Search The Scriptures —Study 6 — Philippians 3:12-21

Study 6 From the Book of Philippians is: Philippians 3:12-21

1.     Verses 12-17.  Once a person knows he is ‘saved’ or ‘justified’, what attitude should he adopt to life?  Even after he has ‘grown up’ as a Christian and become ‘mature’, what concern should still dominate his thoughts? What is he never justified in doing? How in consequence ought I to be acting?

2.     Verses 18-21.  What kind of outlook, interest and expectation should a Christian have, and why? By contrast, what kind of appetite and interests dominates some?  What difference should the cross of Christ make to my daily life? Cf. Gal. 5:24; 6:14.

Notes

1.     Verse 12, 15. ‘Perfect’ or ‘mature’: the Greek word means ‘having reached its end’. It was used of persons who were full-grown or mature.

2.     Verse 20. The thought here is that Christians here on earth are a colony of heavenly citizen, just as the Philippians’ were proud to think of themselves as a colony of Romans citizens.  Cf. Acts 16: 12, 21

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Search The Scriptures —Study 5 — Philippians 3:1-11

Study   From the Book of Philippians is: Philippians 3:1-11

Paul now turns to another subject—possibly, as some think, resuming his writing after a break.  His subject now is the essential character of the Christian life from its beginning in justification by faith to its glorious consummation at the coming of the Lord; and he illustrates the theme from his own life.

1.     What three characteristics of the true people of God are given in verse 3? How far are they true of me?

2.     Examine carefully the reasons for ‘confidence in the flesh’ which Paul enumerates in verses 4-6. Are there not many church-goers today who are relying for salvation on just such grounds as these? What, in contrast to all this, is the position of the true Christian? What choice does Paul show needs to be made in order to become one?

3.     Faith in Christ as the sole ground for acceptance with God led, in Paul’s case, to intense desire to know Christ; nothing else seemed to him of any value (verses 8, 9). Along what two lines in particular did he want a deeper knowledge (verse 10), and to what end (verse 11)?

Notes

1.     Verse 2. Note the empathic ‘look out’, repeated three times. A word meaning ‘incision’ or ‘mutilation’ is here used instead of ‘circumcision’, because the circumcision on which they insisted was harmful rather than helpful to spiritual well-being. Cf.  Gal. 5:2-4; 6:12-15.

2.     Verses 3, 4. ‘Confidence in the flesh’: i.e., reliance upon outward privilege and personal merit. ‘We are the true circumcision’: i.e, the true people of God. Cf. Rom. 2:17, 23, 28,29.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 4 — Philippians 2:19-30

Study 4 From the Book of Philippians is: Philippians 2:19-30

1.     What is said here or can be inferred about the character and career of Epaphroditus? Note carefully how the two workers here mentioned personally exemplified the virtues considered under the previous study, i.e., they had the mind of Christ. Compare verses 20, 21 with 4, 5; and verses 29, 30 with 5:8. Examine your own life in relation to these standards. 

2.     What phrase occurs three times in this passage and several other times in the letter? What clue does 4:2 give as to one reason for this repeated emphasis? Are our hopes for the future and our relationships under the same sway as Paul’s?

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Search The Scriptures—Study 3 — Philippians 1:27-2:18

Study 3 From the Book of Philippians is: Philippians 1:27-2:18

1.     Make a list of the things (a) to be coveted, and (b) to be avoided in one’s life as a member of a company of Christians.  Then pray, and by God’s grace determine, that these things shall be (a) realized and (b) avoided in your own Christian fellowship. Note especially the direct connection between these things and witness to those who are not Christians.

2.     What two qualities of personal character and conduct are here shown to be supremely exemplified in the incarnation and the redemptive work of the Son of God? What ground have we for hoping to be able to have and to express the same qualities?  How ought we to act in consequence?

3.     Why does disunity amongst Christians discredit the gospel? What does Paul here teach about (a) the motive for unity, and (b)the power by which it may be achieved?

Note. 2:6-11. It is generally thought that these verses are here quoted by Paul from an early Christian creedal hymn. It is worth committing this section to memory and exploring it in depth.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 2 — Philippians 1:12-26

Study 2 From the Book of Philippians is: Philippians 1:12-26

1.     The things that had happened to Paul must have seemed calamitous to those who loved him.  Why did he himself view the situation differently? What lesson about suffering may a Christian draw from Paul’s attitude?

2.     What was Paul’s attitude as a Christian (a) to life, and (b) to death?  What were his reasons for choosing one rather than the other?  What were his overriding concerns?  Have you faced every possibility that lies before you in the same way?

3.     What temptation in Christian service is it clear from this passage that Paul steadfastly resisted?  How had others succumbed? What kind of slant might their preaching have had in relation to Paul? In what shape does the same temptation come to us? What should be our chief reason for Joy? Cf. Jn. 3:25-30.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 1 — Philippians 1: 1-11

Study 1 From the Book of Philippians is: Philippians 1:1-11

1.     Verses 3-7. Why is the joy with which Paul remembers the Philippians remarkable? Cf. Acts 12:22; 1Thes. 2:2. How had they made up for the treatment given to Paul at the start? What made him sure that they were now permanently on the right road?

2.     Verses 8:11. What twofold preparations for the return of Christ does Paul pray that the Philippians will make?  Is it really, they who are to make it? Cf. 2:12, 13. How will this preparation be reflected in their character and behaviour? Express Paul’s petitions for them in your own words, and then use them in your own praying.

3.     Make a list of the places in the Epistle where Paul stresses that the is writing to all the Philippians Christians.  (see especially verses 1, 3, 7, 8.) Does any part of the letter suggest a reason for this?

Notes

1.     Verse 1. ‘Saints’; a name for the people of Christ as ‘holy’ or set apart for God’s possession and service.

2.     Verse 5.  See 4:15, 16.

3.     Verse 6. ‘The day of Jesus Christ’: i.e., the coming day of His manifestation in glory, in the light of which the truth about men’s lives will be revealed. Cf. 2:16; 1 Cor. 1:7, 8; 3:13; 2 Thes. 1:9, 10.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 0 — Introduction of Philippians

Study 0 From the Book of Philippians is: The Introduction of the Book of Philippians

Paul had a special love for the Christians in the church at Philippi (see 1:8; 4:1). From the beginning, they had entered into his labours and sufferings with financial support and prayerful personal interest (1:5, 19; 4:15, 16).  Shortly before this letter was written they had greatly encouraged him by sending a gift to Rome, where he was a prisoner (4:10, 14, 18). His letter is marked to an unusual degree by personal affection for his readers, and consists largely of an account of his personal experience of Christ, with special reference to his circumstances as a prisoner.

The church in Philippi seems to have been singularly free from both serious error in doctrine and moral lapses.  At the same time, there were threatening dangers. A measure of friction had arisen between certain members, and in the earlier part of the letter Paul urges the importance of being of one mind in the Lord. He also warns them against other dangers, and urges them to stand fast in the Lord. It is in this connection that the main doctrinal passages of the letter occur, namely in 2:5-11 and 3:1-21.

The letter is dominated by a spirit of joy and peace, and is an outstanding witness to the power of Christ to lift the person weighed down with the sorrow and suffering of earth to rejoicing and gladness in the Lord.

Search The Scriptures —Study 5 — Lamentations 5

Study 5 From the Book of Lamentations is: Lamentations 5

With this lesson, we end the book of Lamentations. Tomorrow, we will delve into the book of Philippians.

1.     How would you infer from this chapter that it was written some time after Jerusalem had fallen?  How would you sum up the conditions in the land?  How does this chapter illustrate what is said in Heb. 12:11? Contrast the present disposition of the people with what they formerly said (Je. 5:11, 12; 18:18).  What did they still lack?

2.     With verse 16, cf. Je.13:18, and with verse 21, Je. 31:18. Consider how much God’s word spoken before through Jeremiah meant to the people at such a time.  Cf. Jn. 13:19; 14:29; 16:4

Note. Verse 9. A reference to the danger of attack from desert robbers when the people ventured out to reap the harvest.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 4 —Lamentations 4

Study 4 From the Book of Lamentations is: Lamentations 4

1.     Make a list of the statements in this chapter which emphasize the extraordinary severity of the divine judgment.  Notice how all the classes of the community are affected.  What is the particular cause here assigned for so great a calamity? Cf. Je. 23:9-14.

2.     With verse 17, cf. Je. 2:36, 37; 7, 8; and with verse 20, cf. Ps. 146:3, 4; Je. 17: 5, 6.

Notes

1.     Verse 6a. Note the variants in mg.

2.     Verse 20. A reference to King Zedekiah; cf. Je. 39:4-7

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Search The Scriptures —Study 3 — Lamentations 3

Study 3 From the Book of Lamentations is: Lamentations 3

1.     In verses 1-20 the poet, speaking in the name of the community, pours out his heart ‘like water before the presence of the Lord’ (2:19). Notice the change from the minor to the major key at verse 21. What causes it? Do the psalmists’ experiences in Pss. 42:1-5 and 73:16, 17a provide a clue?

2.     Consider how remarkable is the appearance here, in verse 22-42, of such a noble expression of assurance concerning God’s mercies. What aspects of God’s character are most emphasized in these verses, and what should be our attitude of mind an spirit in time of affliction or chastisement? Cf. Joel 2:12-14. Why is it both foolish and wrong for a man to complain and murmur in time of chastisement (verses 37-39)? Cf. Je. 5:19-24; Pr. 19:3.

3.     In verses 43-54 the poet, in the name of the people, again pours out his heart before the Lord and, having done so, is strengthened to pray again, and receives comfort.  What is his prayer (verses 55-66)? What factors in the poet’s situation might lead us not to judge this prayer for requital too harshly?

Notes

1.     Verse 20. An alternative reading is, ‘Thou wilt surely remember and bow down to me’ (Gottwald)

2.     Verse 38.  The word ‘evil’ is used here in the sense of misfortune or calamity. Cf. Am. 3:6; Is. 45:7.

3.     Verse 63. Cf. Jb. 30:9

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