Swindoll Study Bible and Searching the Scriptures - Flipbook - Page 14
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The Letters of Paul | PHILIPPIANS
Joy in Living
for Christ
Joy in Serving
Christ in Unity
Joy in Knowing
Christ
Joy in Resting
in Christ
Philippians
1
Philippians
2
Philippians
3
Philippians
4
Even when we don’t
get what we want
In spite of
circumstances
Even with conflicts
Starts with right
attitude
Maintained through
right theology
Encouraged by right
models
A warning
A testimony
A goal
A command
Unity
Peace
Final words
Christ
My life
My model
My goal
My contentment
Spirit
His help (Phil. 1:19)
His fellowship (Phil. 2:1)
His worship (Phil. 3:3)
His peace (Phil. 4:7)
Positive
Reaction
To difficulty:
“I want you to know,
my dear brothers and
sisters, that everything
that has happened to
me here has helped to
spread the Good
News.” (Phil. 1:12)
Uniqueness
Tone
Key Words
Theme
To the past:
To every situation:
“Forgetting the past
To others:
and looking forward to “Not that I was ever in
“Do everything without
what lies ahead, I press need, for I have learned
complaining and
on to reach the end of how to be content with
arguing.”
whatever I have.”
the race and receive
(Phil. 2:14)
(Phil. 4:11)
the heavenly prize.”
(Phil. 3:13-14)
Not one quotation from the Old Testament; Christ mentioned over forty times; most positive
and joyful of all of Paul’s letters, yet written while he was chained to a Roman guard
Warm, encouraging, affirming
“Rejoice,” “Christ,” “mind,” “act”
By centering our lives around Christ, we can experience true joy.
Key Verse
Philippians 1:21
Christ in
Philippians
Jesus is the Son of God from heaven, who humbled Himself by becoming human,
suffered for us, and was exalted by the Father (Phil. 2:5-11).
Greetings from Paul
1
This letter is from Paul and Timothy, slaves of
Christ Jesus.
I am writing to all of God’s holy people in Philippi
who belong to Christ Jesus, including the church
leaders* and deacons.
2 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give
you grace and peace.
Paul’s Thanksgiving and Prayer
3 Every
time I think of you, I give thanks to my God.
4 Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with
joy, 5 for you have been my partners in spreading the
Good News about Christ from the time you first heard
it until now. 6 And I am certain that God, who began the
good work within you, will continue his work until it is
finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
1:1 Or overseers, or bishops.
ideas. It says God, our heavenly Father, “began the good work”
within us, and He will “continue his work until it is finally fin
ished.” This good work He began is our salvation. God started
the work at our conversion, and He promises to continue
the process of spiritual growth until we see our Lord Jesus at
death—or when He returns. In other words, what God did at
salvation—giving us eternal life—He also promises to do by
His power for the rest of our lives: to take over what we cannot
handle and to perfect us for His glory until the last day we are
on this earth. He is committed to our development.
What a great thought. Our loving, gracious heavenly
Father, who came to our rescue when we were converted,
comes to our rescue every day now that we have been
saved. He wants to make it possible for us to reflect His
character. That’s why He has given us His Spirit.
LIVING INSIGHTS
THE GOOD WORK Phil. 1:6 This verse contains two basic