STUDY OF PHILIPPIANS An Epistle of Joy in Christ September – November 2015

“ ” THE APOSTLE PAUL DID NOT WRITE PHILIPPIANS IN RESPONSE TO A CRISIS, AS HE DID WITH GALATIANS AND COLOSSIANS. INSTEAD, HE WROTE TO EXPRESS HIS APPRECIATION AND AFFECTION FOR THE PHILIPPIAN BELIEVERS … PAUL’S AFFECTION FOR THESE PEOPLE IS CLEAR THROUGHOUT THE LETTER AS HE ENCOURAGED THEM TO LIVE OUT THEIR FAITH IN JOY AND UNITY. Charles Swindoll A Letter of Commendation and Encouragement

WHO?  Apostle Paul, written during his 1 st imprisonment in Rome  1 of 4 Prison Epistles (Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon)  Written around AD 61 (imprisonment circa AD )  Important to keep in mind when studying the book: Paul’s circumstances and mindset as he writes this letter

TO WHOM?  Philippian church – 1 st one founded by Paul in Europe on his 2 nd missionary journey (Acts 16)  Roman colony, part of Roman province of Macedonia – sense of pride for the Philippians  Personal letter, indicating a warm and close relationship with Paul  Church loved by Paul, always on his heart and in his prayers

WHY?  Take a united stand in the Truth and in the work of the Gospel  Themes of Philippians: Thanksgiving for their gift and for their partaking in the Gospel Joy in Christ for believers Exhortation for unity in the fellowship Warning against false teachers  Key verse: Living the Christian life (Phil. 1:21 – “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”)

RUINS OF PHILIPPI, MODERN DAY GREECE

1 Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, 5 in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. 7 For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me. 8 For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; 11 having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

“ ” MOST PEOPLE DEFINE HAPPINESS AS AN ATTITUDE OF SATISFACTION OR DELIGHT BASED ON POSITIVE CIRCUMSTANCES LARGELY BEYOND THEIR CONTROL... SPIRITUAL JOY, ON THE OTHER HAND, IS NOT AN ATTITUDE DEPENDENT ON CHANCE OR CIRCUMSTANCES. IT IS THE DEEP AND ABIDING CONFIDENCE THAT, REGARDLESS OF ONE’S CIRCUMSTANCES IN LIFE, ALL IS WELL BETWEEN THE BELIEVER AND THE LORD. John MacArthur Christ, the True Source of Joy

HOMEWORK FOR NEXT WEEK Read and study Philippians 1:12-30