Category Archives: Book of Philippians

Review and Bible Study

 Always remember to pray before you study and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and lead you into the truth found in God’s Word – pray for protection from the evil one who will try to discourage, distract and deceive us when we commit to growing closer to the LORD.

1.  Review of Class Topics:

With your table group, discuss today’s apologetics presentation by summarizing what you learned, commenting, or asking any questions.

Answers will vary…

2.  Review of Daily Devotional:

How is it going with your devotional? Are you having any difficulty with reading on a daily basis? Are there any questions you have, or anything that stands out to you as a life application that you’d like to share?

Answers will vary…

Class Bible study: The Book of Philippians

Questions are taken directly from the chapters, and answers should be found and cited from the Scripture text in order to be Biblically accurate (unless asked to summarize in your own words). Study Bibles, commentaries and your own thoughts can be used for “Discussion” or “Going Deeper” questions. Cite your sources to share with your group.

Read Philippians 4:1-23 with your table group then, to the best of your ability, answer the following questions:

3.  What did Paul say about Euodia and Syntyche, and why?

From gotquestions.org

“Euodia and Syntyche are two women mentioned in only one short passage in the Bible: “I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 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” (Philippians 4:2–3).
It seems that Euodia and Syntyche had worked directly with Paul to spread the gospel throughout the city of Phillipi, although it is unclear in what manner. The church had begun at a women’s prayer meeting (Acts 16:11–15), and it is quite possible that Euodia and Syntyche were part of that original group. The one thing we know for sure is that these two women were at odds with each other. It is likely the brawl was a public one, due to the fact that Paul had heard about it even though he was currently in a Roman prison “in chains” (Philippians 1:13). Two women fighting in this manner would have put the unity of the believers in Philippi in jeopardy, so it was important for Paul to address the bickering in his letter to the church.
Unity among believers is a common theme in the Bible (see Psalm 133:1; John 17:23; 1 Peter 3:8). Paul himself spoke about unity in several of his letters (1 Corinthians 1:10; Ephesians 4:11–13; Colossians 3:13–14). In fact, Paul’s plea for addressing the problem was for each member of the church at Philippi to be united in helping Euodia and Syntyche live peaceably with one other (Philippians 2:3).
What can we learn from Euodia and Syntyche? Their example shows that even those who have worked together for the cause of Christ can have disagreements. It also shows the importance of treating one another with love, compassion, and longsuffering (Ephesians 4:31; John 13:34–35). A church warring with itself is in danger of losing its testimony to outsiders. Euodia and Syntyche needed to be “of the same mind in the Lord,” and the other church members were to do all that was necessary to heal the breach. They were all fellow-laborers in the Lord’s work, and their names were all part of the book of life.
Because the church is made up of sinners (albeit forgiven ones), there will be times when division occurs. In these cases, Scripture gives instructions on how to work toward peace. Some of those instructions are found in the very epistle sent to Euodia and Syntyche’s church: “Make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others” (Philippians 2:2–4). Never does God’s Word allow for gossip, arguing, and fighting over personal matters in the church. Instead, believers are to encourage one another as we prepare for Christ’s return (Hebrews 10:25).”

4.  Re-read verses 4:4-7. Discuss: How does rejoicing connect with anxiousness? How does prayer and supplication connect with thanksgiving? What is the promise made here?

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:4-7

• Paul says “rejoice” twice, and this emphasizes its importance because the context tells us that we should “rejoice in the Lord always.” The result of constant rejoicing will help to quell our anxiousness because if we are busy rejoicing in the Lord we will not have time to dwell on the things that are causing the anxiety. Doing this will also invite the Holy Spirit in and He will be able to provide joy that results in comfort in the midst of anxiety.
• When we pray, and come humbly and earnestly (supplication) before the Lord, making our requests known in all sincerity, and combining our requests with thankfulness to the LORD, we will experience peace from God that is beyond our understanding, even in the midst of suffering and pain.
• The promise is God’s peace and the guarding of our hearts and minds in Jesus. This does not necessarily mean that the problem(s) will disappear, but that we can grow through them knowing that God is with us, supernaturally experiencing a sense of His peace and comfort, and this will be evident to those who might otherwise think that disaster has won; and God can also use this to be a form of witnessing and sharing the Gospel with others.

5.  What things does Paul say we should dwell on? Why?

“Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”  Philippians 4:8-9

• These verses also have a promise of God’s peace being with us if we dwell (think deeply and consistently about) things that are true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, of good repute, excellence, and things worthy of praise. The Philippians were to model what they had seen and learned from Paul.
• It seems that if we are focusing our thoughts and time on these types of things from God, then we won’t have time to dwell on the negative things from the evil one in this world.
• Ultimately it is the Spirit of God that will supernaturally help us to do these things in times of need, all we need to do is learn to pray in this way and trust in the LORD to walk with us.

6.  At this point, Paul had gone through a lot of hardship in his ministry and is thankful for the Philippians’ concern. What does Paul say that he has learned so far from his afflictions?

“But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction.”  Philippians 4:10-14

• Paul had indeed been through many hardships and he lists them in several of his epistles, and we see many of them in the book of Acts. One would think he would be discouraged and depressed from all that he has experienced, but no, just the opposite because he had his eye on the eternal goal.
• Paul learned: to be content, to get along with humble means and to live in prosperity; both being filled and going hungry; both having abundance and suffering need.
• The main point to all that Paul experienced was in this statement: “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” Knowing the context of this statement, based on Paul’s life to this point, shows us that this is not teaching a prosperity Gospel in the earthly meaning, but one that is based on the spiritual life. Paul understood the importance of sharing with others the importance of keeping our eyes on the eternal goal, and not the temporal things of this life.
• The best example of Paul’s view on this comes in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18:

“Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,  while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

• Notice what Paul is saying about “his afflictions” that we know are tremendously painful, yet his eyes are on the eternal, not the temporal – this is a great passage to meditate on.

7.  Discuss: It will be a few centuries before the Romans stop persecuting and killing Christians. What clue do you see in Paul’s farewell greetings that tell you people in higher places were experiencing the Gospel and salvation? How can that give Christians encouragement today?

In closing, Paul gives this farewell:

“And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen. Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren who are with me greet you. All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.”  Philippians 4:19-23

• Paul send greeting from fellow believers that are with him (as he was imprisoned at this time), and we notice a part of this greeting that we might miss, but it is from those of Caesar’s household, meaning those who were either servants, relatives, or friends that were close to the Emperor Caesar!
• This is a great indication of what was to come in the next few generations as those close to government officials, and the officials themselves would experience Christianity in a personal way, and many would give their lives to the Gospel which eventually became, not a persecuted faith, but the official state religion with the conversion of the Roman Emperor Constantine in the fourth century.
• Note: This was a remarkable spread of the Christian faith in a very short time period, and it continues worldwide today; and even though there have been negative connections between Christianity and politics, true Christianity has flourished among true Christians throughout history.

8.  What are some important things that you have learned from this study in the book of Philippians?

Answer will vary…

Examples might come from the memory verses and can include topics such as joy, giving thanks in all things, peace that passes all understanding and unity among the believers.   

Memory verses: Recite Philippians 1:9-10; Matthew 22:37-39; Philippians 3:14; and add Philippians 4:6-7, and 8.

^“And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ” Philippians 1:9-10 

“And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”  Matthew 22:37-39

“I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 3:14

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:6-7

“Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things”. Philippians 4:8

Please continue to join us as we read and study the Bible as part of our Christian Apologetics’ class each week!

Note: Class presentation, videos, reflections and Bible study questions are posted on the weekend – Bible study answers (like these) are posted mid-week.

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Teri Dugan

TeriDugan@truthfaithandreason.com

1 Peter 3:15