Ac. 16:25-40; Phil. 1:1-2 (Intro. to Philippians, 2)

3.   When was Philippians written? 

a.   If written during the Ephesian imprisonment, then it was written about 4 years after Paul was in Philippi in 55AD. 

b.   If written during the Roman imprisonment then it was written around 61AD, about 10 years after being in Philippi.

     4.   What was the occasion for Paul to write this letter?

a.   The Philippians had often helped meet Paul’s material needs with gifts.  They had recently done this, sending money AND one of their brothers, Epaphroditus, to take further care of Paul (2:25). 

b.   But while with Paul Epaphroditus became very ill, almost dying (2:27) and now Paul felt Epaphroditus should return to Philippi.  So Paul sent this very personal letter, thanking them for their help, and giving teaching to help them deal with the Judaizers.

    5.   What type of letter is Philippians?  The purpose is primarily personal, though it contains some magnificent doctrinal passages.  Philippians ranks with 2 Corinthians as among the most personal letters Paul wrote to churches.  In this letter Paul, over 100 times, uses the first person pronoun.  These people were the dearest of friends to Paul.

    6.   What is the theme of Philippians?  Paul talks about a number of things.  But in it all there is a recurring theme: the joy of fellowship with Christ.  You cannot study Philippians without sensing that Paul truly knows Christ, and that this knowledge of Christ is the source of overabundant joy.  Thus the key words are joy and rejoice, found 14 times in the letter.  We will consider this term in tomorrow’s study.

5.   What is the key verse of Philippians?  There are many passages worthy to be committed to memory.  But at the center of it all is Phil. 1:21: For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

   7.   What other important passages are there to note?

a.   1:19-26: the value of living and dying. 

b.   2:5-11: the humiliation and exaltation of Christ. 

c.   3:7-11: counting everything loss for Christ. 

d.   4:10-20: learning to be content.

    8.   What is the simple outline of Philippians?

a.   Ch. 1-2: Joyous fellowship happens when Christ is all in all. 

b.   Ch. 3-4: Related teaching that enables Christ to be all in all.