NIV Life Application Study Bible, Third Edition - Flipbook - Page 76
page 2060
Philippians
Vital Statistics
PURPOSE:
To thank the Philippians for
the gift they had sent and to
strengthen these believers by
showing them that true joy comes
from Jesus Christ alone
AUTHOR:
Paul
ORIGINAL AUDIENCE:
The church in Philippi
DAT E W R I T T E N :
Approximately AD 61
WHERE WRITTEN:
Rome, during Paul’s imprisonment
there
SETTING:
Paul and his companions had
started the church in Philippi on
his second missionary journey
(Acts 16:11-40). This was the first
church established in Europe.
The Philippian church had sent
a gift with Epaphroditus (one of
their members) to be delivered to
Paul (Philippians 4:18). Paul was
in a Roman prison at the time. He
wrote this letter to thank them for
their gift and to encourage them
in their faith.
KEY VERSE:
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will
say it again: Rejoice!” (4:4)
KEY PEOPLE:
Paul, Timothy, Epaphroditus,
Euodia, Syntyche
KEY PLACE:
Philippi
THE WORD happiness evokes visions of unwrapping
gifts on Christmas morning, strolling hand in hand
with the one you love, celebrating your birthday in
your favorite way, responding with unbridled laughter to a comedian, or vacationing in an exotic locale.
Everyone wants to be happy; we make chasing this
elusive ideal a lifelong pursuit: spending money, collecting things, and searching for new experiences. But if we
are only happy when things go well and we get what we want, then what
happens when the toys rust, loved ones die, health deteriorates, money
is scarce, and the party’s over? Can we still be happy? Can we still find
profound joy in our circumstances?
Philippians is Paul’s joy letter. It contrasts the world’s view of happiness,
or joy, with God’s perspective. True joy is deep and strong, not superficial.
It is the quiet, confident assurance of God’s love and work in our lives—
that he will be there no matter what! Our happiness should not depend
on what happens to us but on what happens in us—the transformation
that takes place when we put our trust in Jesus Christ and his Holy Spirit
comes to live in us, giving us God’s perspective on life and all the ups and
downs that come with it.
The church in the Macedonian city of Philippi had been a great encouragement to Paul. The Philippian believers had enjoyed a very special
relationship with him, so he wrote them a personal expression of his love
and affection. They had brought him great joy (4:1). Philippians is also a
joyful letter because it emphasizes the real joy of the Christian life. The
concept of rejoicing or joy appears over and over in this book, and the
pages radiate this positive message, culminating in the exhortation to
“rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (4:4).
In a life dedicated to serving Christ, Paul had faced excruciating poverty, abundant wealth, and everything in between. He even wrote this joyfilled letter from prison. Whatever the circumstances, Paul had learned to
be content (4:11-12), finding real joy as he focused all his attention and
energy on knowing Christ (3:8) and obeying him (3:12-13).
Paul’s desire to know Christ above all else is wonderfully expressed in
the following words: “What is more, I consider everything a loss because
of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake
I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and
be found in him. . . . I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his
resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his
death” (3:8-10). May we share Paul’s aspiration and seek to know Jesus
Christ more and more. Rejoice with Paul in Philippians, and rededicate
yourself to finding real and lasting joy and happiness in your relationship
with Jesus Christ.
The Blueprint
1. Joy in suffering
(1:1-30)
2. Joy in serving
(2:1-30)
3. Joy in believing
(3:1-21)
4. Joy in giving
(4:1-23)
Although Paul was writing from prison, joy is a dominant theme in this letter. The
secret of his joy is grounded in his relationship with Christ. People today desperately want to be happy but are tossed and turned by daily successes, failures, and
inconveniences. Christians are to be joyful in every circumstance, even when things
are going badly, even when we feel like complaining, even when no one else is
joyful. Christ still reigns, and we still know him, so we can rejoice at all times.