jesus is a way of living out the Gospel. WebPhilippiansMajor Themes Ch. Explore Career Opportunites and Apply Here, BibleProject Resources in 55+ languages and counting, D: The center of the chiasm is often a really important idea. Prophets The first Philippian church likely met in her home. Mature Christians can also serve as role models (, Suffering will come, but Christians can still be joyful (, Prayer is crucial for maintaining a joyful Christian life (, Christians can enjoy rich relationships with one another; they can be united in service to promote the gospel (, Keeping the law cannot provide a right standing with God; believers are saved only through their faith in Jesus Christ (, Jesus is fully God and fully man.
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WebTheme Paul encourages the Philippians to live as citizens of a heavenly city, growing in their commitment to serve God and one another. The first thing we should notice is the word therefore. As the Old Testament unfolds, however, we see that Adam failed to do this, as did all those who followed him. Weve created videos for each of the New Testament letters (and the rest of the Bible) that focus on the structure, main ideas, and key points in the lettersall in an easy visual format. Perfect God. The gospel will grow as we display joy, a joy that is unconquerable whatever the circumstances. What does it mean to have the mind of Christ? To continue finding the structure, pay attention to any changes of topic that mark new sections and ask yourself how each idea relates to what came before and what came after. 9 For this reason also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.