PHILIPPIANS LESSON 2


     We will begin this lesson in Philippians 1:15 "Some indeed preach
Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:"

     We find the very same thing that we have in our society today.
Many who profess to know Christ, bring a different message than the
others who profess to know Christ. As long as what they are preaching
is doctrinally sound, we should not worry about this. Jesus said,
those that are not against us are for us. I would rather teach that
God loves you and get you to heaven, than to preach threatening you
out of hell. This is just personal preference. On the other hand,
there are teachings now which border on blasphemey such as teaching
that Jesus suffered in hell for our sin. This is a blatant untruth and
takes away from the victory of Jesus on the cross. This is something
we can not tolerate. I believe this is what Paul is speaking of here.
Paul is saying, be sure the doctrine they are bringing is of God.

     Philippians 1:16 "The one preach Christ of contention, not
sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:"

     The word "contention", here, means intrigue or faction. It seems
that these were Judaizers who were causing problems in the church.
They did not agree with the good news of the gospel that Paul had
brought. In the process of causing problems in the church, they are
causing Paul extra problems.

     Philippians 1:17 "But the other of love, knowing that I am set
for the defence of the gospel."

     Paul will defend the gospel, even at the cost of his own life.
Paul is teaching the love of God. The gospel is good news, not bad
news. It seems so many of these other teachers were trying to put them
back under the law. They really had not shed many of their customs and
practices they had before they came to Christ. They were still trying
to work their way to heaven, by keeping laws and ordinances.
This was in terrible error, because Jesus either was the perfect
sacrifice for all things for all time, or He was not. You could not
accept Him as the fulfillment of all the sacrifices and still
sacrifice. That would be a contradiction.

     Philippians 1:18 "What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether
in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do
rejoice, yea, and will rejoice."

     Paul was very pleased that they were lifting up the name of
Jesus, even if they were pretending. Whatever the case is, Jesus is
being preached and many are believing. This could not be all bad.
I Corinthians 1:21 "For after that in the wisdom of God the world by
wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to
save them that believe."  God can turn something bad into something
really good. They are still meeting in church, and they are still
speaking of Jesus. These two things together cause many to be saved.
There is power in the name of Jesus.

     Philippians 1:19 "For I know that this shall turn to my salvation
through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,"

     Praying for them will bring the truth. This is not speaking of
Paul being saved later {in my opinion}. It is saying, if they are
introduced to Christ Jesus and they pray, the Lord will straighten
them out as to the truth. Those who receive the Holy Spirit will be
taught of the Spirit, and that will bring them to absolute truth.

     Philippians 1:20 "According to my earnest expectation and [my]
hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but [that] with all
boldness, as always, [so] now also Christ shall be magnified in my
body, whether [it be] by life, or by death."

     Paul not only hopes, but expects them to come to the full
knowledge of Christ. Paul was bold in proclaiming Christ, and it did
not matter to him whether he was alive or dead, the message would go
forth. As in many cases, it would probably be more accepted after his
death. Paul would be bold in speaking of Christ, no matter what his
circumstances were.

     Philippians 1:21 "For to me to live [is] Christ, and to die [is]
gain."

     Paul's life was a proclamation for Christ, and his death was a
proclamation, as well. The following Scriptures say it better than I
can. Romans 8:35 "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
[shall] tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or
nakedness, or peril, or sword?"  Romans 8:36 "As it is written, For
thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for
the slaughter." Romans 8:37 "Nay, in all these things we are more than
conquerors through him that loved us." Romans 8:38 "For I am
persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor
principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,"
Romans 8:39 "Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be
able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our
Lord."  Paul's life would glorify the Lord. His death would glorify
Him even more.

     Philippians 1:22 " But if I live in the flesh, this [is] the
fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not."

     The flesh is a problem to Paul. We know that he had something
that God would not remove, but I do not believe this is what is spoken
of here. I believe he is speaking of the trouble in the churches that
he had begun. Paul's greatest desire was to be with the Lord in
heaven, but he would not be able to bear fruit in heaven. To bear
fruit for Jesus, he would have to endure the hardship in the flesh.

     Philippians 1:23 "For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a
desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:"

     As we said, Paul's greatest desire was to be with Jesus in
heaven. The desire of every true Christian is for the Lord Jesus to
hurry His coming back for us. The rewards for Christians is in heaven,
not on this earth.

     Philippians 1:24 "Nevertheless to abide in the flesh [is] more
needful for you."

     Paul was needed to teach others of the love of God on this earth.
Even those, who had already received Jesus as their Saviour, needed
Paul to continue to teach them, so that they would grow into mature
Christians.

     Philippians 1:25 "And having this confidence, I know that I shall
abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of
faith;"

     The delay of Paul going to heaven and the delay of the return of
the Lord to get all of the Christians today, is not because He is
slack, but because He wants everyone saved, who will be saved. II
Peter 3:9 "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men
count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any
should perish, but that all should come to repentance."  Paul is
willing to stay and continue to teach these who he started with. It is
for their benefit he is staying and not for his own benefit.

     Philippians 1:26 "That your rejoicing may be more abundant in
Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again."

     This may be speaking of Paul coming to them in this letter,
rather than in person. Their rejoicing should be in Jesus and not in
Paul.

     Philippians 1:27 "Only let your conversation be as it becometh
the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be
absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit,
with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;"

     This is like a loving parent instructing their children on how
they are to act. Paul is reminding them to let everything that comes
from their mouth bring glory to the Christ within them. Paul, also,
tells them even though he is not with them in person, to follow his
teachings and live in the Spirit. This would make him proud to have
been the one who led them to the Lord. Paul would like to hear that
they are guided by the Spirit of God. He would, also, like to hear
that their mind is stayed on Christ.

     Philippians 1:28 "And in nothing terrified by your adversaries:
which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of
salvation, and that of God."

     Paul is telling them to not be overwhelmed with fear of those who
are against them. The enemy will say that they are not even following
God, but they will be strong in their salvation.  Notice in the
following Scriptures, that only the true Christian understands.
I Corinthians 1:23 "But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a
stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;" I Corinthians 1:24
"But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the
power of God, and the wisdom of God." I Corinthians 1:25 "Because the
foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is
stronger than men."

     Philippians 1:29 "For unto you it is given in the behalf of
Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;"

     The very highest calling for a man is that of suffering for
Christ. How much do you believe? Do you believe enough that you would
be willing to give your life for that belief?  Salvation is a gift of
God to man. The willingness to suffer for this salvation is, also, a
gift from God to man. II Timothy 2:12 "If we suffer, we shall also
reign with [him]: if we deny [him], he also will deny us:"

     Philippians 1:30 "Having the same conflict which ye saw in me,
and now hear [to be] in me."

     Paul set a good example for those who would follow him. Paul is
saying here, you know how I suffered for the furtherance of the
gospel. Paul is not saying this to get sympathy from them, but that
they might look to his problems and know that they, too, can live
through the persecutions. He says, you are experiencing the problems I
had. They had seen the way he had been persecuted when he was with
them, and now, they hear that he is in chains in Rome.


























                        Philippians 2 Questions

1.  What was the difference in the way Christ was being preached?
2.  What are two messages that are both doctrinally sound that are
    opposites in manner?
3.  What is an example of a doctrine that must be stopped?
4.  What was adding to the afflictions of Paul?
5.  What does the word "contention" in verse 16, mean?
6.  Paul will defend the gospel, even at the ______ of ______ ___ ___.
7.  What was the problem with the message the Judaizers were bringing?
8.  In verse 18, Paul is pleased about what?
9.  Quote 1 Corinthians chapter 1 verse 21.
10. What will bring the truth?
11. Believers in Christ are taught by whom?
12. Paul not only hopes, but ____________ them to come to the full
    knowledge of Christ.
13. Quote Philippians chapter 1 verse 21.
14. Quote Romans chapter 8 verse 38.
15. What was Paul's greatest desire?
16. What would Paul have to do to bear fruit for Jesus?
17. Where are the rewards for Christians?
18. What was Paul needed on the earth for?
19. Quote 2 Peter chapter 3 verse 9.
20. What should their conversation be as?
21. Who is Paul like in verse 27?
22. What is a token of perdition?
23. Quote 1 Corinthians chapter 1 verse 23.
24. How much do you believe?
25. Quote 2 Timothy chapter 2 verse 12.
26. What did Paul suffer for?