1. 21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Philippians 1:21 (NKJV)
  21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 

2. Knowing God’s Word
Philippians

3. Knowing God’s Word
Last week we looked at Ephesians, a letter Paul wrote to churches around Ephesus to encourage & instruct
This week we move onto the book of Philippians
Philippians is the 11th book in the NT and is the 6th of the Pauline Epistles (Romans through Philemon)

4. Knowing God’s Word Paul is the author of the book of Philippians (1:1)
Paul wrote this letter as one of his four “Prison Epistles” when he was imprisoned in Rome
This would place it at a later date, putting it at around AD

5. Knowing God’s Word
Philippi was a city in Macedonia named after Philip of Macedonia (father of Alexander the Great)
It was on the road from Rome to Asia known as the Egnatian Way
It was most famous in Roman history as the battle site in 42 BC where Antony & Octavius defeated Brutus & Cassius

7. Knowing God’s Word Philippi was also a seaport town, much like Ephesus
It was the first place in Europe to hear the gospel message preached
Paul first came to Philippi on his 2nd missionary journey, following the “Macedonian Call” (Acts 16:6-12)

8. Knowing God’s Word
We see those such as Lydia (Acts 16:13-15) and the Philippian jailer (Acts 16:25-34) who were converted on this trip
It appears this church later supported Paul (II Cor. 11:9; Phil. 4:15-16)
Paul returned to them again on his 3rd missionary journey (Acts 20:3, 6)

9. Knowing God’s Word Paul addresses several things in this book:
Thank them for their gift (4:10, 18)
Comfort them concerning his situation (1:12-14)
His plans to send Timothy (2:19-24)
His sending Epaphroditus (2:25-30)
Problem between Euodia & Syntyche (4:2-3)

10. Knowing God’s Word
One of the obvious themes of this epistle is simply “joy”
The word “joy”, “rejoice” or “glad” is found 16 times (NKJV)
One of the main verses in Philippians is 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!”

11. Knowing God’s Word Key Verses in Philippians: 1:3-6 1:12-14 1:21 2:5
2:12-13
3:12-14

12. Knowing God’s Word Key Verses in Philippians: 3:20-21 4:4 4:6-7 4:8
4:11-13
4:19

13. Knowing God’s Word Christ is our LIFE (Ch. 1)
Christ is our EXAMPLE (Ch. 2)
Christ is our GOAL (Ch. 3)
Christ is our SOURCE OF JOY (Ch. 4)