Some notes for our midweek meeting on Wednesday 3rd:
Mid-Week
Meeting 3_6_20
Philippians
session 1
(These notes may get revised before the
meeting and added to it.)
God willing, we’re beginning a new series in
Paul’s Letter to the church at Philippi on our midweek meeting on Wednesday 3rd
June.
There’s no need to do any preparation, but if
you wanted to, you might like to read / or listen to Philippians (maybe more
than once) before the meeting. And perhaps check out Acts 16 too.
You may find the following notes and questions
helpful:
Introduction to Philippians
A letter about joyful partnership in the
gospel
A Christian letter of friendship and moral
exhortation based on mutual participation / partnership between Paul and the
Philippians in Christ, in the gospel (Fee)
The NIV Proclamation Bible “aim sentence”
summary of Philippians: Live joyfully as citizens of God’s kingdom in a manner
worthy of the gospel of Christ
Some titles of study guides / commentaries
etc.:
Shining with joy
Partners for life
Press on towards the goal
Jesus our joy
Philippi
– in modern day north eastern Greece - Acts 16:12, “a Roman colony and the
leading city of that district of Macedonia” – in the interior plain of eastern
Macedonia – The city was re-named after Philip II of Macedon, the father of
Alexander the Great in 356 BC. Octavian (later the Emperor Augustus) re-founded
the city as a Roman military colony, a bit like a mini-Rome, an outpost of
Rome, giving its populace Roman citizenship and the same legal rights as if it
were Rome.
Paul’s ministry in Philippi
– part of his second missionary journey - Acts 16:12-end – AD 49
The Conversion of the business woman, Lydia
Driving an evil spirit out of a slave girl
leads to Paul and Silas’ arrest, a miracle takes place while they are in prison
and the jailer and his household are converted
The magistrates are shocked when they discover
that they have mistreated Roman citizens and escort Paul and Silas from prison
and ask them to leave the town.
On his third missionary journey, Paul visits
Macedonia again later and sails from Philippi (Acts 20:1-6 esp. v6).
As Paul writes, he is likely under house
arrest in Rome (it has become clear to the whole praetorium (palace guard) that
Paul is in chains for Christ - 1:13-14, 17; 4:22; notice a reference to chains
in 1:7)
c. AD 62
The Philippians have sent Epaphroditus to care
for Paul’s needs (2:25) and with gifts for Paul (4:18). This letter is presumably
sent back with Epaphroditus 2:25-30; 4:18.
The Philippian church uniquely loyal and
generous to Paul – 4:15. 2 Cor 11:9 – a reference to the Philippians supporting
Paul when he was in Corinth?
1:1-11
Paul’s letters often dictated – did Timothy
write down the letter?
V1 – servants = douloi, bond-servants, slaves
V1 - Timothy – see also 2:19-24 – 1 and 2 Timothy
How does Paul describe himself and how does he
describe the Philippians in v1?
V1 – “saints” – the holy ones – a way of
describing all God’s people as holy, set apart to belong to him, separate from
sin
We might expect him to say, “Saint Paul to the
Philippians” but he says “Slave Paul to the Philippians Saints” (cf. Motyer,
BST, p24)
How should the Philippians think of themselves
according to verse 1?
Where are Paul’s readers according to verse 1?
What is their dual location?
What implications does this have?
V1 – “overseers” - episkopois from which we
get our word episcopal – traditionally bishops – Acts 20:28 (v17 – elders /
presbyters); 1 Timothy 3:1-2; Titus 1:7 = elder / presbyter in vv5 and 6; probably
in the New Testament the same as presbyters / elders – church ministers. (Titus
might be said to fulfil a role a bit more like a C of E bishop today as Paul
tasks him to appoint elders in every town).
V1 – “deacons” = servant, waiting man, helper,
minister – cf. Acts 6:1-6 (v1, daily distribution of food = service, diakonia,
v2 – to serve, diakovein) - 1 Timothy 3:8–13;
Romans 16:1
What can we learn about the relationship
between Paul and the Philippians from this passage? (e.g. v5, v7-8)
V8 – the word for “affection” is the word for
guts / intestines; KJV “bowels”
How might this affect our relationships?
What is Paul thankful for about the
Philippians? (v3-4, 7-8)
V5 – koinonia – communion - fellowship – participation
- partnership – sharing – about what they have in common - often a business
partnership – similarly v7, sugkoinwnous, sharers, partakers
Why is Paul confident about the Philippians in
v6?
What’s the logic of that?
Do you find this passage remarkable given Paul’s
circumstances?
What were his circumstances?
What is he doing? (vv3-4)
How does he say he’s feeling? (v4)
What’s the secret of Paul’s joy?
Where do you think it comes from?
What does Paul pray for the Philippians and
why? (vv9-10)
What priorities does his prayer reveal?
V10 – pure = sincere – the word comes from two
words “sun” and “to judge” and refers to holding something (e. g. a piece of
pottery which may have had flaws concealed with wax) up to the sun to judge its
authenticity.
How does this compare with our prayers?
What can we learn from Paul’s praying?
Any other questions or comments?
Sum up? What difference should this passage
make to us?
Points for praise or prayer in the light of
this?
Next week Philippians 1:12-end
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