Exploring the Word of God: Reading Through Philippians
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About this ebook
In this lay level commentary, Michael Morrison, instructor in New Testament at Grace Communion Seminary, examines the story-flow and each verse of Philippians. Paul encourages the believers in Philippi to imitate the self-sacrificing love of Jesus, and he points out several examples of people who have done so.
Michael D. Morrison
I grew up in a small town in southern Illinois: Sparta. Our family of seven was religious but did not go to church - instead, we had a Bible study at home every week. I eventually began attending a church after I moved away, and then I went to a Bible college, and eventually a seminary. Now I work for Grace Communion Seminary, an online seminary based in Glendora, California. My interests are the Gospels, the epistles and theology of Paul, and ethics.
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Exploring the Word of God - Michael D. Morrison
Exploring the Word of God:
Reading Through Philippians
By Michael D. Morrison
Copyright 2013 Grace Communion International
Cover art by Ken Tunell. Copyright Grace Communion International.
Scripture quotations in the second chapter, a study of Philippians 1, are taken from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations in the other chapters, unless noted, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The NIV
and New International Version
are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
Table of Contents
Joy, Hope and Love: Paul’s Letter From Prison
Joy in Jesus Christ: Philippians 1
The Example of Jesus: Philippians 2
Starting Right and Finishing Well: Philippians 3
Think on Good Things: Philippians 4
About the authors
About the publisher
Grace Communion Seminary
Ambassador College of Christian Ministry
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Joy, Hope and Love: Paul’s Letter from Prison
By Ronald Kelly and Paul Kroll
Paul has been called the greatest Christian who ever lived. He also suffered greatly for the name of Jesus Christ. When Paul defended his calling to the church, he defined suffering as a major proof of his spiritual office. I have worked much harder,
he insisted, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again
(2 Corinthians 11:23).
Paul’s many trials did not deter him from living a Christian life. Neither did they restrict his preaching the gospel. To the contrary, suffering seemed to motivate him to even greater spiritual service. He said something remarkable about his adversities: For Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong
(2 Corinthians 12:10).
We shouldn’t, however, think of Paul as an indestructible superman. There were times when the tremendous hardships he confronted were more than he could bear. After suffering one rather malicious incident of persecution, Paul admitted he and his companions despaired even of life
(2 Corinthians 1:8).
But Paul had faith in the living God to see him through his trial. On him we have set our hope,
wrote Paul, that he will continue to deliver us
(verse 10). But as Paul’s life demonstrates, God often delivers us out of troubles we are already in, not necessarily from troubles before they begin.
Yet, as we must, Paul was able to rise above his many afflictions. How did he do it? And how can we surmount our trials and troubles? Paul didn’t overcome by his own strength or will. He never took personal credit for being able to bear his painfully heavy cross. He attributed his spiritual muscle to its true source — Jesus Christ. Paul said, "I can do everything through him who