The Strand Study Bible

PHILIPPIANS Written From Rome During Paul’s First Roman Imprisonment “energizes” us to do His good pleasure. If He doesn’t work through us, it doesn’t get done. God works through our lives and 1986

changes us via four avenues: 1. His Word (I Thess 2:13) 2. Trials (II Cor 1:6 and I Pet 1:6-7) 3. Prayer (Jms 5:16) 4. His Spirit (I Cor 12:7-11) A wise man once noted:

The Holy Spirit is a change agent. Change is what He is all about. He took a man (Paul) who made his living destroying churches and changed him into the greatest church planter of all time! He took a group of uneducated fishermen (Acts 4:13) and changed them into world class evangelists and pastors. Throughout the millenniums He has indwelt men and women with every imaginable habit, reputation, and persuasion and changed them into people of excellence… and He will do the same for you!

2:14 This word ( murmurings ) is the same Greek word used to describe the murmurings of Israel back in Numbers 14:2,29,37 (I Cor 10:10). It describes the low, behind-the-back, discontented muttering of people who are displeased with others who are in authority (Exo 16:1-12 & 17:1-3, Num 12:1-2 & 17:5, Josh 9:18 and I Cor 10:10). Sadly, Christians can be some of the biggest “complainers” in the world. Christians who grip and complain do not have the confidence they should have in God’s ability to use everything in their life to bring about their good and God’s glory (Acts 6:1). THE ADAGE IS TRUE: Those who beef too much end up in a stew Christians don’t need to stew their lives away, for if murmuring is allowed to continue, it will lead to “disputings” (useless inward reasoning that leads to ill-natured questions, arguments, and quarrellings – Rom 14:1b ). NOTE – One of the great reasons people murmur is pride (Deut 1:25-27 and Psa 106:21-25). Another reason is discontent (Exo 15:22-24).Yet another reason is personal gain (Jude 16). Note the consequences to murmuring: 1. Broken relationships (Prov 16:28) 2. Anger (Prov 15:1) 3. Ignorance (Num 21:4-5) In their anger toward Moses and God, Israel wanted to return to the slavery of Egypt. How stupid was that? THE ADAGE IS TRUE: Those who always find fault seldom find anything else 4. A shorter life (Num 11:1, Prov 13:3 & 21:23 and I Pet 3:10) 5. A broken relationship with God (Eph 4:29-30) 2:16a This word ( Holding forth ) is the Greek word HSHFοQτH9 ( epechontes ). It comes from two Greek words: epi (on) and echo (to hold). According to The Analytical Greek Lexicon , epechontes is a plural participle in the presence tense and means that the Philippians were “ to hold on to the Word of God continually .” Thus it was Paul’s job to bring the people of God to the place where they would learn to give God the “last say” in their life. 2:16b Giving God the last say in one’s life should be the aim of every believer, and as hard as that may be sometimes, it must become the focus of our attention. Why? Because the receiving of rewards aren’t always accompanied with rejoicing. Paul told the Philippian Christians here that in order for him to rejoice someday at the Judgment Seat of Christ they needed to finish their race. In essence, what Paul was saying to them was, “If you fail, I fail” ( I laboured in vain ). Paul said, “I want to have cause to rejoice someday. I can do my job and be rewarded, but if you don’t do your job then I cannot rejoice, and what good are rewards if you can’t rejoice over them?” NOTE – Whenever you come to that place in your life where you would rather die than do the wrong thing, then you’ve learned to give God the “last say” in your life (Dan 3:8-25) (See also Mt 14:22-33 and Gen 16:1-13 & 21:9-20). 3:2 All three epithets ( dogs , evil workers , and concision ) are directed at the Judaizers who tried to convince Christians that circumcision was necessary for salvation (Acts 15:1-6). 3:6 Paul was successful at being religious ( blameless ), unfortunately, he was successful at the wrong thing, and the sad thing was is that he never even knew it (Acts 8:1-3). Just because you’re a success doesn’t mean you’re successful. 3:7 Paul said, “Look at my résumé ( what things were gain to me )! It doesn’t mean a thing compared to my personal relationship with Christ.” 3:8 Paul would not have made a very good “prosperity gospel” preacher ( I have suffered the loss of all things ). 3:12 Unlike the Christians who claim to have obtained sinless perfection in this life, Paul admits that he has not ( either were already perfect ). 3:13 The phrase “ forgetting those things which are behind ” doesn’t mean you deny your past; it just means you refuse to live in it. People who focus on their past are like drivers who continue to look in their rearview mirror while driving their car forward. It’s a guaranteed way to crash. We need to learn from the past, not live in it. THE ADAGE IS TRUE: Don’t let your shadow walk you; you are not a slave to your past