Philippians 1

Study Guide 145: Philippians CALLED TO JOY Overview This brief, warm letter was written to Philippi from Rome in early a.d. 63. Paul was especially close to the church in this, the leading city in Macedonia. His letter, rather than a reasoned exposition or corrective of a local error, is simply an expression of friendship and of shared joy in a common faith. Three things seem particularly special about this short letter. First, its key word is “ joy.” “ Joy” and “ rejoice” occur again and again, and suggest a helpful strategy for the book’ s study. Second, Philippians contains one of the most powerful New Testament affirmations of Christ’ s deity and lordship. Jesus who was God from eternity emptied Himself to become a man and, after suffering death, was raised again to His original glory and given a name above every name: Lord. Third, Paul shared his own personal goal in life — his yearning for a present experience of that transformation which will be his at the resurrection. How great an opportunity we have, to teach this short, but warm and powerful review of what we Christians have in Christ. JOY. Old Testament terms cast joy in terms of the worshiping community’ s response to God. Relationship with Him is the key to joy. The key New Testament term (chairo) indicates both a state of joy, and that which brings us joy.

Commentary The New Testament makes it abundantly plain. It is relationship with Jesus that is a vital source of our joy. Jesus Himself spoke of two ways that we might find joy in Him. He said, “ If you obey My commands, you will remain in My love, just as I have obeyed My Father’ s commands and remain in His love. I have told you this so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete” (John 15:10-11). And, “ Until now you have not asked for anything in My name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete” (John 16:24). As we go on we make other discoveries about joy. We see that it is produced in us by the Holy Spirit, and is a fruit of His presence (see Luke 10:21; Galatians 5:22; 1 Thessalonians 1:6). It is not linked with material possessions but rather is an overflow of salvation (Acts 8:8; Acts 16:34). Even persecution could not dampen the joy that glowed in early Christians, for their joy was not dependent on external circumstances (see Acts 13:52; 2 Corinthians 7:4; James 1:2). Peter even said that “ in this [salvation] you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith — of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire — may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed” (1 Peter 1:6-7). It is true that even pagans can know joy, as they find it in the good things that God has given to all human beings so liberally. But the Christian knows a heightened joy; a joy that is rooted in the bond that exists between the believer and the Lord, and the bond that exists with other believers whom we have come to love (see Romans 16:19; Phi 1:4, Phi 1:25-26; Phi 2:2, Phi 2:29; Phi 4:1; Hebrews 13:17; 1 John 1:4). The deeper our relationship with Jesus and with His people, the greater the joy that awaits us, and the less that joy is dependent on external circumstances.

Who is Jesus? Phi 2:1-13To understand why Jesus is the key to joy, we must grasp who Jesus is. Paul, in a great and powerful affirmation of faith, made Christ’ s true identity perfectly clear. Many believe that the words in Phi 2:5-11 are from an early Christian liturgy, used as a confession of faith in the churches which Paul founded. Jesus is our example (Phi 2:1-5). Paul looked with awe at Jesus’ willing surrender of the prerogatives of Deity to become a human being, and to die for us on a cross. But the self-sacrifice of Jesus is also a powerful call to the believer. Those of us who look to Jesus as our Saviour are also to look to Him as our example! In fact, our “ attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.” When we adopt His attitude, there will be a dramatic impact on our relationships with others. We will be “ like-minded.” What Paul envisions here is a community of believers who model their personal relationships with each other on Jesus. Such a community will be united, having “ the same love,” and being one in spirit and purpose (Phi 2:2). Our unity will not be based on having the same convictions (see Rom. 14-15), or even on holding exactly the same doctrines (see 1 Corinthians 8-10). Ours will be a unity that grows out of love; out of a Christlike attitude. Paul then looked at how that attitude is expressed in individuals. It is expressed by doing “ nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Phi 2:3-4). It is this total unselfishness that we see exhibited so powerfully by Jesus. He did not “ grasp at” His equality with God. He “ made Himself nothing” to come to earth as a human being — a Servant. Here He even humbled Himself to the extent that He willingly died a criminal’ s death. And all for us. If you and I have this attitude toward our brothers and sisters in Jesus, there will be Christian unity. And we will truly be one, in spirit and purpose. We, like Jesus, will live to serve. And in serving we, like Jesus, will find the way of exaltation. This, of course, was part of Paul’ s total vision. Because Jesus humbled Himself, God the Father exalted Him — “ to the highest place” (Phi 2:9). For us as well as for Jesus, the way up is down. For us, as for Jesus, God exalts us when we humble ourselves in service of others. Jesus is God (Phi 2:6-11). This is the foundational truth in Christianity. In this confession the early church affirmed the pre-existence of Jesus as God, affirmed His incarnation as a true human being, affirmed His death on the cross, His resurrection and His coming again to be revealed as Lord of all. We should note that the phrase stating Jesus was “ found in appearance as a man” does not imply that Christ only seemed to be a human being. The Greek word here is schema, which lays stress on what was visible to the beholder. The Son of God was seen by men to be a man, and He truly was what He appeared to be: one of us. What a passage for meditation today as we remember our Lord, and focus our thoughts on who He is — and how much He has done for us. For this is One: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death — even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him a name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. LINK TO LIFE: YOUTH / ADULT Give each group member a sheet of paper on which this passage has been duplicated. Ask each to meditate on it, considering just what it tells him or her about Jesus. If any have questions, take time to answer them. Point out that all we have and are as Christians is rooted in the truth Jesus affirmed in this great confession of faith. Then ask each to compose a two-or three-line prayer, picking up one of these themes. It should be a prayer of praise or thanks that focuses clearly on who Jesus is, or what He has done for us. Jesus is the source of our salvation (Phi 2:12-13). Paul concluded with an exhortation to the Philippians to continue obeying his instructions, as they had. In this way they were to “ work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.” This call to “ work out your [‘ own,’ as some versions have it] salvation” has troubled some. They have seen it as a demand to perform, or perhaps salvation will be lost. But this is not what Paul is suggesting here. The word commonly translated “ salvation” does look at personal salvation, in the Christian sense of salvation from sin. But that salvation has several aspects. There is the initial forgiveness won through faith in Jesus. There is present deliverance from the dominating power of sin in our lives. And there is ultimate salvation; deliverance from even the presence of sin when resurrection day arrives. Here the word “ therefore” links Paul’ s words with what had been said before. And Paul had been speaking to the Philippians about a unity to be found by adopting the attitude of Jesus — a unity which Phi 4:2-3 tells us was at least strained in the local body. What Paul was saying, then, is that the church is to work out (to express) in their lives together the deliverance which Jesus has won for them, and is to do this with a proper sense of awe, realizing that God Himself was at work within them, present to will and act according to His good purpose. As the Christians at Philippi modeled on Christ, and adopted His attitude, they would find deliverance from the things that divided them and would in fact give visible expression, together, to the salvation that was theirs in Jesus Christ. Yes, the Jesus we worship truly is God. And, as the God-Man, Jesus set us an example, showing us the attitude which is the key to Christian unity, and is also the key to expressing in our fellowships the salvation which is ours in Him.

Paul’ s Personal Goal: Phi 3:1-21If there was ever a man who was deeply aware of his need to experience the present-tense salvation referred to in Phi 2:12-13, it was the Apostle Paul. Paul’ s later ministry, expressed in this book and in Colossians and Ephesians, increasingly focused on the present impact of Jesus on His church. Toward the end of Paul’ s life, arrests grew more frequent. He spent an increasing amount of time in prison. With less and less personal contact with the congregations he founded, Paul kept in touch through correspondence, friends, and disciples such as Timothy and Titus. Paul watched as the early flush of excitement and expectancy was tempered by the sober necessity of living in a hostile world. Challenges to the faith were raised. Some wanted to blend the philosophies of paganism or the ritualism of Judaism with the new Way. Clearly the church needed a better understanding of its uniqueness. The Good News of God’ s action in the past and His promise for the future must not obscure the fact that God is, and that “ the present time is of the utmost importance” (Romans 13:11, PH). So Paul’ s prison letters turned the attention of believers to Christ Himself and to an exploration of what it means to live as members of Christ’ s body. In Philippians Paul shared a very personal testimony. Centering his own attention on Jesus, Paul spoke of his own present experience — and his daily goal in life. He is one of those who: Glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh — though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the Law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless. But whatever was to my profit, I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the Law; but that which is through faith in Christ — the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Phi 3:3-11Paul’ s deeply personal desire, expressed here, is not a yearning for some distant future. Paul concentrates instead on his on going daily experience with God, an experience that can lift the endless repetition of emptiness, and give life vitality and meaning. To understand, we need to note several of Paul’ s themes here. Knowing Christ (Phi 3:8). Paul focused here on relationship; on a personal experience of Jesus Christ that deepens as the days pass. This is Paul’ s first goal. Having righteousness (Phi 3:9). Again Paul was not looking ahead. Paul was concerned about moral transformation now. We Christians are to experience a holiness, rooted not in the do’ s and don’ ts approach of Law, but in a dynamic goodness that only divine power can bring. Resurrection power (Phi 3:10). It is easy to misread these words. Paul was not referring to the future resurrection promised to believers. Paul spoke later of that time (Phi 3:20-21). Here Paul expressed his deep yearning to experience God’ s resurrection power. Paul had expressed this earlier, in Romans. “ He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you” (Romans 8:11). But Paul had not yet arrived at a full experience of that power (Phi 3:12). The daily goal that Paul set for himself was a fuller experience of Christ’ s resurrection life, bringing vitality and power to his present. Reading Paul’ s words, we become aware that life does have meaning. In Christ we too are called heavenward (Phi 3:14). We are invited to know the touch of a God who is always present. We are invited to a deepening personal relationship with Jesus; to a growing and dynamic righteousness; and to an experience of power that can transform us and our lives. What a goal for you and me — and our group members — to adopt. What examples we have, first in Jesus, and now in Paul.

The Search for Joy: Philippians As noted at the beginning of this commentary, the theme of “ joy” is woven throughout this small New Testament book. This theme probably should guide us in our teaching, as we help our group members examine what it is that can bring believer’ s inner joy. LINK TO LIFE: YOUTH / ADULT Write the word “ happy” on the left side of the chalkboard. Ask your group members to list “ what most people believe makes them happy.” When the list is complete, write on the right “ joy.” Discuss: “ Is there a difference between happiness and joy? If so, what is it?” Then point out that in your study today you will all discover what it is that can bring Christians joy — even if they lack those things most people believe are necessary to make them happy. Sources of joy in Phi 1:1-30. Paul was in prison, his chains restricting him to a small rented house in Rome. The apostle, whose life had been dedicated to establishing churches by traveling to the key cities in the Roman Empire, had been set aside. Yet as Paul wrote to the Philippians we sense the warmth of his love, and we also sense a confidence and joy. Paul reached the most distant lands by prayer, and was reassured about his converts by his conviction that “ He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Phi 1:6). But there were other sources of confidence as well. Though in chains, Paul had the opportunity of witnessing to the Praetorian guards assigned to watch him. And Paul heard that others, stimulated by his imprisonment, had become more zealous in preaching the Gospel. In Phi 1:4-5 Paul speaks of praying “ with joy” for the Philippians “ because of your partnership in the Gospel from the first day until now.” This was not a sharing in salvation, but rather partnership in spreading the Gospel. Paul and the Philippians had a common concern for communicating the Gospel to the lost. In fact, this theme is expressed again and again in the first chapter. Even Paul’ s imprisonment should have been gladly accepted by his friends because “ what has happened to me has really served to advance the Gospel” (Phi 1:12). Paul’ s chains stimulated some to speak out more courageously. But others, who saw Paul as a rival, had increased their own missionary effort out of “ selfish ambition.” Paul was glad, for from whatever motives “ Christ is preached” (Phi 1:18), and “ because of this I rejoice.” In this first chapter, then, Paul presented sharing the Gospel as a basic source of Christian joy. As we reach out to others with the Good News of Jesus we too will discover, with Paul and the Philippians, an overflow of Spirit-produced inner joy. Sources of joy in Phi 2:1-30. Paul now looked to other believers and viewed them as a source of joy. Paul’ s joy would be complete when the Philippians adopted Christ’ s attitude and were “ like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit” (Phi 2:2). Paul next used an Old Testament image. He saw himself and his own likely execution as a “ drink offering” poured out on a sacrifice. This drink offering was voluntary, and intended to add its own rich savor to the basic sacrifice. Paul viewed his coming death not as loss, but as a joyful service he willingly offered on behalf of all who had come to Christ through him. And Paul urged the Philippians not to be upset, but rather to rejoice with him that he has been privileged to give himself for their sake. Finally, Paul spoke of being “ glad” (rejoicing) in the recovery of a messenger from Philippi, who had been extremely ill. Throughout this chapter, the focus is not so much on the Gospel itself as on those who have responded to the Gospel. And the joy Paul spoke of wells up from being able to serve others, and from seeing God at work in others’ lives. Sources of joy in Phi 4:1-23. Finally Paul spoke of a joy that is ours in the Lord Himself. He told us to “ rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” And Paul went on to tell us how we can experience joy in knowing Jesus. We are to remember that the Lord is near, and rather than being anxious are to present every need to Him with thanksgiving. As we do, God’ s own peace will fill us. And, to keep our hearts and minds fixed on the Lord we are to focus on whatever is true and noble, putting our faith in Jesus into practice, and thus experience God with us.

Teaching Guide Prepare How have your group members caused you joy? How closely can you identify with Paul as he speaks of his affection for the Philippians?

Explore

1. Have your group explore the difference between happiness and joy. See “ link-to-life” above.
2. Or give a lecture on “ joy,” drawing from passages other than Philippians.

Expand

1. Divide into teams, one of which is to look at Philippians 1-2 and Phi 4:1-23. Each team should first locate occurrences of “ joy” and “ rejoice.” Then by a study of the context determine the specific source of joy. Have the teams report. Then, working with the chart below, have your group members list every way they can think of that Christians today can find joy by sharing the Gospel, serving others, or deepening personal relationship with the Lord.
2. Or, give a minilecture on Paul’ s vision of Christ, and how that vision affects Christians. See commentary themes, “ Who Is Jesus?” and “ Paul’ s Personal Goal.”

Happiness vs. Joy HappyJoyWhat We Can Do Money Security Nice home Success Health Love Friends Leisure Travel Family etc.Phi 1:1-30Sharing in Gospel Christ preached Phi 2:1-30Other believers sacrifice self for others Phi 4:1-23Lord Himself

Apply

1. Have each group member select one thing the group suggested from the “ what we can do” section of the study chart that each has been doing or intends to do. Each should then share his or her experience or plans. Then close in prayer thanking God for the sources of continuing joy that He has made available to us through Jesus.
2. Or, use the “ link-to-life” idea above to respond to Phi 2:1-30’ s great affirmation of who Jesus is.