Download introduction to the book of philippians

The Epistle of Joy
Author: It was written by Paul under house arrest
Date: A.D. 62 (ten years after the church’s
founding in A.D. 52)
 Location of writing: Rome (Acts 28.30)
 Purpose of the book: A thank you note from Paul
to the Philippians for their financial assistance
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But I have received everything in full and
have an abundance; I am amply supplied, having
received from Epaphroditus what you have sent,
a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, wellpleasing to God. Philippians 4
18
When the Philippians heard of Paul’s
imprisonment in Rome, they sent
Epaphroditus with a financial gift.
Epaphroditus becomes gravely ill but
through God’s mercy recovers. Paul sends
him back to the church of Philippi with
this letter in hand, what we know today as
the Book of Philippians.
Answer: The Prison Epistles
1. Ephesians
2. Philippians
3. Colossians
4. Philemon
Answer: When Paul was
near the end, when he felt
that he could no longer
fulfill his basic calling to
church plant, God works
through him to produce the
greatest height of spiritual
truth ever given to
mankind, the Prison
Epistles.
What is truly
unique about
Philippians in
comparison to
the other
epistles Paul
wrote?
Paul is not
writing to
admonish or
correct false
doctrine. It is a
warm friendly
letter.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Living out one’s life purpose in light of one’s
difficult personal circumstances
Practical advice based on solid theology on
how to have the mind of Christ
The knowledge, truth, and warnings
regarding how to be in righteous standing
with God.
The requirement to live in harmony with
fellow believers, the Lord, and yourself
Joy
Unity
Encouragement
Attitude (think)
Knowledge
What are the
candidates
for the most
favorite verse
or passage in
Philippians?
21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is
gain.
22 But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will
mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know
which to choose.
23 But I am hard-pressed from both
directions, having the desire to depart and
be with Christ, for that is very much better;
24 yet to remain on in the flesh is more
necessary for your sake.
3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but
with humility of mind regard one another as more
important than yourselves;
4 do not merely look out for your own personal
interests, but also for the interests of others.
5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in
Christ Jesus,
6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not
regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,
7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bondservant, and being made in the likeness of men.
8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view
of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my
Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things,
and count them but rubbish so that I may gain
Christ,
9 and may be found in Him, not having a
righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but
that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness
which comes from God on the basis of faith,
10 that I may know Him and the power of His
resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings,
being conformed to His death;
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will
say, rejoice!
5 Let your gentle spirit be known to all men.
The Lord is near.
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything
by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving
let your requests be made known to God.
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all
comprehension, will guard your hearts and
your minds in Christ Jesus.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Lydia
The Philippian jailer (Name not given)
Epaphroditus (2.25)
Euodia (4.2)
Syntyche (4.2)
The True Companion (Syzugus) (4.3)
Clement (4.3)
How was the Church of
Philippi planted?
Answer: By Paul and Silas in
Acts 16
At the end of Acts 15, Paul and Barnabas decide
to begin their second missionary journey
 Paul and Barnabas breakup over whether John
Mark goes with them
 In Acts 16.1-5, Paul recruits Timothy to make up
for the loss of Barnabas and John Mark. Silas
becomes second in command
 It is in this section that the infamous “we”
passages begin where Luke himself joins the
group. They begin in 16.10
 So we pick up in Acts 16.6-12 which describes
Paul’s itinerary
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Acts 16.6-10 – A basic spiritual truth is
that God often directs our lives while we
are on the journey rather than before we
start.
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Also, God’s plan was to evangelize Asia,
just not at this time.
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Apparently, timing is important to the
Lord
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Lydia appears to be a successful business
woman with means
A worshipper of God, not a Jewish proselyte
but a gentile who worshiped the true Lord
The Lord opened her heart to make sense of
what Paul was sharing
She and her household were immediately
baptized
She welcomed the missionary group into her
home
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Paul casts out the demon of a girl who was
able to foretell the future
The rub was she was a money making
machine for her pimp masters and they went
ballistic at the loss revenues
An irony of the situation is that the demon
was proclaiming the truth of the gospel. Like
Jesus, Paul wanted no part of the demon’s
proclamation. It would be like an
endorsement from Adolf Hitler.
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Paul ands Silas were beaten
The trumped up charge was that they were
teaching unlawful customs
Paul does not proclaim his Roman citizenship
at this time, but rather waits for an opportune
time
Perhaps the most remarkable incident in this
entire account is the team’s ability to be
singing Christians songs and praising God in
the midst of immense pain and persecution.
About midnight an earthquake hits the area giving an
opportunity for the prisoners to escape
 When the jailer sees this, knowing that Rome has a
zero tolerance for prisoner escape, prepares to take
his life but Paul stops him
 The jailer’s heart is open to the four spiritual laws and
receives Christ along with his household
 The next day the city authorities want Paul to leave
town, Paul declares his Roman citizenship frightening
them of their lack of due process. This may have
taken the heat off the new church’s beginnings.
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