Basics

for Believers

An Exposition of

Philippians

D.A.Carson

©1996 by D.A. Carson

Published by Baker Academic

a division of Baker Book House Company

P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287

www.bakeracademic.com

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Carson, D. A.

Basics for believers : an exposition of Philippians / D.A. Carson.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN 0-8010-5494-X (pbk.)

1. Bible. N.T. Philippians—Commentaries. I. Bible. N.T. Philippians. English. New International. 1996. II. Title

BS2705.3.C38 1996

227´.607—dc20 96-22499

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.

The “NIV” and “New International Version” trademarks are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by International Bible Society.

For Peter and Mary

with profound thanks to God

for their friendship, example, and encouragement

Contents

Preface

1. Put the Gospel First

Philippians 1:1–26

2. Focus on the Cross

Philippians 1:27–2:18

3. Adopt Jesus

Philippians 1:27–2:18

4. Emulate Worthy Christian Leaders

Philippians 2:19–3:21

5. Never Give Up the Christian Walk

Philippians 4:1–23

Preface

The five chapters of this book provide an introduction to a letter the apostle Paul wrote to the Philippian Christians almost two thousand years ago. The subjects he treats are so much at the core of Christian faith and life that I could think of no better summary title than Basics for Believers.

Originally these five chapters were prepared as four messages delivered during Holy Week 1994 at the “Word Alive” conference in Skegness, England. (Chapters 2 and 3 were formerly a shorter single message.) I am profoundly grateful for the invitation to come and participate in that ministry of Bible exposition.

Nothing would please me more than if, as a result of reading this book and consequently meditating on Philippians, many believers were to echo Paul’s words: “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead” (Phil. 3:10–11).

Soli Deo gloria.

1

Put the Gospel First

Philippians 1:1–26

1:1Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,

To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:

2Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3I thank my God every time I remember you. 4In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5because of your partnership ...