In this last chapter of Philippians, he encouraged the church to stand firm in the Lord, to reconcile disagreements, and to "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" The reason we can rejoice always is because the Lord is near, and we can pray and bring to him any requests and concerns. We also are to be thankful, because we can trust the Lord to know what He is doing, even if we do not understand. When we do that, He provides a peace that transcends all understanding. We are to transform our thoughts to good things: truth, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy things. Paul encouraged the church to follow his example and teachings. He was thankful for their gift to him, and then he spoke of his contentment that comes in Christ. 4:13, "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength", and then he told the church, "And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus." He ended his letter with "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit! Amen!"

In this chapter, Paul warns the church at Philippi, to beware of those people with the false doctrine that circumcision of the flesh makes one right with God. The way one gets right with God is through faith in what Jesus did when He died on the cross for our sins. God then circumcises our hearts (Deut. 30:6). Paul said if those men boast about their qualifications, Paul's list of qualifications are more, but then he says in verses 7-8a, "But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things." Paul's goal was to know Christ, both the power of the resurrection as well as the fellowship that comes with sharing His sufferings. Paul pressed on toward that goal by forgetting the past, and looking forward. Paul knew that as believers in Christ, our citizenship is in heaven, and some day our lowly bodies will be transformed to glorious bodies. Somehow!

In chapter one of Philippians, Paul encouraged the church at Philippi, "Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (vs. 6). He was in prison at Rome, and he also shared, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain" (vs. 21). He was ready to die and be with the  Lord, but he also knew God was not finished with him yet. He told the church, "Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ" (vs. 27a), even in the midst of their suffering.

This leads into chapter two as a reminder of some of the benefits we have in Christ Jesus. Christians are united in Christ, comforted by His love, joined in fellowship with the Holy Spirit, we do not fear God's wrath, but we experience His tenderness, compassion, and love, and because of that Paul encouraged the church to be united in Christ in joy, love, and purpose. He reminded them of the humility of Christ Jesus who was willing to leave His glory, come to earth as human, and then to die, and not just a natural death, but by hanging on the cross, a tree, to take the curse and wrath that was intended for us, so that we could then become a part of the family of God. If Jesus was willing to humble Himself, so should we. Since Jesus willingly obeyed the Father, the Father raised Him up above everything and everyone, and "at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (vss. 10-11). As believers, we are to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling as God works in us. Then as a community of believers who work together, we will shine like stars in our dark world. Chapter two ended with plans of sending Timothy to them when he found out the outcome of his imprisonment. Now Paul is sending Epaphroditus back to them to encourage them with this letter and thank them for their support of Paul.

Dr. Alan B. Stringfellow said in his book, "A 52-Lesson Introduction to the 66 Books of the Bible," that chapter one of Philippians can be described as "Christ - The Purpose of Life." Point one he took from verse 8, "The Christian should have the feelings of Christ." Point two came from verses 12-18, "We should have the same interests as Christ." The third point, "The very Spirit of Jesus Christ is ours," came from verse 19. Verse 20 holds Stringfellow's fourth point, "Our one supreme concern should be Christ because He is our life," and point 5, "Christ is, and should be, our longing desire (vss. 21 & 23). He looks at verse 27 for the 6th point, "Our conduct should be controlled by Christ," and then point seven, "We may suffer for Christ - the badge of a Christian" from verse 29. One of the key verses of Philippians is found in 1:21, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain!"

The Apostle Paul is in chains in Rome when he wrote this letter to the church at Philippi. He was with Timothy, who may have scribed the letter. We also see that the church now has overseers, or bishops, and deacons as leadership. Paul blessed them with "Grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." Then verses 3-8 are the thanksgiving section. Paul did not need to defend his apostleship, because they are his friends, and partners in the gospel. He thinks of them fondly, and he used the word of joy or joyful 16 times in this letter. Acts 16:11-15 tells the story of how this church started with Paul, Silas, and Timothy with Lydia and her household as the first converts. This may have been the first church started on European soil. Paul told them he was confident, "That He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Even at our death, that work continues until Christ comes again. Then verses 9-11 are Paul's prayer for the church, which is a great section of Scripture to memorize. He prays their love will grow in knowledge and depth of insight, so they can grow in discernment knowing what is best, that they may be filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes only through Jesus Christ because He paid the price for our sins when He died on the cross, and because of Christ, we may be pure and blameless before God, to His glory and praise. 

This is a personal letter from Paul the Apostle to Philemon, which came with the sending back of Onesimus, who once was Philemon's slave, but who ran away. He met Paul in Rome, and through his teaching became a Christian. Both Onesimus and Paul knew that in order to honor the Lord, Onesimus needed to go back and make things right with his previous master, who also was a believer in Christ. Paul wrote this letter to remind Philemon of the debt of faith he owed to Paul, and to also say that if necessary, Paul would pay the debt that Onesimus owed Philemon. As believers in Christ, we first have become reconciled to God through the blood of Jesus Christ when He died on the cross for our sins. Then many times the Lord calls us to reconcile, especially with other believers, and one way to do that is to remember our own sinfulness and how much we have been forgiven so we can forgive others. Lastly, sometimes the Lord calls us to be a mediator like Paul in reconciliation of two other believers, who will live in truth about their circumstances, and acknowledge to forgive and move forward in peace. May we hear from the Lord and be obedient in our calling of reconciliation until Christ comes again to take His church home.

Paul closes his letter with encouragement for the believers to keep on praying, and be devoted, watchful, and thankful in it. He also asked for prayer, not to be released from prison, but to proclaim the mystery of Christ, which as he said in 1:27, "which is Christ in you, the hope of glory!" Paul reminded them to be wise with their words and actions to non-Christians, and that it should be full of grace. Then Paul spoke of various people and their greetings to the church,, as well as addressed some people in Colossae. One of which was Archippus, and Paul told him, "See to it that you complete the work you have received in the Lord." This letter was to be read to nearby churches, and their letters should be read at Colossae. Paul signed his letter, and then ended it as he began (Vaugh), "Grace be with you!"

Chapters 1-2 cover doctrine, who Christ is, and who we are because of who Christ is and what He did when He died on the cross for our sin, and now that He is alive, when we die to self by confessing our sin, and asking Him to forgive us, believers in Jesus are dead to sin and now alive with Christ in God. Since this transformation has happened, Christians are to do two things. The first is we take off all the stuff that belongs to our earthly nature like sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language. The second is we are to put on things like compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and forgiveness with love being the virtue that ties it all together. Verse 17, "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." Then Paul speaks about how various relationship are to work in Christ. Wives are to submit to their husbands, which is a placing oneself under the authority of another so it is arranged in an orderly fashion. Husbands are to love their wives and not be harsh with them. Children are to obey both their parents. Fathers are not to exasperate their children so they will not be bitter. Slaves are to obey their masters, and Masters are to be fair and right to their slaves, because we all have a Master in heaven, our Lord Jesus, to whom we all will give an account.

The end of chapter 1 of  Colossians, Paul shared about his calling from the Lord, which was to share the mystery of the gospel, "which is Christ in you, the hope of glory" (vs. 27). Paul's purpose of proclaiming, admonishing, and teaching was "so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ" (vs. 28). Added to that, Paul hoped to encourage their hearts, and unite their love, so they could fully understand this mystery, "namely Christ" (2:2). Paul encouraged them to grow in their faith, and to not be "disqualified,' by false teachers. The key to not being deceived by them was to focus and know and understand Christ. 

Paul sent this letter to the church in Colosse, with the letter to the church of Ephesus, and to the letter for Philemon, who attended the church at Colosse. Paul sent these letters with Tychicus and Onesimus because Paul was in chains for the gospel in Rome. Paul started his letter, letting them know that Timothy was with him. He then shared they gave thanks for them because they heard about their faith which they learned from Epaphras who told them about their love in the Spirit. Many believe Epaphras started the church in Colosse, and that Paul had never been there. After his thanksgiving, Paul went into his prayer for them, that their knowledge of God's will for their lives will grow through all spiritual wisdom. He encouraged them to live a life worthy of the Lord Jesus, and that they may please the Lord as they grow in their faith. It is through Christ that believers in Him have strength, endurance, patience, thanksgiving, redemption, and forgiveness of sins. Then verses 15-20 give what may have been an ancient church hymn about the "supremacy and sole sufficiency of Jesus Christ." Paul then reminded them of how they used to be, alienated and enemies of God, BUT NOW...reconciled due to Christ's death, and holy, without blemish and free from accusation - all because of Jesus. Paul ended this with verse 23 as a reminder that we need to continue in our faith. We are to stand firm in the hope of the gospel, of which Paul is a servant.