Philippians: Joy in Christ, Whatever the Circumstances

Background

Author

Paul, writing with Timothy (1:1). Philippians is one of the letters that virtually all scholars, including skeptical ones, accept as genuinely Paul's.

Date

Most likely around AD 60–62, during Paul's house arrest in Rome (Acts 28:30–31). Some scholars propose an earlier imprisonment in Ephesus (mid-50s) or Caesarea.

Setting

Philippi was a Roman colony in Macedonia, proud of its citizenship. Paul founded the church on his second missionary journey (Acts 16). Lydia, a seller of purple, was the first convert; a slave girl was delivered from a spirit; Paul and Silas were beaten and jailed, and the jailer and his household believed. The church supported Paul financially more than once (4:15–16).

Purpose

To thank the church for the gift Epaphroditus brought (4:10–18), update them on Paul's situation, send Epaphroditus home, urge unity and humility, warn against teachers who insisted on circumcision, and encourage joy in the Lord.

Structure of the book

• 1:1–11 Greeting, thanksgiving, and prayer
• 1:12–30 Paul's circumstances and the gospel's advance
• 2:1–30 The mind of Christ; Timothy and Epaphroditus
• 3:1–21 Righteousness from God; pressing on
• 4:1–23 Unity, peace, contentment, and thanks

What you will be able to do

1. Describe the founding of the church at Philippi (Acts 16) and the circumstances of the letter.
2. Trace Paul's argument and the theme of joy through the letter.
3. Explain Philippians 2:5–11 and its importance for what the earliest Christians believed about Jesus.
4. Contrast righteousness 'of the law' with righteousness 'which is of God by faith.'
5. Use Philippians as evidence in conversations about the origins of Christian belief.
6. Apply the letter's teaching on unity, humility, prayer, and contentment.

How grading works

Lessons

1. 1

   Partners in the Gospel

   Philippians 1:1–11 (with Acts 16) · about 50 minutes · read free, no account needed

2. 2

   To Live Is Christ

   Philippians 1:12–30 · about 50 minutes · free account

3. 3

   The Mind of Christ

   Philippians 2:1–18 · about 60 minutes · free account

4. 4

   Two Examples Worth Following

   Philippians 2:19–30 · about 45 minutes · free account

5. 5

   Righteousness from God

   Philippians 3 · about 60 minutes · free account

6. 6

   Peace and Contentment

   Philippians 4 · about 55 minutes · free account

This course runs on the same lesson machinery as Nehemiah; its passage text is still being prepared from the public-domain dataset, so the Read step shows the passage reference until the text is bundled (Milestone 4 completes these two courses).