Outline of Philippians

 Jonathan Gordon
Pastor, Cornerstone Baptist Church, Milford, Ohio

  1.  Introduction:   Joy in the Faithful Church.
    1. The key word in the epistle to the Philippian church is joy.   Paul used either the word joy or one of its derivatives eighteen times.   This outline will focus on four areas through which the Lord’s churches may have joy.

  2. The greeting of the epistle.
    1. The writer – Paul with Timothy, 1:1.
    2. The recipients – saints at Philippi, 1:1.
    3. The blessing – grace and peace, 1:2.

  3. The joy of triumphing over our suffering – chapter 1.
    1. Paul’s joy over the saints at Philippi, 1:3-5.
      1. His thoughts of them evoked thanksgiving, 1:3.
      2. His thoughts of them evoked joy, 1:4.
      3. Their fellowship was the cause of his joy, 1:5.
    2. Paul’s joy over the Sovereign, 1:6-11.
      1. He was confident in the ability and faithfulness of God, 1:6.
      2. He had seen evidence of the grace of God in them, 1:7.
        1. They had blessed him during his imprisonment.
        2. They had blessed him by their stand on the gospel.
    3. Paul’s appeal to God for them, 1:8-11.
      1. For abounding grace, 1:9.
      2. For excellence in judgment, 1:9-10.
      3. For sincerity, 1:10.
      4. For fullness of life in Christ, 1:11.
    4. Paul’s joy in an unfavorable situation, 1:12-26.
      1. His suffering.   Paul was in prison at the time for good cause – the furtherance of the gospel, 1:12.
      2. His suffering was a good example before princes and paupers alike, 1:13.
      3. His suffering was a source of motivation for others to preach the gospel, 1:14-18.
        1. Many now preached with a holy boldness because of him, 1:14.
        2. Some preached because they were angry with Paul (apparently over factional issues), 1:15.
        3. Some preached because they had good will in their hearts, 1:15.
        4. Some preached against Paul, 1:16.
        5. Some preached out of love, 1:17.
      4. Paul rejoiced just knowing that Christ was being preached.   His suffering was worth it!   1:18-26.
        1. He would be blessed for his suffering, 1:19-20a.
          1. Because the saints were praying for him.
          2. Because the Spirit of Christ was with him.
        2. Christ would be magnified by his suffering, 1:20b-26.   In Christ, Paul was in a no-lose situation (1:21).   If he lives, he can be a blessing to the saints, if he dies, he will enjoy the blessings of life with Christ in heaven.   That’s really joy!
    5. Paul’s encouragement to those who would also suffer for the gospel’s sake, 1:27-30.
      1. Our conversation (conduct) must show that we have received the good news, 1:27.
        1. With or without Paul.   We must live by faith in Christ, not by the strength of our human leaders, 1:27-28.
        2. In unity, 1:27.
        3. Without fear, 1:28.
      2. We should expect to suffer for Christ, 1:29-30.
    6. Summary:   Paul derived a sense of joy by (1) being counted worthy to suffer shame for Christ’s name as did the apostles in Acts 5:41; (2) knowing that the gospel was being preached with greater vigor since his suffering in prison began; and (3) knowing that he had been a blessing to the Philippian saints.
    7. The joy of sacrificial service – chapter 2.
    8. Unity in the church would bring joy to the heart of Paul, 2:1-4.
      1. Christ had already given all that was necessary for unity, 2:1.
        1. Consolation (encouragement).
        2. Comfort of love (tenderness in word).
        3. Fellowship in the Spirit.
        4. Bowels of mercies (ultimate tenderness and mercy).
      2. The cost of unity is the sacrifice of their pride, 2:2-4.
    9. Christ is the supreme example of self-sacrifice, 2:5-11.
      1. He divested Himself of His rightful position, (made Himself of no reputation) and became a servant, 2:6-7.
      2. He humbled Himself even before His worst enemy (death, and that on a cursed cross), 2:8.
      3. The result of the sacrifice is exaltation by God (II Peter 5:6), 2:9-11.
    10. We must follow Christ’s example by being obedient, 2:12-13.
      1. Wherefore indicates that which we are called upon to do in verse 12 is result of what Christ did in 2:6-8.   The ultimate act which He performed was to become …obedient unto death (2:8), for in His death He paid the ultimate price in order to achieve the ultimate goal – the reconciliation of sinful man with the Holy God, 2:12.
      2. Obedience to God is the working out of our salvation, and Paul encouraged them to obey God as they had already been doing.   Modern thought wants to replace the fear of God with reverence, and this writer partially agrees.   However, the original word which is here translated fear is the word from which we get phobia.   Further, the simple English includes trembling, which indicates that more than reverence is due the Sovereign of the universe (2:12).
      3. Obedience is the responsibility of the believer, but he has the help of almighty God toward the accomplishment of the task, 2:12-13.
    11. The joyful Christian is able to obey God without complaining, 2:14-18.
      1. It shows that the power of God is greater than the power of darkness, 2:15.
      2. It brings joy to those who delivered the gospel to them, 2:16-17.
      3. It also brings joy to the believers themselves, 2:18.
    12. Two of Paul’s companions were examples of self-sacrifice, 2:19.
      1. Timothy, 2:19-23.
        1. Paul had no one else like Timothy, 2:20.
        2. One outstanding characteristic of Timothy was that he did not seek his own…, 2:21.
      2. Epaphroditus , 2:24-30.
        1. He had looked after Paul’s wants, not his own, 2:25.
        2. He cared greatly for the feelings of others when it was he who had been sick, 2:26-28.
        3. His illness was related to the work of Christ.   He suffered while taking care of Paul, 2:30.
    13. Summary:   When it comes to faithful service, Jesus Christ has left the supreme example that all should follow.   Paul said that he would rejoice when the Philippian believers learned to serve the way Christ did.   He also noted that the believers would have the same joy that he did when they served as did Christ.   It is not a foreign thing to find one who renders sacrificial service.   Timothy and Epaphroditus were two such servants.   Paul rejoiced over it, and stated that the church would rejoice over such service.

  4. The joy of trusting the saviour – chapter 3.
    1. Paul’s command – rejoice in the Lord, 3:1-3.
      1. No joy in (spiritual) dogs, i.e., ferocious, impudent, greedy, degrading, and unclean people.
      2. No joy in evil workers.
      3. No joy in the concision (their beloved mutilation which was circumcision).
      4. True rejoicing is found in Christ – in the spiritual rather than the fleshly circumcision, 3:3.
    2. Paul’s personal example, 3:4-14.
      1. His heritage and position qualified him before the world, 3:5.
      2. His former opposition to the church qualified him before the world, 3:6.
      3. His worldly qualifications were nothing to him, now that he knew Jesus Christ, 3:7-9.
        1. Knowing Jesus Christ really matters.   All else is likened to dung by comparison, 3:8.
        2. Possession of the righteousness really matters, 3:9.
        3. Knowing Him according to His most powerful works really matters, 3:10-14.
    3. Paul’s plan for perfection (maturity), 3:15-21.
      1. …be thus minded… - forget yourself in favor of honoring Christ, as Paul did, 3:16.
      2. Having already believed on Christ, let us have unity in Him, 3:16.
      3. Walk according to Paul’s example and the example of other believers.   Paul was all they had.   They did not have the New Testament yet, as we do now, 3:17.
        1. Many are not following good examples, 3:18.
        2. They will be destroyed, 3:19.
      4. We are capable of such a walk because of our heavenly conversation (citizenship), 3:20-21.
    4. Summary:   Our rejoicing in the Lord Jesus Christ.   Believers cannot find joy anywhere else, whether in unspiritual people, religious rituals, or even in our own attitudes or actions.   Therefore, we forget about ourselves, concentrating on the Saviour, and therein we find joy.

  5. Joy in the Peace of God – chapter 4.
    1. The peace of God may be had when things are going well as well as when they go poorly, 4:1-8.
      1. The Philippian church was a source of joy for Paul, 4:1.
      2. The church was not without its problems, 4:2-3.
      3. Their rejoicing must be in the Lord, 4:4.
      4. Their moderation (peaceable spirit?) must be made obvious to others, 4:5.
      5. They must pray in all situations, 4:6.
      6. The peace of God will be with them, 4:7.
      7. They must learn to guard their thoughts, 4:8-9 (Proverbs 24:7).
    2. Following Paul’s doctrine and example will bring fellowship with the God of peace, 4:9-19.
      1. Paul rejoiced to have them resume their support of him, 4:10.
      2. However, his rejoicing was based upon the strengthening power of Christ rather than circumstances, 4:11-13.
      3. He commends their support of his ministry, 4:14.
        1. They had done well by supporting the ministry, 4:14.
        2. They had been the only ones who had supported him, 4:15-16.
        3. Both they and their missionary were to be blessed by their support, 4:17-19.
    3. Summary:   There is joy in the peace of God.   That peace which comes from God accompanies faithful believers through good times and bad.   God will bless our thoughts when those thoughts honor Him.

  6. There is joy in supporting faithful missionaries.   Everyone is blessed.   The church is blessed.   The missionary is blessed.   With all these blessings flowing, one cannot help but have joy.

  7. The closing of the epistle.
    1. Glory to God – 4:20.
    2. Salutations from Paul and his companions – 4:21.
    3. A benediction of grace – 4:23.