“Gospel-Joy”

Jonathan Edwards: “God’s purpose for my life was that I have a passion for God’s glory and that I have a passion for my joy in that glory, and that these two are one passion.”

Epistle to the Philippians Series: Epistle to the Philippians

“Sanctify them by your truth. Your word is truth.” John 17:17: “Sanctify them by your truth. Your word is truth.”

EBC Core Values Scripture “We deeply value the accurate, clear, and practical teaching of the inspired Word of God, the Holy Bible, in all the ministries of the church in order that it might be clearly understood, fully believed, and authentically lived. The first consideration in any decision we make is what God has revealed in the Scriptures.”

Mark Dever: “The most important distinguishing mark of a healthy church is expositional preaching. It is the most important because careful and thorough preaching of God’s Word will bring many other blessings to a church. Without expository preaching, other signs of health may be accidental. They may be discarded or distorted all too easily because they did not spring from the Word, nor are they continually being reshaped and refreshed by it. But if you establish the priority of the Word, then you have in place the single most important aspect of the church’s life…

“…With the Word established, a church may experience growing health; without the Word, a church’s health is imperiled.” - Mark Dever

1:3-5: “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.”

Background/Context: A. Author: - Paul (1:1) - Authorship Not disputed. - Language, style, and historical facts further confirm Paul’s authorship.

Acts 16:9-10: “And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.”

According to Acts 16… 1. Paul preached in Philippi. 2. Paul baptized Lydia, the purple dye merchant in Philippi. 3. Paul released a young girl from demon possession in Philippi. 4. All of this was done before being thrown in jail.

B. Date and Place of Writing: - Various viewpoints: - Rome (traditional view) - Ephesus - Caesarea

Paul writing during one of his imprisonments: 1:7: “It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.” 1:13: “It has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ.” 1:17: “The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment.”

Paul writing during his first Roman imprisonment; Act 28:16:   “And when we came into Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who guarded him.”

Why Philippians was written from Rome: 1. The length of time Paul was in Rome – 2 Years according to Acts 28:30. 2. Paul refers to the “Imperial guard” (1:13) and “Caesar’s household” (4:22), which suggests a very Roman setting. 3. Paul had continual success in his ministry at Philippi during his imprisonment, which correlates directly to Paul’s freedom to continue preaching during his confinement in Rome Acts 28:16-31.

Philippians was written at approximately A.D. 61

- Philippi originally known as “Krenides” or “The Little Fountains” C. The City of Philippi: - Philippi originally known as “Krenides” or “The Little Fountains” - Named after Philip of Macedon, the father of Alexander the Great - Philip of Macedon came to Krenides because of nearby gold mines; conquered the region around the 4th century B.C.

- The city would become apart of the Roman province of Macedonia C. The City of Philippi: - The city would become apart of the Roman province of Macedonia - Residents prided themselves in being citizens of Rome - “citizen’s of heaven” 3:20.

Philippi was a key city in the Roman empire because of its location. C. The City of Philippi: Philippi was a key city in the Roman empire because of its location.

D. The Church at Philippi - Paul had a long history with the church at Philippi, starting during his second missionary journey, but also extending during his third journey, to which he visited them twice according to 2 Corinthians 8:1-5 and Acts 20:5

D. The Church at Philippi - The church was a very generous church, having substantially supporting Paul in the past (4:15,16) as well as helping the needy at Jerusalem according the 2 Cor. 8:1-4.

D. The Church at Philippi - Philippi responded with generosity to Paul’s need, financially, but also by sending a man, by the name of, Epaphroditus. - Epaphroditus, according to 2:26-27, got terribly sick; “ill, near to death” - This led to Paul sending him back to Philippi, to bring this letter back with him.

E. The Purpose of Paul’s Letter to the Philippians 1. Paul wanted to express thanks to the church for supporting him both financially and spiritually (4:10-18) 2. Paul wanted to explain about Epaphroditus (2:25-27) 3. Paul wanted to make them aware of what was going on with him, during his imprisonment. (1:12-26) 4. Paul was writing to warn them about false teachers. (3:1-4:1).

Frank Gaebelein: “Of all the letters Paul wrote to churches, this one to the Philippians stands out as being the most personal. No sharp rebukes of the congregation mar its joyful spirit; no disturbing problems threaten the progress of the church. The warnings are of a cautionary and preventative nature that are always in order.”

1:21: “To live is Christ”

- “Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus” (1:1) - “Grace…and peace from God our father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (1:2) - “completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (1:6) - “yearn(s) for (them) with all of the affection of Jesus Christ” (1:8) - “the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God” (1:11)

- “emptied himself , taking on the form of a bond servant, and being made in the likeness of man” (2:7) - “eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (3:20) - “can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” (4:13) - “God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (4:19)

Martin Luther: “The heart overflows with gladness, and leaps and dances for the joy it has found in Christ. In this experience the Holy Spirit is active, and has taught us in the flash of a moment the deep secret of joy. You will have as much joy and laughter in life as you have faith in Christ.” 

“to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21: “to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”