Bible

Back in the Bible room today we are opening the book of Philippians in our Getting Started Bible. Here is Session 1, the summaries of chapters 1 and 2.

____________________________________

Philippians

Session 1

Introduction:

Writer: Paul with Timothy.

Scope: This book is a letter to the church at Philippi, probably written while he was under arrest in Rome around AD 60.

Chapter 1. Courage

Paul, along with Timothy, in service to Jesus Christ,

• Writing to the Christians, and the leaders, in the church at
• Philippi: May you have the favor and the peace of God, and
• The Lord, Jesus Christ;
• I think of you often, praying for you, and thanking God that
• You joined the fellowship of believers when you first heard
• The gospel; And I know that you will continue in the faith on
• Into the future; Even as I am here in confinement, I rejoice that
• You are receiving the blessings of grace, and I urge you to
• Keep growing in your knowledge of right living, and in your
• Relationship with Christ Jesus;
• Fellow believers, I want you to know that all the things that I
• Have had to endure have actually helped to spread the message
• Of the gospel; The guards around me, as well as everyone else
• In this area, have all heard about Christ, and the story of why I
• Was brought here in custody; This experience has also added
• Courage to the believers here so they are able to preach Christ
• More boldly without fear; While some of them may be trying
• To make more trouble for me, most of them are preaching with
• Genuine love, and defending me in my calling; But, regardless
• Of their motives, the gospel continues to be advanced, and for
• That I am greatly rejoicing;
• Through all of this, your prayers, and the Spirit of Jesus Christ,
• Will enable me to continue spreading the gospel, whether it be
• While I live, or after I die; For me, living means I will always
• Be preaching about Christ, but when I die, I will gain life in
• Heaven, and I cannot make that choice right now; I know that
• I would prefer to die and be with Christ, but I also know that
• You need me to be here for you, and I will be glad when I can
• Come visit with you again;
• For now, whether I am with you, or absent, make sure your
• Behavior matches your profession of faith in the gospel; And do
• Not be intimidated by those who oppose you, for they are
• Condemned, and you are being saved; Christ has saved you, and
• For that you will suffer conflict, just as you have seen, and
• Heard, of my suffering.

Chapter 2. Joy

Are there not a few things about which you can be encouraged in Christ?

• Such as His love, the presence of the Spirit, and His mercy;
• I would be most happy if you would continue to believe as one
• In the unity of your faith; Avoid selfishness, or arrogance, but
• Rather hold each other up, and respect the interests of others;
• Take for yourselves the attitude of Christ, who was God yet He
• Was also a Man, and He came to be an obedient servant, even
• To the point of dying on a cross; Now, He is exalted by God, so
• That every creature in all creation will one day worship Him,
• And glorify God;
• For this reason, my fellow believers, continue to follow my
• Teaching, as you have done, respectfully, whether I am with
• You or absent; If you do, this will lead you to your salvation;
• God will continue to show you His will, and what you
• Should be doing;
• In everything, avoid complaining and arguing, and behave like
• Innocent children of God, letting your light shine in contrast to
• The wicked society around you; For this, I will be most joyful
• In the next life that my work among you was successful; If my
• Life is to be given as a sacrifice in exchange for your faith, I am
• Full of joy for you, and for me also;
• I am trusting the Lord that Timothy will be able to come to you
• Soon, so that I can hear from him how well you are doing in
• Your faith; I have every confidence in him that he will send me
• A sincere, truthful, report; You know he is a man of strong
• Character, like a son to me, dedicated to the work of Christ;
• But I am trusting the Lord that I also will be able to visit with
• You soon, after my situation here is resolved;
• In the meantime, I felt that I should send your messenger,
• Epaphroditus, back to you; He has been a great help to me, and
• A sincere laborer working with me; He has been wanting to
• Return to you, especially since God has spared his life, and he
• Has recovered from his near-death illness; I also wanted to send
• Him so you could see how well he is doing, and hear from him
• His first-hand report of my well-being as well; When he gets
• There, give him a special reception, for he is a special person,
• Worthy of your highest esteem; He risked his life to bring the
• Offering you sent me to supply what I needed.

End of Session 1 of the book of Philippians.