Page 85 - Advanced New Testament Survey Student Textbook

Paul calls the believers to “stand firm in the Lord” (Phil 4:1) and to “rejoice in the Lord” (Phil 4:4). What
does your story say about standing firm and rejoicing? What situations today are challenging you to stand
firm? What opportunities do you have to rejoice?

Philippians 4:6-7 – We all get anxious about tons of uncountable things. some of those things frustrate
our good character, our relationships with the Lord and the people we love the most, and they eat us up
from inside, destroying our health. But we do not need to carry all the burdens and anxieties on us. Let’s
take them to the Lord in prayer, and the results are amazing!

Atmosphere

It seems like at the time of the writing of the Epistle, the church at Philippi was at peace, but with the
threat of the Judaizers and false teachers (3:1-4:1). Besides those threats, Paul’s letter to the Philippians,
overflows with joy and thankfulness, even though he is writing from prison. Unlike his interaction with
other churches, Paul had very little to correct in the Philippian congregation. He was encouraged by the
believers’ concern for him and their faithfulness in living out the gospel. Paul teaches that the joy of the
gospel should rule our lives, regardless of circumstances.

Highlights: key passages

• Thanksgiving and Prayer (1:3-11)
• Paul’s Imprisonment and the Gospel’s Advancement (1:12-18a)
• Paul’s Deliverance and Departure (1:18b-26)
• Life as Christian Citizens (1:27-30)
• Unity through Humility (2:1-11)
• Pauline Exhortations in Light of Christ’s Lordship (2:12-18)
• Timothy and Epaphroditus: Models of the Gospel (2:19-30)
• Transition and Reiteration (3:1)
• Paul’s Opponents and Past (3:2-6)
• Type and Antitype (3:17-4:1)
• Miscellaneous Exhortations (4:2-9)
• Renewed Concern and Contentment beyond Circumstances (4:10-20)

Practical Application: 122
Philippians is one of Paul’s most personal letters, and as such it has several personal applications to
believers. Written during his imprisonment in Rome, Paul exhorts the Philippians to follow his example
and be “encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly” (Philippians 1:14)
during times of persecution. All Christians have experienced, at one time or another, the animosity of
unbelievers against the gospel of Christ. This is to be expected. Jesus said that the world hated Him and
it will hate His followers as well (John 15:18). Paul exhorts us to persevere in the face of persecution, to
“stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel” (Philippians 1:27).

Another application of Philippians is the need for Christians to be united in humility. We are united with

122 https://www.gotquestions.org/Book-of-Philippians.html (used with permission)

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