Book Study: Philippians

Book Overview

Paul writes to thank the Philippians for their participation in the gospel. He prays for them to remain sincere and blameless. Paul instructs them to remain encouraged and have joy in their suffering.

Brief Chapter Summaries

Chapter 1

Paul expresses gratitude for his imprisonment because it has increased the spread of the gospel. He states his desire that Christ be exalted in his life or his death. He contrasts the benefits of living with the benefits of his dying and instructs them to conduct themselves in a worthy manner in their suffering like he is doing in his.

Chapter 2

He tells them to imitate Christ in their love and care for one another. He asks for them to not complain in suffering but continue to know God is working for his pleasure. They must rejoice in their suffering. He brags on timothy hoping he will send him soon but is now sending only Epaphroditus. He tells them to receive Epaphroditus with joy and respect for his service and nearly dying for the gospel.

Chapter 3

Paul tells them to beware of Judaizers and to remain true to the faith only found in Christ and his righteousness and avoid the righteousness found in the law. They must remain faithful in their pursuit of the reward found only by faith in Jesus Christ which will result in a resurrected and transformed body.

Chapter 4

Finally stand firm. Rejoice in the Lord. Be gentle and prayerful. Do not be anxious but dwell on those things which are good. Paul thanks them for their many gifts and support while acknowledging that God is his true provision.

Key Verses

Philippians 1:21

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

 Philippians 2:5–7

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness .

Philippians 3:7–8

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 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.

Philippians 3:12–14

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:4

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

Philippians 4:8

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.

Philippians 4:13

I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:19

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

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