As you probably know philippians is a very personal letter, it almost has the tone of an encouraging chat between two friends. In contrast to the undisputed pauline letters, 2 thessalonians lacks antithetical formulations, passages in the style of the diatribe, and with the exception of 2 thess. Paul commends the philippians for their earnest work in spreading the word of god. Lying on the great road from the adriatic coast to byzantium, the via egnatia, and in the midst of rich agricultural plains near the gold deposits of mt. A warm letter to friends posted on november 24, 20 by virgowriter after a hectic day, especially in the fall, when the weather is turning cold, the sun setting earlier and earlier, i really need something to unwind. An excellent commentary by godon fee on pauls letter to the philippians.
Begun in the late 1940s by an international team of new. Pangaeus, it was in pauls day a roman town, with a greekmacedonian population and a small group of jews. The book of philippians, in the bible, is depicted from the perspective of the apostle paul. Criswell sermon library christ, the sacrifice of god. Philippians 2 niv imitating christs humility bible gateway. Free bible study questions on the book of philippians in easyenglish. Pauls letter to the philippians by gordon fee is in the new international commentary on the new testament nicnt series published by eerdmans. Easyenglish questions 2800 word vocabulary on pauls letter to the philippians. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. One of the most personal of all the apostle pauls letters. Book of philippians overview insight for living ministries.
This section begins with a greeting and ends with a prayer that introduces pauls main themes. He shows us the context in which the book was written, getting to the heart of the church scene at philippi, and shows. Some commentators go so far as to suggest stanza and verse arrangements for the hymn. Paul and the philippian church the church in philippi was founded by paul and his party on his socalled second missionary journey as related in the eyewitness account a wesection. On the whole, the more closely one examines the passage, the more it seems to favor the recognition of two letters in our philippians. These are questions on the biblical text of philippians. Read introduction to philippians for we are the circumcision, who worship god in the spirit, rejoice in christ. Communications were maintained through messengers to and from them acts 18. The book of philippians is about how to live with great joy and firm faith even when circumstances are hard. After a hectic day, especially in the fall, when the weather is turning cold, the sun setting earlier and earlier, i really need something to unwind.
Paul advocated humility, namely, concern for the needs of others, not just ones own needs, as the basis for unity in the church cf. How paul wants the philippians to live with each other. Below are listed some of the ways in which scholars have attempted to answer the primary question. Thomas aquinas of the letters of the apostle paul to the philippians and colossians leo elders, s. This completes the book s overall concentric literary pattern. Watson 84, 88 offers the rhetorical analysis of the book as settling the debate in favor of unity. Certainly this first direct allusion to our philippians in christian literature speaks of it as letters. I will not take space to discuss the reasons which seem to point to near the close of his first. Closing prayers of thanksgiving and intercession philippians 4. Romans, 1 and 2 corinthians, galatians, philippians, 1 thessalonians, and philemon.
Find books like pauls letter to the philippians from the worlds largest community of readers. Martin luther writes in his famous essay the freedom of the christian, that this passage is a prescribed rule of life which is set forth by the apostle paul, who exhorts us to devote our good works. But during his time in rome, epaphroditus took ill, which delayed his return home and, therefore, the delivery of the letter 2. The book of philippians is from the new testament of the bible and is one of the apostle pauls letters. Free online bible library letter to the philippians. Of the thirteen letters ascribed to paul, scholars have long recognized seven as undisputedly pauline. It was written to all the saints in christ jesus at philippi phil. Love begins when someone elses needs are more important than my own, which is precisely what paul will urge in the elaboration that follows. The new international commentary on the new testament kindle edition. In order to accomplish this purpose, the basic contents of the passage will be surveyed. A prison letter, it contains a christological hymn about christs humility and exaltation, a glimpse into pauls passion to know christ, and a reflection on prayer and the peace it brings in the midst of stress, conflict, and opponents. Some believe that the letter to the philippians in the new testament is actually composed of portions of two or three letters edited together.
Fulfil ye my joy ye ought to complete my joy, who have suffered so much to bring you into the possession of these blessings, by being likeminded with myself, having the same love to god, his cause, and me, as i have to him, his cause, and you. Being of one accord being perfectly agreed in labouring to promote the honor of your master. The christ hymn of philippians 2 was important for the doctrinal. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Niv, cultural backgrounds study bible, red letter edition. Fee provides us with an insightful comparison of philippians to two types of letters in the grecoroman world, friendship letters. A letter written by paul to the church in the city of philippi, the first christian church in the province of macedonia. Introduction to niv study bible the letter of paul to the philippians peter edmonds sj the lecturae of st.
When people in one nation move permanently to another nation in the modern world, there is often a clash of cultures. He shows us the context in which the book was written, getting to the heart of the church scene at philippi, and shows how different passages relate to that context. The epistle to the philippians, commonly referred to as philippians, is a pauline epistle of the. In the flesh, we are often motivated by selfish ambition or conceit. What island was john on when he wrote the book that contains letters to the churches of asia. The days i worked on the passage in chapter 2 about the humility of christ were days i needed to learn anew how to be a humble servant in the ministry. Enduring word bible commentary philippians chapter 2. The literary form of this passage has been debated again and again. Letter to the philippians encyclopedia of the bible bible. Letter of paul to the philippians, new testament letter written by paul the apostle.
Fee surveys the important issues in the interpretation of philippians, in constant dialogue mostly in the notes with other important commentators, and especially with obrien nigtc on philippians, silva becnt on philippians, r. Why paul wrote the letter to the philippians zondervan. If then there is any encouragement in christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the spirit, any compassion and sympathy, 2 make my joy complete. Nine of these book are letters to local churches like the one in philippi. Philippians 2 humble living in light of jesus humble example a. He coaches them on dealing with hard times, and provides examples from his own life, other christians, and. Mar 18, 20 themes in pauls letter to the philippians. Of the more substantive matters in the letter, the christ hymn in phil 2. The church at philippi in ancient macedonia was the first european church founded by paul and thus represents the first major penetration of the gospel into gentile territory cf. In the book of philippians paul encourages the saints at philippi to be strong in their faith, to stand.
His contacts with the philippians were not confined to these occasional visits. Specifically in the book of philippians his service included praying for the church 1. Fee offers us comprehensive, accessible, and eminently readable commentary on one of pauls most personal letters in, the letter to the philippians nicnt. This statement reflects the underlying purpose of the new international commentary on the new testament. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading letters from heaven by the apostle paul. The personal details shared all match what we know of paul from other new testament books. Pangaeus, it was in pauls day a roman town, with a greekmacedonian population and a small group of. The epistle of polycarp to the philippians commonly abbreviated pol. Philippians 2 commentary, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available, this commentary provides notes on all 66 books of the bible, and contain more than 7,000 pages of material. Pauls own policy was to be selfsufficient as a missionary, supporting himself by his own labor 1 thes 2. World wide study bible philippians 2 christian classics. Paul to the philippians, chapter 1 1 paul and timothy, the servants of jesus christ. A similar set of intellectual operations governs longstanding debates about the authorship of pauls letters. Koinonia over the next few weeks we are going to be going through pauls letter to the philippians.
Christmas, coming down from god out of heaven, incarnate in human flesh philippians 2. May 16, 2016 philippians came alive to me in a fresh way. I deeply enjoyed reading fees exposition, and was continually challenged by pauls deep. Letter of paul to the philippians work by saint paul britannica. For a brief bibliography of those works that defend multiple letters or the unity of the book, see watson, philippians, 80, nn. This completes the books overall concentric literary pattern. I saw how many times the verse i was currently working on applied specifically to the circumstances of that particular day.
Biography of paul both the internal and external evidence points to paul writing this epistle. Fee has done a good work on the exegesis of the book. Pauls letter to philippi is a daily bible reading study of the book of philippians by deborah h. Different from the lively, sometimes abrupt argument of pauls letters, 2 thessalonians appears as a didactic compositiion with a narrowly limited theme. Philippi, in northeastern greece, was a city of some importance in the roman province of macedonia. Old customs and behaviors have to be evaluated, and often changed. A word list at the end explains words with a star by them. Use this topic or order a custom research paper, written exactly how you need it to be. In this text, paul connects this profound doctrine to how we should treat one another as christians.
But his commentary never gets bogged down in scholarly minutia. Paul also provides an excellent model for us today regarding the training and encouragement of young believers. He also uses the first person on several occasions referring to himself. Pangaeus, it was in pauls day a roman town, with a greekmacedonian population and a. They had sent him a financial gift through a man named epaphroditus. Pauls letter to the christians at philippi was written while he was in a prison somewhere phil 1. New testament scholar, ground breaking textual critic, and editor of the nicnt series, gordon d.
Goodreads members who liked pauls letter to the philippi. Epaphroditus also went above and beyond to help paul with his work philippians 2. Therefore if there is any consolation in christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the spirit, if any affection and mercy, a. Fee provides us with an insightful comparison of philippians to two types of letters in the grecoroman world, friendship letters and letters. One of the most famous and wellknown passages in all the bible is the famous hymn to christ the carmen christi of verses 611 of philippians 2. Letter to the philippians encyclopedia of the bible. The book of philippians is one of pauls most encouraging letters. Daily bible reading be in one accord philippians 2. Discover practical insights into the book of philippians. This would indicate that timothy was not involved in the actual authorship of the work. Mar 27, 2018 one of the most famous and wellknown passages in all the bible is the famous hymn to christ the carmen christi of verses 611 of philippians 2. In spite of this reliance on self and on god to provide phil 4. Written by paul from his prison cell, it calls us to rejoice together as we shine gospel. Pauls letter to the philippians new international commentary on.
The purpose of this section of the book of philippians was not to expound the logistics of the incarnation, but it was to serve as an example to the church at philippi of true humility, so that they would not strive with one another, but look to the needs of one another philippians 2. In addition, any relevant issues from the background of the letter will be examined. Philippians the book of philippians, in the bible, is depicted from the perspective of the apostle paul. There is also a beautiful exposition of christs humiliation and exaltation in philippians 2. It is widely believed to be a composite of material written at two different times see unity, in the first half of the second century. Additionally, the philippian church supported paul when he was imprisoned before acts 16. In this important commentary on this gem of a letter, fee delves deeply into pauls thought and pauls world. The apostle paul wrote his letter to the philippians to thank them. Youll find david jeremiahs introduction to the book of philippians on page 16531655 of the jeremiah study bible. Paul was capable of such inspired, poetic writing himself example. Introduction to the letter to the philippians new american bible pauls letter to the philippians prof.