Philippians 2:2-23

Philippians 2:2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life. 

 PERSONAL REFLECTION:  Scott pointed out a few weeks ago that God’s will for his people’s relationships within the body of Christ goes FAR beyond just “being nice.”  Look back to Philippians 2:1-2 again to find the same words from Paul:  be of the same mind, be like-minded.  Within the fellowship there will be a few people who “think like me” and many who don’t.  Which of them do you think Paul would expect us to relate deeply with?  What examples can you think of in which that is really difficult?  What do we tend to do when relationships are really difficult?  What’s the standard Paul gives for us? Who in the body at Grace are you having trouble being “of the same mind” with?  How can you work on this “in the Lord”?

1. Paul says E and S should be of the same mind IN THE LORD.  The word for “in” could be translated as “nearby” or “in front of.”  How would our perspective be different if we thought we were doing the things God wants of us “nearby the Lord” or “in front of the Lord” instead of just in no particular place?

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

2.  Look back in Philippians and find a reference to “rejoice” or “joy” in each chapter.  Why do you think Paul again tells them to rejoice now that he’s closing his letter?  Why might he use the same phrase “in the Lord” again here as he did in 4:2?

3. Paul strings together all the following into seemingly one thought in 4:2-7:  rejoice, show moderation/gentleness in all circumstances, God is near, pray instead of worry, let God’s peace guard your heart and mind.  How might they all be related in the lives of the Philippians?  Would it be possible to do or have  SOME OF THEM without doing or having THEM ALL?

 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

4. We live in the most visual culture in the history of the world.  We see more images of different places, people, things, and ideas in one hour on cable or the internet than the Philippians would have seen in a lifetime.   How is our challenge  to “reckon” or “think about” the best things different from the Philippians?  How is this connected to “being transformed by the renewing of our mind” that Paul talks about in Romans 12?

5. Paul doesn’t stop with a charge to the Philippians to “think right” but immediately charges them to “do right.”  How do you think those two things are related? Is God with us in a different way when we’re thinking and doing right than when we’re not?

10 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength. 

 14 Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. 15 Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; 16 for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need. 17 Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. 18 I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

 20 To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Greetings

 21 Greet all God’s people in Christ Jesus. The brothers and sisters who are with me send greetings. 22 All God’s people here send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household.

 23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen

6. Paul knew hardships that most of us will never know.  Even when he had “plenty” he would have been living drastically below our modern idea of the “poverty line.”  What is the secret that he refers to in 4:12, and how does that relate to the other things we’ve studied in this letter?  

Philippians 3:1 - 4:1

1Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for meto write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. 2Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. 3For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, whoboast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh— 4 thoughI myself have reasons for such confidence.

   If someone else thinks they have reasons toput confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighthday, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; inregard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; asfor righteousness based on the law, faultless. 7 But whatever were gainsto me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8What is more, Iconsider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing ChristJesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage,that I may gain Christ

1. Often in modernlife we talk as if the choice is whether or not we have “faith”. A religiousperson does, an atheistdoesn’t(and an agnostic hasn’t yet made up their mind). This would make no sense tomost people throughout history, indeed it would seem ludicrous to Paul. Forhim, the question is not if we have faith, but where our faithhas been placed. Another way to ask this is where we have put our confidence,our hope, where have we invested our best and first and most precious? As youread Paul’s list, take some time to make your own list. Where have you placedyour faith? What was the result?

2. When Paul talksabout counting things as “loss”, the Greek word he uses is not neutral, butimplies damage. The idea is not that you carelessly lost something, but thatthose things we put our faith in other that Christ and the Gospel narrativeactually hurt us and others. Take a look at your list again from the previousquestion. Have you found them to be damaging to you? to others? 

9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from thelaw, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness thatcomes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, toknow the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings,becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to theresurrection from the dead.

3. Here we need toremember that Paul is writing mostly to gentile believers in a Roman colony.Politics and “nationality” would play a huge issue in their lives. Paulexplicitly tells them that their “right standing” comes not from being Roman,or Jewish, or whatever, but only from being “in Christ”, part of the ‘bodypolitic” of King Jesus. In what way does this affect the way we should think aboutourselves and our allegiances, our relationships to the people and thingsaround us?

 12 Not that I have already obtained allthis, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of thatfor which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13Brothers and sisters, I do notconsider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgettingwhat is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on towardthe goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in ChristJesus.

Personal Reflection (Not for general discussion in the group) Paulpresents an interesting image here of striving for, reaching for something thathas already grabbed him and is pulling him towards the goal. What an incredibleimage of God’s Grace and our effort working together. Take some time to reflecton the ways in which you sense God “laying hold” of you. Take time to thankHim, dwell in the security that comes from knowing He is constantly drawingyou close to Him.

 15 All of us, then, who are matureshould take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently,that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what wehave already attained.

 17 Join together in following myexample, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep youreyes on those who live as we do. 18 For, as I have often told you beforeand now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross ofChrist. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, andtheir glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. 20 Butour citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, theLord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bringeverything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they willbe like his glorious body. 

1Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy andcrown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!

4. The contrast ofthe type of people we should seek to emulate and follow is stark. How does thedescription of the “destiny, god and glory” of those who seek their standing inthings other than the cross affect our decisions about whom to set as ourexamples?

5. Carefully considerverses 20 & 21. What is it that we should be longing for? From what“direction” does our help come and what is the result? How does ourunderstanding of “heaven” affect this?

Philippians 2:18-30

19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. 20 I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. 21 For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. 23 I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. 24 And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon.

1.  Notice how Paul repeats some of the language here from earlier in chapter 2.  Given what Scripture tells us about Timothy, how does Timothy exemplify the principles we talked about last week?

25 But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. 26 For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. 28 Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. 29 So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him, 30 because he almost died for the work of Christ. He risked his life to make up for the help you yourselves could not give me.

2.  We’re not told much about Epaphroditus in Scripture, but speculate on what sort of guy Epaphroditus must have been.

3.  Take some time to consider the people you know or know of who are examples of what Paul has described here in chapter 2.  Share some of those stories.

Philippians 2:1-18

1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

1.  “Therefore” is always an important word in our translations.  Look back in the last chapter beginning in verse 27, and discuss what “therefore” is referring to here.

2.  We often fall into measuring God’s relationship with us and others by looking at external, physical circumstances.  Paul is clearly declaring and teaching something dramatically different.  Why do you suppose Paul’s if/then statement in these verses doesn’t talk about the physical and material blessings we may have received?  How would our unity increase if we lived with each other in light of the things Paul lists in v. 1?

3.  What Paul expresses in vv. 2-4 is a tall order, yet it is probably what Paul had come to understand as a practical way of measuring the abstract idea of loving one another.  Why do you suppose Paul would think this is what loving each other would look like?

5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God,
  did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
  by taking the very nature of a servant,
  being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
  he humbled himself
  by becoming obedient to death—
     even death on a cross!
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
  and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
  in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
  to the glory of God the Father.

4.  Paul continues his admonition by offering the best example of the principle he is teaching.  Paul claims that Jesus exhibited the attitude that we all should have toward each other.  How did Jesus demonstrate the sort of humility that produces unity?  How can we have the same attitude?

BONUS:  Compare these verses with what Peter says in 1 Peter 5:5-6.

12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 16 as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. 17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

5.  How are grumbling and arguing incompatible with unity and the humility that produces it?  How does the absence of grumbling and arguing allow us to shine like stars in the sky?

BONUS #2:  A drink offering was typically a quantity of wine poured on top of another sacrifice.  Not exclusive to Judaism, it was consistent with offerings and sacrifices being made up of things that provided sustenance, that were a source of life.  In Judaism, they served not only as acts of obedience and appeasement to God, but as a practical reminder that the offering, no matter how important, had been a gift and ultimately belonged to Him.  Thinking especially of our passage and John Ray’s teaching from last week, how does Paul’s encouragement to the Philippians to rejoice as he is rejoicing in his being poured out as a drink offering make sense?

Philippians 1:12-30

¹² Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. ¹³ As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. ¹⁴ And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.

 ¹⁵ It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. ¹⁶The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. ¹⁷ The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. ¹⁸ But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.

1. Here Paul identifies three significant results of his being imprisoned. While these are legitimate outcomes, worthy of praise, how do you think the means of achieving them might have differed from Paul's original plan?

Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, ¹⁹ for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.²⁰ I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. ²¹ For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

2.  The word here for "deliverance" (Soteria in Greek, from which we get Soteriology; the study of the doctrine of salvation) is more often translated "salvation."  The question becomes, then, is Paul talking about our "spiritual" salvation, deliverance from his circumstances, or  both?  Consider this question in light of what he says in verse 21.  What difference would this way of seeing things make in a person's life?

²² If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! ²³ I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; ²⁴ but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. ²⁵ Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, ²⁶ so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.

 ²⁷ Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. 

Bonus Question: (Inspired by Mike Maloney)  

In this translation (NIV), verse 27 reads as "conduct yourselves in a manner worthy" but the Greek meaning is literally closer to "act like a citizen of". How would this affect your understanding of what Paul is saying if he was to exhort you to “act like a citizen of the Kingdom” as opposed to “act like a Christian”?
 

^{27 (continued) Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the Gospel 28} without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. ²⁹ For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, ³⁰ since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.

3. Paul makes a subtle but powerful point when he starts off verse 27 “Whatever happens”. He seems to be saying, that even though I can see the good things happening as a result of my imprisonment, it may not be the same for you, but no matter, whatever happens, live, act, see, in a “manner worthy of the Gospel.” Take time to reflect on what that means for you in your current circumstance.