The Purpose Of Paul's Writing

I. Call to Joy I (1)

A. Repeated call

1. Prevalent theme in book

a. ‘Joy’ – 6X

b. ‘Rejoice’ – 8X

B. Basis of joy - ‘brethren’

C. Scope of our joy

1. ‘In the Lord’

2. Over 130X in NT

3. 9X in Philippians

II. Warning Against Judaisers (2)

A. Beware of dogs

1. Word used as a metaphor for person

with an impure mind

2. Reference to wild, ravenous, scavenger

dogs

B. Beware of evil workers

C. Beware of the concision

1. ‘Mutilation’ – play on words for

circumcision

2. Contrasted to metaphorical use of

‘the circumcision’ referring to Christians

a. Christians separated from the

unclean multitude and truly

consecrated to God

III. Portrait of a Real Believer (3)

A. Worship God in the Spirit

B. Rejoice in Jesus

C. Have no confidence in the flesh

IV. Testimony of Confidence in the Flesh (4-6)

A. Deceptiveness of the flesh

B. Description of the flesh

1. Race

2. Family

3. Religion

4. Education

5. Zeal

6. Righteousness