In Paul’s letter to the Philippians, he says that he is sending Timothy, a man of proven character, to them “that I also may be encouraged when I know your state.” Paul also sends Epaphroditus, who was once sick to the point of near death, to them “since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick.”
Paul, writing while still imprisoned in Rome, instructs the Philippians not to have confidence in the flesh because anything that is apart from Christ is pointless. “Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.”
Paul goes on to say that he is not perfect “but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me… I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
Paul tells them not to walk in the ways of this world. “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.”
Before signing off, Paul wraps up the letter encouraging the Philippians by telling them to “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.”
Tomorrow we begin reading a letter written by James, Jesus’s brother, so keep reading!
(Philippians 2:12-4:23)
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Chronological Bible in Layman's Terms 