12. Philippians
12. Philippians
CONTENTS
After the normal opening greetings (Phil. 1:1-2) Paul thanks God for the Philippians and prays for them (1:3-11). He goes on to point out that his imprisonment has advanced the gospel (1:12-18), and he looks forward to being set free in response to their prayers (1:19-26). He urges them to live as Christians should, even though this means suffering (1:27-30). In a magnificent hymn Paul urges his readers to be humble and to follow the example of Christ, who, although he was "in very nature God,” became man and underwent death on a cross. God therefore exalted him to the highest place (2:1-11). This leads to a further confident exhortation to his readers to serve God faithfully (2:12-18).
Paul expresses his hope to send Timothy (whom he praises warmly) to them soon and indeed to come himself (Phil. 2:19-24). He also speaks of sending Epaphroditus, who had been very near to death but had apparently recovered from his illness (2:2530). The apostle warns against people who were evidently advocating circumcision; he himself had had every reason for confidence in his life as a Jew, but he now sees all that as "loss for the sake of Christ”; to know Christ is much more important (3:1-11).
Paul makes it clear that he has not reached perfection: he is still pressing on toward the goal. He invites the Philippians to join with him and not to follow the example of people he castigates as "enemies of the cross of Christ” (3:12-4:1).
With the main part of the letter over, there come greetings to people who have worked with the apostle (Phil. 4:2-3), a call to rejoicing in the Lord, to prayer without anxiety but with the assurance that God’s peace will guard them (4:4-7). They should practice Christian virtues wholeheartedly (4:8-9). Paul goes on to thank the Philippians for sending him help in his troubles, the only church to have done so (4:10-20). This leads into final greetings and the grace (4:21-23).