Division of the Epistle

The Epistle, as has been said, was written not according to a preconceived plan but as the heart prompted. St Paul had in view only to say everything that he considered necessary in the circumstances of that time, without concern for a precise order of exposition. He is sending Epaphroditus, the envoy of the Philippians, back with the contribution they had made to him. Since this was the chief occasion for writing the Epistle, it could not fail to be mentioned in it. And so mention is made of the sending back of Epaphroditus—at the end of the second chapter, with the added notice that St Timothy will also soon be sent to them; and of the receipt of what was sent—at the end of the fourth. But the Apostle also had to say something comforting to his beloved Philippians about himself and the progress of his preaching; and so this is said. Beyond this, he considered it necessary to warn them of the danger—at that time widespread nearly everywhere—from the side of the Judaizers; and this warning is given. It also proved necessary to offer fitting admonition to certain individuals; and this is done. The first matter is placed before the discussion of the future sending of St Timothy and the present departure of Epaphroditus; the second and third—before the discussion of the receipt of the contribution. After each of these three subjects the Apostle appends moral instructions which, though not essentially derived in content from the mentioned circumstances, are linked to them directly in the exposition. That is the entire arrangement of the Epistle, which we trust is not difficult to present.

After the usual preface (Phil. 1:1–11), which includes:

1) the superscription with greeting (Phil. 1:1–2) and

2) the opening of the Epistle (Phil. 1:3–11)—St Paul

A) informs them about himself (Phil. 1:12 – 2:18),

namely:

1) about the progress of the gospel and his own dispositions and hopes regarding it (Phil. 1:12–26), drawing what is said to the following exhortation: only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel—after which he

2) gives instruction on such a manner of conduct (Phil. 1:27 – 2:18).

B) After this the Apostle speaks of the intended sending of St Timothy and the present return of Epaphroditus (Phil. 2:19–30). C) Further (Phil. 3:1 – 4:1) St Paul gives:

1) a warning against the temptation posed by the Judaizers, encouraging resistance to it by his own example. The Jews are accustomed to boast of their advantages. All of those, he says, I have counted as nothing in comparison with the inexpressibly greater promises of Christ (Phil. 3:1–9).

And now

2) I have one thing in view—to attain these promises. Run also in my footsteps, detaching yourselves from everything earthly and sensory (Phil. 3:10 – 4:1)

D) Then (Phil. 4:2–9) the Apostle

1) addresses an admonition to certain individuals (Phil. 4:2–3) —

2) and gives to all a lesson—to manifest in their lives the characteristic traits of the Christian life (Phil. 4:4–9).

E) Finally, he gratefully recalls the contribution that was sent, pointing especially to the spirit in which it was received (Phil. 4:10–20).

The Epistle concludes with the customary postscript (Phil. 4:21–23).