15a - Philippians

Question 1

philipians and philemon

Answer 1

shorter but more upbeat then most other letters, suggesting friendship

Question 2

city of philippi 5

Answer 2

• ancient city founded as Crenides in 359-360bc, named after father of alexander the great in 356 bc
• reestablished under emperor octavian, became roman colony modelled off of rome in 42 bc
• roman colonnists, macedonian greeks, and jewish community
• prosperous
• majority language was latin, not greek

Question 3

Paul’s initial mission 5

Answer 3

• journey involved a vision urging to come to macedonia
• first convert was a merchant named Lydia, church meeting in her home
• another convert was a slave girl possessed by a spirit who could divine and earned her owners money
• her owners brought chargers against paul in silas, put them in jail, but they miraculously escaped but were then expelled from the city
• key theme: girlbosses (women played a prominant role in paul’s reception and proclomation of the gospel in philipi)

Question 4

paul’s ongoing friendship with the philipians 2

Answer 4

• they supported paul’s subsequent mission in thessalonica and continued to keep in contact and assist him
• more recently sent a gift to paul while he was in prison again via epaphroditas, who will return this letter

Question 5

letter purpose 5

Answer 5

• to convey his prayers on their behalf
• to reassure them of his situation
• to stress Christ-like self-sacrificial love and unity
• to urge steadfastness in facing opposition
• to exhort the philippians and express thanks for their gift

Question 6

imprisonment and the gospel 2

Answer 6

• his witness to the practorium (prison gaurd)
• his example has emboldened local believers to proclaim the gospel fearlessly

Question 7

2 groups in view

Answer 7

• those who proclaim Christ out of love
• those who proclaim Christ out of rivalry and envy

Question 8

2 options for Paul

Answer 8

• death with Christ would bring ultimate gain of eternal life with Christ
• yet Paul’s present place is to be alive with needy converts

Question 9

2 sources of conflict common to Paul and the philippians

Answer 9

• from within - disunity
• from without - opponents

Question 10

koinonia 2

Answer 10

• mutual participation in Christ, belonging to one another, being together in the fellowship of Christ
• the philippian church must self-sacrificially identify with and give themselves to one another - in this way they will pattern Christ

Question 11

key passage 2:5-11 3

Answer 11

• perhaps a hymn, poem, or creed
• on the human and divine identity and role of Christ
• importance of being conformed to Christ in mind and pattern of life, use examples like Paul, tim, epaphroditus

Question 12

obedience to the end 2

Answer 12

• working out salvation by participating in the rescue and renewal of the world
• steadfastness to the day of Christ like a priestly self-offering in torah