There is a joke that when Paul was traveling from place to place his companions would ask; “Hey Paul, do you think we’ll be able to find out what the accommodations at the local hotel are like this time?” No hotel this time either, Paul is writing this four short chaptered book from his Roman prison cell. We need to remember this was a letter, there were no chapters or verses, and for certain there weren’t subtitles so one could search for their favorite part of the letter.

Jesus hasn’t even been gone from this earth thirty years, when Paul is writing to the Philippians not only to thank them for their gift, but more importantly to strengthen the believers and to talk about the joy that comes from Christ alone. He talks about Christ alone because there were Judaizers, Jewish Christians, who were stating that the Levitical laws of the Old Testament were still binding on all Christians. (Acts 15:1) 

In this letter you will also notice that Paul doesn’t quote a lot of Old Testament, because the church was made up of mainly non-Jews and they weren’t versed in it. Joy versus Happiness. Happiness is equated to the feeling you have when you open presents on Christmas morning. Having a birthday party. Going to the beach or the mountains. Going on a cruise. 

What happens when it’s all done or you get disappointed when it wasn’t exactly what you had hoped for? Happiness depends on happenings. Joy depends on your relationship in Christ. Paul definitely displayed joy. He was in prison and yet he stated (1:12) everything that was happening, was advancing the Gospel. 

I can’t say that when I am having a prison filled day, I am making Christ known, because it is a daily fight against my flesh to find joy instead of always working from a place of being happy. Verse 6 in chapter 1 Paul writes: “being confident of this…”  Paul wants the church to know that God who began a good work, would continue until completion. 

Again this is a verse many like to paraphrase to say, “if God called you to it, He’ll see you through it.” 

Well this verse actually is talking about their partnership to advance the Gospel, not our agenda, church or non-profit. It is the work that God started in us to make Him known. Even though at the beginning of the letter he doesn’t name names, he does in chapter 4. The challenge is that divisions have already occurred, so Paul addresses it. He talked about people who preach out of selfish ambition, rivalry and envy, but he wanted the church to know that “as long as Christ is preached,” he would rejoice. 

He also warned in chapter 3 about the “dogs, the evildoers, the mutilators of the flesh” 

Then, “I plead with Euodia and Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.”(4:2) He names the ladies who are in the church. Many have come to know the Lord through their efforts, but now their broken relationship has seemingly created problems. 

Paul, as he is writing this letter, is not sure he will live or die, so he addresses this and how to die is gain, but he also feels his work isn’t finished. (1:19-26) He does give marching orders next though. Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. 

Chapter 2 starts with a “Therefore.”  And hopefully you know that you need to find out what the “Therefore is there for,” 

Paul starts with the “If you have any statements.” 

Encouragement from being united with Christ.
Comfort from His love.
Common sharing in the Spirit.
Tenderness and compassion.

Then he asks the church to make his joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in Spirit and of one mind. (2:1-4) By verse 5 he is starting to address the issues from chapter 4 with Euodia and Syntyche. “In your relationships with one another have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.”  Verses 6 through 11, gives the mindset of Christ, so just in case you didn’t know or you had forgotten. Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.  (3:1)

I love how Paul uses Old Testament truths, laws etc without coming right out and saying “You know, as you were taught by your ancestors…”, because again they were not versed in the Old Testament law so they wouldn’t have understood, but yet he uses in conjunction to whom they did know or know about, Jesus. 

There is a quote from A.W. Tozer from his book The Knowledge of the Holy.

 The most critical need of this hour may well be that the Church should be brought back from her long Babylonian captivity and the name of God be glorified in her again as of old. A.W. Tozer

This book was written in 1961, but yet Paul in AD 61 wrote the same thing to the Church at Philippi. For as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach and their glory is in their shame. (3:18-19) Paul, throughout this letter is pointing the church back to Christ. (3:7-14) He ends this section with “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ.” 

Everything we do while on this earth is to live a life being content, because our prize is not on this earth, but eternity in heaven. Our job while walking our daily life is to glorify God in everything we do and to make Him known. As Paul ends his letter, the famous verse from chapter 4, actually reads, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” 

American Christianity has turned this verse into I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. It has become a “see God wants me to be happy.” When in reality I think the NIV has the best version which gives this verse new meaning. “I can do all THIS through Him who gives me strength.”

Paul has just laid out that he had learned to be content whatever the circumstances. He knew what it was to be in need and to have plenty. He learned the secret of being content in any and every situation whether well fed or hungry. Living in plenty or in want. It was only because he knew where his strength came from.

As you take the time to read Philippians, I pray that you will do some soul searching. 

Philippians 3:15b says: “…And if at some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.”  

There is a saying, “Be a Berean”. Acts 17:11, “Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.”

As you study and read the scriptures for yourself, I pray you become like the Bereans.