Study With Me: Philippians

Welcome to my first online Bible study series! One of my life goals is to study in-depth (and memorize) all sixty books of the Bible. And as I slowly make my way through them, I will record some of them on the blog. The reason is twofold; to share what I learn and to invite my dear readers to join me. The one thing more enjoyable than studying God’s Word is studying with friends. So, come and study with me!

Why Philippians

There are many great theological reasons to study Philippians, such as its rich doctrines and lessons on Christian living. But I chose it for a more personal reason. I have been struggling with comparison and envy for some time. While seeking God’s help to overcome this sin, a certain man and his teachings came to mind. Though he experienced many hardships and sufferings in his service for Christ, he was content with his lot and remained joyful. And I feel God has been leading me to study His words as penned by this man, Paul.

How the study works

Every Sunday for the next few months, we will study a small portion of Scripture (on average, 5-10 verses) in-depth. Then the following week, I will post my insights and open discussions. Disclaimer, I am not a Bible teacher nor a seminarian, so this will not be a verse by verse exegesis of the text; just highlights of things I have learned.

I will also post questions with the assigned portion of Scripture for further reflections.

I will use the PSALM Bible Study Method and memorize all of Philippians. If you have never memorized a whole book of the Bible, Philippians is a great place to start as it’s only four chapters. I will share a memorizing schedule each week but you can follow at whatever pace works best for you. I will also include key verses if you don’t want to memorize Philippians (but I hope you do).

Participation is optional. All you have to do is read the assigned Scriptures and share your thoughts in the comments. I will create a small online group for better discussion if there is enough interest. Contact me if that interests you!

What you will need

All you need for this study is your Bible, a notebook, pencils, and a heart willing to receive God’s Word.

While it is necessary to receive the Word directly from the source, it is foolish to ignore the knowledge God has given to others. Hence, I will consult Steven Lawson’s commentary Philippians for You: Shine with joy as you live by faith for additional insights.

I will mention other resources like blogs, sermons, podcasts on related topics every week.

Recommended resources on Bible study

If you are new to Bible study or want to refresh your skills, I recommend these excellent books: Knowing Scriptures by R. C. Sproul, Women of the Word by Jen Wilkin, and How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth by Gordon D. Fee.

You may also want to check out my Bible study posts. They include: How to Study the Bible Using Hermeneutics, How to Read Biblical Genres, How to Memorize Scripture, The PSALM Bible Study Method, and more.

For next week

Before we roll up our sleeves and dig into the Word, we must first learn the ABC’s of Philippians: author & audience, background, and culture. So do your research and answer these questions in your notebook:

• Who wrote it: who wrote Philippians? What is the author’s background, role in the church, nationality, etc.?
• To whom was it written: who is the audience of the book, Jews? Gentiles? Christians? A person, or church?
• When and where was it written: where is its place in biblical and church history? What events happened in the background?
• Why was it written: What prompted the author to write this book, what is his purpose?
• How was it written: What is the literary genre of Philippians? Different genres require different studying techniques.

You can find this information in a good study Bible such as the ESV Study Bible and the MacArthur Study Bible. Or through these free sites:

• Read Scripture Videos at The Bible Project
• Bible Survey at Got Questions
• Bible Introductions at Grace to You
• NIV Study Bible at Biblica
• Overview of the Books of the Bible at Reformed Answers

Next, read Philippians entirely—preferably in one sitting—repeatedly throughout this week to get a feel of the book and its content. Pro-tip: read it in different translations. After several readings, create an outline of the book. It doesn’t have to be perfect, and you can change it as we study it.

I am excited about learning God’s truths as revealed in Philippians, and I hope you will study with me!

Master list of study

1. Introduction
2. Philippians 1:1-2: Slaves and Saints
3. Philippians 1:3-11: God’s Good Work and Growing in Godliness
4. Philippians 1:12-18a: Joy Despite Suffering
5. Philippians 1:18b-26: To Live is Christ
6. Philippians 1:27-30: Striving and Suffering for Christ’s Sake
7. Philippians 2:1-4: Unity Through Humility
8. Philippians 2:5-11: Christ, Our Humble Lord
9. Philippians 2:12-18: The Elements of Holy Living
10. Philippians 2:19-30: Examples of Christ
11. Philippians 3:1-11: The Surpassing Worth of Knowing Christ
12. Philippians 3:12-16: Pressing for the Prize
13. Philippians 3:17-4:1: Citizens of Heaven
14. Philippians 4:2-4:9: Rejoice and Have Peace in the Lord
15. Philippians 4:10-23: The Secret Art of Contentment
16. Summary and Conclusion

  Grace and peace to you!