Discipleship Material
Philippians

The Letter of Paul

to the Philippians

Block Diagrammed

One of the pressing needs of any serious student of Scripture is an understanding of the syntax of a given passage.  Syntax refers to the interrelationships of paragraphs, sentences, phrases, clauses, and words.  The purpose of Block Diagramming is to graphically illustrate the syntax of a passage of Scripture. The Block Diagramming process involves the laying out of a passage of Scripture by indenting subordinate linguistic units while maintaining the word order of the given text or translation.  This allows the student of Scripture to determine the Divinely-inspired structure of the passage, its key features, and main points, so as to enhance the study and understanding of God’s Word.

Ronald Jay Frasco

 

 Scripture taken from

 the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE (R), (C)

 Copyright The Lockman Foundation

 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977

    Used by permission.

I. Introduction – ‘Glorying in Christ’  1:1-2

1:1 Paul and Timothy, 

  bond-servants of Christ Jesus, 

 to all the saints in Christ Jesus 

  who are in Philippi, 

  including the overseers and deacons: 

:2  Grace to you and peace 

  from God our Father 

  and the Lord Jesus Christ. 

II. Concern for the Philippians  1:3-11

A. Gratitude

:3  I thank my God 

  in all my remembrance of you, 

:4    always 

  offering prayer 

   with joy 

   in my every prayer 

    for you all, 

:5   in view of your participation in the gospel 

   from the first day until now. 

B. Affirmation

:6   For I am confident of this very thing, 

  that He 

   who began a good work in you 

  will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. 

:7    For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, 

    because I have you in my heart, 

     since 

      both in my imprisonment 

      and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, 

     you all are partakers of grace with me. 

:8       For God is my witness, 

      how I long for you all 

       with the affection of Christ Jesus. 

 C. Prayer – ‘Cultivating Eternal Fellowship’

:9  And this I pray, 

 that your love may abound still more and more 

  in real knowledge 

  and all discernment, 

:10  so that you may approve the things that are excellent, 

   in order to be sincere and blameless 

    until the day of Christ; 

:11   having been filled with the fruit of righteousness 

    which comes through Jesus Christ, 

   to the glory and praise of God. 

III. Concerns for Paul’s Circumstances – ‘Pawned’   1:12-26

 A. God’s Gain

:12  Now I want you to know, brethren, 

 that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the 

 gospel, 

:13   so that my imprisonment 

   in the cause of Christ 

  has become well known 

   throughout the whole praetorian guard 

   and to everyone else, 

:14   and that most of the brethren, 

   trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, 

  have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear. 

:15   Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, 

  but some also from good will; 

:16   the latter do it out of love, 

   knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel;

:17   the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, 

  rather than from pure motives, 

   thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment. 

:18   What then? Only that in every way, 

   whether in pretense or in truth, 

  Christ is proclaimed; 

  and in this I rejoice, yes, and I will rejoice. 

:19    For I know that this shall turn out for my deliverance 

    through your prayers 

    and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 

:20     according to my earnest expectation and hope, 

    that I shall not be put to shame in anything, 

    but that 

     with all boldness, 

    Christ shall 

     even now, 

     as always, 

    be exalted in my body, 

     whether by life 

     or by death. 

 :21      For 

      to me, 

     to live is Christ, 

     and to die is gain. 

 B.  The Blessings of Ministry

  1. Ministry is Fruitful

:22  But if I am to live on in the flesh, 

 this will mean fruitful labor for me; 

 and I do not know which to choose. 

2. Ministry Meets Real Needs

:23  But I am hard-pressed from both directions, 

  having the desire to depart and be with Christ, 

   for that is very much better; 

:24  yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. 

3. Ministry Cultivates Godliness

:25  And

   convinced of this, 

 I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress 

 and joy in the faith, 

:26   so that your proud confidence in me may abound in Christ Jesus 

   through my coming to you again. 

IV. Concerns regarding the Philippians’ Conduct 1:27-2:18

A. Living in God-honoring Steadfastness

:27  Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ; 

  so that 

   whether I come and see you 

   or remain absent, 

  I may hear of you that you are 

   standing firm 

    in one spirit, 

    with one mind 

   striving together for the faith of the gospel; 

:28    in no way alarmed by your opponents– 

    which is a sign of destruction for them, 

    but of salvation for you, and that too, from God. 

:29   For to you it has been granted 

   for Christ’s sake, 

  not only to believe in Him, 

  but also to suffer for His sake, 

:30    experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, 

   and now hear to be in me. 

B. Living in Unity – ‘Germinating Seeds of Unity’

2:1  If therefore there is any encouragement in Christ, 

 if there is any consolation of love, 

 if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, 

 if any affection and compassion, 

:2  make my joy complete 

  by being of the same mind, 

  maintaining the same love, 

  united in spirit, 

  intent on one purpose. 

C.  Living Selflessly – ‘Death-blows to Vanity’

:3  Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, 

 but 

  with humility of mind 

 let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; 

:4  do not merely look out for your own personal interests, 

 but also for the interests of others. 

D. Living Humbly – ‘Christ’s Milestones to Glory’

:5  Have this attitude in yourselves 

  which was also in Christ Jesus, 

:6    who, 

    although He existed in the form of God, 

   did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 

:7    but emptied Himself, 

    taking the form of a bond-servant, 

    and being made in the likeness of men. 

:8    And 

    being found in appearance as a man, 

   He humbled Himself 

    by becoming obedient to the point of death, 

    even death on a cross.  

:9   Therefore also God highly exalted Him, 

   and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 

:10     that 

     at the name of Jesus 

    every knee should bow, 

     of those who are in heaven, 

     and on earth, 

     and under the earth, 

:11     and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, 

     to the glory of God the Father. 

 E. Living Fearfully: The Work of Sanctification

:12  So then, my beloved, 

 just as you have always obeyed, 

  not as in my presence only, 

  but now much more in my absence, 

 work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 

:13   for it is God who is at work in you, 

   both to will 

   and to work 

    for His good pleasure. 

 F. Living Contentedly: The Influence of the Gospel

:14  Do all things without grumbling or disputing; 

:15   that you may prove yourselves to be 

   blameless 

   and innocent, 

   children of God 

   above reproach 

    in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, 

     among whom you appear as lights in the world, 

:16     holding fast the word of life, 

?     so that 

      in the day of Christ 

     I may have cause to glory 

      because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain. 

:17     But even if I am being poured out 

     as a drink offering 

     upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, 

    I rejoice 

    and share my joy with you all. 

:18     And you too, 

    I urge you, 

    rejoice in the same way 

    and share your joy with me. 

 V. Shepherding Concerns – ‘Kindred Servants’  2:19-30

 A. Timothy’s Visit

:19  But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, 

  so that I also may be encouraged when I learn of your condition. 

:20    For I have no one else of kindred spirit 

    who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare. 

:21      For they all seek after their own interests, 

     not those of Christ Jesus. 

B. Timothy’s Value

:22  But you know of his proven worth 

 that he served 

  with me 

  in the furtherance of the gospel 

  like a child serving his father. 

C. Timothy’s Mission

:23  Therefore 

 I hope to send him immediately, 

  as soon as I see how things go with me; 

:24  and I trust in the Lord that I myself also shall be coming shortly. 

D. ‘The Right Reception of Saints’

:25  But I thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, 

  my brother 

  and fellow worker 

  and fellow soldier, 

  who is also your messenger 

  and minister to my need; 

:26   because he was longing for you all 

  and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick.

:27    For indeed he was sick to the point of death, 

   but God had mercy on him, 

   and not on him only but also on me, 

   lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 

:28   Therefore I have sent him all the more eagerly 

   in order that 

    when you see him again 

   you may rejoice 

   and I may be less concerned about you. 

:29   Therefore receive him in the Lord with all joy, 

  and hold men like him in high regard; 

:30    because he came close to death for the work of Christ, 

    risking his life to complete what was deficient in your 

    service to me. 

VI. General Exhortations   3:1-4:9

 A. Rejoice – ‘The Duty of Christian Joy’

3:1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. 

 To write the same things again is no trouble to me, 

 and it is a safeguard for you. 

B. Beware – ‘Defending the Chief Doctrine’

:2  Beware of the dogs, 

 beware of the evil workers, 

 beware of the false circumcision; 

:3   for we are the true circumcision, 

   who worship in the Spirit of God 

   and glory in Christ Jesus 

   and put no confidence in the flesh, 

:4     although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. 

    If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, 

    I far more: 

:5      circumcised the eighth day, 

     of the nation of Israel, 

     of the tribe of Benjamin, 

     a Hebrew of Hebrews; 

     as to the Law, a Pharisee; 

:6      as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; 

     as to the righteousness which is in the Law, 

     found blameless. 

:7     But 

     whatever things were gain to me, 

    those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.

:8     More than that, I count all things to be loss 

     in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ 

     Jesus my Lord, 

      for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, 

      and count them but rubbish 

     in order that I may gain Christ, 

:9      and may be found in Him, 

      not having a righteousness of my own 

       derived from the Law, 

      but [having] that which is through faith in Christ, 

the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, 

:10      that I may know 

      Him, 

      and the power of His resurrection 

      and the fellowship of His sufferings, 

       being conformed to His death; 

:11         in order that I may attain to the 

        resurrection from the dead. 

C.  Press On – ‘Grasping for Glory’

:12  Not that I have already obtained it, 

 or have already become perfect, 

 but I press on 

in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. 

:13  Brethren, 

 I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; 

 but one thing I do: 

  forgetting what lies behind 

  and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 

:14 I press on 

  toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God 

   in Christ Jesus. 

:15  Let us therefore, 

  as many as are perfect, 

 have this attitude; 

 and if in anything you have a different attitude, 

 God will reveal that also to you; 

:16  however, 

 let us keep living 

  by that same standard 

   to which we have attained. 

D. Follow – ‘Spurs to Holiness’

:17  Brethren, 

 join in following my example, 

 and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. 

:18   For many walk, 

   of whom I often told you, 

   and now tell you even weeping, 

  that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, 

:19    whose end is destruction, 

   whose god is their appetite, 

   and whose glory is in their shame, 

   who set their minds on earthly things. 

:20   For our citizenship is in heaven, 

   from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, 

   the Lord Jesus Christ; 

:21     who will transform the body of our humble state 

     into conformity with the body of His glory, 

by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself. 

 E. Stand Firm

4:1 Therefore, my beloved brethren 

  whom I long to see, 

  my joy and crown, 

 so stand firm in the Lord, my beloved. 

F. Live in Harmony

:2   I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to live in harmony in the Lord. 

:3  Indeed, true comrade, 

 I ask you also to help these women 

  who have shared my struggle in the cause of the gospel, 

  together with Clement also, 

  and the rest of my fellow workers, 

   whose names are in the book of life. 

:4   Rejoice in the Lord always; 

 again I will say, rejoice! 

:5  Let your forbearing spirit be known to all men. 

 The Lord is near. 

G. Fear Not! – ‘Embracing Uncertainty’

:6  Be anxious for nothing, 

 but 

  in everything 

  by prayer and supplication 

   with thanksgiving 

 let your requests be made known to God. 

:7  And the peace of God, 

  which surpasses all comprehension, 

 shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

 H.  Focus! – ‘Cultivating a Christian Mindset’

:8   Finally, brethren, 

  whatever is true, 

  whatever is honorable, 

  whatever is right, 

  whatever is pure, 

  whatever is lovely, 

  whatever is of good repute, 

  if there is any excellence 

  and if anything worthy of praise, 

 let your mind dwell on these things. 

:9  The things you have 

  learned 

  and received 

  and heard 

  and seen in me, 

 practice these things; 

 and the God of peace shall be with you. 

VII. ‘A Privileged Partnership’  4:10-19

A. ‘Action not Intention’

:10  But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, 

 that now at last you have revived your concern for me; 

 indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity.

B. ‘Godly Contentment’

:11  Not that I speak from want; 

  for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. 

:12    I know how to get along with humble means, 

   and I also know how to live in prosperity; 

    in any and every circumstance 

   I have learned the secret 

    of being filled 

    and going hungry, 

    both of having abundance 

    and suffering need. 

:13    I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

 C.  ‘A Fellowship of Means’

:14  Nevertheless, 

 you have done well to share with me in my affliction. 

:15  And you yourselves also know, Philippians, 

 that at the first preaching of the gospel, 

  after I departed from Macedonia, 

 no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving 

 but you alone; 

:16   for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my 

  needs. 

D. ‘An Eternal Perspective of Blessing’

:17  Not that I seek the gift itself, 

 but I seek for the profit which increases to your account.

E. ‘Worshipful Giving’

:18  But I have received everything in full, 

 and have an abundance; 

 I am amply supplied, 

  having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, 

   a fragrant aroma, 

   an acceptable sacrifice, 

    well-pleasing to God. 

F. ‘God’s Response to Generosity’

:19  And my God shall supply all your needs 

  according to His riches 

   in glory 

   in Christ Jesus. 

VIII.  Benediction     4:20-23

:20  Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen. 

:21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. 

 The brethren who are with me greet you. 

:22  All the saints greet you, 

 especially those of Caesar’s household. 

:23  The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.