Philippians 2

Philippians 2:1-18

Sanctification – Philippians 2:1-18 reveals God’s plan for sanctifying the believers. In this section Paul exhorts the Philippians to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12). Paul uses Jesus as his second example of someone who fulfilled the Father’s will in that He left His glory to come to earth and serve the plan of the Father, and was then ushered into His own glory as His reward from the Father (Philippians 2:5-11). Paul asks the Philippians to have the same mind as Christ in following His example of suffering and sacrifice. In this passage of Scripture, Paul is going to give them the secret to how to endure suffering as he exhorts them to follow Christ’s example (Philippians 2:12-18). He will teach them to have an attitude of humbling themselves before God and others. It is this humility of spirit that grants a person the inner strength to endure suffering in the process of sanctification. Outline – Here is a proposed outline: A. A Description of Christ’s Sacrifice — Philippians 2:1-11B. Exhortation to Follow His Example — Philippians 2:12-18 —

Philippians 2:12-18

Exhortation to Follow His Example – After Paul gives the example of Christ sacrifice, he then exhorts the saints to humble themselves in a similar manner. Philippians 2:13 — “For it is God which worketh in you”- Comments - The same verb ένεργεω is used in 1 Thessalonians 2:13 says, “God which effectively worketh also in you that believe.” Philippians 2:13 — Scripture References - Note: Hebrews 13:21, “Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” Philippians 2:12-13 — Comments - Paul tells the Philippians in Philippians 2:12-13 to work out their own salvation with fear and trembling for God is at work in them. We know from Philippians 1:6 that God was working in their lives in order to complete the plan and purpose that He had for each one of them. Paul simply asks the Philippians to do their part by yielding to the process of sanctification in their lives. God will put His desires within the believer’s spirit, and He will him the physical, mental, and spiritual strength to endure. Philippians 1:6, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” Philippians 2:14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings: Philippians 2:14 — Comments - Murmurings and disputings are an outward sign of an inward rebellion against the Lord. Such rebellion against God’s commandments was considered a great sin against God with the children of Israel in the wilderness, punishable by death (1 Corinthians 10:10). 1 Corinthians 10:10, “Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.” Philippians 2:15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Philippians 2:16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. Philippians 2:16 — “neither laboured in vain” – Comments - One of the most painful agonies of life, besides the experiences of losing loved ones, divorce, etc., would be the loss of something that a person has given years of hard labor to achieve. The simple loss of computer files that cannot be recovered, the loss of property by thief, the loss something that a person has put their heart into. Paul is expressing here a determination to avoid the agony of losing the work that he had given his life to accomplish. He mentions this concern of loss to other churches also (1 Corinthians 15:10; 1 Corinthians 15:58, Galatians 2:2; Galatians 4:11, 1 Thessalonians 3:5). 1 Corinthians 15:10, “But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” 1 Corinthians 15:58, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” Galatians 2:2, “And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.” Galatians 4:11, “I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.” 1 Thessalonians 3:5, “For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.” Philippians 2:14-16 — Comments – Shining Forth the Gospel in a Corrupt Nation - I have lived in an underdeveloped nation as a missionary where corruption is widespread. It is easy to complain about the problems around me while living “in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation.” Paul tells the Philippians to shine as lights by “holding forth the word of life” rather than murmuring and complaining. We are to speak God’s Word in faith so that others may see the light of the Gospel and be converted. Only then can a people contribute positively to a society and help bring it out of corruption. Philippians 2:17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all. Philippians 2:17 — “Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith” - Comments - Paul is sacrificing his life and giving of himself in order to bring the Philippians to a greater faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Philippians 2:17 — Comments - In the natural Paul’s death looks like the Roman government is arresting and convicting a troublemaker, one whose death is necessary because of disturbing entire cities and regions of Asia Minor. However, from a divine perspective Paul is offering himself on the altar of ultimate sacrifice unto Jesus. It is a sacrifice that is well-pleasing unto God. Philippians 2:18 For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.

Philippians 2:19-30

Divine Service – Philippians 2:19-30 reveals God’s plan for divine service for the believers. Paul uses Timothy (Philippians 2:19-23) and Epaphroditus (Philippians 2:25-30) as examples of men who served with Paul in the ministry to fulfill God’s plan of redemption. All four individuals that Paul uses as an example (Christ Jesus, Paul, Timothy, Epaphroditus) may represent the levels or ranks of apostolic authority in the Church. All were sent out by God to fulfill a task. Kenneth Hagin teaches about four levels of anointing in the five-fold ministries. He says that Jesus represented the first and highest level of anointing; the twelve apostles of the Lamb, including Paul the apostle, served at a second level of anointing; the second generation of ministers, including Luke, John Mark, Timothy, etc, served at a third level of anointing; and all other succession of ministers until today serve at the fourth, and lowest level of anointing. Thus, it is possible that Christ Jesus, Paul, Timothy, and Epaphroditus represent these four levels.[68] [68] Kenneth Hagin, He Gave Gifts Unto Men: A Biblical Perspective of Apostles, Prophets, and Pastors (Tulsa, Oklahoma: Faith Library Publications, c1992, 1993), 8-16.Outline – Here is a proposed outline: A. The Example of Timothy — Philippians 2:19-24B. The Example of Epaphroditus — Philippians 2:25-30

Philippians 2:25-30

The Example of Epaphroditus – In Philippians 2:25-30 Paul uses one of their own church members as an example of someone who has forsaken his own will to do the will of the Father. Philippians 2:25 Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants. Philippians 2:25 — “and fellowsoldier” – Comments – Because the city of Philippi was a Roman colony, it served also as a military outpost. The citizens of this city understood military language for the city received and hosted Roman soldiers. Paul appears to take advantage of this military atmosphere to compare Epaphroditus to a soldier of the Cross of Christ so that the Philippians would understand his role in serving the Lord. Philippians 2:25 — “but your messenger”- Comments – Note in Philippians 4:18, Epathroditus brought a gift to Paul from the Philippians as well as informing him of the state of the church. Thus, Paul is able to rightfully call him “your messenger” or “apostle.” Philippians 4:18, “But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.” Philippians 2:27 — “For indeed he was sick nigh unto death” – Comments - We have ancient accounts of epidemics taking place in the city of Rome. During one of these epidemics the emperor fell sick to the point that sacrifices were made in the temples for his recovery[69] Thus, we can imagine in a heavily populated city like Rome that disease would be an everyday concern. It may be that Epaphroditus fell sick from one of the diseases that we passing through the city at the time of his visit. [69] Philostratus writes, “Just then a distemper broke out in Rome, called by the physicians influenze; and it was attended, it seems, by coughing, and the voice of speakers was affected by it. Now the temples were full of people supplicating the gods, because Nero had a swollen throat, and his voice was hoarse.” (The Life of Apollonius of Tyana 4.44) See Philostratus: The Life of Apollonius of Tyana, vol. 1, trans. F. C. Conybeare, in The Loeb Classical Library, eds. T. E. Page, E. Capps, and W. H. D. Rouse (London: William Heinemann, 1912), 453.Philippians 2:30 — Comments - In Philippians 4:18 Epaphroditus brought a gift to Paul from the Philippians, thus being called “your messenger” or “apostle.” Philippians 4:18, “But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.”