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Philippians and Philemon: Prison Epistles, Part 2

  1. Lesson One
    Overview of Philippians (Philippians 1–4)
    22 Activities
    |
    1 Assessment
  2. Lesson Two
    Philippians: Suffering and Community (Philippians Review)
    22 Activities
  3. Lesson Three
    Overview of Philemon
    22 Activities
  4. Lesson Four
    Paul and Slavery (Philemon, Romans 6 Review)
    17 Activities
    |
    1 Assessment
  5. Lesson Five
    Social Impact
    9 Activities
    |
    4 Assessments
  6. Course Wrap-Up
    Course Completion
    1 Activity
    |
    1 Assessment

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[Record your answers in the workbook provided at the beginning of this course.]

On both sides of this poem, we find parallel sermons that Paul centers on the earlier and established church liturgy. These sermons in Philippians 1:25–2:5 and 2:12-18 immediately precede and follow the hymn. Note the outline of these sermons below. 

ThemesPhilippians 1:25–2:5 (NLT)Philippians 2:12-18 (NLT)
Paul’s presence in Philippi Paul’s statement about whether he came to see (1:27)Paul’s exhortation to obedience whether he was present or not (2:12)
Evidence of salvationA sign of the Philippians’ salvation (1:28)“Work hard to show the results of your salvation.” (2:12)
Source of salvationThis salvation is from God. (1:28)“God is working in you.” (2:13)
Living out salvation“Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others.” (2:3) “Do everything without complaining and arguing.” (2:14)
Demonstrating salvation to the world “Live as citizens of heaven” (1:27); “Don’t be intimidated . . . by your enemies.” (1:28)Blameless “children of God” in the midst of a crooked world (2:15)
The struggle for faith“Fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News” (1:27)“Hold firmly to the word of life.” (2:16)
Fighting together with PaulBeing athletes together (1:27); “We are in this struggle together.” (1:30)So that Paul had not run in vain (2:16)
Paul’s personal struggle“You have seen my struggle in the past, and you know that I am still in the midst of it.” (1:30)Paul poured out as a drink offering (2:17)
A faithful offering“. . . you have been . . . given the privilege . . . of suffering for him.” (1:29)The Philippians’ faithful service was an offering to God. (2:17)
Joy in ChristThe exhortation to make Paul joyful (2:2)The anticipation of shared joy (2:18)

Table quoted and adapted from: Philip Comfort, Ephesians, Philippians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, Colossians, Philemon, 2008, pp. 182-183.

  1. Read Philippians 2:6-11 again. Why might Paul have chosen to locate this hymn in the middle of these passages (1:25–2:6 and 2:12-18) to make his point? How does it reinforce and help carry his message?
Two Sermons Around the Christ Poem

One of the simplest reasons Paul uses the hymn between his two sermons may be the inspirational quality of the hymn. It’s a powerful and resounding poem that is meant to encourage the Philippians during the trials and struggles he’s describing. The hymn refers to a God who “humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:8, NIV).

 

This would encourage the Philippians to identify their trials with those of Christ Himself. The calls to blamelessness and selflessness are centered in the past triumph of Jesus over the dark forces of this world. So while Paul uses himself in these passages as a model and compatriot in Christian faith, he exalts Jesus to “the highest place” and presents Him as the ultimate model of faithfulness.