PHILIPPIANS - Overview

BOOK ORIGIN

• This warm and upbeat letter was written while Paul was imprisoned in Rome around 61 AD

BOOK OUTLINE

• The outline of contents of Philippians is divided in seven parts:

1. Introduction (ch 1:1-1:11)
2. Paul’s Imprisonment (ch 1:12-1:30)
3. Imitation Christ’s Humility (ch 2:1-2:18)
4. News of Epaphroditus (ch 2:19-2:30)
5. Warnings (ch 3)
6. Personal Exhortations (ch 4:2-4:9)
7. Thanks and Farewell (ch 4:10-4:23)  <R1795>

BOOK COMMENTS

• Paul, Silas and Luke spread God's message across Europe and region in a short time

• Paul and Silas were thrown in jail; they sang and doors are miraculously opened

• Paul remembers how God saved him and rejoiced, and led the jailor to Christ

• In this context, God planted a church in Philippi that had emphasis of evangelism

• As they shared the gospel, Lydia and family were saved

• Paul calls out demon from woman and her owners get angry because their source of income was now gone

• Despite their circumstances, the key word in Philippians is ‘joy’ or ‘rejoice’ which occurs 14 times

• The book of Philippians is a beautiful expression of the values and motives of Paul himself, and thus an example for Christians of every era  <R1795>