Life Application Bible Studies Philippians & Colossians

Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

Contents

A Note to Readers............................................................................ixIntroduction to the New Living Translation...................................................xvWhy the v Life Application Study Bible Is Unique.............................................xviiWhat Is Application?.........................................................................xixFeatures of the Life Application Study Bible.................................................2PHILIPPIANS from the Life Application Study Bible............................................17COLOSSIANS from the Life Application Study Bible.............................................33How to Use This Bible Study..................................................................35Lesson 1: Partners Philippians 1:1-11.......................................................39Lesson 2: Defeating Discouragement Philippians 1:12-26......................................43Lesson 3: United with a Cause Philippians 1:27-2:11.........................................47Lesson 4: Light in Darkness Philippians 2:12-30.............................................51Lesson 5: Pressing toward the Goal Philippians 3:1-4:1......................................55Lesson 6: An Attitude of Gratitude Philippians 4:2-9........................................59Lesson 7: Givers and Gifts Philippians 4:10-23..............................................63Lesson 8: Back to the Basics Colossians 1:1-14..............................................67Lesson 9: The Whole Truth and Nothing But the Truth Colossians 1:15-2:5.....................71Lesson 10: Searching for Fullness Colossians 2:6-23.........................................75Lesson 11: Making a Change Colossians 3:1-17................................................79Lesson 12: At Home and on the Job Colossians 3:18-4:1.......................................83Lesson 13: Building Relationships in the Body Colossians 4:2-18

Chapter One

VITAL STATISTICS

PURPOSE: To thank the Philippians for the gift they had sent Paul and to strengthen these believers by showing them that true joy comes from Jesus Christ alone

AUTHOR: Paul

ORIGINAL AUDIENCE: The Christians at Philippi

DATE WRITTEN: Approximately A.D. 61, from Rome during Paul's imprisonment there

SETTING: Paul and his companions began the church at Philippi on his second missionary journey (Acts 16:11-40). This was the first church established on the European continent. The Philippian church had sent a gift with Epaphroditus (one of their members) to be delivered to Paul (4:18). Paul was in a Roman prison at the time. He wrote this letter to thank them for their gift and to encourage them in their faith.

KEY VERSE: "Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again-rejoice!" (4:4)

KEY PEOPLE: Paul, Timothy, Epaphroditus, Euodia, and Syntyche

KEY PLACE: Philippi

THE WORD happiness evokes visions of unwrapping gifts on Christmas morning, strolling hand in hand with the one you love, being surprised on your birthday, responding with unbridled laughter to a comedian, or vacationing in an exotic locale. Everyone wants to be happy; we make chasing this elusive ideal a lifelong pursuit: spending money, collecting things, and searching for new experiences. But if happiness depends on our circumstances, what happens when the toys rust, loved ones die, health deteriorates, money is stolen, and the party's over? Often happiness flees and despair sets in.

In contrast to happiness stands joy. Running deeper and stronger, joy is the quiet, confident assurance of God's love and work in our lives-that he will be there no matter what! Happiness depends on happenings, but joy depends on Christ.

Philippians is Paul's joy letter. The church in that Macedonian city had been a great encouragement to Paul. The Philippian believers had enjoyed a very special relationship with him, so he wrote them a personal expression of his love and affection. They had brought him great joy (4:1). Philippians is also a joyful book because it emphasizes the real joy of the Christian life. The concept of rejoicingor joyappears sixteen times in four chapters, and the pages radiate this positive message, culminating in the exhortation to "always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again-rejoice!" (4:4).

In a life dedicated to serving Christ, Paul had faced excruciating poverty, abundant wealth, and everything in between. He even wrote this joyful letter from prison. Whatever the circumstances, Paul had learned to be content (4:11, 12), finding real joy as he focused all of his attention and energy on knowing Christ (3:8) and obeying him (3:12, 13).

Paul's desire to know Christ above all else is wonderfully expressed in the following words: "Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him.... I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death" (3:8-10). May we share Paul's aspiration and seek to know Jesus Christ more and more. Rejoice with Paul in Philippians, and rededicate yourself to finding joy in Christ.

1. Joy in suffering

Greetings from Paul

1 This letter is from Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus. I am writing to all of God's holy people in Philippi who belong to Christ Jesus, including the elders and deacons.

2 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. 1:1 Or overseers; or bishops.

Paul's Thanksgiving and Prayer

3 Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. 4 Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, 5 for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. 6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

7 So it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart. You share with me the special favor of God, both in my imprisonment and in defending and confirming the truth of the Good News. 8 God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus.

9 I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. 10 For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ's return. 11 May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation-the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ*-for this will bring much glory and praise to God.

Paul's Joy That Christ Is Preached

12 And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. 13 For everyone here, including the whole palace guard,* knows that I am in chains because of Christ. 14 And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers* here have gained confidence and boldly speak God's message without fear.

15 It's true that some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry. But others preach about Christ with pure motives. 16 They preach because...