Summary: An in-depth study on the book of Philippians

Philippians Part 12, Chapter 2:16-2:18)

I. Holding forth (v. 2:16)

A. epechó (ep-ekh'-o) to hold fast, to hold toward, to stop Usage: (a) trans: I hold forth,

(b) intrans: I mark, pay attention (heed), note; I delay, stay, wait.

B. This translation seems correct, and the reference is to the comparison above. There

may, indeed, be (as has been supposed) a reference, involving a change of metaphor,

to the holding forth of a torch, for guidance, or for transmission, as in the celebrated

torch race of ancient times. But this supposed change of metaphor is unnecessary.

The “luminaries” hold forth their light to men, and that light is the “word of life.”

Note the same connection in John 1:4, “In Him was life, and the life was the light of

men.” (Ellicot’s Commentary)

C. Holding forth the word of life - That is, you are under obligation to hold forth the word

of life. It is a duty incumbent on you as Christians to do it. The "word of life" means

the gospel, called the "word of life" because it is the message that promises life; or

perhaps this is a Hebraism, denoting the living, or life-giving word. The gospel stands

thus in contrast with all human systems of religion - for they have no efficacy to

save - and to the law which "killeth". The duty here enjoined is that of making the

gospel known to others, and of thus keeping up the knowledge of it in the world.

This duty rests on Christians, and they cannot escape from the obligation. They

are bound to do this, not only because God commands it, but: because there are no

others to do it. The frivolous ones will not warn the fools, nor will the proud warn the

proud, nor the scoffer the scoffer. The thoughtless and the vain will not go and tell

others that there is a God and a Saviour; nor will the wicked warn the wicked, and tell

them that they are in the way to hell. There are none who will do this but Christians;

and, if they neglect it, sinners will go unwarned and unalarmed down to death.

This duty rests on every Christian. (Barnes Notes)

D. Vain- (v. 2:16)

1. 3152 kenos (ken-os') empty Usage: (a) empty, (b) met: empty (in moral content),

vain, ineffective, foolish, worthless, (c) false, unreal, pretentious, hollow.

2. That I have not run in vain - That is, that I have not lived in vain - life being

compared with a race. Neither laboured in vain - In preaching the gospel.

Their holy lives would be the fullest proof that he was a faithful preacher.

(Barnes’ Notes)

II. An Offering (v. 2:17)

A. Paul, now with the mind of Christ, speak of his own life as a sacrificial offering.

B. In Jewish worship they poured wine on and around the sacrifice on the altar.

C. I am poured out as a libation. 2 Timothy 4:6 “ready to be offered.”

III. Joy and Rejoice (v. 2:18)

A. 20 Joy agalliasis (ag-al-lee'-as-is) exultation, exuberant joy; Usage: wild joy,

ecstatic delight, exultation, exhilaration

B. 4796 Rejoice sugchairó (soong-khah'-ee-ro) to rejoice with;

Usage: I rejoice with, congratulate.

C. Do ye joy, and rejoice with me - That is, "do not grieve at my death. Be not

overwhelmed with sorrow, but let your hearts be filled with congratulation. It will

be a privilege and a pleasure thus to die." This is a noble sentiment, and one that

could have been uttered only by a heroic and generous mind - by a man who will

not dread death, and who felt that it was honorable thus to die Doddridge has

illustrated the sentiment by an appropriate reference to a fact stated by Plutarch.

A brave Athenian returned from the battle of Marathon, bleeding with wounds

and exhausted, and rushed into the presence of the magistrates, and uttered only

these two words - ?a??ete chairete, ?a???µe? chairomen - "rejoice, we rejoice,"

and immediately expired. So Paul felt that there was occasion for him, and for all

whom he loved, to rejoice, if he was permitted to die in the cause of others, and in

such a manner that his death would benefit the world. (Barnes’ Notes)

Philippians Part 13, Chapter 2:19-2:30

I. Timothy (v. 2:19-2:23)

A. Sending Timothy—was likeminded due to his having the mind of Christ.

1. Jewess mother (Eunice) and grandmother (Lois) Greek father

2. Naturally caring – sincerely and not in presence.

3. Serving in the Gospel.

4. Known and Proved.

5. Not afraid to work second to Paul as a servant.

a. It is a rare thing to find one who does it naturally. (Matthew Henry)

b. All or the majority seek their own.

c. Seeking our own interest to the neglect of Christ’s is a very great sin, and very

common among Christians and minister. (MH)

6. Maybe no one else would accept maybe the 1600 mile journey.

II. Paul (v. 2:24) I may come shortly.

III. Epaphroditus (v. 2:25-30)

A. Gentile

B. Paul’s brother, companion in labor, and fellow-soldier. Philippi messenger.

C. Epaphroditus is derived from goddess Aphrodite meaning: Charming, Handsome

D. Epaphroditus was not content simply to contribute to the offering. He gave

Himself to help carry the offering 1600 miles! (Warren Wiersbe)

E. He was sick but he wanted to serve—the mind of Christ to serve.

F. He probably carried the letter to Philippi

G. Fell sick perhaps on his way to Rome.

H. Hazarded his life not only in sickness but in working with a “criminal – Paul”

Philippians Part 14, Chapter 3:1-3:3

I. Finally rejoice (v. 3:1)

A. Finally

1. – loipon (loy-pon') something that remains Usage: finally, from now on,

henceforth, beyond that.

2. For the rest.

B. Rejoice

1. Christian joy is no mere gaiety that knows no glooms; it is the result of faith’s

triumph over adverse and trying circumstances. (Robbins)

2. If the Christian really walks with Christ, he walks with joy. If the Christian really

walks with Christ, he walks with joy. (William Barclay)

C. Writing the same things—A repeat apparently. Perhaps previous communication existed.

1. Like a good teacher, Paul was never afraid of repetition. We do not tire of food

which are the essentials of life. We expect to eat bread and to drink water

every day; and we must listen again and again to the truth which is the bread

and water of life. (WB)

2. Preaching and teaching and studying the side-issues may be attractive, and these

have their place, but the fundamental truths can neither be spoken nor heard

too often for the safety to our souls. (WB)

II. The Exhortation (v. 3:2)

A. Beware of dogs! (v. 3:2)

1. Dogs

a. – 2965 kuón (koo'-ohn) a dog Usage: a dog, universally despised in

the East.

b. literally, a dog, scavenging canine; (figuratively) a spiritual predator

who feeds off others.

2. This threefold description referred to one kind of false teacher, not three

different types, whether Jews or Judaizing Christian.

3. In the Bible the dog always stands for that than which nothing can be lower. It is

the same in Greek thought; the dog stands for everything that is shamelessly unclean.

4. Dogs ran in packs scavenging on the garbage heaps, barking and sometimes

snapping at the heels of people who passed by. They were troublemakers

and carriers of dangerous infections.

5. Paul compared these false teachers to dogs snapping on his heels. They were

feeding on garbage and spewing their vomit and infectious waste everywhere.

6. We are bidden, therefore, to beware of men of a quarrelsome and contentious spirit,

who under the guise of religion hide impure and unclean things; and who are not

only defiled, but defiling in their influence. (FBM pg 144)

B. Beware of evil workers. (v. 3:2)

1. These men taught that the sinner was saved by faith plus good works, especially

the works of the Law. But Paul states that their “good works” are really evil

works because they are performed by the flesh (old nature) and not the Spirit,

and they glorify the workers and not Jesus Christ. A Christian’s good works

are the result of his faith, not the basis for his salvation. James 2:17-22

(Warren Wiersbe pg 93)

2. Every teacher must be more anxious to listen to God than to propagate his own

opinions or he, too, will run the risk of being a worker of evil, even when he

thinks that he is a worker of righteousness. (William Barclay pg 54)

3. These people are the “cranks” of our churches; they introduce fads and hobbies;

they exaggerate the importance of trifles; they catch up every new theory and

vagary (An unexpected and inexplicable change in a situation or in someone's

behavior.), and follow it to the detriment of truth and love. It is impossible to

exaggerate the harm that these people do, or the desirability of keeping clear of

them, they are the pests of every Christian community they enter; and their

influence over young and unwary spirits is in a high degree pernicious.

(FBM pg 144)

C. Beware of the concision. (v. 3:2- 3:3)

1. Here Paul uses a pun—the humerous use of a word, or of different words sounded

alike, so as to play on various meanings—on the word “circumcision.” The

word translated “concision” literally means “a mutilation.” He call them the

party of mutilation. (WW)

2. You Jews think that you are circumcised; in point of fact, you are only mutilated.

(WB)

3. The regarded circumcision in itself as being enough to set them apart especially

for God. The rite of circumcision had been substituted for faith in God and had lost its real meaning.

D. Circumcision—to cut around (v. 3:3)

1. Instituted Genesis 17:10-14 as a sign of the covenant – a physical badge.

2. The eighth day for males Leviticus 12:1-3

3. Judaizers – Jewish Christians who insisted on retaining the rites and ceremonies

of Jewish Law. They held that circumcision was indispensable for full status

as Christians.

III. True Circumcision (v. 3:3)—True Christianity Romans 2:28-29

1. The “true circumcision” is something inward and consists in the discarding of

life’s impurities and the heart’s insensitiveness. It does not consist of outward

operation but of inward consecration. The Jew was set apart by circumcision as a

worshipper of God; the Christian is set apart as a worshipper of God by the

dynamic influence of God’s Spirit in that person’s life. (RFR pg 94)

2. Spirit is the element in man which gives him the ability to think of God. It is man’s

vertical window while soul is man’s horizontal window making him conscious

of his environment. A soul is the element of life whereas the spirit is the element

of faith. (Spiros Zodhiates pg 1721)

3. Real circumcision is devotion of heart and mind and life to God. (WB)

4. Three Characteristics of True Circumcision”

a. He worships God in the spirit. John 4:23-24 Worship in spirit is worship

in which the human spirit communes intimately with the divine Spirit.

Ephesians 6:18

(1) To please God, it must originate and be carried out in spirit

communion with God.

(2) The word translated worship means first to do servant’s work, then

to do religious service, and sometimes priestly duty.

(3) His worship is love of God and service of men.

b. He boasts in Jesus Christ. People who depend on religion are usually

boasting about what they have done.

(1) Christ receives all the honor, and His name alone is glorified. This is

the essential distinction of Christians. 1 Corinthians 1:31

(2) The only boast of the Christian is not in what he has done for himself,

but in what Christ has done for him. His only pride is that he is

a man for whom Christ died. (WB pg 56)

c. He has not confidence in the flesh – sarx—covers the entire domain of our

fallen nature made subject to vanity in which sin springs up and moves.

(Romans 7:18; 8:5)

(1) The Bible has nothing good to say about the flesh, and yet most

people today depend entirely on what they themselves can do

to please God.

(2) Flesh only corrupts God’s way on earth. Genesis 6:12

(3) It profits nothing as far as a spiritual life is concerned. John 6:63

(4) It has nothing good in it. Romans 7:18

5. The Jew in essence trusted himself; the Christian in essence trusts God.

6. The real circumcision is not a mark in the flesh; it is that true worship, that true glory,

and that true confidence in the grace of God in Jesus Christ.