Philippians - Verse-by-Verse Biblical Exegesis

despondent at the same time. You cannot be depressed without being preoccupied with yourself
instead of the Lord. You must struggle against these mental attitude sins, because they dishonor
the Lord and keep you from making progress in the spiritual life. Paul realizes he has told the
Philippians to “keep on having inner happiness” before. But he does not apologize for reminding
them once again.
While this sounds like a simple request, it is quite difficult to maintain on a consistent basis. He
also knows he has warned them about false teachers in their midst, but he is going to cover this
territory in greater detail. So he informs the Philippian believers that he is not tired of writing
(Latin: scribe) these things over-and-over again (Iterative Present tense). Repetition is the price
of knowledge, and he wants to make sure his commands, entreaties and warnings become second
nature to them. Not only is his repetition not tedious or troublesome at his end, but he knows it is
highly beneficial for them to hear such doctrines again, because his purpose is to prevent them
from following false teaching and falling into reversionism. Repetition is a basic rule of learning
anything well, so he offers no apology for doing so.
By continual repetition of a few crucial commands and warnings, Paul wants to build a sound
foundation in their souls; this would in turn create a safe and secure learning and growing
environment in Philippi in spite of the false teaching being spread in their community. There is a
contrast in his wording which could be translated, “on the one hand, on the other hand.” On the
one hand, it’s no problem for him to repeat important doctrines to them. On the other hand, his
repetition is for their benefit anyway, so he intends to do it whenever he deems necessary! Some
of us hear a teaching once and it sticks with us forever; others need to have it repeated a few
times before the impact of the teaching sinks in and becomes material (forming a doctrinal
rationale) that we can use in our daily life.
REVELANT OPINIONS
Paul changes topics in his letter to something "leftover" that he had not yet covered. It is wholly
needless to understand Paul as about to finish and then suddenly changing his mind, like some
preachers who announce the end a half dozen times. (A.T. Robertson) There are three categories of
happiness: (1) "Minus H" or Satan's pseudo-happiness, (2) "Neutral H" which comes from
following the laws of divine establishment, and (3) "Plus H" or God's inner happiness when a
believer reaches supergrace status. (R.B. Thieme, Jr.) The apostle is inculcating a positive Christian
attitude of joy that finds outward expression in their lives and that realistically takes into account the
adverse circumstances, trials, and pressures through which the Philippians were called to pass. It also
recognizes God’s mighty working in and through those circumstances to fulfil his own gracious
purposes in Christ. (P. O’Brien)
The Philippians’ opponents were Judaizers, Jewish Christians who insisted that the Gentile
Christians submit to the Mosaic law, including circumcision. (M. Silva) How long has it been since
you sat down and took a good hard look at your life to reevaluate the things to which you are giving
your time, your talent, your energy, perhaps even your material resources, to see whether the things
that occupy your attention are really the important things after all? How easy it is for a man to be