Exposition on Philippians

Contents

Reading pages: 0–3.21 · 4.1–4.22

1. 0Pelagius's argument: the Philippians, faithful defenders of the gospel, are urged not to fear Paul's sufferings but to contend for Christ.
2. 1.1Paul and Timothy greet the saints at Philippi with their bishops and deacons.
3. 1.2The "bishops" of Philippi are presbyters, since one city could not have several bishops.
4. 1.3Paul gives thanks whenever he remembers the Philippians.
5. 1.4Paul prays for them with joy, not grief over their sins.
6. 1.5The Philippians have shared in Paul's preaching from the start.
7. 1.6God, who began the work in them by teaching, will complete it until their death and Christ's coming.
8. 1.7Paul's love for the Philippians survives his chains, and they share both his suffering and his joy.
9. 1.8Paul longs for them with Christ's own affection.
10. 1.9Paul prays that their love may grow in knowledge.
11. 1.10Knowledge leads to sincerity, and sincerity to abundant righteousness like Christ's.
12. 1.12Paul consoles the Philippians: his imprisonment at Rome has advanced the gospel.
13. 1.13Everyone sees Paul is in chains for Christ, not for a crime.
14. 1.14Paul's chains have made other believers bold.
15. 1.15Some preach from envy of Paul, others from good will.
16. 1.16Those who preach from love know Paul is appointed to defend the gospel.
17. 1.17Some preach to increase Paul's troubles.
18. 1.18Paul rejoices that Christ is preached whatever the motive.
19. 1.19Even hostile preaching will turn out for Paul's good, since it spreads the church.
20. 1.20Paul is unashamed in chains, unlike us, and Christ will be magnified whether he lives or dies.
21. 1.21Paul lives only to build up Christ's body; death is gain.
22. 1.22Lemma of Phil 1:22.
23. 1.23Paul is torn between departing to Christ and remaining.
24. 1.24Paul shows death is not to be feared and promises prophetically to remain for their sake.
25. 1.25Paul knows he will remain for their progress and joy.
26. 1.26Paul's return will increase their joy.
27. 1.27The Philippians must live worthily of the gospel, united like the first church.
28. 1.28Persecution is no cause for fear, since it profits believers as it did the apostles.
29. 1.29God gives the occasion of faith through Christ's coming, but faith itself is voluntary; suffering for Christ brings the reward of martyrdom.
30. 1.30The Philippians' struggle is the same as Paul's, in which he glories.
31. 2.1Lemma of Phil 2:1.
32. 2.2Paul asks them to complete his joy by unity in love.
33. 2.3Counting others as superiors makes patience under injury easy.
34. 2.4Believers must seek others' good.
35. 2.5Paul urges Christ's humility; Pelagius notes a common divinity-based reading and takes the passage of Christ as man.
36. 2.6Christ was in God's form, or sinless in God's image, and equal with God.
37. 2.7Christ hid his divinity in humility and truly became man, "likeness" implying reality.
38. 2.8Christ's death on the cross is the example of perfect obedience.
39. 2.9The Godhead exalted the humbled man Christ, whose example of service believers must follow.
40. 2.10All creation adores the man assumed with the Word, who shares the Father's glory.
41. 2.12The Philippians must work out their salvation with reverent fear, especially in Paul's absence.
42. 2.13God works our willing by persuasion and promises, and our accomplishing by his word; both remain ours as well.
43. 2.14God's children must obey without complaint and shine blameless in a perverse world.
44. 2.16The Philippians' steadfastness will be Paul's glory on the day of Christ.
45. 2.17Paul rejoices even at the prospect of death, since their faith is his offering to God.
46. 2.18The Philippians should share Paul's joy at his possible death.
47. 2.19Paul hopes to send Timothy, speaking cautiously in hope in the Lord.
48. 2.20Lemma of Phil 2:20.
49. 2.21Others seek their own interests, not Christ's.
50. 2.22Timothy has served with Paul like a son.
51. 2.23Lemma of Phil 2:23.
52. 2.24Paul hopes to come himself, not only to send Timothy.
53. 2.25Epaphroditus, Paul's fellow worker and the Philippians' apostle, is being sent back.
54. 2.26Epaphroditus longed for them and was troubled that they had heard of his illness.
55. 2.27God spared Epaphroditus for further fruitful work and spared Paul further grief.
56. 2.28Paul sends Epaphroditus quickly for their joy and his relief.
57. 2.29The Philippians are to welcome Epaphroditus and honour such ministers.
58. 2.30Epaphroditus risked death to serve Paul in prison on the Philippians' behalf.
59. 3.1Paul repeats his teaching because the Philippians need it, as a garden needs frequent water.
60. 3.2Paul warns against false apostles who tear down the gospel.
61. 3.3Christians are the true circumcision, cutting off the vices of the whole flesh.
62. 3.4Paul had every fleshly ground for confidence: born a Jew, circumcised on the eighth day, a Pharisee.
63. 3.6Paul excelled in the law's righteousness but now counts it nothing beside faith in Christ.
64. 3.7The law's gains were real in their time but are worthless beside Christ, as bronze beside gold.
65. 3.8Paul counts everything refuse beside knowing Christ.
66. 3.9Paul seeks not the righteousness of the law, earned by labour, but God's righteousness given to Christians by faith alone.
67. 3.10Knowing Christ's resurrection leads one to avoid sin.
68. 3.11Paul strives for the resurrection of the perfect, not the general resurrection all must share.
69. 3.12Paul has not yet reached perfection but presses on to the merit of his apostleship.
70. 3.13Paul forgets past labours and presses toward the gospel's perfection.
71. 3.14Only the victorious will receive the heavenly prize.
72. 3.15The perfect forget the old and pursue the new; perfection of knowledge is meant here.
73. 3.16Believers must walk in the perfection of the new covenant, not only know it.
74. 3.17The Philippians should imitate Paul and those like him.
75. 3.18The enemies of the cross are those who trust in the law's ceremonies, or the Jovinianists who rejected fasting.
76. 3.19The enemies of the cross serve their belly and glory in circumcision.
77. 3.20The believer's citizenship is in heaven, from which Christ will come.
78. 3.21Christ will transform believers' bodies, as the transfiguration showed for the living and the dead.
79. 4.1The Philippians are Paul's joy and crown; their hope rests in faith in Christ alone.
80. 4.2Paul urges two learned women to agree in the Lord.
81. 4.3Paul asks his companion to help the women who taught at home, and assures all his helpers their names are in the book of life.
82. 4.4Paul repeats his call to rejoice and asks that their gentleness be known to all.
83. 4.5Believers need not be anxious under persecution, because the Lord is near.
84. 4.6Believers should pray with thanksgiving, not anxiety or complaint.
85. 4.7Christ's peace, which prayed for his persecutors, overcomes every rage.
86. 4.8Human nature knows how to love the good, and believers must dwell on every virtue.
87. 4.9Believers must not only think on virtues but practise them, and then God will be with them.
88. 4.10Paul rejoices that the Philippians' care for him has revived.
89. 4.11Paul rejoices for their fruit, not his need, since he is content in all things.
90. 4.12Paul is neither elated by plenty nor broken by want.
91. 4.13Christ strengthens Paul by understanding and teaching.
92. 4.14Paul's contentment does not lessen the reward of their generosity.
93. 4.15The Philippians alone supported Paul from the beginning.
94. 4.16The Philippians supported Paul repeatedly.
95. 4.17Paul values the spiritual fruit of their giving, not the gift.
96. 4.18The Philippians' gift is a sacrifice pleasing to God, as alms are when offered by the holy.
97. 4.19The perfect desire only God's riches, which he will supply.
98. 4.21Paul greets the saints, which shows that some people were truly holy and not sinners, so holiness is possible.
99. 4.22Paul sends greetings from the saints, especially converts in Caesar's household.