Essay on "Exegesis of Philippians"

Essay 15 pages (5438 words) Sources: 7

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Exegesis of Philippians

Christians throughout history have faced struggles and trials, some affecting the Church as a whole, and some deeply personal, and the very same is true today. At times like this, when we feel alone, abandoned, and as if the horrors and abuses of the world might be too much to bear, it becomes almost too easy to turn away from God, and forget the promise of hope he offers. You might wonder how somebody can hope to trust and serve God when they are consumed by the hardships they face, and indeed, you maybe even question how God can expect you to continue to trust and serve Him, even in the midst of seemingly overwhelming difficulty and strife.

The most important thing to realize is that you're not alone in feeling this way. Every Christian goes through periods of difficulty, when they doubt their commitment to God and God's commitment to them. In fact, this was even true of the earliest Christians, and the Bible includes words of encouragement and hope that can help get you through the most difficult times. At a time when Christians were persecuted openly, Paul wrote to the church in Phillipi in an effort to encourage them in their faith, and to help them see the hope offered by God even in the darkest times. These words of encouragement have continued resonance for Christians living today, and can help you continue to trust and serve God to the best of your ability, even when it seems like abuses of the world are too much to bear.

Over the course of twelve days, this devotional guide will take you through Paul's entire letter to Philippians, pointing out how his words of encouragement can help you face the difficulties and struggles, both major and minor, that can sometimes threaten to overwhelm you. Each day begins with a discussion of certain passages in terms of its historical and theological context, and concludes with study questions that will help you relate what you've learned to your own life. At the end of this study, you'll be able to face any challenge secure in the knowledge that God is looking out for you, and that as long as you trust in Him, He will see you through anything the world might try and throw at you.

Day 1

Philippians 1:1-9

On the first day of this study, we'll examine the introduction of Paul's letter, and note how he begins with a message of thanksgiving and humility. In Philippians 1:1, Paul identifies himself first and foremost as a servant of Christ Jesus, and this is important because it points out the fundamental truth about all Christians; namely, that they are saved by Jesus, and it is through Him that their lives have meaning. This is important for all Christians to remember, but especially those facing hardship, because often it is easy to get caught up in the everyday roles we must fulfill as a way of coping with difficulty. We often hope to lose ourselves in the mundanity of the world, so that we can ignore, if only for a little while, the problems in our lives. While this might seem like a comforting idea, in reality you can never fix a problem by ignoring. Instead, focusing on our commitment to God as a servant of Jesus Christ reminds us that this relationship is what gives our lives true meaning, and that all the problems of the world can only disrupt this relationship if we let it. Paul is doing just that, because he manages to celebrate his role as a servant of Jesus even though he was actually in prison when he wrote this letter to the Philippians (MacArthur 5). "He took his joy in Christ into jail with him," and in the same way we can keep our joy in Christ in the midst of any difficulty (MacArthur 5).

Paul goes on to hope for "grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ," and in doing so he reminds his readers of the precisely what God promises them if they remain servants of Christ (Philippians 1:2). As John Walvoord notes, these words "beautifully express the content of Christian salvation and the triumph […] in suffering," because they remind the reader of the gift already given to them (Walvoord 25). As Paul noted in his letter to the Romans, "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," but through His grace, "the unmerited favor of God toward those who have trusted in Christ," we can all have the hope for salvation (Romans 3:23, Walvoord 25). Before even getting to the practical ways of dealing with hardship, Paul reminds us that we have already overcome, through Christ's sacrifice and promise, the greatest hardship of all; while alone we would have been condemned to death in sin, through Christ we can overcome death and have eternal salvation. We'll discuss what Paul means by "peace" in greater detail on day ten, but for now we can understand it to mean the peace of mind and spirit that comes with knowing we are saved.

After reminding us of the gift of grace granted through Jesus, Paul offers up thanksgiving and a prayer, expressing thanks that God "began a good work among you [and] will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:3). Paul prays that "your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what is best, so that on the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God" (Philippians 1:9-11). He is expressing the hope of all Christians, that we might continue to grow in our relationship with God and allow him to work through us.

Day 1 Study Questions

(Remember, there are no wrong answers to these questions. They are meant to challenge you, and help you to better understand yourself and your relationship with God. If you find yourself embarrassed or unhappy with your responses, then this is a sign that you are considering your Christian life more deeply, and should help provoke greater insights.)

After considering Paul's introduction to his letter, think about your own role as a servant of Jesus, and how it influences your everyday life. Does it constitute the most important part of your identity, or do you find yourself defining your life according to other roles, whether it be as a mother, a wife, a girlfriend, an employee, a student, or any other role you might fill? If it's the latter, why do you think this is?

When you face a problem, do you face it as a Christian, and think about how this problem relates to your life as a Christian, or do you think about how it affects other areas of your life, such as the different roles discussed above?

When you do consider your role as a Christian, how often do you consider the gift of grace? In other words, what feels more central to your identity as a servant of Jesus: your decision to become a Christian, or the gift you were granted upon placing your faith in Jesus? Does your own choice feel more important than God's choice to grant you grace?

Our role as a servant of Jesus gives our lives meaning, but is also gives them value. Has there ever been a time when you didn't feel valued by those around you? Has there ever been a time when you didn't feel valued by God? Which is more important to your feeling of self-worth?

How does the recognition of God's gift of grace affect your sense of self-worth?

Day 2

Philippians 1:12-26

After beginning his letter with thanksgiving and prayer, Paul cuts straight to the heart of his message to the Philippians. Referencing his confinement in prison, Paul says that "I want you to know, beloved, that what has happened to me has actually helped to spread the gospel," because everyone around him (including the prison guards!) is aware of his faith and the peace and joy it grants him (Philippians 1:12). Furthermore, his faithful response to his predicament has served to encourage other Christians, so that they "dare to speak the word with greater boldness and without fear" (Philippians 1:14). Even beyond the general hope and peace granted to him through his faith in Jesus, Paul is able to rejoice because he knows that his suffering actually serves to further God's will. Far from representing an abandonment of his commitment to God or God's commitment to him, Paul's hardships are a way for God to continually work through him. By framing his hardships in this way, Paul reveals that "it is the gospel, rather than [himself], which is on trial and needs defense," because our individual circumstances only matter inasmuch as they relate to our… READ MORE

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