THE BOOK OF PHILIPPIANS

From Beatings to Imprisonment: A Study in Joy | Lesson 2

1. Read Philippians 2:1,2. What is Paul asking the Philippians to do? 2. What do you think is meant by comfort of love? 3. What does the word fellowship mean? 4. Why do you think Paul mentions these things in this manner? 5. What is Paul calling for in verses 2,4? 6. What is the first step in church unity? 7. What is the second step in church unity? 8. What is the third step in church unity? 9. Read verse 5. What do you think is meant by this verse? 10. Read verse 6. What does this verse describe? 11. What is meant by: Jesus did not consider it robbery to be equal with God. 12. How is verse 7 significant?

13. How did Jesus empty Himself? 14. What did Jesus do next? Verse 8 15. How did God respond to Jesus being humble and obedient? Verse 9. 16. Do you think verse 10,11 implies universal salvation?
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17. How do you work out your own salvation? Verse 12 18. Why should we be fearful and trembling? 19. Why does God do what He does? 20. How are some ways that we can obey what Paul are is teaching here? Verses 14-16 21. Why should we do this? 22. What is meant by poured out like a drink offering in verses 17,18? 23. Why did Paul send Timothy to the Philippians? Verses 19-24 24. What titles does Paul give Epaphroditus? Verses25-27\ 25. Read verses 28-30. How were the Philippians supposed to received Epaphroditus?

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Who was Epaphroditus?

Epaphroditus was a fellow Christian missionary of St. Paul's and is mentioned only in Philippians 2:25 and 4:18. His name was a pagan one, meaning loved by Aphrodite, or in translation, charming.[1] The name corresponds to the Latin Venustus (= handsome), and was very common in the Roman period. "The name occurs very frequently in inscriptions both Greek and Latin, whether at full length Epaphroditus, or in its contracted form Epaphras."[2] Nevertheless, this individual must not be confused with the Epaphras of Col 1:7, 4:12 or Phlm 23.[3] Epaphroditus was the delegate of the Christian community at Philippi, sent with their gift to Paul during his first imprisonment at Rome or atEphesus.[4] Paul, in 2:25, calls him "my brother and fellow-worker and fellow-soldier." "The three words are arranged in an ascending scale: common sympathy, common work, common danger and toil and suffering."[5] He is described also as authoritative delegate (s, more than messenger, yet not an Apostle, although playing upon the idea of one sent on mission) from the Philippians to Paul (2:25). He was sent also as minister () to Paul's need (2:25), doing for Paul what the Philippian community was unable to do (2:30). The designation leitourgos derives from Greek civic use, indicating public servant, often one with financial resources to fulfill his functions, so Epaphroditus may have been not only an official of the Philippian church, but a person of means, able to supplement that community's gift to Paul (4:18).[6] On his arrival, Epaphroditus devoted himself to "the work of Christ," both as Paul's attendant and as his assistant in missionary work. So assiduously did he labor that he lost his health, and in the words of Paul:"he was ill, and almost died." He recovered, however, and Paul sent him back to Philippi with this letter to quiet the alarm of his friends, who had heard of his serious illness. Paul besought for him that the church should receive him with joy and 'honour men like him'(2:29). ~ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Docetism

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1. Read Philippians 2:1,2. What is Paul asking the Philippians to do?

He is drawing them into unity with each other. If there is any: This introduces the basis for Pauls exhortation to unity, humility and love among believers. The idea is that if the Philippian Christians have received the things he mentions, then they have a responsibility to do what he is about to describe.

2. What do you think is meant by comfort of love?

The word comfort in this passage is the ancient Greek word paraklesis. The idea behind this word for comfort in the New Testament is always more than soothing sympathy. It has the idea of strengthening, of helping, of making strong. The idea behind this word is communicated by the Latin word for comfort (fortis), which also means brave. The love of God in our loves makes us strong and makes us brave. Of course, there is comfort of love!

3. What does the word fellowship mean?

Fellowship is the ancient Greek word kononia. It means the sharing of things in common.

4. Why do you think Paul mentions these things in this manner?

Paul mentions these things in a manner that suggests to us that they should all be obvious parts of the Christians experience. To make his rhetorical point, he could have just as easily said, If water is wet, if fire is hot, if rocks are hard and so forth.

5. What is Paul calling for in verses 2,4?

Unity. This unity is the goal. What follows in Philippians 2:3-4 are descriptions of how to achieve and practice the unity mentioned here in Philippians 2:2..

6. What is the first step in church unity?

Let nothing be done through selfish ambition is the first step to this kind of unity. In the flesh, we are often motivated by selfish ambition or conceit. Much of what we do is not done out of love for others, but out of our own desire for advancement or promotion (selfish ambition). Paul found it important to say selfish ambition. Not all ambition is selfish ambition, and there is a good ambition to glorify God and serve Him with everything we have.

7. What is the second step in church unity?

Let nothing be done through . . . conceit is the second step to this kind of unity. Conceit is thinking too highly of ones self, of having an excessive self-interest and self-preoccupation. It could be more literally translated empty glory.

8. What is the third step in church unity?

The third step in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. This is completely contradictory to the attitude of the world, because lowliness of mind is about the least attractive thing to the thinking of this world. The ancient Greeks considered lowliness of mind to be a fault, not a virtue. The pagan and the secular idea of manhood is self-assertiveness, imposing ones will on others; when anyone stooped to others he did so only under compulsion, hence his action was ignominious [disgraceful]. The Christian ethical idea of humility could not be reached by the secular mind; it lacked the spiritual soil. (Lenski)

9. Read verse 5. What do you think is meant by this verse?

Right thinking produces right actions. Our actions are the fruit of our thoughts. Thinking and being like Christ are requirements not just for the individual believer, but for the corporate body as well. Philippians Bible Study Lesson 2
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Let this mind means that it is something that we have choice about.

10. Read verse 6. What does this verse describe?

This describes Jesus pre-incarnate existence. We must remind ourselves that Jesus did not begin His existence in the manger at Bethlehem, but is eternal God. Being is from the ancient Greek verb huparchein, which describes that which a man is in his very essence and which cannot be changed. It describes that part of a man which, in any circumstances, remains the same. (Barclay) Form is the ancient Greek word morphe. It always signifies a form which truly and fully expresses the being which underlies it . . . the words mean the being on an equality with God. (Expositors) Morphe is the essential form which never alters; schema is the outward form which changes from time to time and from circumstance to circumstance. (Barclay) God has a form, and Jesus Christ exists in this form of God. (Lenski)

11. What is meant by: Jesus did not consider it robbery to be equal with God.
The idea behind this is that the pre-incarnate Christ already possessed equality with the Father and resolved not to cling to it in the incarnation. Did not consider it robbery: The ancient Greek in this phrase has the idea of something being grasped or clung to. Jesus did not cling to the prerogatives of deity. To be equal with God: It wasnt that Jesus was trying to achieve equality with the Father. He had it, and chose not to cling to it. Jesus divine nature was not something He had to seek for or acquire, but it was His already. ~ David Guzik

12. How is verse 7 significant?

The term reputation is more commonly translated from the Greek word kenosis or emptied. He emptied Himself. One must be careful as some have developed the kenotic theory of the incarnation to the point where they insist that Jesus divested Himself of many of the attributes of deity - such as omniscience, omnipotence, omnipresence, and even suffered the elimination of His own divine selfconsciousness. Jesus, did not, and could not, become less God in the incarnation. No deity was subtracted (though he did renounce some of the rights of deity); rather humanity was added to His nature. Matthew Henry writes Herein he emptied himself, divested himself of the honours and glories of the upper world, and of his former appearance, to clothe himself with the rags of human nature. He was in all things like to us, Heb. 2:17.2. Here are his two estates, of humiliation and exaltation. His estate of humiliation. He not only took upon him the likeness and fashion of a man, but the form of a servant, that is, a man of mean estate. He was not only Gods servant whom he had chosen, but he came to minister to men, and was among them as one who serveth in a mean and servile state. One would think that the Lord Jesus, if he would be a man, should have been a prince, and appeared in splendour. But quite the contrary: He took upon him the form of a servant. He was brought up meanly, probably working with his supposed father at his trade. His whole life was a life of humiliation, meanness, poverty, and disgrace; he had nowhere to lay his head, lived upon alms, was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, did not appear with external pomp, or any marks of distinction from other men. This was the humiliation of his life. But the lowest step of his humiliation was his dying the death of the cross. Philippians Bible Study Lesson 2
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13. How did Jesus empty Himself?

He did this by coming in the likeness of men. We can think of someone who is a servant, but not in the likeness of men. Angels are servants, but not in the likeness of men. In fairy tales, Aladdins Genie was a servant, but not in the likeness of men. The word for likeness here can refer to merely the outward form of something. While Jesus did have the outward form of humanity, the outward form reflected His true humanity, which was added to His deity. It was a likeness, but a real likeness, no mere phantom humanity as the Docetic Gnostics held. (Robertson) NOTE: in Christianity, docetism (from the Greek [doke], "to seem") is the belief that Jesus' physical body was an illusion, as was his crucifixion; that is, Jesus only seemed to have a physical body and to physically die, but in reality he was incorporeal, a pure spirit, and hence could not physically die. This belief treats the sentence "the Word was made Flesh" (John1:14) as merely figurative. Docetism has historically been regarded as heretical by most Christian theologians.

14. What did Jesus do next? Verse 8

He humbled himself and became obedient. This was something that Jesus could only experience by coming down from the throne of heaven and becoming a man. When God sits enthroned in heavens glory, there is no one He obeys. Jesus had to leave heavens glory and be found in appearance as a man to become obedient. Key to Jesus obedience on earth was the endurance of suffering, again, something He could only learn by experience after the incarnation. As it is written: though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. (Hebrews 5:8) Crucifixion was such a shameful death that it was not permitted for Roman citizens (such as the people of Philippi). Any victim of crucifixion was considered by the Jews to be particularly cursed by God (Deuteronomy 21:23 and Galatians 3:13). Robertson calls the death of the cross The bottom rung in the ladder from the Throne of God. Jesus came all the way down to the most despised death of all, a condemned criminal on the accursed cross.

15. How did God respond to Jesus being humble and obedient? Verse 9.
Highly exalted could also be translated super exalted. Given Him the name which above every name: This not only gives Jesus the Divine Name Yahweh, but also implies that God has declared that Jesus has the character and person above all other, when we consider the importance of the Hebrew concept of the name. This verse, with its clear statement of Jesus deity, is powerful ammunition against those who deny His deity.

16. Do you think verse 10,11 implies universal salvation?

Paul does not imply by this a universal salvation, but means that every personal being will ultimately confess Christs lordship, either with joyful faith or with resentment and despair. (Kent) Pauls words those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth are intended to convey the absolute totality of all creation recognizing the superiority of Jesus Christ. Philippians Bible Study Lesson 2
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He is drawing on Isaiah 45:23: I have sworn by Myself; the word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, that to Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall take an oath. Notice that in Isaiah, it is to Yahweh that all knees bow and tongues confess. In Philippians it is to Jesus, showing that Jesus is Yahweh. The combination of tongues confessing and knees bowing gives evidence that the idea is a complete submission to Jesus, both in word and in action, and one that is required of all. The totality of this recognition of Jesus deity and exaltation has caused many to envision this happening in formal way after the final judgment, when every creature, in heaven and hell, is required to bow their knees and make the confession that Jesus Christ is Lord. ` David Guzik

17. How do you work out your own salvation? Verse 12

What Paul does mean is he calls the Philippians to put forth real effort into their Christians lives. This is not to work their salvation in the sense of accomplishing it, but to work out their salvation - to see it evident in every area of their lives, to activate this salvation God freely gave them. The believer must finish, must carry to conclusion, must apply to its fullest consequences what is already given by God in principle . . . He must work out what God in His grace has worked in. (Muller) Considering the difficulty of the work, and the danger of miscarriage. If you do not watch, pray and continually depend on God, your enemies will surprise you, and your light and life will become extinct; and then consider what an awful account you must give to Him whose Spirit ye have grieved, and of whose glory ye have come short. ` Adam Clarke

18. Why should we be fearful and trembling?

With fear and trembling: Pauls idea is not that we should live our Christian lives with a constant sense of fear and terror, but that we should live with a fear of failing to work out your own salvation.

19. Why should we work out our own salvation? Verse 13

For it is God who works in you: Paul here gives the reason why Christians must work out their salvation with fear and trembling - because God is working in them. God . . . works in you: The idea is that since God has done and is doing a work in you, you have all the more responsibility to work diligently, with fear and trembling, regarding your own salvation and walk with the Lord. Gods work in us increases our responsibility, it doesnt lessen it in any way. Those who take Gods sovereignty and working and use them as an excuse for inaction and lethargy are like the wicked and lazy servant of Matthew 25:24-30.

20. Why does God do what He does?

For His good pleasure: This is the motive behind Gods work in our lives; He does so because it gives Him pleasure to do it.

21. How are some ways that we can obey what Paul are is teaching here? Verses 14-16
Do all things without complaining and disputing: There is a good deal of dispute among commentators as to if this complaining and disputing refers to problems among the Philippians (such as mentioned in Philippians 2:1-4) or if this refers to their attitude towards God. Perhaps they resented God because of their present conflict (Philippians 1:27-30).

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Because Paul specifically uses terms that were used to describe Israels complaining towards God during the Exodus, it is probably best to see the complaining and disputing as describing their attitude towards God.

22. Why should we do this?

That you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault: Through the display of a non-complaining spirit, we show ourselves to be true followers of God.

23. What is meant by poured out like a drink offering in verses 17,18?
Paul alludes to a practice among both Jews and pagans in their sacrifices. They poured out wine, or sometimes perfume either beside (as in the Jewish practice) or upon (as in the pagan practice) an animal that was sacrificed to God or pagan gods. This is the drink offering, accompanying another sacrifice, is mentioned in Numbers 15:4-5 and 28:7.

24. Why did Paul send Timothy to the Philippians? Verses 19-24
When Paul sent Timothy, he sent his best, a man who showed a pastors heart, that has greater concern for his sheep than himself.

25. What titles does Paul give Epaphroditus? Verses25-27\

My brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier: Paul gives these important titles to Epaphroditus. He was a man Paul valued as a partner in the work of ministry. Brother speaks of a bond to be enjoyed; worker speaks of a job to be done; soldier speaks of a battle to be fought.

26. Read verses 28-30. How were the Philippians supposed to receive Epaphroditus?
With all gladness.. David Guzik writes: Probably, the Philippians sent Epaphroditus not only as a messenger, but also to be a personal attendant to Paul on behalf of the Philippians. When illness prevented Epaphroditus from doing this, he may have seemed like a failure (perhaps even a malingerer) in the eyes of the Philippians. Paul assures them this is not the case; in fact, it is jus the opposite - Epaphroditus served above and beyond the call of duty. The ancient Greek phrase not regarding his life uses a gamblers word that meant to risk everything on the roll of the dice. Paul says that for the sake of Jesus Christ, Epaphroditus was willing to gamble everything. In the days of the Early Church there was an association of men and women who called themselves the gamblers, taken from this same ancient Greek word. It was their aim to visit the prisoners and the sick, especially those who were ill with dangerous and infectious diseases. Often, when plague struck a city, the heathen threw the dead bodies into the streets and fled in terror. But the gamblers buried the dead and helped the sick the best they could, and so risked their lives to show the love of Jesus.

Philippians Bible Study Lesson 2

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