The Encourager
“The Message of Philippians by Steve Peeler”
The theme of Philippians is not difficult to discover. Paul wrote about joy and rejoicing fifteen times in the four chapters of Philippians. The thesis is declared in this verse: “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice” (Phil. 4:4).
The apostle exhorts God’s people to always rejoice. He explains why they should rejoice, how they can rejoice in spite of hurts and disappointments, and how they can experience the “peace of God which surpasses all understanding” (Phil. 4:7). -- Chapter one explains Paul’s reason for rejoicing and how one may rejoice in the face of difficulties in life. --Chapter two emphasizes the necessity of having the mind of Christ and the joy of hope and anticipation. Then Paul gives two specific examples of men (Timothy and Epaphroditus) who brought joy in their lives. --Chapter three encourages and incites children of God to center their lives on a right relationship with the Lord and, therefore, to have their minds focused on heaven. --Chapter four explores people and activities of people which bring joy, such as those who labored with Paul in the gospel and the possibility of sensing the Lord’s presence. Further attention is given to the right way of thinking. Finally, the church in Philippi is a source of joy to Paul.
While several of Paul’s epistles to congregations were designed to correct some problem or problems (1 Corinthians and Galatians), Philippians is different. The closest thing to a rebuke because of a problem comes when he implores Euodia and Syntyche to “be of the same mind in the Lord” (Phil. 4:2).
William Hendricksen analyzed Philippians as follows: --Philippians reveals the secret of true happiness; and how this secret may be obtained. --Philippians reveals the man who learned the secret and, hence, is one of Paul’s most personal epistles. --Philippians reveals Jesus the Christ as the One who taught Paul true happiness.
Merrill F. Unger offers this summary of the epistle of Philippians: --The joy of Christ our Life (Chap. 1). --The joy of Christ our Example (Chap. 2). --The joy of Christ our Goal (Chap. 3). --The joy of Christ our Sufficiency (Chap. 4).
If Paul could sing from a Philippian jail, he could also rejoice from a Roman prison. This epistle is full of joy in the middle of adversity. Joy is not at the mercy of circumstances. Joy floods the soul that is in a right relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. “Rejoice in the Lord,” Paul urged the saints in Christ Jesus (Phil. 3:1; 4:4).
Henry H. Hailey observed: Joy is the predominate note of this epistle. Written by a man in prison, who for thirty years had been mobbed, beaten, stoned, and cuffed about, enough to make the angels gasp. Yet, he is overflowing with JOY. The very things which would naturally tend to make him sour only added to his happiness.
It is simply amazing what Christ can do in one’s life. Acts reveals a joyful people who comprised the church in Jerusalem (Acts 2:46). The gospel brought joy to Samaria (Acts 8:5). The jailer at Philippi who was on the verge of suicide was, after obeying the gospel, rejoicing the same night. It is time for God’s people to radiate from their lives, and even in the midst of their disappointments and trials, genuine joy!
