Philippians Bible Study Resources
Study questions, maps, charts, key words, history, background, outlines, and links to help you study Paul’s epistle to the Philippians.
Bible Study: Philippians: Choose Life
Jump to: Background; ** Maps; ** Key Words; ** Encyclopedias; ** Commentaries; ** Articles; ** GotQuestions ** Next **
Philippians Basics
- Author: Apostle Paul
- Who was Paul?
- Date: Written during Roman imprisonment around 60-61 AD
- Purpose: to express his joy that their faith has led them to support him financially; to report to them on the circumstances of his imprisonment; to encourage them to continue to living lives marked by obedient persevering faith.
Philippians Structure
- 1:1-2 – Greeting
- 1:3-11 – Thanksgiving and prayer
- 1:12-2:30 News and instructions
- 3:1-21 – Warnings about false teachers
- 4:1-9 – Exhortations
- 4:10-20 – Gratitude for gift
- 4:21-31 – Concluding remarks
Genre: Understanding Epistles
Background & Outlines
How to do an analytical outline (my favorite study tool)
Paul’s use of the Old Testament
Blue Letter Bible: Chronology of Acts/Epistles
Blue Letter Bible: Philippians Outline
Ray C. Stedman: Overview of the Book
John MacArthuer: Author, Date, Background
ESV: Introduction with Timeline and Map
ESV: The Global Message of Philippians
Myer Pearlman (1935): Philippians – Through the Bible Book by Book
James Van Dine: Intro to Philippians
James Gray (1906): Philippians – Synthetic Bible Study
J Vernon McGee: Philippians – Notes and Outlines
William Orr: Philippians – Keys to the NT
Charles Swindoll: Philippians Overview
ESV: Philippi in the time of Paul – nice color map of the city
Maps
Journeys
Paul’s Conversion and Early Ministry– Holman Bible Atlas
Paul’s 1st Journey – Bible-History.com
1st Missionary Journey of Paul– Holman Bible Atlas
Paul’s 2nd Journey – Bible-History.com
2nd Missionary Journey of Paul– Holman Bible Atlas
Paul’s 3rd Journey – Bible-History.com
3rd Missionary Journey of Paul– Holman Bible Atlas
Paul’s Journeys– Holman Bible Atlas
Paul’s Arrest and Imprisonment– Holman Bible Atlas
Paul’s Voyage to Rome– Holman Bible Atlas
Pentecost and the Jewish Diaspora– Holman Bible Atlas
Apostles’ Journeys – Bible-History.com
Geography
Israel in New Testament Times – Bible-History.com
New Testament Jerusalem – Bible-History.com
Herod the Great’s Kingdom – Bible-History.com
Herod’s Kingdom Divided – Bible-History.com
The Kingdom of Herod Agrippa I – Holman Bible Atlas
The Kingdom of Agrippa II– Holman Bible Atlas
Expansion of the Early Church in Palestine– Holman Bible Atlas
Key Words in Phillipans
Occurrences are based on New American Standard Text. “4x/3v” means the word appears 4 times in 3 verses. “3x” means the word appears 3 times in 3 verses.
Christ/in Christ (37x/35v) – Strong’s G5547 in Php 1:1; Php 1:2; Php 1:6; Php 1:8; Php 1:10; Php 1:11; Php 1:13; Php 1:15; Php 1:17; Php 1:18; Php 1:19; Php 1:20; Php 1:21; Php 1:23; Php 1:26; Php 1:27; Php 1:29; Php 2:1; Php 2:5; Php 2:11; Php 2:16; Php 2:21; Php 2:30; Php 3:3; Php 3:7; Php 3:8; Php 3:9; Php 3:12; Php 3:14; Php 3:18; Php 3:20; Php 4:7; Php 4:19; Php 4:21; Php 4:23.
rejoice (8x/6v) – Strong’s G5463 in Php 1:18; Php 2:17; Php 2:18; Php 2:28; Php 3:1; Php 4:4; / joy (5x) – Strong’s G5479 in Php 1:4; Php 1:25; Php 2:2; Php 2:17; Php 2:18; Php 2:29; Php 4:1.
gospel (9x/8v) – Strong’s G2009 in Php 1:5; Php 1:7; Php 1:12; Php 1:16; Php 1:27; Php 2:22; Php 4:3; Php 4:15.
Spirit/spirit (8x) – Strong’s G4151 in Php 1:19; Php 1:27; Php 2:1; Php 3:3; Php 4:5; Php 4:23; Strong’s G4761 in Php 2:2; Strong’s G2473 in Php 2:20; (4:5 implied)
glory (8x)s – Strong’s G1391 inPhp 1:11; Php 2:11; Php 3:19; Php 3:21; Php 4:19; Php 4:20; Strong’s G2745 in Php 2:16; Strong’s G2744 in Php 3:3.
mind (4x) – Strong’s G5590 in Php 1:27; Strong’s G5426 in Php 2:2; Strong’s G5012a in Php 2:3; Strong’s G1380 in Php 3:4 / attitude (3x/2v) – Strong’s G5426 in Php 2:5; Php 3:15.
love (4x) – Strong’s G26 in Php 1:9; Php 1:16; Php 2:1; Php 2:2.
death (5x) – Strong’s G2288 in Php 1:20; Php 2:8; Php 2:27; Php 2:30; Php 3:10.
imprisonment (4x) – Strong’s G1199 in Php 1:7; Php 1:13; Php 1:14; Php 1:17.
all (23x) – Strong’s G3956 in Php 1:1; Php 1:3; Php 1:4; Php 1:7; Php 1:8; Php 1:9; Php 1:20; Php 1:25; Php 2:14; Php 2:17; Php 2:21; Php 2:26; Php 2:28; Php 2:29; Php 3:8; Php 3:21; Php 4:5; Php 4:7; Php 4:13; Php 4:19; Php 4:22.
Commentaries & Study Bibles
Top 5 Commentaries on Philippians – Ligonier.org
Best Commentaries on Philippians – Tim Challies
Commentary Reviews: Philippians
Calvin’s Commentary on the Bible: Philippians
Albert Barnes Notes on the Whole Bible: Philippians (1870)
Alfords Exegetical Commentary: Philippians
Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary on the Bible: Philippians
Geneva Study Bible: Philippians
Reformation Study Bible Notes: Philippians
Precept Austin Commentaries & Sermons: Philippians
Dictionaries & Encyclopedias
City of Philippi
Holman Bible Dictionary: Philippi
Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible: Philippi
McClintock and Strong: Philippi
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Philippi
Kitto’s Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature: Philippi
Wikipedia – Philippi
Letter
Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary: Philippians – Theology of –
Holman Bible Dictionary Philippians
Hastings’ Dictionary of the NT Philippians Epistle to the
Easton’s Bible Dictionary Philippians, Epistle to
Fausset Bible Dictionary Philippians, the Epistle to the
Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible Philippians, Epistle to
Smith Bible Dictionary Philippians, Epistle to the
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia Philippians, the Epistle to
McClintock and Strong’s Bible Encyclopedia Philippians, Epistle to The,
The Nuttall Encyclopedia Philippians, Epistle to the
1911 Encyclopedia Britannica Epistle to the Philippians
Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia Philippians epistle to the
McClintock and Strong’s Bible Encyclopedia Philippians
Morrish Bible Dictionary Philippians, Epistle to the
Paul
Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary: Paul the Apostle
Bridgeway Bible Dictionary: Paul
Easton’s Bible Dictionary: Paul
Fausset Bible Dictionary: Paul
Holman Bible Dictionary: Paul
Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible: Paul the Apostle
Kitto’s Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature: Paul
Morrish Bible Dictionary: Paul
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Paul, the Apostle
McClintock and Strong: Paul
The Nuttall Encyclopedia: Paul
The Jewish Encyclopedia:
Timothy
American Tract Society: Timothy
Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary:
Bridgeway Bible Dictionary: Timothy
Easton’s Bible Dictionary: Timothy
Fausset Bible Dictionary: Timothy
Holman Bible Dictionary: Timothy
Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible: Timothy
Kitto’s Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature: Timothy
Morrish Bible Dictionary: Timotheus, Timothy
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Timothy
McClintock and Strong: Timothy
The Nuttall Encyclopedia: Timothy
Timothy in Acts: Acts 16:1-3; Acts 17:14-15; Acts 18:5; Acts 19:22; Acts 20:4
Epaphroditus/Epaphras
Holman Bible Dictionary: Epaphroditus; Epaphras
Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible: Epaphroditus; Epaphras
McClintock and Strong: Epaphroditus; Epaphras
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Epaphroditus; Epaphras
Kitto’s Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature: Epaphroditus; Epaphras
Epaphras in NT: Col 1:7, 4:12; Phm 1:23; Php 2:25; Php 4:18
Articles
Bateman, Herbert W. “Were the Opponents at Philippi Necessarily Jewish?”
McClain, Alva J. “Doctrine of the Kenosis in Philippians 2:5-8,”
Murray, George W. “Paul’s Corporate Witness in Philippians,”
Swift, Robert C. “The Theme and Structure of Philippians
Philippians 2:5-11 Hymn or Exalted Pauline Prose: Gordon D Fee
Giving and Receiving in Paul’s Epistles – Gerald Peterman
Further Reflections on Philippians 2:5-11 – C F D Moule
Fulfilling The Gospel: The Scope Of The Pauline Mission – Paul Bowers
To What End Exegesis? Reflections on Exegesis and Spirituality in Philippians 4:10-20 – Gordon D Fee
Epaphroditus’ Sickness and the Letter to the Philippians – Colin O Buchanan
The Interpretation of Philippians 2:5 – A T Hanson
Does Philippians 1:6 Guarantee Progressive Sanctification? Part 2 – John Hart (another site)
Philippians 2:5-11 An Early Christian Confession – R P Martin
A Further Note on Philippians 2:5 – Michael Hollis
The Epistle to the Philippians – An Expanded Paraphrase – F F Bruce
Philippians 3:11 – If By Any Means… – Donald L Norbie
The Kenosis Question – Thomas A Thomas
The Role Of Suffering In The Mission Of Paul And The Mission Of The Church – Robert L. Plummer
Paul and Christian Unity: A Formal Analysis of Philippians 2:1-4 – David Alan Black
Philippians 3:11- Attaining the Resurrection (Problem Texts) – F F Bruce
On the Articular Infinitive in Philippians 2:6 – Denny Burk
Sending Letters in the Ancient World: Paul and the Philippians – Stephen R Llewelyn
Partnership in the Gospel: The Role of Women in the Church at Philippi – A Boyd Luter
Philippians 2:5-11 The Christ Hymn in Philippians 2:5-11 A Review Article – I Howard Marshall
Some Reflections on New Testament Hymns – Ralph P Martin
Philippians: From People to the Letter – Peter Oakes
The Pattern of Christ’s Sufferings: Colossians 1:24 and Philippians 3:10-11 – Andrew Perriman
Paul’s Letter to the Philippians in Light of the Disunity in the Church – Davorin Peterlin
Thankless Thanks: The Epistolary Social Convention in Philippians 4:10-20 Gerald W Peterman
Caesarea, Rome, and the Captivity Epistles – Bo Reicke
Philippians 3:6 – Blameless Before God” – Alan Thompson
He Emptied Himself – Robert E Wilson
Christian Identity and Christian Worship in Philippians 3:3 – Andrew V Snider
Self-Emptying (Philippians 2:5-8) TV Philip
The Mind of Christ (Philippians 2:3-11) TV Philip
GotQuestions.org
Book of Philippians – Bible Survey
How can I experience joy in my Christian life?
What does it mean “to live is Christ”?
What does it mean that “to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21)?
What does it mean to do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit?
What does the Bible say about selfishness?
What does the Bible say about attitude? (humility?)
What does it mean and when will it happen that every knee shall bow?
What does it mean to work out salvation with fear and trembling?
What is progressive sanctification?
Who was Epaphroditus in the Bible?
What is the peace that passes all understanding?
What is the peace of God, and how can I experience it?
Can I really do all things through Christ?
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