Paul

 suffered  the  loss  of  alap  things  and  counted  them  as  rubbish  “…
in  order  that  I  may  gain  Christ  and  be  found  in  him,  not  having  a  
righteousness  of  my  one  that  comes  from  the  law,  but  that  which  
comes  through  faith  in  Christ,  the  righteousness  from  God  that  
depends  on  faith—that  I  may  know  him  and  the  power  of  his  
resurrecKon,  and  may  share  his  sufferings,  becoming  like  him  in  his  
death,  that  by  any  means  possible  I  may  a/ain  the  resurrecKon  from  
the  dead.”    
(Philippians  3:8-­‐11)  

Genre/Subject  Ma/er:  
PHILIPPIANS 47
This  is  one  of  the  four  le8ers  Paul  wrote  while  in  prison  (1:13).  The  other  three   LESSON
le8ers  are  Ephesians,  Colossians,  and  Philemon.  
He  reassures  the  saints  in  Philippi  that  his  imprisonment  worked  for  the  good  of  
emboldening  others  to  speak  the  word  without  fear  (1:14).  He  knows  that  some  
are  preaching  Christ  out  of  faulty  moGves,  but  Paul  rejoices  that  Christ  is  sGll  being  
proclaimed.  While  “suffering”  is  a  predominant  theme  in  the  le8er,  “Joy”  and  
“rejoicing”  are  recurring  themes  as  well.  
Paul  is  looking  to  the  saints  in  Philippi  for  comfort  and  joy.  And  the  only  way  they  
can  comfort  him  is  to  let  their  manner  of  life  be  worthy  of  the  gospel  of  Christ  
(1:27).  He  sets  before  them  four  examples:  Christ  (2:1-­‐11),  himself  (2:12-­‐18,  and  
Chap.  3),  Timothy  (2:19-­‐24),  and  Epaphroditus  (2:25-­‐29).  
Outline:  
  Philippians  1     Paul’s  Prayer  and  Joy   Historical  Note:  
  Philippians  2     Have  This  Mind  in  You   “Paul  wrote  this  le8er  from  
  Philippians  3     The  Supremacy  of  Knowing  Christ   prison  in  Rome  (probably  
  Philippians  4     Final  ExhortaGons about  A.D.  61)  to  the  
church  in  Philippi  to  thank  
H.  C.  G.  Moule:  
them  for  a  gi2.  Paul  
“Looking  at  the  other  epistles,  each  with  its  own  divine  and  also  deeply  human   reported  the  joyful  news  
characterisGcs,  we  find  Philippians  more  peaceful  than  GalaGans,  more  personal   that  Epaphroditus,  who  
and  affecGonate  than  Ephesians,  less  anxiously  controversial  than  Colossians,   had  brought  their  gi2  to  
more  deliberate  and  symmetrical  than  Thessalonians,  and  of  course  larger  in  its   Paul,  had  recovered  from  
applicaGons  than  the  personal  messages  to  Timothy,  Titus,  and  Philemon”  (Ryken’s   his  illness  and  was  
Bible  Handbook,  p.  541). returning  to  Philippi”  (ESV  
For  more  materials  go  to:  www.turningointso2hebible.com Notes).