Philippians
Chapters 1 & 2
Introduction
•Paul was in house arrest
approximately 2 years in
Rome –written 63 ad
•Purpose: report how he is
doing, encourage them
and challenge their unity
and humility, send
Timothy and
Epaphroditus to them,
and warn them against
the Judaizers.
The City of Philippi
•The city was named for Alexander
the Great’s father – Philip
•Everyone born there were
automatically given Roman
citizenship & many retired Roman
soldiers lived there
•Very small Jewish community –did
not have a synagogue
Philippians’ Characteristics:
(the book)
•No Old Testament quotes
•A Missionary “support letter”
•Identifies the vigorous
(aggressive) Christian life
•Letter of joy –16 times
•Kenosis –Christ emptying
Himself of His glory. Strong
Christology statement –Jesus
is God! (2:5-11)
Chapter 1
•V1-8 I really love you guys! I pray for you with love & joy!
I know He (Jesus) Who began a good work in you will
complete it! [v6]
•V9-11 My prayers for you: Your love grows more and more
in knowledge and depth of insight –able to discern
what is best and pure and blameless
You would be filled with the fruit of righteousness
that comes from Jesus and give glory and praise to
God the Father
Suffering is granted you…
V12-26 I am in prison for preaching Jesus (3rd time)
There are those who preach the gospel to compete with me
WHAT DOES IT MATTER? (Who cares!) People are getting
saved! Christ is being preached!
It doesn’t matter how He delivers me (beheaded)! For me
to live is Christ and to die is my gain!
SO, WHAT DOES IT MATTER?
You are citizens of heaven –live like it!
V29 -30 For it has been granted you on
behalf of Christ not only to
believe in Him but also to suffer
with Him, since you are going
through the same struggle you
saw I had and now hear that I
am still here!
1: 27
-30
Chapter 2 Same Attitude as Christ -
Humility
V1 –5 If being united with Jesus encourages you;
If His love comforts you;
If you sense His Christian family;
If you sense and experience His tenderness and compassion…
Then make my (Paul) joy complete –by humbling valuing others above
yourself by putting others’ interests before yours.
Have the same mind/attitude as Christ…
“Kenosis” statement picturing the Incarnation
“Jesus being in very nature of God, did not consider equality with God
something to be used to His own advantage; rather He made Himself
nothing by taking on the nature of a servant, being made in human
likeness, and being found in appearance as a human being, He humbled
Himself by becoming obedient to death –even death on a cross.
Therefore, God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the
Name above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should
bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every language
acknowledge the Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.”
Kenosis = emptying Himself of the Glory of God
•Shechinah = divine presence and essence (made of/who He is).
•John 1 says in the beginning was the Word of God and the Word
became human –this is Christ Jesus –fully God and fully human
•He became one of His own creations! Hebrew says with Christ all
things were created
•Jesus submitted Himself to death on the cross –He went from
humility to humiliation (the cross)
•That is why the Father has exalted Jesus and every knee will bow
before Him (Rev 20) and every language declare Jesus is Lord!
Vv 6 -
10
Work out your salvation!
•Continue to grow!
•Do everything without grumbling and arguing (v14) … you
will be blameless and shine like stars in the darkness!
•Hold on to His Word and I will know my work is not in vain
•I am poured out like a drink offering on sacrifice and service
–because you are growing to be like (same) Jesus
•I am glad and rejoice because of you!
Timothy and Epaphroditus
•Closes chapter 2 with comments about Timothy and
Epaphroditus
•Timothy –his spiritual son = this is very personal to Paul
•Epaphroditus –his coworker/colleague = from Philippi,
almost died preaching God’s word, ministered at Paul’s side
and dearly loved
Vv 19 -
30
What do we see…
•Paul’s love for Jesus lead to his great love and joy for
those whom God place in his (Paul’s) care. This is how you
judge your pastors and spiritual leaders… do they love?
•We get to suffer with and for Jesus like He did for us…
•We are citizens of heaven –act like it! Live worthy of His
name
•Jesus is God!
