TEACHING NOTES Introduction Today we end our study of Paul’s letter to the Philippian church. As we have already learned, the main theme of this letter is to teach us how to “work out our salvation” (Phil. 2:12). To “work out your salvation” is to live out or exercise your salvation. Therefore, in each week of this study we learned various ways to live out what we claim to believe. ‌ How to Live Out Your Salvation: ‌Phil. 1:1-11 — Partnership in the Gospel ‌Phil. 1:12-26 — Live for Christ and Others ‌Phil. 1:27-30 — Work Together as a Family ‌Phil. 2:1-11 — Live Like Christ ‌Phil. 2:12-18 — Exercise Your Salvation ‌Phil. 2:19-30 — Follow Godly Examples ‌Phil. 3:1-11 — Live for Eternity ‌Phil. 3:12-21 — Focus Forward ‌Phil. 4:1-9 — Redirect Your Attention ‌Phil. 4:10-23 — Learn to Be Content ‌ Philippians 4:10 10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. ‌ You have revived your concern for me = Paul is referring to the gifts that the Philippian church had sent to him in prison. Remember that in the ancient world the prison did not provide all the needs of the inmates. Supplies of food and writing tools had to be provided by friends and family. ‌ You had no opportunity = Apparently, the Philippians wanted to provide for Paul earlier but did not have a way to do it. Eventually, they were able to send Epaphroditus with provisions and Paul sent Epaphroditus back with this letter to the church (Phil. 2:25-30). ‌ Philippians 4:11–13 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. ‌ In whatever situation I am to be content = This learning did not come easy for Paul. Paul learned contentment by losing everything he had as a high-ranking Pharisee and being heavily persecuted as a Christian missionary. ‌ How to be brought low = Paul tells us about his low points in 2 Corinthians 11:24–27 “24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; 26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; 27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.” ‌ How to abound = When Paul was a high-ranking Pharisee he had prestige, influence, and wealth. He was also highly educated in both Roman philosophy and Jewish religion/law. Paul knew what it was like to “abound” in the things that the world values. ‌ I have learned the secret = Grk. myeo - to learn a mystery. In a culture that valued elite status and wealth, being content with poverty seemed crazy. Paul is saying that he has learned to be content in any circumstance. This is not the only time Paul writes about being content (see 1 Tim. 6:6-8; 2 Cor. 9:8; Heb. 13:5). ‌ I can do all things = This is one of the most famous passages to take out of context. Out of context, this passage is used to say, “Through Jesus I can do anything.” That is obviously not true. Humans cannot literally do all things and Christ forbids us to do many things. In context, the “all things” refers to “facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.” In other words Paul is saying, “I am able to endure all circumstances through Christ.” ‌ Through him who strengthens me = The Greek word for “strengthens” here is endynamounti, which means “cause to be able to function.” Paul is saying that he is able to endure all circumstances because Christ is the source of his strength. It is the Christ through the Holy Spirit that gives us the power and desire to stay faithful, even in hard times. ‌ Philippians 4:14–17 14 Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. 15 And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. 16 Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. ‌ Share in my trouble = The Greek word for “share” here is synkoinoneo, which comes from koinonia - to share as a family. The fact that the Philippians sent supplies to Paul in prison shows that they were “sharing” in Paul’s struggles. In the early churches, believers practiced koinonia in such a way that in the Jerusalem church no one was in need (Acts 4:34-35). They believed that each person in the church belongs to each other, suffering together, and carrying one another’s burdens. As Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 12:26 “If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.” ‌ No church entered partnership with me = There were times in Paul’s ministry where he had little support, but the Philippian church had always been there for him. This is one reason why Paul had such love and respect for the Philippian church. ‌ I seek fruit that increases to your credit = Paul was doing his ministry to make money, but every minister has the same needs as anyone else. Paul understood that those who helped him perform his ministry would be “credited” with rewards from God. ‌ Philippians 4:18–20 18 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. 19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. ‌ I have received full payment, and more = The Philippians did not send Paul millions of dollars, but simply provided for Paul’s needs while in prison. In Paul’s mind, this was more than enough. ‌ A fragrant offering = This is language from the Torah about sacrifices. When the Israelites offered sacrifices (gifts) to God, there was a fragrant aroma that rose up to God (Gen. 8:21; Ex. 30:7-8). The image here is that our faithfulness to God and to each other is a gift to God. The idea is found in Hebrews 13:16 “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” ‌ Acceptable and pleasing to God = Paul says something similar in Romans 12:1 “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” We should live in a such way that our lives are a gift to God. ‌ My God will supply every need = This is the foundation of Paul’s teaching on being content in all circumstances. Paul is confident that God can be trusted to provide for every need of His people. As Jesus said in Matthew 7:9–11 “9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” ‌ To the glory of God our Father = God provides for the needs of His people to show the world that He is a good God who loves His people. This bring glory to God because it shows the world who He really is. ‌ Philippians 4:21–23 21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you. 22 All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household. 23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. ‌ Saint = Grk. hagion - holy one. In the Old Testament, the “holy ones” are usually the heavenly beings—the sons of God, angels, seraphim, cherubim (Ps. 89:5; Dan. 4; 8:13; Zech. 14:5). However, many of those heavenly beings rebelled against God to corrupt humanity (Ps. 82). God no longer trusted His “holy ones” to obey His will (Job 15:15-16). But in the New Testament, the “holy ones” (saints) are the people of God—the church. ‌ The brothers who are with me = We know that Timothy was with Paul, as he is likely the one writing down this letter as Paul dictated the content (Phil. 1:1). ‌ Those of Caesar’s household = This could be a clue that Paul was imprisoned in Rome, but could also mean that he is imprisoned in a prominent Roman province. In either case, Paul is saying that people within the emperor’s household are Christians. If Philippians was written around AD 60, the emperor would have been Nero Caesar, who reigned AD 54-68 and was the emperor who had Paul and Peter (and thousands of other Christians) martyred. ‌ The grace of Jesus be with your spirit = Paul final statement is not merely a goodbye. Paul’s final statement is more like a prayer that the grace of Jesus will be ingrained in the innermost part of these believers. ‌ Discontentment is often connected to entitlement. ‌Discontentment is often connected to an unhealthy desire for more. ‌Discontentment is a lack of trust in the character of God. ‌ 1 Timothy 6:6–8 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. ‌ 2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. ‌ Hebrews 13:5‌ Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” ‌‌ Conclusion ‌Prayer: Ask God to reveal what needs to change. ‌Repentance: Agree with God and repent of sin. ‌Worship: Thank God for what He is doing in you. ‌Communion: Take Christ in and renew faithfulness. ‌