10. A Partnership in Giving and Receiving (Philippians 4:10-23) -- Inductive Bible Study Questions

Disciple Lessons from Philippians, Paul's Letter to the Church at Philippi

10. A Partnership in Giving and Receiving (Philippians 4:10-23)
Inductive Bible Study Questions

by Dr. Ralph F. Wilson
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Learning contentment stewardship in Christ

Our final lesson in Philippians, strangely enough, focuses on balance concerning material things. If we can get this right -- the spiritual and the material -- I daresay we can move forward as Christian disciples. Epaphroditis has recently brought a gift from Philippi (4:18), though the Philippian church had had an ongoing relationship with Paul of financial support for some time. Let's explore it together.

Level 1: What Does the Text Say

1.1 If you were to identify only six key words from this passage, what would they be?

Level 2: What Does the Text Mean?

2.1 Read Phil 4:12; 1 Tim 6:5b-10, and Hebrews 13:5. If contentment is a virtue, what is its corresponding sin?

2.2 (Vs. 11-13) What was Paul's secret of contentment? How do vss. 4-9 relate to Paul's contentment? Assignment: Write out Phil 4:13 on a card or small poster and place it where you can see it daily.

EXTENDED COMMENT: Our English translations tend to obscure some important Greek words, technical terms from the world of finance: Vs. 14 "share in my troubles" (KJV "communicate with my affliction"). Greek sugkoinoneo -- "participate in with someone, be connected with something" (BAG 774). The noun form of this verb means "participant, partner" and is used of business partners. Do you see the root word koinos hiding here? Koinos means "common" as opposed to personal, and is often used to express a legal relationship of common ownership. The noun koinonia means "association, communion, fellowship, close relationship.... (BAG 438f). In vs. 15, ("not one church shared with me", KJV "communicated with me") we see the related verb koinoneo, "to share with someone in something which he has, to take part". Vs. 17 introduces another financial concept: "credited to your account" (KJV "abound to your account"). The Greek phrase eis logon is a commercial technical term which means "in settlement of an account." (BAG 478) Vs. 17 also contains the idea of profit, Greek karpos, "fruit, then figuratively, "advantage, gain, profit." (BAG 405). NIV obscures it with "what may be credited" (KJV "I desire fruit"). Put all these words together, and you see that Paul is talking about a spiritual "partnership" using financial partnership terminology.

2.3 Vs. 15. Paul describes this partnership in terms of "giving and receiving." What was given? What was received?

2.4 In what sense will the spiritual victories of Paul's ministry be "credited" to his financial-spiritual partners?

2.5 How can the concept of rewards ("credited to your account") co-exist with the concept of grace. Aren't they mutually exclusive?

2.6 (Vs. 18) The phrases "fragrant offering" and "acceptable sacrifice" come from the Jewish sacrificial system. In what sense is financial giving a "fragrant offering" and an "acceptable sacrifice"? What can keep financial giving from being seen in this exalted way?

2.7 Vs. 19 is a wonderful promise which draws on the inexhaustible supply of Christ's "glorious riches". If we haven't been faithful partners in financial giving to God's work like the Philippians were, are we eligible to claim this promise? In what sense is this promise part of the financial partnership outlined in this passage?

2.8 In what ways does tithing (giving 10% of one's income to the Lord's work) support or undermine the partnership we have with God in "giving and receiving"?

Level 3: What Does the Text Mean to Me?

3.1 In which areas of your life are you praying for the contentment Paul talks about in vss. 11-13?

3.2 What is God showing you about your financial partnership with Him?

Disciple Lessons from Philippians

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