Life Application Bible Commentary PHILIPPIANS, COLOSSIANS & PHILEMON

TYNDALE HOUSE PUBLISHERS, INC.

Contents

Foreword........................................xiGeneral Introduction............................1Introduction to Philippians.....................1Author..........................................2Setting.........................................4Audience........................................5Occasion and Purpose............................6Message.........................................11Vital Statistics................................11Outline of Philippians..........................12Map.............................................13Philippians 1:1-26..............................43Philippians 1:27-2:30...........................77Philippians 3:1-4:1.............................105Philippians 4:2-23..............................127Introduction to Colossians......................128Author..........................................129Setting.........................................129Audience........................................130Occasion and Purpose............................131Message.........................................135Vital Statistics................................135Outline of Colossians...........................136Map.............................................137Colossians 1:1-23...............................167Colossians 1:24-2:23............................197Colossians 3:1-4:6..............................225Colossians 4:7-18...............................235Introduction to Philemon........................235Author..........................................236Setting.........................................236Audience........................................237Occasion and Purpose............................237Message.........................................239Vital Statistics................................239Outline of Philemon.............................241Philemon........................................261Bibliography....................................263

Chapter One

GREETINGS / 1:1-2

As Paul wrote this letter, he was under house arrest in Rome. When the Philippian church had heard about Paul's imprisonment, they had sent Epaphroditus (who may have been one their elders) to Rome to visit and encourage him. Epaphroditus had arrived with words of affection from the church, as well as a financial contribution that would help make Paul's confinement more comfortable. Paul wanted to thank the believers for helping him during his time of need. He also wanted to tell them why he could be full of joy despite his imprisonment and upcoming trial. He wanted them to remain strong in the faith, realizing that although he was in chains for the gospel, God was still in control and the truth of the gospel remained unchanged. In this uplifting letter, Paul counseled the Philippians about humility and unity and warned them about potential problems they would face.

1:1 Paul. The undisputed author of this letter is the apostle Paul, missionary to the Gentiles, imprisoned in Rome for preaching the gospel. Paul had founded the church in Philippi, so the recipients of the letter were his dear friends and children in the faith. Paul filled his letter with joy and love as he sought to dispel the Philippians' fears regarding his imprisonment, to thank them for their financial support, and to encourage them in their faith.

"Paul" is the Greek version of the Hebrew name Saul (Acts 13:9). From the tribe of Benjamin (3:5), Paul was born in Tarsus, was raised as a strict Pharisee, and was educated in Jerusalem under Gamaliel (Acts 22:3). Though born to Jewish parents, Paul was also a Roman citizen (Acts 22:27-28).

Out of this diverse background, God formed and called a valuable servant. God used every aspect of Paul's upbringing to further the spreading of the gospel. God called him: "This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel" (Acts 9:15 NIV). Paul fulfilled his calling. So far, he had taken three missionary journeys, covering thousands of miles as he carried the gospel from Jerusalem, across Asia, and into Europe. His ultimate goal had always been to take the gospel to Rome itself-capital of the vast Roman Empire that had spread over most of Europe, North Africa, and the Near East. The fact that all roads led to Rome made Rome a perfect center for the gospel message to spread across the known world.

Paul wrote this letter from Rome. He had arrived there through a series of unusual circumstances. He had been arrested in Jerusalem by the Romans for seemingly inciting a riot. A plot to kill Paul caused the Romans to take Paul to Caesarea (on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea). There Paul gave the gospel message to Governor Felix and his wife Drusilla (Acts 23:24; 24:1-26). Felix didn't make a decision in the case, leaving Paul in prison for two years until Festus became the new governor. Then Paul was able to present the gospel to Festus, and then to King Agrippa and Bernice (Acts 25:1-26:32). Paul did indeed carry God's name to Israel, and to the Gentiles and to their kings, just as God had said (Acts 9:15).

Every Roman citizen had the right to appeal to Caesar. This didn't mean that Caesar himself would hear the case, but that the citizen's case would be tried by the highest courts in the empire. As a prisoner being unjustly tried, Paul used the opportunity to get to Rome by appealing his case to Caesar (Acts 25:12). Paul had wanted to preach the gospel in Rome, and he eventually got there-in chains, through shipwreck, and after many trials (Acts 27-28).

In Rome, Paul was under house arrest. This meant that he could receive visitors and write and receive letters. Paul had to finance his imprisonment. Acts 28:30 states that Paul had to pay for his own rented apartment in Rome; plus he had to pay for the guards as required by Rome. Although Paul's normal policy was not to accept support from the churches so that he could not be accused of having a "profit motive," he did accept a gift from the Philippians for his support in prison (see 4:10-18).

Paul wrote several letters during this imprisonment. These are called the Prison Letters, or Prison Epistles, and Philippians is one of those (the others being Ephesians and Colossians). Paul also wrote personal letters, such as the one to Philemon. Luke was with Paul in Rome (2 Timothy 4:11). Timothy was a frequent visitor, as were Tychichus (Ephesians 6:21), Epaphroditus (4:18), and Mark (Colossians 4:10). Paul witnessed to the imperial guard (that is, the Roman soldiers, 1:13) and was involved with the Roman believers.

Paul had arrived in Rome around A.D. 59 and had spent two years under house arrest. The letter to the Philippians was probably written toward the end of Paul's imprisonment there, in A.D. 61. The reasons for a late dating of this letter include the following:

* Paul expressed expectation of an impending decision on his case (2:23).

* Enough time had gone by for the Philippians to have heard of Paul's imprisonment, send Epaphroditus, hear back of Epaphroditus's sickness, and then send back words of concern. (Some scholars contend that travel back and forth between Rome and Philippi could not have occurred during this short time period, and so they say that Paul was writing from either Caesarea or Ephesus, not Rome. See the introduction to...