Philippians 1
Outline:
I. \\1:1-2\\ Introduction
II. \\#Php 1:3-4:23\\ Paul’s Heart
A. \\#3-10\\ Paul’s Relationship to the Philippians
1. \\#3-5, 7-8\\ Paul’s Love for the Philippians
2. \\#6, 9-11\\ Paul’s Desire for the Philippians
B. \\#1:12-30\\ Paul’s Concern for the Philippians
1. \\#12-26\\ Paul wanted them to understand.
2. \\#27-30\\ Paul wanted them to stay strong.
I. \\#Php 1:1-2\\ Paul’s Introduction
A. Introductions are very important.
1. They give us the basic information that we would miss if
they were not there.
2. However, because the information is so basic, the
introductions are often ignored.
B. In the introduction,
1. \\#1\\ "Paul and Timotheus" or Timothy - We find that Paul
was not alone.
a. Timothy was not IN jail, but neither had he forsaken
his friend and mentor.
b. No doubt, that gave some comfort to Paul.
2. "at Philippi" - We also find to whom the letter was
written.
3. "bishops and deacons" - The church had grown stronger.
a. The church had BISHOPS and DEACONS.
(1) Bishops are pastors and associate pastors.
(2) Deacons are those who tend to the physical need
of the congregation.
b. These are not positions that are just handed out.
c. Spiritual growth and maturity are required and
indicates the church at Philippi was growing
stronger.
d. From the change in the pronouns in Acts,
\\#Acts 16:16, 17:1, 20:6\\, we surmise that Luke
stayed in Philippi—perhaps for several years—to
lead and to train the people inside the church.
e. By the time Paul wrote the letter, they had their own
leaders.
4. "to all the saints" - We learn what a SAINT is.
a. Because of the way an old and powerful religion uses
the word SAINT, some think a SAINT is a super
Christian.
b. He (or she) is not.
c. A saint is any Christian who will live a holy and pure
life.
5. \\#2\\ "Grace… peace" - We see the first step in having
peace.
a. Paul mentioned GRACE and PEACE.
(1) Grace is the work that God does.
(2) Peace is the absence of anxiety.
b. The first step in having peace is to let God do a work
on you.
c. There can be no peace unless God does.
II. \\#Php 1:3-30\\ Paul’s Heart
A. \\#3-11\\ Paul’s Relationship to the Philippians
1. \\#3-5, 7-8\\ Paul’s Love for the Philippians
Php 1:3 I thank my God upon every remembrance
of you,
4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all
making request with joy,
5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the
first day until now;
7 Even as it is meet for me to think this of you
all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as
both in my bonds, and in the defence and
confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers
of my grace.
8 For God is my record, how greatly I long after
you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.
a. Paul’s adamant adherence to the truth and to rebuking
those who would not obey it gave him a reputation
among some of being a hard-nosed—if not carnal—
preacher.
b. Paul acknowledged that some thought that about him.
2Corinthians 10:2 But I beseech you, that I may
not be bold when I am present… wherewith I think
to be bold against some, which think of us as if
we walked according to the flesh.
c. But Paul’s love and concern for these believers is
obvious.
(1) \\#3\\ Paul remembered the Philippians.
(2) \\#4\\ Paul joyfully prayed for them.
(3) \\#5\\ Paul had prayed for them since the first
day he met them.
(4) \\#7\\ Paul could do nothing less since they were
on his heart—especially in the way they had
stood with him.
(a) Paul mentioned "his grace."
(b) Generally speaking, grace is God working in
us and through us to accomplish His will.
(c) However, Paul was speaking of "his grace,"
the work he did for God, and he was
commending the Philippians for standing
with him, even while he was "in… bonds."
(d) This church had demonstrated their devotion
to Paul in several ways:
i. \\#5\\ While Paul had prayed for them
since the first day they met, they
had maintained "fellowship" with
Paul since that day.
ii. Paul said that again in chapter 4.
Php 4:14 Notwithstanding ye have well done, that
ye did communicate with my affliction.
iii. And they sent "things" and "gifts" to
Paul.
Php 4:18 But I have all, and abound: I am full,
having received of Epaphroditus the things which
were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell,
a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.
(5) \\#8\\ The relationship between the Philippians
and Paul was so strong that Paul "longed" after
them.
(a) Paul yearned, intensely craved, greatly
desired for them.
(b) "in the bowels of Jesus Christ." - Bowels
was a symbol of love to them like the heart
is a symbol of love to us.
d. But although the Philippian church was the exception
to the rule, Paul knew what it was to be forsaken by
Christians.
(1) The church feared Paul when he was first saved.
2Timothy 4:16 At my first answer no man stood
with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that
it may not be laid to their charge.
(2) By the time Paul wrote his last letter, most of
the churches and friends from Asia had forsaken
Paul.
2Timothy 1:15 This thou knowest, that all they
which are in Asia be turned away from me; of
whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.
(3) Even some who had been his closest fellow-
servants had turned away.
2Timothy 4:10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having
loved this present world, and is departed unto
Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto
Dalmatia.
e. All of this reminds us that whether we are the church
or the pastor, we cannot let our walk with Christ be
hindered by how others act or react to us.
2. \\#6, 9-10\\ Paul’s Desire for the Philippians
a. Paul desired that God would complete the work He had
begun in them.
Php 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that
he which hath begun a good work in you will
perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
(1) The Lord was no more finished working in the
lives of the Philippians than He is in us.
(a) Not in the work of salvation.
(b) Not in the work of transformation.
(c) Not in the work of glorification.
(d) Not in the work of our ministry.
(2) It is God’s duty to complete the work He has
begun, but it is our duty to let Him!
b. \\#9-10\\ Paul desired that the Philippians continue
their growth in Christ.
Php 1:9 And this I pray, that your love may
abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all
judgment;
10 That ye may approve things that are
excellent; that ye may be sincere and without
offence till the day of Christ;
(1) Paul mentioned three areas in particular.
(2) Paul wanted them…
(a) …to abound in love.
i. Paul’s prayer was not just that their
love would grow, but that it would
grow in knowledge and judgment.
ii. True love is not letting people do or
think what they want.
iii. True love is caring enough to know what
is true and to help our loved ones
stay within those boundaries.
(b) \\#10\\ …to approve the excellent.
i. Paul was not hoping they would find the
good or even the better things but the
best!
i1. Before a thing can be approved, it must
be tested.
iii. The only way to test to see if a thing
is excellent or not is to test it
against the Bible.
(c) …to be filled with righteousness.
i. To be filled is to be completely full.
ii. We are to be so full of righteousness
that there is no room for anything
else.
B. \\#1:12-30\\ Paul’s Concern for the Philippians
1. \\#12-26\\ Paul wanted them to understand.
a. \\#12-18\\ That his imprisonment would further the
gospel. That thought is revealed in \\#12\\.
(1) \\#13\\ Paul’s willingness to be bound for
Jesus is known in the palace and "in all other
places." That last phrase would have to mean
everywhere.
(2) \\#14\\ It has encouraged other "brethren" to
gain or increase in confidence so that they
now speak "without fear."
(a) \\#15\\ These are those who preach with
"good will" or good intentions. They
want the gospel to be heard and souls
saved.
(b) \\#17\\ They are also speaking the gospel
in love.
(3) \\#15\\ But some are speaking about the Christ
with "envy and strife."
(a) \\#16\\ These hope to "add affliction to"
Paul’s problems.
(b) \\#18\\ But Paul did not care for whatever
their motive, "Christ is preached!"
(c) Instead, we was and would rejoice.
b. \\#19-26\\ That he cannot loose.
(1) \\#19\\ "I know that this shall turn to my
salvation"
(a) Paul fully expected a salvation.
i. The word "salvation" means a
deliverance or rescue, whether
physical or spiritual.
ii. "through your prayer" - Paul
wanted, needed, and expected his
friends to be praying for him in
this situation. He knew those
prayers would help influence what
God allowed to happen.
iii. "the supply of the Spirit" - Paul
relied on God’s Holy Spirit to
deliver him, knowing God would
supply whatever of His presence
and power was needed.
(b) Based on the remainder of what Paul said
in this section, Paul did not expect to
be in prison much longer for he knew God
would deliver him—either by releasing
him from prison to return to his ministry
or by death.
i. \\#20\\ "by life or by death"
ii. \\#21\\ "to live… to die"
iii. \\#22\\"what I… choose, I wot
not."
iv. \\#23\\ "I am in a strait betwixt
two"
v. \\#23-24\\ "be with Christ… abide
in the flesh"
(c) \\#25\\ "I know that I shall abide and
continue with you"
i. However, Paul has some confidence
that his ministry was not over yet
and that God would release him from
prison to return to his ministry.
ii. I do not know for certain, but I
believe it was Paul’s expectation
of deliverance that has caused some
to think that he was released to
continue his ministry for a time
before being rearrested and
executed; however, even the
remainder of these verses shows
that Paul was not certain of being
released.
iii. But Paul believed he might be
released because it would be in the
best interest of the believers for
him to continue.
aa. "for your furtherance and joy"
bb. \\#26\\ "That your rejoicing
may be more abundant"
2. \\#27-30\\ "Only, let your…." - Paul wanted them to
stay strong.
a. \\#27\\ "let your conversation be as it becometh the
gospel" - Paul wanted them to live lives that
reflected what the gospel had done with them.
(1) "that whether I come… or be absent" - Paul
had some confidence he would be delivered,
but knew it was possible he would never see
these friends again—and as far as we know,
he did not.
(2) "ye stand fast"
(a) Paul wanted to know that this church was
firm and faithful in the faith.
(b) Paul will first mention some
characteristics here that he will repeat
several times through this book.
i. "in one spirit"
ii. "with one mind"
iii. "striving together for the faith"
(c) They all refer to a unity, a oneness in
mind and in actions.
(d) It will become apparent that Paul strongly
desired the body of Christ be united.
(e) This may have been, at least in part,
because there was some discord between
some people within the church
\\#Php 4:2\\.
b. \\#28-30\\ "And in nothing be terrified by your
adversaries"
(1) \\#28\\ "And in nothing"
(a) Do not let those who are against us
terrify us for any reason.
(b) Paul gave this counsel while his
adversaries exercised some very real
power over him.
(c) "which is… an evident token of perdition"
Our courage is a token to them of THEIR
judgment (perdition).
(d) "but to you of salvation" - And that same
courage is a sign to us of our salvation.
(2) \\#29\\ "it is given in the behalf of Christ…
to suffer for his sake"
(a) Contrary to what we might think, suffering
and dying for Christ is not a curse of
our salvation but an glorious honor.
(b) This isn’t just Paul’s thought, but Jesus
said it first.
Matt 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile
you, and persecute you, and shall say all
manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great
is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they
the prophets which were before you.
(c) There are rewards which can only come by
suffering at the ends of Christ’s
adversaries.
(3) \\#30\\ "Having the same conflict which ye saw
in me" - Paul had demonstrated by example that
truth.
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