Detailed Outline of Philippians
Living as Citizens of Heaven brings Unity and Joy, No Matter the Circumstances
-
Introduction (Phl 1:1-2)
-
The writer (Phl 1:1a)
-
The human author (Phl 1:1a)
-
The men [fellow bond-slaves in the gospel ministry]
-
Paul1
-
Timothy2
-
Their ministry [unified in their service of Christ Jesus]
-
The divine Author (2Ti 3:16-17; 2Pe 1:12-21; 2Pe 3:15-16; cf. Col 4:16; 1Th 2:13; 1Th 5:27; 2Th 3:1-4; 1Ti 5:18 in which Paul quotes Luke alongside Deu 25:4 and calls them “Scripture”)
-
The recipients (Phl 1:1b)
-
The original recipients (Phl 1:1b; cf. Phl 4:15; Act 16:12-40; 1Th 2:2)
-
All the saints in Christ Jesus in Philippi
-
Including the overseers and deacons
-
The current recipients (cf. 2Pe 3:16)
-
The requisite greeting (Phl 1:2)
-
The greeting/prayer of grace to you and peace (Phl 1:2a)
-
The Giver of grace and peace (Phl 1:2b)
-
Praying for fellow participants in the gospel of grace (Phl 1:3-11)
-
The practice and perspective of intercessory prayer (Phl 1:3-8)
-
The practice and perspective of thankfulness (Phl 1:3)
-
Thanking God (Phl 1:3a)
-
It was a personal thanksgiving
-
It was a persistent thanksgiving
-
Thinking of others (Phl 1:3b)
-
The practice of prayer with the perspective of joy (Phl 1:4-6)
-
The many entreaties (Phl 1:4a)
-
The manifold joy (Phl 1:4b)
-
The ministry partnership (Phl 1:5)
-
The marked confidence (Phl 1:6)
-
The presence and perspective of affection (Phl 1:7-8)
-
Because of their participation in grace (Phl 1:7)
-
Because of Paul’s perspective in Christ (Phl 1:8)
-
The petition of intercessory prayer (Phl 1:9-11)
-
Growth in biblical love, wisdom, and righteous character (Phl 1:9-11a)
-
Love that abounds more and more, yet is governed by knowledge and discernment (Phl 1:9)
-
Discernment that issues in sincerity and integrity (Phl 1:10)
-
Righteous character through Jesus Christ (Phl 1:11a)
-
God’s glory (Phl 1:11b)
-
Promoting Christ’s exaltation no matter the circumstances, whether by life or by death (Phl 1:12-26)
-
Joy in the painful circumstances (Phl 1:12-18b)
-
Relating the progress of the gospel in and through imprisonment (Phl 1:12-17)
-
Christ’s glory revealed to the Philippians (Phl 1:12)
-
Christ’s glory revealed to the Praetorian Guard and everyone else (Phl 1:13)
-
Christ’s glory revealed by the brethren (Phl 1:14)
-
Christ’s glory revealed by those with pure motives and those who witness out of selfish ambition (Phl 1:15-17)
-
The truth about those preaching Christ (Phl 1:15)
-
The true preachers’ motives examined more closely (Phl 1:16)
-
The treacherous preachers’ motives examined more closely (Phl 1:17)
-
Rejoicing in the proclamation of Christ no matter what (Phl 1:18ab)
-
The cause of joy (Phl 1:18a)
-
The choice of joy (Phl 1:18b)
-
Joy in the prospects of the future (Phl 1:18c-26)
-
Paul’s passionate conviction concerning His life’s ambition—Christ’s exaltation (Phl 1:18c-21)
-
Christ’s exaltation certified Paul’s future rejoicing (Phl 1:18c)
-
Christ’s exaltation could be accomplished in Paul’s life through the prayers of others and the provision of the Spirit of Christ (Phl 1:19)
-
Christ’s exaltation characterized Paul’s life ambition (Phl 1:20-21)
-
His confidence (Phl 1:20a)
-
His concern stated negatively (Phl 1:20b)
-
His concern stated positively (Phl 1:20c)
-
His creed (Phl 1:21)
-
Paul’s precious conundrum/quandary concerning life and death (Phl 1:22-24)
-
To live on for Christ—fruitful labor (Phl 1:22)
-
To depart and be with Christ—far better personally (Phl 1:23)
-
To remain on in the flesh for the sake of the Philippians—quite needful (Phl 1:24)
-
Paul’s personal conviction concerning the future (Phl 1:25-26)
-
The knowledge that he would remain for their sake (Phl 1:25)
-
The next reunion that would bring even greater confidence in Christ (Phl 1:26)
-
Practically living out humility, love, and obedience in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ (Phl 1:27-30; Phl 2:1-30)
-
Keep on conducting yourselves as citizens worthy of the gospel (Phl 1:27-30)
-
The command (Phl 1:27a)
-
The commitment (Phl 1:27b-30)
-
Standing firm in unity (Phl 1:27b)
-
Striving together for the faith of the gospel (Phl 1:27c)
-
Standing strong in the face of opposition and suffering (Phl 1:28-30)
-
The sign of salvation—courage in the face of opposition (Phl 1:28ab)
-
The gift of God—not only faith in Christ but also suffering for His sake (Phl 1:28c-29)
-
The fellowship of Paul—the fight/agony of faith (Phl 1:30)
-
Keep on considering one another as more important than yourselves (Phl 2:1-11)
-
The exhortation to biblical love and humility (Phl 2:1-4)
-
The motivations behind biblical love and humility (Phl 2:1-2a)
-
Encouragement in Christ (Phl 2:1a)
-
Consolation of love (Phl 2:1b)
-
Fellowship of the Spirit (Phl 2:1c)
-
Affection and compassion (Phl 2:1d)
-
Apostolic joy (Phl 2:2a)
-
The manifestations of biblical love and humility (Phl 2:2b-4)
-
Unity (Phl 2:2bcde)
-
Same mind (Phl 2:2b)
-
Same love (Phl 2:2c)
-
United in spirit (Phl 2:2d)
-
Intent on one purpose (Phl 2:2e)
-
Humility (Phl 2:3)
-
Doing nothing from selfishness or empty conceit (Phl 2:3a)
-
Regarding one another as more important than self (Phl 2:3b)
-
Love/concern for others (Phl 2:4)
-
The Example of biblical love and humility (Phl 2:5-11)
-
The mind of Christ is required to live out biblical love and humility (Phl 2:5)
-
The mind of Christ is revealed when you understand who He is, what He did, and the final result of His sacrificial love and self-humbling (Phl 2:6-11)
-
Understand His sovereignty as God (Phl 2:6)
-
Understand His Self-emptying in becoming a man (Phl 2:7)
-
Understand His Self-humiliation, submission, sacrifice on the cross (Phl 2:8)
-
Understand His super-exaltation as Lord of all, which followed His submission and sacrifice (Phl 2:9-11)
-
The reason for His exaltation (Phl 2:9a)
-
The Source of His exaltation (Phl 2:9b)
-
The supremacy of His exaltation (Phl 2:9c)
-
The result of His exaltation (Phl 2:10-11a)
-
The purpose of His exaltation (Phl 2:11b)
-
Keep on conforming to the Word of God, as children of God (Phl 2:12-18)
-
The paradox of faith-driven obedience (Phl 2:12-13)
-
The believer’s responsibility—“work out your salvation” (Phl 2:12)
-
The commitment of obedience (Phl 2:12abc)
-
Based on Christ’s submission and obedience (Phl 2:12a)
-
Based on their relationship with Paul (Phl 2:12b)
-
Based on a pattern of obedience (Phl 2:12c)
-
The command of obedience (Phl 2:12d)
-
The concern of obedience (Phl 2:12e)
-
The believer’s rest—“for it is God who is at work in you” (Phl 2:13)
-
The Person who ultimately works out your salvation—God (Phl 2:13a)
-
The place where He is at work—in you (Phl 2:13b)
-
The process by which He is at work—to will and to work (Phl 2:13c)
-
The purpose for which He is at work (Phl 2:13d)
-
The practice of faith-driven obedience (Phl 2:14-16)
-
Obey without grumbling or disputing (Phl 2:14)
-
Obey so that you may shine forth as children of God, as lights in a dark world (Phl 2:15)
-
Obey by holding fast [holding forth] the word of life (Phl 2:16a)
-
Obey so that those who proclaimed the Word to you will not have toiled in vain (Phl 2:16b)
-
The Pauline example of faith-driven obedience (Phl 2:17-18)
-
The drink-offering—a picture of pouring oneself out completely in the worship of God (Phl 2:17a)
-
The delight of unified worship (Phl 2:17b-18)
-
Keep on cherishing fellowship relationships, and those who model humility, love, and submission to God’s will (Phl 2:19-30)
-
The example of Paul (Phl 2:19-30)
-
In sending Timothy (Phl 2:19-24)
-
Concern for the welfare of others (Phl 2:19-21)
-
A desire to know of the spiritual condition of friends in Christ (Phl 2:19)
-
A desire to see them grow in Christ (Phl 2:20-21)
-
Concern for the furtherance of the gospel (Phl 2:22)
-
Concern for giving of oneself in order to bless friends in Christ (Phl 2:23-24)
-
Proper communication pursued (Phl 2:23)
-
Personal coming planned (Phl 2:24)
-
In sending Epaphroditus (Phl 2:25-30)
-
Concern for the welfare of others (Phl 2:25-28)
-
The welfare of Epaphroditus (Phl 2:25-27)
-
The welfare of the Philippians (Phl 2:25-26, Phl 2:28)
-
Concern for the proper response to those who sacrifice of themselves for the sake of the gospel (Phl 2:29-30)
-
The example of Timothy (Phl 2:19-24)
-
His personal history (Phl 2:19; Phl 2:22)
-
His passionate concern (Phl 2:20-21)
-
The interests/welfare of the Philippians (Phl 2:20)
-
The interests of Christ Jesus (Phl 2:21)
-
His proven worth (Phl 2:22)
-
His particular mission in regard to the Philippians (Phl 2:23-24)
-
Information (Phl 2:23)
-
Reservations (Phl 2:24)
-
The example of Epaphroditus (Phl 2:25-30)
-
His ministry (Phl 2:25)
-
In relation to Paul (Phl 2:25abc)
-
Brother (Phl 2:25a)
-
Co-worker (Phl 2:25b)
-
Co-soldier (Phl 2:25c)
-
In relation to the Philippians (Phl 2:25de)
-
An apostle from the Philippians (Phl 2:25d)
-
An attendant from the Philippians to meet Paul’s need (Phl 2:25e)
-
His mindset (Phl 2:26)
-
His malady and merciful recovery (Phl 2:27)
-
His mission in returning to Philippi (Phl 2:28)
-
His much deserved honor (Phl 2:29-30)
-
The reception he is to be given (Phl 2:29a)
-
The regard he is to be held in (Phl 2:29b)
-
The reason for this honor (Phl 2:30)
-
Pressing on in faith toward the goal of Christlikeness (Phl 3; Phl 4:1)
-
Living by faith as opposed to putting confidence in the flesh [You must avoid the error of the legalists] (Phl 3:1-16)
-
The summary command for living by faith—“Rejoice in the Lord” (Phl 3:1)
-
The prescription—“Keep rejoicing in the Lord” (Phl 3:1a)
-
The protection it brings (Phl 3:1b)
-
The surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus by faith (Phl 3:2-11)
-
The caution concerning legalists (Phl 3:2)
-
Their character is unclean (Phl 3:2a)
-
Their conduct is evil (Phl 3:2b)
-
Their confidence (faith) is misplaced [Their circumcision is really mutilation] (Phl 3:2c)
-
The comfort and confession of all true believers (Phl 3:3)
-
We belong to the true people of God (Phl 3:3a)
-
We bring worship in the Spirit of God (Phl 3:3b)
-
We boast only in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh (Phl 3:3c)
-
The contrast between Paul’s former life, and his life of faith (Phl 3:4-11)
-
His former life remembered—Valuing religious credentials (Phl 3:4-6)
-
Paul’s argument (Phl 3:4)
-
Paul’s accomplishments and religious credentials (Phl 3:5-6)
-
His life of faith revealed—Valuing Christ above all else (Phl 3:7-11)
-
His repentance in regard to former religious achievements (Phl 3:7)
-
His re-evaluation of all things in light of knowing Christ (Phl 3:8)
-
His reception of Christ’s righteousness by faith (Phl 3:9)
-
His relationship with Christ—the all-consuming passion (Phl 3:10)
-
His resurrection hope (Christlikeness)—the sanctifying prize (Phl 3:11)
-
The steadfast pursuit of the prize, which is Christlikeness (Phl 3:12-16)
-
The personal perspective and pursuit of the Apostle Paul (Phl 3:12-14)
-
His personal perspective—not yet perfected (Phl 3:12a)
-
His personal pursuit—pressing on in pursuit of Christlikeness (Phl 3:12b)
-
His public profession—not yet perfected (Phl 3:13a)
-
His preeminent pursuit—pressing on for the prize of Christlikeness (Phl 3:13b-14)
-
Choosing to forget what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead (Phl 3:13b)
-
Chasing the finish line and the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Phl 3:14)
-
The proper perspective and pursuit for all believers (Phl 3:15-16)
-
We must continue to meditate on Christ’s infinite value and pursue the heavenly prize of Christlikeness above all else (Phl 3:15)
-
We must continue to live according to the same standard by which we have come—faith (Phl 3:16)
-
Living by faith as opposed to pursuing earthly satisfaction [You must avoid the error of the earthly-minded] (Phl 3:17-21; Phl 4:1)
-
The examples to imitate and observe (Phl 3:17)
-
Be continually imitating Paul’s example (Phl 3:17a)
-
Be continually observing those who walk according to the Apostolic pattern (Phl 3:17b)
-
The enemies to contemplate and avoid (Phl 3:18-19)
-
The reminder of the enemies (Phl 3:18)
-
They are many (Phl 3:18a)
-
They are mentioned frequently by Paul (Phl 3:18b)
-
They are enemies of the cross of Christ (Phl 3:18c)
-
The reminder of their condemnation and character (Phl 3:19)
-
Their end is destruction (Phl 3:19a)
-
Their god is their appetite (Phl 3:19b)
-
Their glory is their shame (Phl 3:19c)
-
Their minds are set on earthly things (Phl 3:19d)
-
Pursuing unity and peace within the fellowship (Phl 4:2-9)
-
The call to be of the same mind (Phl 4:2-3)
-
The exhortation to Euodia and Syntyche to be of the same mind (Phl 4:2)
-
The entreaty to Paul’s “yoke fellow” to help in these women (Phl 4:3a)
-
The encouragement concerning these two women (Phl 4:3b)
-
The command to rejoice in the Lord (Phl 4:4)
-
The repeated command to keep on rejoicing (Phl 4:4a,d)
-
The root of one’s rejoicing (Phl 4:4b)
-
The range of times when one is to rejoice (Phl 4:4c)
-
The command to reveal kindness/gentleness to all men (Phl 4:5a)
-
The comfort that the Lord is near (Phl 4:5b)
-
The command to stop worrying and start praying (Phl 4:6-7)
-
Stop worrying (Phl 4:6a)
-
The exhortation
-
The exceptions—there are none
-
Start praying (Phl 4:6b)
-
What we are to pray about
-
How we are to pray
-
Prayer
-
Supplication
-
With thanksgiving
-
Requests
-
To Whom we are to pray
-
Supernatural results promised (Phl 4:7)
-
The peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension (Phl 4:7a)
-
The protection of your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Phl 4:7b)
-
The command to dwell on that which reflects the character of God (Phl 4:8)
-
The concluding remark (Phl 4:8a)
-
The character to contemplate (Phl 4:8b)
-
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
-
If there is anything worthy of praise
-
The command to contemplate them (Phl 4:8c)
-
The command to practice/obey the truth of God (Phl 4:9)
-
Following Paul’s teaching and example (Phl 4:9a)
-
Fellowshipping with the God of peace (Phl 4:9b)
-
Praising God for His provision through His people (Phl 4:10-20)
-
Rejoicing in the perfect provision of God (Phl 4:10-13)
-
The concern of God’s people enhances joy in the Lord (Phl 4:10)
-
Paul rejoiced greatly in the Lord because of the Philippians’ gift (Phl 4:10a)
-
Paul recognized the Philippians’ thoughtfulness of him (Phl 4:10bc)
-
Because of the gift (Phl 4:10b)
-
Before the gift (Phl 4:10c)
-
The contentment of Christ’s sufficiency is the secret of joy in the Lord (Phl 4:11-13)
-
The satisfaction of contentment is available in any and every circumstance (Phl 4:11-12)
-
Contentment is a learned spiritual discipline (Phl 4:11)
-
Contentment is available regardless of one’s temporal prosperity or poverty (Phl 4:12)
-
The secret of contentment is resting in the sufficiency of Christ (Phl 4:13)
-
Rejoicing in the partnership that believers have in the gospel and the worship of God (Phl 4:14-18)
-
Rejoicing in the partnership of giving and receiving for the sake of the gospel (Phl 4:14-17)
-
The present partnership and gift (Phl 4:14)
-
The past partnership and previous gifts (Phl 4:15-16)
-
The profit [future reward] of sacrificial giving (Phl 4:17)
-
Rejoicing in the provision and worship of God through sacrificial giving (Phl 4:18)
-
Reaffirming the promised provision and pre-eminent glory of God (Phl 4:19-20)
-
The promise for those who sacrifice for Christ’s sake (Phl 4:19)
-
The praise and prayer of every sacrificial worshipper (Phl 4:20)
-
Conclusion (Phl 4:21-23)
-
Greetings—fellowship of the saints [a reminder of unity] (Phl 4:21-22)
-
Greetings from Paul (Phl 4:21a)
-
Greetings from the brethren with Paul (Phl 4:21b)
-
Greetings from all the saints [in Rome] (Phl 4:22a)
-
Greetings from those saints from Caesar’s household (Phl 4:22b)
-
Grace—favor from the Lord Jesus Christ [a request for undeserved favor] (Phl 4:23)
1For a biblical biography of the Apostle Paul see Act 7:58; Act 8:1; Act 9:1-30; Act 11:25-30; Act 12:25-28:31; 1Co 15:30-32; 2Co 6:4-5; 2Co 11:23-30; Gal 1:13-2:16; Phl 3:4-14; 2Th 3:8.
2For a biblical biography of Timothy see Act 16:1; Act 17:14-15; Act 18:5; 1Co 4:17; 1Co 16:10; Phl 2:19-23; 1Th 3:2, 6; 1Ti 1:2; 1Ti 5:23; Heb 13:23.