“Get used to inhabiting this letter and let it inhabit you because what Paul wants his hearers to do in this letter is to learn to think differently, to think in the Messianic way, in the Jesus way. There is a great deal in this letter about a whole new way to think: to think wisely, to think discerningly, about God, about Jesus, and about yourself.”
N.T. Wright in the course Paul and His Letter to the Philippians
Since “all Scripture is inspired by God… “(2 Timothy 3:16-17), any biblical text will bring appropriate benefit. Of course. But what is going on today that would lead us to study Philippians?
Around the world, we are reminded of the fracturing and splintering of an angry and disparate society. Today, the words of Paul to the Philippian believers are much needed.
Philippians carries the twin themes of holiness and unity throughout this small epistle. Here are six timely aspirations that lead us towards studying this powerful book:
We Should Know Our Destiny
Through the eyes of Paul in Philippians 1:3-26 Paul shows us the dramatic power of prayerful certainty of God’s perspective upon our lives. Though in prison himself, hardly a place of ease, Paul leans into his circumstances and lives out God’s will.
We Should Know Our Worth
Strange thought? Not for Paul. He urged the Philippians to know what a worthy life looked like (Phillippians 1:27-30). When you live out the life of a subversive proclamation that there is a new King and a new way of living available for the world, you sleep well at night.
We Should Know How to Think and Love
Paul describes Jesus own approach to loving and thinking, and then urges his readers to “have the same mind and love…” towards each other (Philippians 2:1-4). This is an undeniable and tangible way we can become more like Jesus.
We Should Know Our Master, Jesus the King
While there are many places in Scripture you can find that, Philippians has one of the most powerful paragraphs in all of the Apostle Paul’s writings that show us the Jesus way: Phillippians 2:5-11.
We Should Know How to Assess Our Past
Paul demonstrates this in Philippians 3:1-21 as a way to embrace our future. Paul has quite a resumé. We listen in as he truthfully examines his zealous life before knowing Jesus. Instead of getting lost in braggadocio or shame, the same passion drives him beyond his past toward his future in Christ.
We Should Value Our Friends in Christ
It’s easy to take our friends and our church community for granted. We learn from Philippians 4:1-23 that Paul did not! This beautiful final chapter contains so many wonderful admonitions and words of encouragement to lift up the believers and move them on to talking, acting, thinking, and giving like Jesus did.
Hope from Philippians
I have been in three local church settings that have simply become unglued and fractured. Anger, hopelessness, and suspicion are not the only evidence in the aftertaste of such destruction. There is a growing category of “nones” in the U.S. and Europe—those who claim no religious allegiance at all. Such toxic experiences or church are partly to blame for their disillusionment. Paul’s encouraging yet subversive words to the believers in Philippi can teach you a new way of life, and even draw your church closer together.
With Fall comes many new things. A study of Philippians can lead you and your Church into a new season off understanding King Jesus, and how we can follow him.
David P. Seemuth, PhD
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