A Study of the Letters Paul Wrote While Imprisoned in Rome The Prison Epistles A Study of the Letters Paul Wrote While Imprisoned in Rome Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, & Philemon

Themes of Philippians Major Theme: Joy in the Lord. “Joy” found five times. “Rejoice” found eleven. Despite being in custody awaiting trial, Paul found reason to rejoice in this good church. Outline of Major Themes. Chapter 1: Paul’s Present Circumstances. Chapter 2: Have the Mind, Attitude of Christ. Chapter 3: Have the Knowledge of Christ. Chapter 4: Have the Peace of Christ.

Philippians 3:1-16 3:1-16 Press on in faith to the goal Paul did not mind writing the same things to them (3:1, II Peter 1:12, 3:1). Sin is deceitful (Heb 2:1, 3:13). Beware of the Judaizing teachers (3:2). A constant threat in their day: Acts 15:1, 5, 23-24 Gal 3:1-3, 5:4, 12 Col 2:14-16 Rejoice in Christ, don’t go back to the old law (3:3, Gal 5:1). If physical Jewish credentials mattered, Paul would have excelled (3:4-6). Paul gave up his past in the Jewish religion for the Lord and for the resurrection (3:7-11).

Philippians 3:1-16 3:1-16 Press on for the goal in faith Paul was not “already perfect” (3:12-13, I Cor 9:25-27, II Cor 12:7,10). Forgetting the past, reaching to the future (3:6,13, Heb 12:1, Rom 2:7) “Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. (3:15)” God in his providence will help us. The Bible teaches that we can have “assurance.” God gives assurance that if man seeks, he will find: God made man with the capability to “seek the Lord” (Acts 17:26-27) OT passages teaching “seek and ye shall find” (Solomon - I Chron 28:9, Asa - II Chron 15:2) OT illustrations (Josiah - II Chron 34:2-3, 8, 14, 27-28) NT passages teaching “seek and ye shall find” (Matt 7:7, John 7:17) NT illustrations (Eunuch – Acts 8:27-38, Lydia – Acts 16:13-15, Paul – I Tim 1:13, Acts 22:13-16)

Philippians 2:6-8 KJV NASV Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: who, although he existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond servant, and being made in the likeness of men. And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Philippians 1:19 – 2:11 2:6-7 Being in the form of God... took on the form of a servant Jesus continued equality with God the Father in the sense of deity (John 1:1, John 5:17-18, John 10:29-33, John 20:28), although he gave up the glorious form he once had with the Father for a time (John 1:14, John 17:5, Heb 2:7-9). John 5:17-18: The Jews understood the headship of God over Christ when Jesus said that God was his “Father.” God being Jesus’ Father shows headship (authority) of the Father over the son. But the Jews also understood that by Jesus saying that God was his Father, Jesus was claiming divinity. He was “making himself equal with God.” John 10:29-33: Jesus spoke plainly. The Jews heard Jesus say that God was greater than all (John 10:29, ref. also 14:28). So why did they say that he blasphemed? Because they got the point of Jesus’ statement, “I and my Father are one.” Jesus’ statement “I and my Father are one” implies an equality with the Father, so the Jews said that Jesus “made himself God.” Jesus was God (John 1:1)