Philippians: Major Themes

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Philippians Major Themes

• Greek Texts

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1. Rejoicing

• Joy, the Greek noun chara, "the experience of
  gladness," "rejoicing, merriness." like its verb
  form, chairo, "rejoice, be merry," is related to
  the noun charis, "grace, favour," originally,
  "that which delights.
• Sometimes Christians act as if Christianity were
  a sorrowful religion. It is not. It is a religion
  of joy and love. Joy and rejoicing are key and
  frequent words in Philippians.

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Rejoice

• 14 " In all my prayers for all of you, I always
  pray with joy."
• 118 "The important thing is that in every way,
  whether from false motives or true, Christ is
  preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and
  I will continue to rejoice."
• 125-26 "Convinced of this, I know that I will
  remain, and I will continue with all of you for
  your progress and joy in the faith, so that
  through my being with you again your joy in
  Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me."
• 22 "Make my joy complete by being like-minded,
  having the same love, being one in spirit and
  purpose."

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and again I say, rejoice

• 216-18 "But even if I am being poured out like a
  drink offering on the sacrifice and service
  coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice
  with all of you. So you too should be glad and
  rejoice with me."
• 228-29 "Therefore I am all the more eager to
  send him, so that when you see him again you may
  be glad and I may have less anxiety. Welcome him
  in the Lord with great joy, and honour men like
  him."
• 31 "Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord!"
• 41"Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and
  long for, my joy and crown, that is how you
  should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!"
• 44 "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it
  again Rejoice!"
• 410 " I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last
  you have renewed your concern for me."

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• For Paul, joy is a key component of the Christian
  life -- a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 522)
  and "joy in the faith" (Philippians 125). "The
  kingdom of God is ... righteousness, peace and
  joy in the Holy Spirit" (Romans 1417). This is
  not just a present joy in the midst of trials,
  but a joy that will reach its completion in the
  future Kingdom of God.

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2. Fellowship

• Koinonia is another keyword in Philippians.
  "Partnership" (NIV), "sharing" (NRSV), and
  "fellowship" (KJV) is the Greek noun koinonia,
  "close association involving mutual interests and
  sharing, association, communion, fellowship,
  close relationship.
• It is used often to describe relationships with
  God and with others in the Christian community,"
  as it does here. It sometimes edges into the
  meaning of "participation, sharing," as in 310
  "sharing his sufferings" and in the Lord's Supper
  (1 Corinthians 1016).

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Fellowship, partnership, sharing

• 15 "I always pray with joy because of your
  partnership in the gospel from the first day
  until now."
• 17 "... All of you share in God's grace with
  me."
• 21 "... if any fellowship with the Spirit...."
• 310 "I want to know Christ and the power of his
  resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his
  sufferings...."
• 414 "Yet it was good of you to share in my
  troubles."
• 415 "Not one church shared with me in the matter
  of giving and receiving, except you only."

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3. Unity and selflessness

• The Philippians, beloved as they are by Paul,
  have some bickering and dissention going on. You
  can see this thread going throughout the short
  letter, sometimes subtly, by inference, and
  sometimes head-on. 

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The selfless life

• 115-17 Paul tells about Romans preaching with
  envy and rivalry in order to speak to the
  Philippians about the same issue in their midst.
• 127 Let your manner of life be worthy of the
  gospel.
• 127 Stand firm in one spirit, with one mind,
  striving side by side for the faith of the
  gospel.
• 22-4 Be in full accord and of one mind, same
  mind, same love. Do nothing from selfishness.
  Care about the interests of others.
• 25-11 Jesus' self-humiliation and exaltation by
  the Father used as an example of humility needed
  within the church.
• 214 Do all things without grumbling or
  questioning.

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• 221 They all look after their own interests, not
  those of Jesus Christ.
• 32-3 Judaizers trying to impose circumcision on
  the Philippians.
• 33-8 Confidence in the flesh, one's pedigree,
  holiness, and status.
• 317-19 Imitate me and those who live according
  to my example. Earthly focus vs. heavenly one.
• 42 Exhorts Euodia and Syntyche to agree in the
  Lord.
• 48-9 Honourable, upright living, modelled by
  Paul.

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4. In Christ

• One of the characteristic phrases in Paul -- and,
  incidentally, John's writings too -- is "in
  Christ" or "in the Lord," the common Greek
  prepositional phrase en Christo or en kurio. Here
  the preposition en is used to designate a close
  personal relation in which the object of the
  preposition is viewed as the control influence.
  So the preposition en here means, "under the
  control of, under the influence of, in close
  association with." We see this phrase again and
  again in Philippians. Paul anchors all of the
  Christian life in one's relationship to Christ.

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• 11 "To all the saints in Christ Jesus at
  Philippi."
• 114 "Most of the brothers in the Lord have been
  encouraged."
• 126 "Your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on
  account of me"
• 219 "I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to
  you soon."
• 224 "And I am confident in the Lord that I
  myself will come soon."
• 229 "Welcome him in the Lord with great joy."

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• 31 "Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord!"
• 33 "For it is we who are the circumcision who
  glory in Christ Jesus."
• 38-9 "That I may gain Christ and be found in
  him."
• 39 "The righteousness that which is through
  faith in Christ."
• 314 "I press on toward the goal to win the prize
  for which God has called me heavenward in Christ
  Jesus."
• 41 "You should stand firm in the Lord."

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• 42 "I plead with Euodia and I plead with
  Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord."
• 44 "Rejoice in the Lord always."
• 47 "And the peace of God, which transcends all
  understanding, will guard your hearts and your
  minds in Christ Jesus."
• 410 "I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last
  you have renewed your concern for me."
• 421 "Greet all the saints in Christ Jesus."