Lesson ▪ 1995
Tags: Philippians 1.1-30; Gospel; Christian life
Related Resources: The Christian Message ▪ Dominant Themes of the Epistle to the Philippians ▪ A Survey of Philippians

---

Text: Philippians 1.1-30
Broad subject: Christian life
Specific subject: Christian responsibilities relating to the gospel

Key verses: Philippians 1.3-5

“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now.”

Key phrase:

“your fellowship in the gospel” (v 5)

Background information:

1. Paul wrote this letter from prison. In the course of the first chapter he refers to his “bonds” five times (1.7, 13, 14, 16, 17). Whether this was the Roman imprisonment described in Acts is subject to debate. What is certain is that Paul took his responsibility to the gospel quite seriously.
2. The “gospel” is to be understood as it is defined and described biblically. A biblical definition of the gospel is found in 1 Cor 15.1-8: “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand ... For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: and that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: after that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.” A biblical description of the gospel is to be found in Rom 1.16: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

I. The Christian has a responsibility to protect the gospel.

“Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace” (v 7).

“The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: but the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel” (vv 16-17).

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear” (1 Pet 3.15).

II. The Christian has a responsibility to propagate the gospel.

“But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; so that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places” (vv 12-13).

“Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel” (v 27).

III. The Christian has a responsibility to practice the gospel.

“Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel” (v 27).

“Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation ... For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men” (1 Pet 2.12, 15).

---

Download This Resource