1 Christ In The Church Lesson 2 Paul’s Greetings to the Philippians Pages 6-9 Philippians

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3. Old Philippi Map of Greece today

4 Why Did Paul Write to the Philippians?  One of their members, Epaphroditus, was visiting and working with Paul in Rome  He was their messenger  No doubt he gave Paul a status report on the church  He brought a gift from the church  Paul wanted to share his joy for them  He needed to express his appreciation for the gift  To thank them for sharing in his tribulations  They had helped him from their beginning  He wanted them to remain faithful – to stand fast  He warned them of false teachers  He encouraged them to press toward the mark of the high calling of God, just as he was doing

5 Paul’s Greetings to the Philippians Philippians 1:1-2  The Greetings:  From Paul, a prisoner in Rome  He does not refer to himself as an “apostle”  He was a “servant” of Jesus Christ to them  From Timothy  In Rome, but he planned to visit Philippi soon (2:19)  He was as “a son” to Paul in preaching the gospel (2:22)  He was with Paul and Silas on their first visit to Philippi (Acts 16:3) when the church was established 1 Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

6 Paul’s Greetings to the Philippians Philippians 1:1-2 1 Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. The Recipients:  “All the Saints”  “Elders”  “Deacons”  A simple organization of Christians performing the work of the church in a local setting

7 Paul’s Greetings to the Philippians Philippians 1:1-2  The Greetings:  Grace to you  Paul desired the greatest of “favors” and blessings for them  And Peace  He desired a harmonious and tranquil state for their souls  Only God and Jesus Christ can offer true grace and peace 1 Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

8 Paul’s Thanksgivings for the Philippians Philippians 1:3  The Thanksgivings:  He had the fondest memories of them  He thanked God for these memories  The church was established on his first visit to them (Acts 16) and,  He visited them twice on his third missionary tour (Acts 20:1, 6) going to and from Greece  He had been honored by God to have the opportunity to preach in Philippi 3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy,

9 Paul’s Prayers for the Philippians Philippians 1:4  The Prayer:  He felt it was a privilege, a joy, to ask God for the many blessings he wanted for them  He was always making a request for them 3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy,

10 Paul’s Gratitude for Their Support Philippians 1:5  Their Fellowship in the gospel:  Fellowship is sharing with another  They shared their money with Paul – 15 Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. 16 For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. (4:15-16)  They shared even to the present time (4:18) 5 for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now,

11 Paul’s Gratitude for Their Support Philippians 1:5  Their Fellowship in the gospel:  There is little doubt that they shared in the collection of money for the poor saints in Jerusalem (Acts 20:1-6)  The group carrying the funds sailed from Philippi to Troas  Luke also joined them on this mission (See the “we” again in Acts 20:6)  They also shared by giving him moral support 5 for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now,

12 Paul’s Gratitude for Their Support Philippians 1:5  Their Fellowship in the gospel:  Paul had used them for an example of giving  In 2Cor. 8:5, the Macedonians could give so liberally for the poor saints in Jerusalem because “they first gave of themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God” 5 for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now,

13 Paul’s Confidence in Them Philippians 1:6  He had great confidence in them:  The good work that was begun in them by the Lord would continue as long as they lived  Other churches disappointed Paul, but not the Philippians  “The day of the Lord” refers to the coming of Christ at the judgment scene, or as long as they lived 6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

14 Paul Had Them in His Heart Philippians 1:7  They were partakers of Paul’s grace:  God’s grace always comes to those who do His work 10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. (1Pet. 4:10, 11) 7 just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace.

15 Paul Had Them in His Heart Philippians 1:7  They were partakers of Paul’s grace:  Paul and the Philippians shared in two kinds of work  The defense and confirmation of the gospel  Wearing the chains of a Roman prison The Philippians Christians were not ashamed to be identified with this prisoner 7 just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace.

16 Paul Had Them in His Heart Philippians 1:8  He greatly longed for them:  “God is my witness” means that God knew what was in his heart  He was telling them the truth from his heart  Paul longed [to desire earnestly] after the brethren in Philippi with the same tender affection that Jesus showed his disciples  8 For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.

17 More Prayerful Requests For Them Philippians 1:9-10  He prayed:  That their love may abound more and more in:  Knowledge [facts about worthiness]  Discernment [reaching sound conclusions from known facts] 9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, 10 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ,

18 More Prayerful Requests For Them Philippians 1:9-10  He prayed:  That they would approve excellent things  “Approve” is to try or test by the scriptural standard of right and wrong  “Excellent things” are things that differ from others for the better  Those things which are approved for us by the Lord 9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, 10 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ,

19 More Prayerful Requests For Them Philippians 1:9-10  He prayed:  That they would be sincere and without offense  Some versions say, pure and blameless  Paul wanted them to neither offend God nor their neighbors  “Till the day of Christ”  When Christ comes to judge the world, or when you are called away from this earth 9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, 10 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ,

20 More Prayerful Requests For Them Philippians 1:11  He prayed:  That they might be filled with the fruits of righteousness 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. (Gal. 5:22-23)  These same fruits are provided by Jesus Christ 11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.