Phil 3:1 Notice the preceding and following context of Paul’s admonition in this Phil 3:to rejoice in the Lord, and recall Paul’s circumstances as he was writing; is our joy as Christians dependent upon circumstances? What (or Who) is it dependent upon? See also Phil 1:15-18, 4:4. Note: in 2 Cor 13:5 Paul admonishes us to…
Phil 2:19-24 For what purpose does Paul say in Phil 2:19 that he planned on sending Timothy to the Philippians? Why was he concerned about their condition? See Phil 1:27, 2:2-3. Why would good news of their condition be an encouragement to him in his present circumstances? For what other purpose did he want to…
Phil 2:14-16 Note: In Phil 2:15 NASB “prove yourselves” (KJV “be”) is literally “become” (see NASB text note). NASB “above reproach” (KJV “without rebuke”) means unblemished or without defect, and is the word found throughout the OT to describe the sacrifices acceptable to God (e.g. Ex 29:1, Lev 1:3); see also Eph 5:27, Col 1:22,…
Phil 2:5-8 Describe each rung of the ladder Christ descended on our behalf from the throne of God: What was the glorious form of His pre-incarnate existence? How was His willingness to not regard His rights and privileges as a prize to be grasped tightly and held onto an example to us?[1] What does it…
Phil 1:27 Note: “conduct yourselves” is literally “live as a citizen” and refers to the responsibilities of citizenship. What are the responsibilities of our U.S. citizenship? See Rom 13:1-7. What are the responsibilities of citizenship in Christ’s kingdom? See also Phil 1:29. What do Paul’s words here indicate about a potential problem facing the Philippians? …
Phil 1:12-18 In what two ways had Paul’s imprisonment actually resulted in the greater progress of the gospel? See Phil 1:13-14. What was the praetorian guard? See NASB text note and also Mark 15:16, Acts 23:35; note: this was the palace guard. “There were originally ten thousand of these picked soldiers, concentrated in Rome by…
Phil 1:1-2 What was Timothy’s relationship to the Philippians that Paul should include him in the greeting? See Phil 2:19, Acts 16:1,3, 11-12, 19:22, 20:4. What words does Paul use to describe himself and Timothy, and those to whom he is writing? Do these words describe God’s ministers and people today? What two categories of…
After being arrested in Jerusalem at the instigation of the Jews who abhorred Paul for his ministry to the Gentiles, he spent two years in prison in Caesarea before appealing to Caesar and going to Rome. There he spent two more years under house arrest while awaiting his trial before the emperor (see Acts 28:30). …
Phm 1:1-3: How do we know Philemon was from Colossae? See Phm 1:10, Col 4:9. What seems to be the relationship between Philemon, Apphia and Archippus? See also Col 4:17. In what sense was Philemon Paul’s “fellow worker”? See Phm 1:2,7. Do you think it significant that in the first two centuries when the Church…
Background Philemon was a prominent Christian in Colossae whose house served as a meeting place for at least part of the church there (Phm 1:2). Like Epaphras, he had likely come to know the Lord through Paul’s three year ministry in Ephesus when “all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord” (Phm…