PHILIPPIANS, COLOSSIANS, I & II THESSALONIANS
Sermon 8
Introduction: In the previous lesson we studied the books of Galatians and Ephesians. In this lesson will complete a survey of the Books of Philippians and Colossians. The Book of Philippians is a book about rejoicing. The Book of Colossians is a complement to the book of Ephesians. Where Ephesians places the emphasis on the Body of Christ, Colossians emphasizes the Head of the body.
PHILIPPIANS
I. SURVEY
A. Writer: The Apostle Paul
B. Date: About A.D. 62
C. Key Word: “Rejoice”
D. Purpose: Philippians is the love letter of the Apostle Paul to the dear people at Philippi. There is no censure
mentioned. The word sin does not occur in the entire book. Not a single word is drawn from the Old Testament.
The word “others” can be found written throughout the entire book. The Purpose for this book is simply to say
I love you!!!
II. OUTLINE - Many great outlines have been composed from the Book of Philippians. Many Bible commentators declare that Philippians has four natural divisions, which are correctly divided into four chapter divisions. In can be divided in this way:
Chapter 1 - Christ: The Believer’s Life
Chapter 2 - Christ: The Believer’s Example
Chapter 3 - Christ: The Believer’s Object
Chapter 4 - Christ: The Believer’s Strength
Knowing that the key word of this book is rejoice, I present the following outline.
A. REJOICING IN THE COMRADES - Philippians 1:1-6
1. The Servants - vs. 1a
a. This Epistle was written, as we know, by the Apostle Paul from his prison in Rome.
b. At this writing his son in the faith, Timothy, was with him; and he includes him ni the introductory remarks
2. The Saints - vs. 1b
a. The word “saints” here includes all born again believer in the City of Philippi
b. The Bishops, or overseers, were the pastors, and the deacons were the other officers of the local churches.
3. The Salutation - vs. 2-6
a. Salutation of Grace - vs. 2a
b. Salutation of Peace - vs. 2b
c. Salutation of Love - vs. 3
B. REJOICING IN THE CHAINS - Philippians 1:7-30 We have pointed out before that the Book of Philippians
is a prison letter written by Paul at Rome. He rejoiced in that he was a prisoner of the empire; it was not
because of any misdeed or breaking of any national law, but simply because of his stand for Christ and his
preaching of the Gospel. He rejoiced in these bonds, he rejoiced in the chains, praising God that he was
counted worthy to suffer such persecutions.
1. His Bonds affected the Phillipians - Phil. 1:7
a. The Philippians well knew of the persecution and bonds endured by Paul when he was at Philippi.
b. The knew that he was enduring in Rome the same afflictions for the same cause.
c. How Paul’s Testimony must have made an impact on the lives of these Philippian People. Here is a Man of
God in the most terrible circumstance with a song in his heart of praise to God.
d. How many times do we moan and belly-ache over things that are really not hardships in comparison to what
Paul faced. These times are opputunities for us to show others that God’s grace is sufficient.
2. His Bonds Affected the Palace - Phil. 1:13
a. The Palace spoken of is, in reality, the Praetorian Guard; this was the barracks which housed the chiefest of Caesar’s soldiers.
b. The soldiers numbered in the thousands and were used on special occasions as his bodyguards. They were soldiers of valour and men of renown.
c. As Paul was a prisoner of the state, he was placed under the supervision of these soldiers, with several taking guard of him.
d. Acts 28:16 tells us that each guard kept company with Paul in Paul’s own hired house.
e. Most anyone would be discouraged at even the thought of being imprisoned, but Paul was rejoicing in these bonds, because was using his imprisonment to spread the Gospel as he was using no one else in Rome.
f. Many of these tough, rugged soldiers were converted as a result of Paul’s Chains.
3. His Bonds Affected the Preaching - Phil. 1:14-18
a. He we see the jealousy of the brethren abounding. You will notice that Paul called them “brethren in the
Lord”; the brethren are not Israelites, but rather those who were born again believers.
b. Paul’s bonds led to more preaching of the Gospel than ever before.
c. Those preaching the Gospel were now divided into two classes: those who were preaching because of envy, and those who were preaching because of sincerity.
d. There were brethren who were preaching because of envy and they could not endure Paul’s successs; so they preached not in sincerity, thinking that their boldness would move Paul to envy them in his condition.
e. They assumed that Paul was as jealous as they, and they hoped by their succesful preaching they could add tribulatioin to the bonds Paul now suffered.
f. THIS WICKED JEALOUSY EXISTED THEN AND IT STIL EXIST TODAY!!!
g. I admire Paul’s attitude. Paul rejoiced over this one fact: CHRIST IS PREACHED!!!
h. Whatever the motive was, he cared not, but he did rejoice that men everywhere in Rome heard the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
C. REJOICING IN THE CHRIST- Philippians 2:1-3:21
1. Paul’s desire to FOLLOW Christ - Phil. 2:5-8
2. Paul’s desire to have FAITH in Christ - Phil. 3:1-9
3. Paul’s desire to FELLOWSHIP with Christ - Phil. 3:10
4. Paul’s desire to FINISH with Christ - Phil. 3:13-14
5. Paul’s desire to be FASHIONED like Christ - Phil. 3:20-21
D. REJOICING IN THE CHARITY - Philippians 4:1-23
1. The Sustenance - Phil. 4:10
a. Again Paul states his thanksgiving by praising the Lord for the many things sent to him by these brethren at Philippi.
b. His love for them had been rewarded by their demonstration of bestowing these love gifts upon him.
c. Paul was sustained because because he felt loved by the people he had won to Jesus
2. The State - Phil. 4:1-12
a. By this I do not mean the political empire, but rather the condition that Paul found himself in from time to time.
1. Sometimes he was hungry; sometimes he was full.
2. Sometimes he had plenty; somtimes he was in need.
b. Whatever his state or condition was he never rebelled under the circumstances. He was content at all times.
c. A lesson can be learned here about sacrificial living. We are to live sacrificially just like our Lord. Luke 9:58
d. You can’t find it anywhere in the Bible where Christian’s are guaranteed food and raiment.
e. The only thing that a Christian is guaranteed is persecution. II Timothy 3:12
3. The Strength - Phil. 4:13
a. This is one verse that has strengthened every faltering Christian.
b. His strength comes not from any other source but from Christ.
c. Discouragements are to come; poverty may abound, but still the Christian can be strong “in the power of his Might!” Ephesian 6:10
4. The Supply - Phil. 4:14-19
a. Christ has an unlimited supply, and there is nothing he cannot do.
b. The condition for receiving the supply is found in verse 14-18.
c. God will supply after we have first given to the Lord.
COLOSSIANS
I. SURVEY
A. Writer: The Apostle Paul
B. Date: About A.D. 62
C. Purpose: This Epistle was written, under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, to refute four errors in the Church
at Colosse. The Four Errors: 1. The Worshipping of Angels 2. Ritualism 3. Asceticism (Living apart
from people such as monks, etc.) 4. License (Freedom to as one wishes). They believed that the soul could not
sin, only the flesh; therefore the Christian was at liberty to sin. Another purpose was the attack against
Gnosticism. Gnosticism was that teaching which held that Christ was a part of a cosmopolitan religion which
contained every religion of the world. In Colossian Paul refutes this claim by declaring that Jesus was not a
part, but the ALL, the whole substance of salvation, that there was no other way, that there were no more steps
to climb, that there was no other name by which man could be saved but Christ.
D. Theme: The Preeminence of Christ
E. Key Word: Christ: He is the Center of this Book.
F. Key Verses: “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is
the head of all principality and power.”
II. OUTLINE
A. Paul’s Introduction of the Epistle – 1:1-8
B. Paul’s Intercession for the Colossians – 1:9-14
C. Paul’s Incomparable Lord – 1:15-29
D. Paul’s Incarnate Lord - 2:1-23
E. Paul’s Instruction for the Colossians – 3:1-4:6
F. Paul’s Intimate Fellowworkers – 4:7-18
G. Paul’s Innocent Suffering – Vs. 18
I THESSALONIANS
I. SURVEY
A. Writer: The Apostle Paul
B. Date: About 52 A.D.
C. Pupose: To ground the Thessalonians in the truth of the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is believed
that Paul was in Thessalonica less than a month; yet he taught the converts many of the deeper doctrines of the
Word, among them the doctrine of eschatology. This refutes the idea that young converts are not able to
understand the doctrine of the Second Coming. Every chapter ends with the doctrine of the Second Coming of
Christ.
D. Key Verse: “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord
Jesus Christ at his coming?”
II. OUTLINE -- Scofield outlines this Book:
A. The Model Church – Chapter 1
B. The Model Servant – Chapter 2
C. The Model Brother - Chapter 3
D. The Model Walk – Chapters 4 & 5
II THESSALONIANS
I. SURVEY
A. Writer: The Apostle Paul
B. Date: About 53 A.D.
C. Purpose: This Epistle was written a short time after Paul had written the First Epistle of Thessalonians. As we
have learned, Paul wrote I Thessalonians to comfort the saints who had lost their loved ones by death. In this
Epistle we learn that Paul was writing to comfort the saints who were troubled because of the teachings of some
that the day of the Lord was at hand.
D. Key Verse: “Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by
word, or our epistle.” I Thessalonians 2:15
I. OUTLINE
A. The Troubled over False Teachings – Chapter 1
B. The Teaching of the Truth – Chapter 2
C. The Trust in the Thessalonians – Chapter 3
