Paul’s opening is a panegyric (or a pep rally) for Jesus Christ so that his audience becomes enraptured with wonder, love, and praise for Christ and his works. Paul wants his audience and us to be excited about Jesus and his role in our salvation.
Ephesians 1:1-15, Major Themes Read More »
Ephesians is the reminder to its audience of (i) how Christ has reconciled all creation to himself and to God, (ii) how through Christ, all of humanity is reconciled to each other by and through the church, and (iii) how we in the church are to live a reconciled life.
Ephesians – Overview Read More »
Paul ends his discussion of monetary support with the teaching that it is God who ultimately supplies all of our needs. In other words, in these verses, Paul is saying “Thank you for the gift, but there is no reciprocity between us because we are both patronage clients of God above.”
Philippians 4:10-23, Giving and Receiving Read More »
Paul is telling them (and us) that God’s peace stands on duty like a watchman calming the hearts of the faithful and protecting them from spiritual harm. Rejoicing not only leads to peace, but peace protects and allows for the rejoicing.
Philippians 4:2-9, “Again, I say Rejoice” Read More »
Therefore, because we are keeping our eye on the prize, because we are Christ’s own forever, and because we have the hope of the transformation in the Resurrection, we can stand firm in the love and the joy of the Lord. These five verses are one of the greatest expressions of the Christian gospel.
Philippians 3:17-4:1, Paul’s Summation Read More »
In his endevour to seize Christ, Paul writes that he has forgotten everything behind him (his worldly identity, his blamelessness before the law, etc.) so that he can strain and stretch forward with everything he has towards what lies ahead.
Philippians 3:12-16, Pursuing Christ Read More »
It is in this kenosis of his privileges, that Paul discovers that the true meaning of being a perfect member of God’s covenant people lies with being in Christ and thereby participating in his suffering, death, and resurrection.
Philippians 3:8-11, Gaining Christ Read More »
For our next gathering, think about those things of this world that give you confidence and rejoicing – your family heritage, your religious upbringing, or your current religious practices. We will share our confidences as Paul just did.
Philippians 3:1-7, Confidence in the Flesh Read More »
Paul gives the Philippians two more familiar and immediate examples of what a life worthy of having citizenship in Christ Jesus resembles – Timothy and Epaphroditus. These two men provide the Philippians with living examples of what unity and self-sacrifice look like in practice.
Philippians 2:19-30, Timothy and Epaphroditus Read More »
Salvation is God’s work within the body of the church from start to finish. The Philippians (and us) are to work out what this God-given salvation looks like in practice within the body of Christ and in imitation of Christ’s own humility and obedience.
Philippians 2:12-18, Salvation and Joy Read More »
