Paul's letter to the Philippians as encouragement amid Christian hardship

Exegesis of Philippians

Christians throughout history have faced struggles and trials, some affecting the Church as a whole, and some deeply personal, and the very same is true today. At times like this, when we feel alone, abandoned, and as if the horrors and abuses of the world might be too much to bear, it becomes almost too easy to turn away from God, and forget the promise of hope he offers. You might wonder how somebody can hope to trust and serve God when they are consumed by the hardships they face, and indeed, you maybe even question how God can expect you to continue to trust and serve Him, even in the midst of seemingly overwhelming difficulty and strife.

The most important thing to realize is that you're not alone in feeling this way. Every Christian goes through periods of difficulty, when they doubt their commitment to God and God's commitment to them. In fact, this was even true of the earliest Christians, and the Bible includes words of encouragement and hope that can help get you through the most difficult times. At a time when Christians were persecuted openly, Paul wrote to the church in Phillipi in an effort to encourage them in their faith, and to help them see the hope offered by God even in the darkest times. These words of encouragement have continued resonance for Christians living today, and can help you continue to trust and serve God to the best of your ability, even when it seems like abuses of the world are too much to bear.

Over the course of twelve days, this devotional guide will take you through Paul's entire letter to Philippians, pointing out how his words of encouragement can help you face the difficulties and struggles, both major and minor, that can sometimes threaten to overwhelm you. Each day begins with a discussion of certain passages in terms of its historical and theological context, and concludes with study questions that will help you relate what you've learned to your own life. At the end of this study, you'll be able to face any challenge secure in the knowledge that God is looking out for you, and that as long as you trust in Him, He will see you through anything the world might try and throw at you.

Day 1

Philippians 1:1-9

On the first day of this study, we'll examine the introduction of Paul's letter, and note how he begins with a message of thanksgiving and humility. In Philippians 1:1, Paul identifies himself first and foremost as a servant of Christ Jesus, and this is important because it points out the fundamental truth about all Christians; namely, that they are saved by Jesus, and it is through Him that their lives have meaning. This is important for all Christians to remember, but especially those facing hardship, because often it is easy to get caught up in the everyday roles we must fulfill as a way of coping with difficulty. We often hope to lose ourselves in the mundanity of the world, so that we can ignore, if only for a little while, the problems in our lives. While this might seem like a comforting idea, in reality you can never fix a problem by ignoring. Instead, focusing on our commitment to God as a servant of Jesus Christ reminds us that this relationship is what gives our lives true meaning, and that all the problems of the world can only disrupt this relationship if we let it. Paul is doing just that, because he manages to celebrate his role as a servant of Jesus even though he was actually in prison when he wrote this letter to the Philippians (MacArthur 5). "He took his joy in Christ into jail with him," and in the same way we can keep our joy in Christ in the midst of any difficulty (MacArthur 5).

Paul goes on to hope for "grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ," and in doing so he reminds his readers of the precisely what God promises them if they remain servants of Christ (Philippians 1:2). As John Walvoord notes, these words "beautifully express the content of Christian salvation and the triumph […] in suffering," because they remind the reader of the gift already given to them (Walvoord 25). As Paul noted in his letter to the Romans, "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," but through His grace, "the unmerited favor of God toward those who have trusted in Christ," we can all have the hope for salvation (Romans 3:23, Walvoord 25). Before even getting to the practical ways of dealing with hardship, Paul reminds us that we have already overcome, through Christ's sacrifice and promise, the greatest hardship of all; while alone we would have been condemned to death in sin, through Christ we can overcome death and have eternal salvation. We'll discuss what Paul means by "peace" in greater detail on day ten, but for now we can understand it to mean the peace of mind and spirit that comes with knowing we are saved.

After reminding us of the gift of grace granted through Jesus, Paul offers up thanksgiving and a prayer, expressing thanks that God "began a good work among you [and] will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:3). Paul prays that "your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what is best, so that on the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God" (Philippians 1:9-11). He is expressing the hope of all Christians, that we might continue to grow in our relationship with God and allow him to work through us.

Day 1 Study Questions

(Remember, there are no wrong answers to these questions. They are meant to challenge you, and help you to better understand yourself and your relationship with God. If you find yourself embarrassed or unhappy with your responses, then this is a sign that you are considering your Christian life more deeply, and should help provoke greater insights.)

After considering Paul's introduction to his letter, think about your own role as a servant of Jesus, and how it influences your everyday life. Does it constitute the most important part of your identity, or do you find yourself defining your life according to other roles, whether it be as a mother, a wife, a girlfriend, an employee, a student, or any other role you might fill? If it's the latter, why do you think this is?

When you face a problem, do you face it as a Christian, and think about how this problem relates to your life as a Christian, or do you think about how it affects other areas of your life, such as the different roles discussed above?

When you do consider your role as a Christian, how often do you consider the gift of grace? In other words, what feels more central to your identity as a servant of Jesus: your decision to become a Christian, or the gift you were granted upon placing your faith in Jesus? Does your own choice feel more important than God's choice to grant you grace?

Our role as a servant of Jesus gives our lives meaning, but is also gives them value. Has there ever been a time when you didn't feel valued by those around you? Has there ever been a time when you didn't feel valued by God? Which is more important to your feeling of self-worth?

How does the recognition of God's gift of grace affect your sense of self-worth?

Day 2

Day 2 Study Questions

What kind of example have you set when you were faced with extreme difficulties? Did your responses to these difficulties evidence the influence of the Holy Spirit in your life, as in the case of Paul's example in prison, or did you respond according to your human desires and intuitions?

Can you think of a time when your response to hardship encouraged other Christians, or a time when another Christian's response to hardship encouraged you? If not, think about why this is. Do you have a group of other Christians you can rely on and encourage, or do you find yourself dealing with issues alone?

Has there ever been a time when you simply wished this life would end so that you could live eternally in heaven? If you've ever contemplated suicide, what made you reconsider? How might Paul's words in Philippians 1:23-24 help you when the difficulties you face feel like they are too much to bear?

Day 3

Philippians 1:27-30

In the conclusion to the first chapter of Philippians, Paul entreats his readers to "live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ" even in the face of difficulty, because God "has graciously granted you the privilege not only of believing in Christ, but of suffering for him as well -- since you are having the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I still have" (Philippians 1:27, 29-30). Here he equates suffering for Christ with believing in Him, because ultimately the former is evidence of the latter. It is important to note, however, that faith in Christ does not necessarily denote suffering, and furthermore, that this suffering does not stem from faith in Christ. Rather, it is the fallen nature of the world that produces suffering, and Christians bear the greatest brunt of this suffering precisely because we do not conform to the world, but rather to Christ's example.

Day 3 Study Questions

Do you feel like you always live your life "in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ?" If not, what keeps you from doing so? Think about how you live your life both in times of ease and times of difficulty. Is it easier to live in a manner worthy of the gospel when life is difficult, or when life is hard?

When, if ever, has your suffering felt like a "privilege?" What do you think Paul means when he calls suffering for Christ a privilege?

How can Paul's acknowledgment that you are suffering in the same way that he and other Christians have suffered help you in times of difficulty? Does this offer you comfort, or does knowing other Christians suffer not alleviate your difficulties?

Day 4

Philippians 2:1-11

In the second chapter of Philippians, Paul outlines what he means by a life "worth of the gospel of Christ (Philippians 1:27). He says "if then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, and sharing in the Spirit, and compassion and sympathy," then you will "do nothing from selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves" (Philippians 2:1, 3). He instructs his reader to "let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness" (Philippians 2:5-7). The particular Greek word Paul uses to describe Jesus' "emptying" of himself is kenosis, and it connotes a kind of spiritual emptying, where Jesus, as a man, gave up his own will and any hold he had over the course of his own life so that he could be filled instead with God's will (Gorman 2).

Thus, when he talks about emulating Jesus' example of humility, he is talking about something above and beyond mere modesty or generosity. Instead, he means a kind of humility whereby we give up any of our own individual desires so that we might be filled with the Holy Spirit; in effect, by emulating Jesus' earthly example, we will be able to emulate God's character as well. This is why Paul concludes finishes his discussion of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross by noting that "God also highly exalted him […] so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2: 9-11). Through his humility and self-emptying, Jesus was able to embody the glory and power of God, so that his act of humility was in actuality an act of exaltation and ascendance. In the same way, by following Jesus' example, when we humble ourselves we actually allow God to elevate us by imbuing us with his Spirit, so that we can express His divine will in a way previously impossible.

Day 4 Study Questions

When have you acted in "selfish ambition or vain conceit?" When faced with difficulties, do you respond by attempting to demonstrate your own autonomy and will, or do you attempt to emulate Jesus by abandoning your own will in favor of God's?

Has there been a time when you attempted to "empty" yourself but were unable to? What specific things kept you from doing so?

Has there ever been a time when you were able to empty yourself of your own will and let God work through you? How did this make you feel afterward? Did you find yourself regretting the decision, or did you feel exalted?

Day 5

Philippians 2:12-18

Even if we assent to humbling ourselves and acting out God's will, we often finds ourselves doing so reluctantly, and complaining all the while. This is of course a natural response, because it is in our nature to defy God and seek out our own ends, so that when we do assent to enacting God's will, we must constantly struggle to deny ourselves and our own interests. Paul acknowledges this tendency, and encourages us to "do all things without murmuring and arguing," because "it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure" (Philippians 2: 13-14). It is only through God's help that we are even able to deny our sinful nature in the first place, and so similarly we must always rely on His help if we ever hope to deny our own will.

Once again, Paul reminds his readers that as servants of Jesus we must rely entirely on God, because when we try to rely on out own abilities, even in the service of God, we will always fall short. When we do rely on God, we will be able to "be glad and rejoice" when enacting His will, because we can be confident that, contrary to out human intuition, everything we do glorifies Him, and subsequently, allows us to live the kind of life He wants for us (Philippians 2:18).

Day 5 Study Questions

Think of a time that you have humbled yourself and allowed God to work through you. What complaints did you have, or if you did not have any, what complaints could you imagine someone else having in the same situation? How might these complaints stem from a reluctance to depend entirely on God, and how might they be obviated by giving yourself entirely over to His will?

When have your actions caused you to rejoice? Was it because these actions were accordance with God's will? If yes, how did you know these actions were in accordance with God's will? If not, what did make you rejoice, and what do you think this means in light of Philippians 2:12-18?

Day 6

Philippians 2:19-30

Paul concludes this chapter by telling the Philippians that he will soon be sending Timothy and Epaphroditus to them. Although at first glance this passage might not seem like it has much relevance to our contemporary lives, a closer look reveals some crucial information about the importance of community when it comes to remaining steadfast in our faith in the midst of hardship. Paul wishes to send Timothy and Epaphroditus to the Philippians both so he can receive news of them, and so that they might be comforted by news of Epaphroditus' seemingly miraculous recovery from a deathly illness (Philippians 2: 19, 27). Once again this highlights how the example set by fellow Christians in the face of hardship can encourage us.

Furthermore, Paul notes that "God had mercy on [Epaphroditus], and not only on him but on me also, so that I would not have one sorrow after another" (Philippians 2:27). This is important for Christians facing difficulty and hardship, because it demonstrates that although God will allow us to undergo abuse, difficulty, and sorrow, he will never allow more than we can bear. As Richard Hays notes, "in community with others," sharing their hardships and sacrifices, "believers find themselves conformed to the death of Christ," in that they embody His sacrifice in their own lives, but are able to bear this sacrifice not because they are God become man, like Jesus, but because through their community they are able to share this sacrifice equally (Hays 30).

Day 6 Study Questions

Who makes up your "community," both in terms of your immediate, everyday interactions, as well as the broader context in which you live? How do you think these communities affect your outlook on life generally, and your experience as a Christian in particular?

Think of a time when you've needed healing, whether physical, mental, or emotional. What did you do? Did you look to God for assistance? What about the communities from the previous question; were they able to offer you assistance?

Answer the previous question again, but this time think of someone you care about who has needed healing. How did you respond to their hardship? How did they respond?

Day 7

Philippians 3:1-11

Paul begins the third chapter of Philippians by pointing out the uselessness of pride or confidence in earthly things. He notes that "if anyone else has reason to be confident in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, a member of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness of under the law, blameless" (Philippians 3:4-6). According to all the societal standards of his time, Paul was the best that he could be, but even then he states that "yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord" (Philippians 3:7-8). Even though he was best according to society's standards, this meant nothing when compared to the faith he had in Jesus, because quality in the eyes of society means nothing to God.

Pride in one's position in a social hierarchy is not only useless, but actually detrimental to the Christian life, because it distracts us from "the righteousness from God based on faith" (Philippians 3:9). Instead of focusing on living up to the standards created by human society, we must focus on living up to the standards created by God and exemplified by Jesus' life. Furthermore, we must be prepared to give up any earthly recognition or success in the service of Jesus, because just as Paul "was prepared to abandon all his privileges to gain Christ," so too might we have to abandon any societal successes and privileges in order to fulfill God's will (Wright 124). This is quite understandably a scary prospect, because we are so used to regarding our everyday privileges as the sign of a good life. Instead, we must recognize that a truly good life comes not from anything the world can offer us, but only the grace and redemption offered by God.

Day 7 Study Questions

What are some things in your life that might be an example of the kind of worldly privileges Paul discusses? How important are they to you? How do they contribute to your sense of self-worth? Do they make it easier or harder to trust and serve God?

What would it take for you to give up the things you thought about in the previous question? Is there anything you could never give up in order to serve Jesus? If there is, what makes this thing so important to you, and why do you think you feel that way; in other words, how/where did you learn that this thing was so important?

Day 8

Philippians 3:12-16

After recognizing that societal success has no bearing on out spiritual success, we can then change our focus to those things that really matter. However, we must also recognize that striving towards Jesus' example is not the same as achieving it, because the process of sanctification through the Holy Spirit is a process that occurs from the moment we accept Christ to our eventual salvation in heaven. Thus, Paul states emphatically that "I do not consider that I have made it my own, but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on towards the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:13-14). If we are to continue trusting and serving God even in times of difficulty, we must always, as the saying goes, "keep our eyes on the prize," because this is the only way of ensuring that everything we do is in accordance with God's will.

However, this does not mean that we should disregard what we have already achieved thanks to God's grace, because this would constitute a form of ungratefulness. Instead, we should "hold fast to what we have attained," using our faith in the promise of salvation as a steady focus that allows us to keep our sights set on the fulfillment of that promise (Philippians 3:16).

Day 8 Study Questions

Do you ever feel as if you have "made it on your own," both in terms of not needing help from other people as well as not needing help from God?

Has there ever been a time when you couldn't do something on your own? Who did you go to for help?

What are the things that "lie behind" in your life that keep you from looking forwards, both in your everyday life and your growth as a Christian? How might focusing on the gift of God's grace help you to move past these things, and what are some concrete steps you can take to make this change?

Day 9

Philippians 3: 17-21

In the conclusion to chapter three, Paul warns us not to be distracted by all those people in the world who might deny Christ, or else attempt to sway our faith. Paul says that "their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things" (Philippians 3:19). If we focus on the world and its standards, we run the risk of falling into its depraved tendencies, which celebrate willfulness and rebellion against God. By noting that "their glory is in their shame," Paul highlights the fact that many of the things valued by the world are valued precisely because they contradict the example set by Jesus. Thus, sex, money, and power are glorified by society, even as the desire for these things is precisely what causes all of the horrors and difficulties we see in the world around us.

In contrast, we must recognize that "our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior," who will "transform the body of our humiliation so that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself" (Philippians 3:20-21). In other words, we must recognize that our responsibility is not to the standards and values of society, but rather to Jesus, because it is only through Jesus that we can ever hope to be free from the very things that afflict the world around us. This is especially important for those of us suffering through hardship and difficulty, because recognizing that our citizenship is in heaven allows us to face our difficulties with the knowledge that they are caused by the values of a sinful world of which we are no longer a part.

Do you ever feel as if you don't fit in the world? What makes you feel this way?

How do you respond when you are confronted by people or things of the world that challenge you faith?

Day 9 Study Questions

Day 10

Philippians 4: 1-9

Paul concludes his letter to the Philippians with a kind of review of the message he has given them, as well as a final entreaty to act according to God's will, as revealed by the Holy Spirit's influence in their lives. He tells us to "rejoice in the Lord always," and "do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:4, 6-7). This is a kind of mirroring of Philippians 1:1-11, and it serves to further explicate what he meant by "peace" in his introduction. The peace of God that is granted to us through our faith is precisely what gets us through difficult times, because it a peace born out of our commitment to Him. If we focus on "whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable," then "the God of peace" will be with us because our earthly concerns will fade away (Philippians 4:8-9) .

Day 10 Study Questions

Think of a time when you've been faced with difficulty and responded poorly (however you want to define "poorly"). What was going through your mind, and how did this differ from Paul's entreaty to focus on all those things listed in Philippians 4:8-9?

Have you ever felt "the peace of God?" If yes, when was this and how did it affect the way you responded to difficulty? If not, do you know any other Christians who seem to exhibit this peace? What can you notice about their life that might help you find the same peace?

Day 11

Philippians 4: 10-19

In today's passage, Paul recounts how he knows "what it is to have little, and […] what it is to have plenty," and how these differences matter little because he "can do all things through him who strengthens me" (Philippians 4: 12-13). Here Paul is reiterating the fact that for the Christian, all value and meaning in life is dependent on God, and it is only through him that we are able to achieve anything of worth. Although this is largely a reiteration of many of the concepts we have discussed in previous days, it is nevertheless important because it highlights how our strength and fortitude comes solely from God.

Day 11 Study Questions

When have you been weak, and where have you turned for assistance?

Has there ever been a time when God helped you achieve something you previously thought impossible? Has there ever been a time when you thought you didn't need God's help only to find that you couldn't do it on your own?

Day 12

Philippians 4: 20-23

Paul concludes his message to the Philippians with a final message of goodwill and hope, saying "To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The friends who are with me greet you. All the saints greet you, especially those of the emperor's household. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit" (Philippians 4:20-23). This final message serves as an ideal conclusion to this study, because it reiterates the central unifying factor in every Christian's life, as well as the importance of community when it comes to facing hardship. That he specifically mentions those Christians in the emperor's household is important, because although these Christians were living right in the middle of the perfect embodiment of worldly power and prestige, they were nevertheless able to keep their sights set on what is truly important. Here, at the conclusion of this study, it is important to consider everything you have learned, and reflect on the ways you might apply this learning to the hardships you might face.

Day 12 Study Questions

Have there ever been times when you've felt like the Christians working in the emperor's household, whether in your family, at school, or at work? What was it that kept you secure in your faith? If you struggled, what was the most difficult part of that experience, and how might Paul's message in Philippians help you overcome similar experiences in the future?

Thinking back over this entire study, in what areas do you feel your Christian life is lacking (such as humility, community, or the experience of peace)? What areas of your Christian life feel strongest? When faced with difficulty, how might you best rely on those elements of your life you feel are strongest, and how can Paul's message in Philippians help strengthen those areas that are lacking?