Scofield Reference Bible Notes/Philippians

by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield

Book Introduction - Philippians

Read first chapter of Philippians
WRITER: The Apostle Paul (Philippians 1:1)
DATE: The date of Philippians cannot be positively fixed. It is one of the prison letters. Whether Paul was twice imprisoned, and if so, whether Philippians was written during the first or second imprisonment, affects in no way the message of the Epistle. A.D. 64 is the commonly received date. The immediate occasion of the Epistle is disclosed in Philippians 4:10-18.
THEME: The theme of Philippians is Christian experience. Soundness of doctrine is assumed. There is nothing in church order to set right. Philippi is a normal New Testament assembly--"saints in Christ Jesus, with the bishops (elders) and deacons." The circumstances of the apostle are in striking contrast with his Christian experience. As to the former, he was Nero's prisoner. As to the latter, there was the shout of victory, the paean of joy. Christian experience, he would teach us, is not something which is going on around the believer, but something which is going on within him.
The key-verse is, "For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21). Right Christian experience, then, is the outworking, whatever one's circumstances may be, of the life, nature, and mind of Christ living in us (Philippians 1:6,11; 2:5,13).
The divisions are indicated by the chapters:

• Christ, the believer's life, rejoicing in suffering, 1:1-30.
• Christ, the believer's pattern, rejoicing in lowly service, 2:1-30
• Christ, the believer's object, rejoicing despite imperfections, 3:1-21.

CHAPTER 1

Verse 1

which are at
Churches (local), Summary: A local church is an assembly of professed believers on the Lord Jesus Christ, living for the most part in one locality, who assemble themselves together in His name for the breaking of bread, worship, praise, prayer, testimony, the ministry of the word, discipline, and the furtherance of the Gospel, Hebrews 10:25; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 14:26; 5:4,5; Philippians 4:14-18; 1 Thessalonians 1:8; Acts 13:1-4. Such a church exists where two or three are thus gathered Matthew 18:20. Every such local church has Christ in the midst, is a temple of God, and indwelt by the Holy Spirit 1 Corinthians 3:16,17. When perfected in organization a local church consists of "saints, with the bishops elders and deacons."

Verse 6

day of
(See Scofield "1 Corinthians 1:8").

Verse 11

righteousness
(See Scofield "1 John 3:7").

Verse 13

the palace
Or, Caesar's court. Philippians 4:22.

Verse 19

this shall turn Job 13:16.
salvation (See Scofield "Romans 1:16").

Verse 28

salvation
See note, (See Scofield "Romans 1:16").

CHAPTER 2

Verse 6

form of God
"Form," etc. (Greek - μορφή^[1], the form by which a person or thing strikes the vision, the external appearance)."--Thayer. CF John 17:15. "The glory which I had with Thee before the world was." Nothing in this passage teaches that the Eternal Word John 1:1 emptied Himself of either His divine nature, or His attributes, but only of the outward and visible manifestation of the Godhead. "He emptied, stripped Himself of the insignia of Majesty."--Lightfoot. "When occasion demanded He exercised His divine attributes."-- Moorehead. CF (See Scofield "John 1:1"). See Scofield "John 20:28"
robbery a thing to be grasped after. See, Genesis 3:5-6.

Verse 12

salvation
(See Scofield "Romans 1:16").

Verse 15

world
kosmos = mankind. (See Scofield "Matthew 4:8").

Verse 16

the day
(See Scofield "1 Corinthians 1:8").

CHAPTER 3

Verse 6

righteousness
(See Scofield "Romans 10:3").

Verse 9

the righteousness
(See Scofield "Romans 3:21").

Verse 12

perfect
(See Scofield "Matthew 5:48").

Verse 15

perfect
(See Scofield "Matthew 5:48").

Verse 20

Saviour
See note, (See Scofield "Romans 1:16").

CHAPTER 4

Verse 7

peace
(See Scofield "Matthew 10:34").

Verse 11

therewith
Omit "therewith."

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