Summary Notes on Philippians Author Paul, with Timothy [1.1] Devoted to Christ Believers [both; 3.3, 15; 20-21] View selves as slaves of Christ [both; 1.1]; gave up everything for Christ [Paul; 3.7-8]; Timothy has proven worth through his service with Paul [as Paul s emissary] for the gospel [2.22] An Apostle, appointed [by God? council of Jerusalem?] for the defense of the gospel [Paul; 1.16] Presses on for spiritual growth and ministry effectiveness [Paul; 3.14] Rejoices when Christ is proclaimed, regardless of how the preachers feel about him [Paul; 1.18] Rejoices in work for Christ, regardless of circumstances and personal consequences [Paul; 2.16-17] Paul s Circumstances Paul in prison [1.7, 13-14, 17], for cause of Christ [1.13], in Rome [1.13; 4.22] Ministering while in prison, with good success [1.12-14] Learned to be content with what God gave him [4.11-13] Properly circumcised, as Israelite from Benjamin; was a Pharisee; was a persecutor of the church; was blameless according to the Law [3.5-6] Mistreated by non-believers while in Philippi [1.30; persecuted, beaten, jailed, see background] Relationships Knows readers personally [1.3; 2.12]; very personal letter Thankful for readers, prays for them [1.3-4]; longs to be with readers and has affection for them [1.8; 4.1]; concerned for the readers [2.28] Trusts will be with readers again [1.25-26; 2.24] Rejoices that readers support him [4.10]; now amply supplied [4.18]; glad for blessings building for them due to their giving [4.17] Hopes to send them Timothy soon so he may hear from Timothy of their condition [2.19, 23] Sent Epaphroditus [with this letter?] to them [2.25, 28]; values Epaphroditus [2.27] Feels abandoned by most close disciples other than Timothy [2.20-21] Readers Believers in Philippi [1.1; 3.3, 15, 20-21]; including overseers and deacons [1.1] generally obedient [2.12] Supportive of Paul and his gospel they have participated in the gospel consistently since rebirth [1.5], sharing the burden of defending and confirming the gospel [1.7]; only church that supported Paul after he left Macedonia [4.15-16]; sent Epaphroditus to Paul to minister to him in prison [1.7; 2.25; 4.10, 14, 18] know of Paul s sufferings [saw them] and now sharing those sufferings [1.29-30] Euodia and Syntyche now not supportive? or contentious? [4.2] Relationships were upset to know Epaphroditus was ill [2.26]; loved by Epaphroditus [2.26] receiving greetings from other believers with Paul, including those of Caesar s household [4.21-22] know of Timothy and Paul s work for the gospel [2.22] know Paul personally [1.3; 2.12]; pray for him [1.19] Groben Summary Notes on Philippians p.1
Good Theology Sources Apostolic Authority [ appointed ; 1.16] Old Testament [2.10] Christ s gospel [1.5, 7, 12, 16, 27; 2.22; 3.9-11; 4.3, 15] Righteousness is imputed by God s grace God and Christ are the source of grace and peace [1.2; 4.7, 9, 23] Peace comes from dependence on and devotion to God [emulating Paul in obedience], and guards hearts and minds in Christ [4.6-13] Righteousness comes through God s grace through faith in Christ, not by anything earthly, including works or following the Law [1.11; 3.7-11]; believers worship in Spirit, glory in Christ, and put no confidence in the flesh [3.3]. Salvation comes from God [1.28]; believers citizenship is in Heaven [3.20]; names in book of life [4.3] Experiential righteousness derives from grace righteousness Grace Righteousness + real knowledge and discernment leads to love and approval of what is right, which in turn leads to a blameless lifestyle [1.9-11] God will perfect his good work in believers until Christ returns [1.6; spread of gospel or sanctification?] God is at work in believers, to will and to work for his good pleasure [2.13; 3.15]; sanctification requires our cooperative effort toward experiential righteousness [3.12-14] Christ will return from Heaven and transform/glorify our bodies in his omnipotent power [3.20-21; 4.5] Encouragement, consolation, affection and compassion, and fellowship of the Spirit are available in the body of Christ [2.1] Deliverance does not preclude suffering as part of the Christian life Life and death are for exalting Christ [1.20-23] Christian life is faith plus willingness to suffer for Christ [1.29-30; 2.30; 3.7-8]; it is serving Christ [2.17, 21] and furthering gospel [2.22; 4.14-18]; such a life brings profit on account [4.17] and pleases God [4.18] knowing Christ in his sufferings and death goes with knowing Christ in his resurrection [3.10-11]. God will supply all our needs according to his riches in glory in Christ [4.19], empowering us to endure our sufferings [4.13]. Deliverance is to know and live for Christ and then go to Heaven when dead [1.19-24; 3.20]; deliverance and salvation are same word in Greek, so are Savior and Deliverer we have this deliverance, so we can rejoice even while suffering [1.18; 2.17, 28; 4.5] Christ is our example Christ was God and man [2.6-8] Christ was willing to be a humble and obedient servant, even to death on the cross, for the sake of the gospel mission [2.6-8] Because of Christ s humility, obedience, and servanthood, God exalted him, and so Jesus is the name above all others and all will bow [Isaiah 45:18-25], and every tongue will confess him as Lord [both God and master?] to God s glory [2.9-11; note that the quotation from Isaiah is God saying all will recognize him as God, the ruler and only savior]; glory is to God [4.20] Groben Summary Notes on Philippians p.2
Positive Commands [Note: what follows are the explicit commands, but since Paul wrote that they should adopt his ways, the theology of this letter becomes commands as well.] Antagonists: Beware of [3.2] but not alarmed by [1.28] Alarmed is pturovmenoi, which means frightened or intimidated. Beware is blevpete, from the verb meaning to see; it has the sense of be aware. The idea is that while they are not intimidated by the antagonists, they should be aware of their false ways and false doctrines. Self: Self: Believers: Believers: Leaders: Believe in Gospel, Defend Gospel, and Live Up to Gospel. Conduct selves in a manner worthy of the gospel, standing firm in unity for the gospel mission [1.27]; hold fast to the word of life [2.16]; prove self beyond reproach, appearing as lights in the world [2.15]; participate in the gospel mission [1.5, 7]; proclaim Christ [1.18] Be willing to suffer for the sake of the gospel [1.29-30] Work out effects of salvation with fear and trembling [2.12; 3.15]; live by the standard of righteousness to which they have attained [3.16]; dwell on the eternal things of God, what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, of good repute, excellence, worthy of praise [4.8]; do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit [2.3] Rejoice Rejoice always, despite any suffering and sacrifice, as Paul does [2.17-18; 3.1; 4.4] Rather than be anxious, pray and petition God with thanksgiving [4.6] Unity Work in unity for gospel mission [1.27; 2.2] Let gentle [cooperative] spirit be known to others [4.5]; do not grumble or dispute [2.14] Special for Eudoria and Syntyche: live in harmony in the Lord [4.2] Care/Humility In humility, regard one another as more important than selves [2.3]; look out for interests of others [2.4]; have Christ s attitude of humble and obedient service [2.5-8] Greet every believer in Christ [4.21] Follow and Serve Good Leaders: Receive Epaphroditus with joy [2.29]; hold men like Epaphroditus in high regard [2.29] Follow example of Paul and of those who walk in same pattern as Paul and Timothy, and stand firm in the Lord [3.17; 4.1]; practice what have learned from and seen in Paul [4.9]; continue supporting Paul in his gospel mission [4.10, 14, 17] Help Eudoria and Syntyche [4.3] Unbelievers: Share the Gospel [1.5-7, 18; 2.15] Groben Summary Notes on Philippians p.3
Antagonists [Note, the antagonists of the Philippians are not the people Paul mentions in 1.15-17; these people are preaching the correct gospel in Rome, and Paul rejoices over their work even if they seek to usurp him.] Non Believers Will face destruction [1.28; 3.19] Enemies of cross of Christ [3.18], evil workers [3.2] Crooked and perverse generation [2.15]; note that this term is used in the Bible to refer to Jews [Deuteronomy 32.5, 20; Acts 2.40]. Legalistic Called false circumcision [3.2; circumcision refers to Jews ] Seek righteousness from the Law [3.3-4, 9, 12-13, 19] Fleshly Called dogs [3.2] Appetite is their god, set mind on earthly things, brag about sins [3.19] It is possible there are two groups of antagonists: one Gentile group who is persecuting the church; the other Jewish and encouraging a righteousness found in the Law. There were not many Jews in Philippi at the founding of the church not even ten adult men, apparently, since no evident synagogue so it is hard to believe Jews could apply much pressure. However, we know supposedly Christian Judaizers traveled about and attacked other Pauline churches, so perhaps it was their legalistic doctrine working in conjunction with the Gentile persecution that brought pressure to the Philippians. Bad Theology Sources Flesh [2.3-4, 14-15, 21; 3.2-3, 19] Evil [2.14-15; 3.2, 18-19] Law [3.2, 9; misinterpreted] Self Righteousness Righteousness is derived from following Law [3.2-4, 9, 12-13] Deliverance is now Life is about and joy derived from fleshly success [3.2, 19] Paul s imprisonment is shameful; i.e. evidence of a curse [1.20] Antagonist s Commands Antagonists: Be intimidated by the antagonists [1.28]; alarmed is pturovmenoi, which means frightened or intimidated. Self: Be anxious [4.6; by needs or shortfalls] Believers: Disunity: grumble and dispute [2.14] Believers: Selfishness and pride [2.3]; look out merely for own interests [2.4] Leaders: Oppose Paul s gospel [3.18; inferred] Groben Summary Notes on Philippians p.4
Background and Corroboration On second missionary journey, Paul, Silas, Timothy, and Luke went to Philippi [Acts 16.10-13]. There was not a synagogue, so found the place of prayer by the river and led a woman [apparently Gentile] to Christ [Acts 16.13-14]. Her household came to Christ, all were baptized, and she hosted them at her house [Acts 16.15]. Paul cast out a spirit of divination from a slave girl [Acts 16.16-18]. This angered her owners, who foresaw their loss of profit by her [Acts 16.19]. They dragged the missionaries to the marketplace and put them before the authorities to accuse them of promoting improper ideas [Acts 16.19-21]. The crowd was against them, so the magistrates ordered them beaten with rods and then thrown in jail [Acts 16.22-24; 1 Thessalonians 2.2]. God provided an earthquake that freed all the prisoners, which led the jailer to attempt suicide [Acts 16.25-27], but Paul notified him that they were all still there, to which the jailer responded by asking how to be saved [Acts 16.28-30]. They explained the need for faith in Jesus, and he and his household believed, with the result that he bathed their wounds and fed them, and they baptized him and his family [Acts 16.31-34]. The magistrates sought to release the missionaries the next day [Acts 16.35-36], but Paul objected that as Roman citizens they deserved better [Acts 16.37]. This brought the magistrates begging for forgiveness and for the missionaries to leave the city [Acts 16.38-39]. The missionaries returned to Lydia s, encouraged the believers, and then left [Acts 16.40]. Paul and Timothy revisited Philippi on the third missionary journey [Acts 19.22; 20.6]. Based on the use of we in Acts, it seems Luke first travelled with Paul when he went to Philippi from Troas on the second missionary journey [Acts 16.10] and then stayed in Philippi until Paul came back [Acts 16.40; 20.6]. The names in Acts and Philippians are all Greek, suggesting the church was largely Gentile. Big Picture The Philippians previously had supported Paul and partnered with him in the gospel mission. Now, they were suffering persecution and Paul was in prison. Pressures from outside to abandon the Christian way of life [Gentiles] and to see suffering as evidence of God s curse because they were not living by the Jewish Law [Jews] were causing rifts within the church. People started to wonder if God was angry at them, judging them for having false theology. They saw Paul s suffering as possible evidence that God was judging him too. Their concern for Epaphroditus health was personal, but his premature death while serving Paul also would have furthered their theological concerns. Some of them began to doubt Paul s message of imputed righteousness and to consider the message of the Judaizers of righteousness earned through obedience to the Law of Israel. This led some of them to question whether they could continue supporting Paul in his mission. Paul wrote to counter the influence of both groups of antagonists. He said the Judaizing antagonists preached a false gospel out of a false theology that is fleshly, evil, and legalistic. The Philippians should be aware of what they say, but not intimidated by them. Instead, they should continue to hold fast to the true gospel, seek to live up to the righteousness they have been granted, and continue to encourage others to embrace Christ s gospel. Paul says true deliverance is in the gospel deliverance from death, sin, and judgment, and deliverance to life, grace righteousness and growing experiential righteousness, and intimacy with Christ. He encouraged them to see that they could rejoice in this deliverance regardless of their present suffering. Groben Summary Notes on Philippians p.5
Antagonists: unsaved, fleshly, legalistic [Jewish] Background: The Philippians faced Gentile persecution and their mentor, Paul, was in prison. The antagonists were pressuring them to see this suffering as evidence of God s displeasure because they were not following the Mosaic Law. Some in the church began to doubt their course of following Paul and of supporting and living by his gospel, which created disunity in the church. Paul wrote to correct their theological errors and point the way to righteous living. Author: Paul & Timothy; slaves of Christ; Paul ministering in prison uses Poor Theology: Self righteousness derived from the Law Deliverance is physical and present Suffering is evidence of a curse to pressure Reader: Believers in Philippi; know Authors; supportive of Paul and gospel to exhort Good Theology: uses Imputed righteousness by grace Sanctification a cooperative work of grace Deliverance is to know and live for Christ Suffering is a part of Christian life Christ is our example to act in the flesh, using Self to act on revelation, using Antagonist s Commands: Be anxious! Oppose Paul s gospel. Grumble and dispute; selfishly and pridefully look out for own interests. Be intimidated by antagonists. God Believers Antagonist Author s Commands: Rejoice! Believe, defend, and live up to the gospel. Work in unity for the gospel mission; humbly care for teammates. Beware of antagonists. Inference: oppose Paul and his kind, and his gospel. Others Follow and serve good leaders; share the gospel with non-believers. Groben Summary Notes on Philippians Chart