Calvary Chapel of El Cajon Women s Bible Studies PHILIPPIANS - OVERVIEW AND BACKGROUND Lesson 1 The book of Philippians is an epistle of joy and encouragement in the midst of adverse and unpredictable circumstances. It is a book that reminds us of what is available to all believers and how we can experience what God has provided for us. Do you want joy? Study Philippians. Do you want peace? Study Philippians. Do you want to walk in the victory of having the mind of Christ? Study Philippians. Do you want to know Jesus? Study Philippians. This little book of four chapters is packed with tools for victorious Christian living. In this week's lesson we will be doing an overview of Philippians. We want to get an overall picture of the whole book before we begin to dissect it paragraph by paragraph. The overview will help us to establish a framework for the book and enable us to better understand how all the pieces fit. In understanding the whole book, we can better understand each part and not misinterpret what was written. This week's homework may at times seem tedious, as you will be asked to read Philippians several times. Do not be weary, as you will reap great benefits as you glean a different insight each time you read. May the Lord richly bless you as you study the treasury of truths contained in this book. DAY ONE AND DAY TWO: 1. Using the Observation Worksheets, read as you would a letter that had just come in the mail, the entire book of Philippians. Record your first thoughts or impressions. 2. Read through Philippians again. This time concentrate on what the text tells you about the author. Mark each reference to the author on your observation worksheet. Be sure to mark each personal pronoun that refers to the author such as I, me, my, etc. Record what you discovered: Who (is the author)? What (did you learn about him)?
When (was he writing)? Where (was he writing from)? What was your impression of the author? (from reading this letter, how would you describe him to someone?) 3. Read through Philippians again looking for information about the recipients (who the letter was written to). Mark each reference to the recipients, including any related personal pronouns such as you and your. Who (were the recipients)? What (were they like)? Where (were they)? What makes the difference is not how many times you have been through the Bible, but how many times and how thoroughly the Bible has been through you. - G. Smith DAY THREE AND FOUR: 1. Your assignment for today will be to look up and mark some of the key words of Philippians. A key word is a word which the author uses repeatedly or which when removed, takes the meaning from the text. Any reference to God is always a key word, but we will be marking them in other lessons. Mark the following key words: joy, rejoice mind, like-minded know, knowledge, confident gospel pray, prayer glory, exalted, magnified love 2
2. Key words help us to identify the general topics of a book. What are some of the things that Paul talks about or seems to want to get across in this letter? Read through Philippians again and record some of the subjects covered in this book. Note: using the key words will be helpful, but do not limit your findings to them. 3. Using the various topics you recorded above, what do you think is the main theme of the book (What is the most important subject or if someone asked you what Philippians was about, what would you tell them?). 3. Discovering the author's purpose in writing a book often helps us to better understand the author's message. Many times the author will state his purpose for writing a book. In the book of Philippians, however, the purpose is not clearly stated. Therefore, keeping in mind the general theme of Philippians, record the author's purpose on the Philippians At A Glance Chart provided on the last page of this lesson. Come, Holy Spirit, for moved by Thee the prophets wrote and spoke. Unlock the truth, Thyself the key, Unseal the Sacred Book. -John Calvin 3
DAY FIVE : 1. The remainder of this lesson will be spent completing the Philippians At A Glance Chart. The purpose of constructing this chart is to see how the different parts (chapters) relate to the whole (book). Read each chapter of Philippians and record the major subjects of each chapter on the left-hand side of the chart below. After you have recorded chapter themes, record the book theme. This may be what you discovered earlier in this lesson, or you may have seen Philippians differently as you have studied further. Themes Philippians Themes and Titles Chart Book Titles Chapter 1 2 3 4 2. Complete the right-hand side of the Themes and Titles Chart. A title is a theme that has been cleaned up and shortened to make a clearer statement. Following are some guidelines (not rules) for determining titles: a. Use a key word from the text b. Make it distinctive from the other titles c. Make it descriptive of what is in the chapter or book 3. Copy your book and chapter titles on to the Philippians At A Glance Chart. 4
Any single verse in the Bible, taken in isolation may actually be dangerous to your spiritual health. Every part of it must be read in relation to the whole message. DAY SIX: 1. Continue to fill in the blanks of the Philippians At A Glance Chart by recording the Author, the Key Words as provided in Day Three, and the Key Verse. The Key Verse should reflect the author's purpose of the book title. The Key Verse is the verse that you see as the main verse of the book of Philippians. 2. As you have read Philippians, you probably discovered that it is a book that can be titled in many different ways as it covers many different subjects. For example, each chapter contains instructions from Paul; each chapter reflects Paul's example or his character; and each chapter declares something about what God gives believers or does for us. The middle portion of the Philippians At A Glance Chart has been designed for you to title each chapter according to these themes. Record your titles on the chart. Challenge: Approach the book from a different aspect and record the titles you discovered on the bottom portion of the Philippians At A Glance Chart. 3. Reading Philippians probably provoked some questions for you. For example, What does it mean to Work Out Your Own Salvation? Record any questions that were raised as you read and studied. Hopefully, by the time we finish studying this book, you will be able to look back at this portion, having answers to your questions. Study this Book of the Law continually. Meditate on it day and night so you may be sure to obey all that is written in it. Only then will you succeed. -Joshua 1:8 May the Lord richly bless you as you continue to study this letter. May you discover joy and know His peace as you apply its truths. 5
PHILIPPIANS Observation Worksheet Chapter One 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. 3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 5 6 always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, 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; 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. 8 For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ. 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, 11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. 12 But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, 13 so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; 14 and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. 15 Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from good will: 16 The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; 6
17 but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice. 19 For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 20 according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. 24 Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. 25 And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith, 26 that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again. 27 Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God. 29 For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, 30 having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me. 7