Philippians 1-2qq

Your love may abound more in knowledge and depth of insight

Philippians 1:1-11

Key verse 9-10

1.       Please find the circumstances of this writing and the relationship between Paul and the Philippians (ref. 1:7, 12-26; 2:19-30; 3:1-21; Act 16:9-40)

2.       [Philippians 1:1-2] Who is writing to whom? What is the meaning of ‘servant’ (Luke 17:7-10; Mt 21:34) and ‘holy people (saint)’ (1 Corinthians 1:2)? What was his greeting (2)? What might be its meaning (John 1:17; Ephesians 2:8; 1 Corinthians 15:10; Isaiah 9:6-7; Romans 5:1) and its significance (Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:3; Ephesians 1:3; Galatians 1:3; Colossians 1:2; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 1 Peter 1:2; Revelation 1:4)?

3.       [Philippians 3-6] What was his overwhelming affect toward the Philippians (3-4)? Why (5)?What was he confident of and why (6)?What is ‘a good work’?

4.       [Philippians 7-8]Why did Paul feel that way (7; ref 5, 6)? How was their relationship different from other human relationships? How genuine was his affection for the Philippians (8)?

5.       [Philippians 9-11] What was Paul’s prayer for them (9)?What does it mean (2 Corinthians 2:4; Ephesians 3:18-19, 5:2; 1 John 4:10 cf. Romans 10:2; John 16:2-3)? Why (10)? According to Paul’s prayer, what was his ultimate hope for the Philippians? What does it mean to be pure and blameless (11)? What does this have to do with the love? What is the fruit of righteousness (Ephesians 5:9; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 1:12)?

6.       What’s Paul’s view of the believers’ life as a whole? How is it similar or different from yours?

Conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ

Philippians 1:12-30

Key Verse:  27a.

1.       [12-14] What were the two effects of Paul’s imprisonment (12-14)? How did each of these serve to advance the gospel?

2.       [15-18] How were the two motives of those that preached the gospel different from each other (15-17)? Discuss this in view of v9-10. How did Paul react to their preaching (18)? Why?

3.       [18b-20] Why would Paul continue to rejoice (18b)? How did he come to know this (19)? Discuss Paul’s hardships and his way of facing such hardships (ref. 2). What difficulty did he foresee (20)? In such challenges, what was his eager hope? How could Christ be exalted in Paul’s body, by both life and  death (21, 22)? Between these two choices, what was his preferred one and what did he feel necessary about his choice (22b-24)? What was his conviction about this (25, ref. 19)? What was the important benefit for the Philippians that Paul foresaw from this choice (26)?

4.       [27-28] What did Paul command the Philippians to do (27)? What might it mean to ‘conduct  yourself in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ’ (ref. 9-11)? How would it appear among them (27b)? What might be the deterrence for them to do so (28; ref. 2:14-15; 3:2-3)? What was the concentric force compelling them to do so (27b)?

5.       [28b-30] What would the opposing powers come to see through the Philippians’ standing firm under the one Spirit (28b; ref. 27b)? According to God’s perspective, what was the reason for the Philippians’ suffering from opposition (29)? What was the evidence of  God’s purpose? Discuss  suffering, in regards to God’s purpose/perspective, how to handle it, and its necessity. What’s your view of suffering?

The same love, One in spirit and  mind

Phil 2:1-11

Key verse 2

1.       [1-4] What were the possible benefits that the Philippians had received through the gospel (1; Ref 2:4-7)? Based on receiving those benefits, what did Paul plead with them to do (2; 1:27-28)? What does it mean to be like-minded (2)? If one is not like-minded, what kind of mind are they likely to have (3a)? If so, how would they act differently (3b-4)?

2.       [5-11] What is the imperative command that Paul gave the Philippians (5)? How did Jesus consider himself (6)? Why (Hebrews 10:3-7)? What did Jesus do out of such a mindset (7-8)?  In view of how Jesus considered himself, discuss the importance of how we consider ourselves.

3.       Summarize Jesus’ mindset and its outcome in your own terms. Discuss the importance of being like-minded and its outcome.

4.       [9-11] How did God honor Jesus’ life (9)? For what purposes (10-11)? What does each of these purposes mean? What do these two purposes tell us about God’s will (ref John 17:11)? In what respect is what God did to Jesus  important to you?

Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling

Philippians 2:12-29

Key verse 2:12-13

1.     [12-13] What did Paul urge the Philippians to do (12)? Why (13; cf. 1:6)? What does it mean to “continue to work out your salvation”? How is it related to the previous passages (1:9-11; 2:1-4)?

2.     [14-18] How should his command play out in their lives (14,16a; cf. 2:2)? What would be the outcome of this (15)? What would Paul like to boast about them (16b)? What would he be glad to do (17)? What did “a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith” mean?

3.     [19-24] Why would Paul send Timothy to them (19, 23)? What kind of person was Timothy and how did he prove himself (20-22)? What was Paul confident in (24)?

4.     [25-30] Who was Epaphroditus and why was he with Paul (25)? Why was Paul sending him back to the Philippians (26-28)? What did he ask the Philippians to do for Epaphroditus and why (29-30)?

5.     What did Paul, Timothy, and Epaphroditus have in common (12,17, 20-22,30)? How is it related to verse 12?