An Informal Study of Philippians

A dispensational outline study of Paul’s epistle to the Philippians. As members of the body of Christ in this dispensation of grace, we know we too are included as recipients of the message of this great epistle. In fact, someone has well said that every believer in America who traces his ancestry back to Europe, in a real sense traces his spiritual heritage back to this Philippian congregation! (71 pp.)
 

Table of Contents

• Preface
  In order to understand the historical background of this charming little epistle, we must go to the inspired record in the Acts of the Apostles, where in chapter 16, verses 12 to 40, we are given the history of what happened about ten years before the writing of the letterto the Philippians. For reasons unknown to ...
• Introduction, 1:1-2
  The introduction of the epistle makes known the writer, the Apostle Paul, and Timothy his companion, presenting them as bondslaves of Jesus Christ. The addressees include all of the saints in Philippi with their spiritual leaders. As members of the body of Christ in this dispensation of grace, we know we too are included as ...
• I. The Exultation in Thanksgiving, 1:3-8
  “I thank my God”—What an unusual way to begin a letter written in prison by a faithful messenger of Christ who is no longer free to travel and establish churches as he had been doing for many years. Surely he is a living example of the admonition he himself gave us, “In everything give thanks” ...
• II. The Expression of Prayer, 1:9-11
  The transition from praise and thanksgiving to prayer and supplication should always be a smooth one as Paul here demonstrates. After his time of thanksgiving to God for past and present blessings, the Apostle petitions God in regard to certain basic needs for the present and the future. He is concerned about: A. Sound Doctrine (1:9) “And ...
• III. The Exhibition of God’s Providence, 1:12-18
  This section of the epistle is a divine commentary on the practical realities of Romans 8:28. In his earlier epistle Paul had written, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” Here in Philippians he is showing his readers ...
• IV. The Expectation of Deliverance, 1:19-26
  A. The Assurance of Deliverance (1:19) 1. The Prayers of Believers (1:19a) The Apostle is certain of deliverance from his present condition. Hear the confidence in his, “For I KNOW (instinctively) that this shall turn to my salvation (deliverance).” He is not speaking of his eternal salvation, but of his deliverance from his present limited ministry. He ...
• V. The Exhortation to Faithful Living, 1:27-30
  A. The Pattern for a Sanctified Walk (1:27) In the earlier verses in this chapter, Paul acknowledged he had a desire to depart and be with Christ, which was far better, but he recognized their need for him to continue to live in order to minister to their needs. On this basis he expected to be ...
• VI. The Exhortation to Unity, 2:1-4
  In the closing portion of the first chapter (1:27) the Apostle made a plea for unity among the Philippians. He warned them a faithful walk might entail suffering, but in the midst of the warning we find an appeal to stand together. He seems to have come upon a weakness in the Philippian assembly. As ...
• VII. Examples of Victory, 2:5-30
  A. Victory Through Sacrifice (2:5-16) We have in these verses an outstanding illustration of the grace of God in using a problem situation in a local assembly of the first century as a starting point to give to believers throughout the church age one of the most detailed expositions of the sacrifice of Christ in laying ...
• VIII. Expectations in the Lord, 3:1-21
  The Apostle moves from his series of examples to present Christ as the object of our faith and hope. He introduces this section of the letter with a warning of the danger of religious systems that lead their adherents to trust works, law, religion, ritual or recitation of prayers instead of the finished work of ...
• IX. Examination of Problems, 4:1-19
  A. The Problem of Friction and Discord (4:1-3) 1. The Plea (4:1,2) As the great apostle introduces this section dealing with discord in the congregation, his very approach is an example of grace. As an Apostle, he could have commanded and demanded things be changed. But he begins by appealing to them in a general way as ...
• Conclusion, 4:20-23
  This precious little letter concludes with a three-fold note. We can summarize it with these familiar Biblical words: A. Glory “Now unto God our Father be GLORY forever and ever” (4:20). This doxology bursts forth out of Paul’s gratitude for God’s provision. He realizes all the praise and glory go to HIM. B. Greetings “All the saints salute (GREET) ...