A Private Commentary on the Bible: Philippians

By James D. Quiggle

A thoroughly exegetical discussion and application of Paul’s letter to the Philippian Church. The interpretation is conservative theologically and closely follows the historical-grammatical hermeneutic. Attention is paid to Calvinistic and Dispensational perspectives.

• Language: English
• Publisher: James D. Quiggle
• Release date: Jun 14, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463175620

James D. Quiggle

James D. Quiggle was born in 1952 at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. He grew up in Kansas and the Texas Panhandle. In the early 1970s he joined the United States Air Force. At his first permanent assignment in Indian Springs, Nevada in a small Baptist church, the pastor introduced him to Jesus and soon after he was saved. Over the next ten years those he met in churches from the East Coast to the West Coast, mature Christian men, poured themselves into mentoring him. In the 1970s he was gifted with the Scofield Bible Course from Moody Bible Institute. As he completed his studies his spiritual gift of teaching became even more apparent. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Bethany Bible College during the 1980s while still in the Air Force. Between 2006–2008, after his career in the Air Force and with his children grown up, he decided to continue his education. He enrolled in Bethany Divinity College and Seminary and earned a Master of Arts in Religion and a Master of Theological Studies.As an extension of his spiritual gift of teaching, he was prompted by the Holy Spirit to begin writing books. James Quiggle is now a Christian author with over fifty commentaries on Bible books and doctrines. He is an editor for the Evangelical Dispensational Quarterly Journal published by Scofield Biblical Institute and Theological Seminary.He continues to write and has a vibrant teaching ministry through social media.

Book preview

Philippians

BOOKS BY JAMES D. QUIGGLE

DOCTRINAL SERIES

Adam and Eve, a Biography and Theology

Angelology, a True History of Angels

Biblical Essays

Biblical Essays II

Biblical Essays III

Biblical Homosexuality

A Biblical Response to Same-gender Marriage

Marriage and Family: A Biblical Perspective

First Steps, Becoming a Follower of Jesus Christ

Christian Living and Doctrine

Spiritual Gifts

Why Christians Should Not Tithe

Antichrist, His Genealogy, Kingdom, and Religion

Dispensational Eschatology, An Explanation and Defense of the Doctrine

Understanding Dispensational Theology

The Literal Hermeneutic, Explained and Illustrated

God’s Choices, Doctrines of Foreordination, Election, Predestination

God Became Incarnate

Life, Death, Eternity

COMMENTARY SERIES

The Old Testament:

A Private Commentary on the Bible: Judges

A Private Commentary on the Book of Ruth

A Private Commentary on the Bible: Esther

A Private Commentary on the Bible: Song of Solomon

A Private Commentary on the Bible: Daniel

A Private Commentary on the Bible: Jonah

A Private Commentary on the Bible: Haggai

The New Testament

The Gospels

A Private Commentary on the Bible: Matthew’s Gospel

A Private Commentary on the Bible: Mark’s Gospel

A Private Commentary on the Bible: John 1–12

A Private Commentary on the Bible: John 13–21

A Private Commentary on the Bible: John’s Gospel

The Passion and Resurrection of Jesus the Christ

The Christmas Story, As Told By God

The Parables and Miracles of Jesus the Christ

Pauline Letters

A Private Commentary on the Bible: Ephesians

A Private Commentary on the Bible: Philippians

A Private Commentary on the Bible: Colossians

A Private Commentary on the Bible: Philemon

General Letters

A Private Commentary on the Book of Hebrews

A Private Commentary on the Bible: James

A Private Commentary on the Bible: 1 Peter

A Private Commentary on the Bible: 2 Peter

A Private Commentary on the Bible: John’s Epistles

A Private Commentary on the Bible: Jude

Revelation

The Epistle of Jesus to the Church

REFERENCE SERIES

Old and New Testament Chronology

Also in individual volumes:

Old Testament Chronology

New Testament Chronology

Dictionary of Doctrinal Words

Translation of Select Bible Books

Visit me at https://www.facebook.com/BooksOfQ

A Private Commentary

on the Bible:

Philippians

James D. Quiggle

Copyright Page

A Private Commentary on the Bible: Philippians

Copyright © 2020 James D. Quiggle. All rights reserved.

Published by James D. Quiggle, 2020

Smashwords Edition

Translation of the Book of Philippians by James D. Quiggle

Translations not marked are sourced from Translations of Select Bible Books by James D. Quiggle.

Some Bible versions cited or quoted were sourced from PC Study Bible®, version 5, release 5.2. Copyright© 1988–2008, by BibleSoft, Inc.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB). Scripture quotations marked HCSB are from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

New King James Version® (NKJV). Copyright © 1982, 1983 by Thomas Nelson Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV). Copyright © 2000, 2001 by Crossway Bibles, A Division of Good News Publishers, 1300 Crescent Street, Wheaton, Illinois 60187, USA. All rights reserved.

The Holy Bible: New International Version (NIV), Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

This digital edition of A Private Commentary on the Bible: Philippians has the same material as the print edition.

Table of Contents

Preface

Abbreviations

Introduction

Paul’s Letter to the Philippians

Philippians One

Philippians Two

Philippians Three

Philippians Four

Appendix One: Sanctification

Appendix Two: The Error of Lordship Salvation

Sources

Preface

The Private Commentary on the Old and New Testaments is my interpretation of the Bible, neither more nor less. I am responsible for the use made of all quoted and cited material.

The scope of the Private Commentary series is to bring the reader to a practical understanding of Scripture. I explain and discuss each verse, idea, theme, and biblical truth as discovered in turn during the course of the exposition. My target audience is the Bible college/seminary student, Bible study/small group leader, Sunday School teacher, and local church Pastor. My point of view is a conservative theology. Other opinions concerning the Scripture are presented and discussed as I believe will profit the target audience. Bible students who desire to understand and apply the scriptures are invited to study the book with me and come to their own conclusions.

This material is copyrighted to prevent misuse or abuse. Those persons using this material in their teaching/preaching ministry may copy and distribute individual pages (e.g., an excursus, a table/list, or an appendix) for distribution to one’s students or auditors. The entire book may not be copied and/or distributed, nor large portions of the book, such as a chapter or extended comments on Scripture passages. The cost of this work has been kept as low as possible so every interested teacher, preacher, and student may afford a personal copy.

Abbreviations

AD Anno Domini (In the year of YHWH [since Christ was born])

ANF Ante-Nicene Fathers

AUC Anno Urbis Conditae (in the year of the founded city [of Rome])

Ant. Antiquities of the Jews

BC Bello Christo (Before Christ [was born])

ca. about (an approximate date) (Latin: circa)

CE Current Era (year since Christ was born).

cf. compare (Latin: confer)

e.g. for example (Latin: exempli gratia)

etc. and so forth, and so on (Latin: et cetera)

GWT Great White Throne judgment (Revelation 20:11–15)

HCSB Holman Christian Standard Bible

Ibid in the same place (referring to the source cited in the previous entry) (Latin: ibidem)

i.e. that is (Latin: id est)

ISBE International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ANF Ante-Nicene Fathers

NPNF Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers

LXX Septuagint (Greek translation of the Old Testament completed ca. 130 BC)

n. note (referring to a footnote or endnote in the work cited)

m. Mishnah (followed by tractate name, e.g., m. Baba Metzia)

Song Song of Solomon

s. v. under the word (Latin: sub verbo)

TDNT Theological Dictionary of the New Testament

TNTC Tyndale New Testament Commentary

TWOT Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament

v. verse

vv. verses

WBC Word Biblical Commentary

WSDNT Complete Word Study Dictionary New Testament

Introduction

In the year AD 52 [Hollingsworth, 198], Paul and those accompanying him on his second missionary journey, sailed away from the port city of Troas, and made their way across the Aegean sea to Neapolis (known today as Kavalla). From Neapolis Paul would walk inland, on the Roman-built road, up the mountain range to the pass (at 1600 ft.), and then down onto the plain where the Roman city of Philippi was located, about day’s walk from Neapolis.

Paul went to Philippi because God had given him a vision: a man of Macedonia pleading with him, saying, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us’ (Acts 16:9). Paul and his companions had intended to go further into (modern day) Turkey by going north. In some manner the Holy Spirit did not permit them (Acts 16:7). Then came the vision of the man of Macedonia.

Paul was apparently in Troas when he received the vision of the man of Macedonia. The account of his activities states that after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia. We know he was at Troas for some time. When he was not permitted to go further north he went to Troas, where a door was opened to me by the Lord (2 Corinthians 12:2).

A few years later, about AD 58, when going to Jerusalem from Macedonia, Paul passed through Troas, where he stayed seven days, and on the first day of the week, he gathered together with other believers and had a worship service, Acts 20:5–7. He had used the time in AD 52 while waiting for guidance from the Lord, at Troas, to preach and establish a church. (Troas is marked today by the ruins at Eskistanbul [Bromiley, s. v. Troas].)

The city later known as Philippi was originally Krenides, founded when gold was discovered nearby. Philip II of Macedon (382–336 BC, father of Alexander the Great) conquered the city and renamed it Philippi. The gold ran out and the city declined. But in 42 BC, the Romans Brutus and Cassius (the ones who had assassinated Julius Caesar) met Octavius (the Augustus of Luke 2:1) and Antony in battle at Philippi. Octavius and Antony won, and in honor of this victory Philippi was made a Roman Colony. That status gave the people of Philippi Roman citizenship, and made the city an important center in the region. When Octavius (Augustus) became emperor, he granted Philippi the right to the Law of Italy, which became important to Paul when he was arrested, Acts 16:37. Today the site of the city is uninhabited [Bromiley, s. v. Philippi].

From Philippi, Paul and others had convenient access to other cities in Macedonia along the road known as the Egnatian Way, which stretched east to west across Macedonia and Thrace. For example, the capital of the region, Amphipolis, and the smaller city Thessalonica, Acts 17:1.

Paul’s letter to the Philippian church was written ca. AD 62, during the time he was in prison in Rome. The letter is classified as one of Paul’s Prison Epistles. Unlike to the church at Ephesians, Paul is not writing additional instruction to add to their doctrinal understanding, and unlike to the church at Colossians, which he did not found and had never met the people, Paul knows the Philippians intimately and writes as mentor, friend, and ministry partner. This is a letter of friendship [Fee, 2].

The churches in Macedonia receive the most mentions in the New Testament. Paul was not long at Philippi, but created a long-lasting bond with Lydia, those with her, the Philippian jailer and his family, and undoubtedly others.

The letter has been analyzed to death looking for Pauline correction of errors in the Philippians’ doctrine and practice, answers to those opposing the Philippians, giving moral exhortations to the church, etc. Now, no letter from Paul is entirely free from instruction in doctrine and practice. But the focus of this letter is Paul’s relationship with this particular church, these particular people. If there is a theme other than Christian friendship and fellowship, it is to strengthen the Philippians’ relationship in Christ, as sufficient to do and endure through whatever God may require. Even so Paul in prison, and the Philippians in their church.

Paul’s Letter to the Philippians

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus there in Philippi with overseers and deacons. Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and Lord Jesus Christ.

I give thanks to my God upon every remembrance of you, always in my every petition for all of you, making the petition with joy, for your participation in the gospel from the first day until now, being persuaded of this very thing, that the One having begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Christ Jesus. Accordingly, it is right for me to have this opinion about all of you, because I have you in my heart. In both my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you are all partners with me of grace.

For God is my witness how I long after all of you in the affection of Christ Jesus. And this I pray, that your love yet more and more may superabound in knowledge and all discernment, for you to discern the things that are excellent, so that you may be pure and not taking or giving offense unto the day of Christ, being filled with the fruit of righteousness that is because of Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Now I want you to know, brothers, that the things concerning me have really served to the advancement of the gospel, so my imprisonment in Christ has become apparent to all the palace guard, and to all the rest. And many of the brothers, trusting in the Lord by my imprisonment, dare fearlessly to abundantly speak the Word of God—indeed, some even from envy and strife, but some from goodwill, are proclaiming Christ; 16 the latter truly out of love, knowing that I am set for the defense of the gospel; 17 but the former out of selfish ambition are proclaiming Christ, not sincerely, supposing to add trouble to my imprisonment.

What then? Except that in all ways, whether in appearance or in truth, Christ is proclaimed. And in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice. For I know that this will turn out for me to deliverance through your prayer and help, by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to the earnest expectation and my hope that in nothing will I be put to shame, but in all boldness, as always also now, Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.

For to me to live is Christ, and to die gain. And if to live in the flesh, this to me is fruitful work. And what I shall choose I know not. I am constrained between the two, having the desire to depart and to be with Christ, for that is much better; but to remain in the flesh is necessary for your sake. And being persuaded of this, I know that I will remain and will continue with all