SELF-GIVING LOVE
THE BOOK OF PHILIPPIANS
TRANSFORMATIVE WORD
DEAN FLEMMING
Series Editors
Craig G. Bartholomew & David J. H. Beldman
Self-Giving Love: The Book of Philippians
Transformative Word
Copyright 2021 Dean Flemming
Lexham Press, 1313 Commercial St., Bellingham, WA 98225
All rights reserved. You may use brief quotations from this resource in presentations, articles, and books. For all other uses, please write Lexham Press for permission. Email us at permissions@lexhampress.com.
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture translations marked (nrsv) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Content adapted from Philippians: A Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition, New Beacon Bible Commentary (Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill, 2009), is used with the permission of the publisher.
Print ISBN 9781683594482
Digital ISBN 9781683594499
Library of Congress Control Number 2020946394
Series Editors: Craig G. Bartholomew and David J. H. Beldman
Lexham Editorial: David Bomar, Abigail Stocker, Elliot Ritzema, Kelsey Matthews
Cover Design: Peter Park
Table of Contents
2: A Portrait of God in Christ
3: Paul’s Story and the Story of Christ
INTRODUCTION
“Tell me a story!” I can’t tell you how many times I spoke those words when I was a child. I directed them to my mom, my dad, my grandmother, my teacher at school—anyone who would listen. These days, my mind still stands on tip-toe when I hear a meaningful, well-told story, whether from a preacher, a teacher, a favorite novelist, or a biblical writer. As human beings, we are wired to love stories. Stories are basic to who we are and how we interpret the world around us. Even in his letter to the Philippians, Paul, in effect, tells a story. But this is not just any story. For Paul, it is the story of stories, the story that is at the heart of everything God is doing in the world. The story of Christ that Paul narrates in chapter 2 not only becomes a key to understanding the message of Philippians, but it also has the potential to shape the character of our Christian lives today. I invite you to join me in listening to the story that emerges from Philippians, a letter that has profoundly enriched and challenged my own life in Christ.
Overview
Paul’s Letter to the Philippians has been called a “small gem.”1 Although one of the shortest of Paul’s letters, it remains one of the most beloved by the church. Surely this is partly due to the letter’s joyful, affectionate tone. In contrast to letters such as 1 Corinthians and Galatians, Philippians ...
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About Self-Giving Love: The Book of Philippians“Have this mind among yourselves …” Everyone needs examples. We all need mentors we admire and after whom we can pattern our lives. Without them, we will not mature. Philippians is a letter full of good examples. Paul, Epaphroditus, and Timothy are all portrayed as exemplars. But none is more important than Jesus himself. In Self-Giving Love, Dean Flemming shows how Jesus and the story of his self-emptying love are the very heart of Philippians. This ultimate example provides a lens for clearly seeing the rest of the letter. By emulating Jesus’ radical love, we will become mature, foster unity, and find joy. Self-Giving Love presents the message and themes of Philippians in a concise and accessible guide, with probing questions for reflection and discussion. |
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