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Preface |
2 | |
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Table of Contents |
4 | |
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Introduction to Philippians |
8 | |
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The City of Philippi |
8 |
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The Church at Philippi |
9 |
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Author |
10 |
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Date and Place of Composition |
10 |
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Opponents |
10 |
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Occasion and Purposes |
10 |
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Themes |
11 |
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Unity and Selflessness |
13 |
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Reprint Guidelines |
16 |
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Abbreviations and References on Philippians |
17 |
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#1. Approve What Is Excellent (1:1-11) |
19 | |
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Servants of Christ Jesus (1:1a) |
20 |
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Saints in Christ Jesus (1:1b) |
20 |
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Overseers and Deacons (1:1c) |
21 |
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Grace and Peace (1:2) |
22 |
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Joyful Prayers (1:3-5) |
22 |
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Partnership in the Gospel (1:5) |
22 |
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Carry the Work to Completion (1:6) |
23 |
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Paul's Affection for the Philippians (1:7-8) |
24 |
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Prayer for Discernment (1:9-11) |
24 |
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Discerning What Is Best (1:10a) |
25 |
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The Result of Clear Focus (1:10-11) |
26 |
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To the Glory and Praise of God (1:11) |
27 |
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# 2. Struggles that Advance the Gospel (1:12-30) |
29 | |
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Christ Is Preached throughout the Entire Palace Guard (1:12-13) |
30 |
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Other Christians Emboldened (1:14) |
31 |
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Preaching for the Wrong Motives (1:15-18a) |
32 |
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Rejoicing that Christ Will Be Exalted (1:18b-20) |
33 |
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Prison Will Turn to Paul's Deliverance (1:19) |
34 |
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Christ Will Be Exalted in my Body (1:20-21) |
35 |
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To Live Is Christ, to Die Is Gain (1:21) |
35 |
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To Be with Christ Is Far Better (1:22-26) |
36 |
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Soul Sleep vs. Immediately with Christ (1:23) |
37 |
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Paul Plans to Remain in the Body (1:24-26) |
38 |
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A Manner Worthy of the Gospel (1:27-30) |
38 |
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The Privilege of Suffering (1:29-30) |
39 |
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#3. He Emptied Himself (2:1-11) |
42 | |
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An Appeal to Christ's Blessings and Benefits (2:1) |
43 |
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A Call to Unity (2:2) |
44 |
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A Warning against Selfishness (2:3a) |
45 |
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A Call to Humility and Selfless Love (2:3b-4) |
45 |
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The Ultimate Example of Selfless Humility Displayed in Christ (2:5-11) |
46 |
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Important Christology |
47 |
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In Very Nature God (2:6a) |
48 |
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Clinging to Equality with God (2:6b) |
48 |
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Emptied Himself (2:7-8a) |
49 |
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Obedient to Death (2:8b) |
51 |
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Exalted to the Highest Place (2:9-11) |
51 |
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A Name Above Every Name (2:9b-10) |
53 |
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Every Knee Shall Bow (2:10-11) |
54 |
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#4. God Is at Work in You (2:12-18) |
58 | |
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Salvation as Reconciliation and Sanctification (2:12) |
58 |
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Church-Wide Sanctification |
59 |
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Work Out Your Own Salvation (2:12) |
60 |
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For God Is at Work in You (2:13) |
60 |
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Stop Complaining and Arguing (2:14) |
61 |
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Becoming Blameless and Pure in a Crooked Generation (2:15) |
61 |
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Stars Shining in a Black Sky (2:15b). |
62 |
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Holding Forth the Word of Life (2:16a) |
63 |
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The Philippians Are Paul's Cause for Boasting (2:16b) |
64 |
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Poured Out Like a Drink Offering (2:17a) |
64 |
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Gladness and Rejoicing with One Another (2:17b-18) |
65 |
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#5. Christian Character: Timothy and Epaphroditus (2:19-30) |
67 | |
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Timothy's Background |
67 |
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Timothy's Selfless Love (2:19-21) |
69 |
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Proving Oneself (2:22a) |
70 |
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Like a Son with a Father -- Mentoring (2:22b) |
71 |
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Slaving in the Gospel (2:22c) |
72 |
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Epaphroditus the Man (2:25) |
72 |
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Risking His Life (2:26-30) |
73 |
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Honor Such Men (3:29) |
74 |
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#6. That I May Know Him (3:1-11) |
76 | |
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The Threat from Judaizers (3:1-2) |
77 |
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The True Circumcision (3:2-3) |
77 |
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Paul's Religious Credentials (3:4-6) |
79 |
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Paul's Heart Cry (3:7-9) |
80 |
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Gain vs. Loss (3:7-8) |
80 |
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Knowing Christ Jesus My Lord (3:8b) |
81 |
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Being Found in Christ (3:9) |
82 |
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Righteousness by Faith not Law (3:9b) |
82 |
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Righteousness Received by Faith |
83 |
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Knowing Christ Intimately (3:10) |
84 |
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#7. Pressing Toward the Goal (3:12-4:1) |
88 | |
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Still in a Work in Progress (3:12a) |
88 |
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Pressing in to Take Hold (3:12b-13a) |
89 |
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Running Flat Out in the Great Race (3:13b-14) |
90 |
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Forgetting What Lies Behind (3:13c) |
90 |
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Straining Towards the Finish Line (3:13d) |
91 |
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Pressing on Toward the Goal (3:14a) |
92 |
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To Win the Prize (3:14b) |
92 |
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The Heavenward Call (3:14c) |
93 |
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In Christ Jesus (3:14d) |
93 |
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An Example for the Mature (3:15-16) |
94 |
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The Apostle's Example and Pattern (3:17) |
94 |
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Enemies of the Cross of Christ (3:18-19) |
95 |
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Citizens of Heaven (3:20-21) |
95 |
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Stand Firm in the Lord (4:1) |
96 |
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Higher Ground |
96 |
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#8. Rejoice in the Lord Always (4:1-9) |
99 | |
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My Joy and My Crown (4:1) |
99 |
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Euodia and Syntyche -- Agree in the Lord! (4:2-3) |
100 |
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Rejoice in the Lord Always (4:4-5) |
100 |
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Gentleness and Awareness of the Hour (4:4-5) |
102 |
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Cure for Anxiety (4:6) |
103 |
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God's Peace Will Guard Your Mind (4:7) |
104 |
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Think About These Things (4:8) |
105 |
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Put into Practice These Lessons (4:9) |
107 |
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#9. A Partnership in Giving and Receiving (4:10-23) |
109 | |
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The Philippians' Concern for Paul (4:10) |
110 |
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Poverty and Wealth (4:11-12) |
110 |
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Christian Contentment (4:11-13) |
111 |
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I Can Do All Things through Christ (4:13) |
112 |
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Profit Accruing to an Investment in Ministry (4:14-16) |
113 |
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Financial Investment with a Spiritual Return |
114 |
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A Fragrant Offering (4:18) |
115 |
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God Will Abundantly Meet Every Need (4:19-20) |
116 |
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Final Greetings (4:21-22) |
117 |
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Benediction (4:23) |
117 |
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Appendix 1. The Nicene Creed |
120 | |
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Appendix 2: Questions for Each Lesson of Philippians |
121 | |
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Appendix 3: Inductive Bible Study Questions |
131 | |
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About the Author |
150 | |