Outline of Philippians: Joy in Christ
Rejoicing in chains that Christ is preached, Paul calls his partners to live worthy of the gospel, with the mind of Christ, humbled and exalted.
Part 1 · Thanks and prayer for partners 1:1–11
Paul greets the saints, thanks God with joy for their partnership, and prays that their love may abound.
Greeting 1:1–2
To the saints at Philippi with their overseers and deacons.
Thanksgiving and prayer 1:3–11
Joy in their partnership; confidence God will finish His work; prayer for discerning love.
Part 2 · Christ preached through Paul's chains 1:12–26
Paul's imprisonment has advanced the gospel; Christ is preached, and whether by life or death Christ will be exalted.
- 1Philippians 1: To live is Christ, and to die is gain
From prison Paul thanks God for the Philippians, rejoices that Christ is preached, and calls them to stand firm.
Servants of Christ Jesus 1:1–2 · Your partnership in the gospel 1:3–8 · That your love may abound 1:9–11 · Christ is preached 1:12–18 · To live is Christ, and to die is gain 1:19–26 · Worthy of the gospel of Christ 1:27–30
The gospel advanced 1:12–18
The palace guard hears of Christ, the brothers grow bold, and Paul rejoices that Christ is preached.
To live is Christ 1:19–26
To die is gain, but he expects to remain for their progress and joy.
Part 3 · Worthy of the gospel: the mind of Christ 1:27–2:30
Live as citizens worthy of the gospel, united in humility like Christ, who humbled Himself and was exalted, as Timothy and Epaphroditus show.
- 2Philippians 2: He humbled Himself … Therefore God exalted Him
Have Christ's mind: He humbled Himself to the cross and God exalted Him; so live humbly and shine.
In humility consider others 2:1–4 · He humbled Himself 2:5–8 · Every knee should bow 2:9–11 · God who works in you 2:12–13 · Lights in the world 2:14–18 · Timothy's proven worth 2:19–24 · He nearly died for the work of Christ 2:25–30
Stand firm together 1:27–30
Stand firm in one spirit, unafraid of opponents; believing and suffering are both granted.
The mind of Christ 2:1–11
Humility and unity, grounded in Christ who went down to the cross and was exalted as Lord.
Work out your salvation 2:12–18
God works in them; they must shine as lights in a crooked generation.
Timothy and Epaphroditus 2:19–30
Two men who put others first: Timothy, Paul's son in the gospel, and Epaphroditus, who nearly died serving.
Part 4 · No confidence in the flesh 3:1–21
Paul counts his own righteousness loss to gain Christ and the righteousness from God by faith, and presses on toward the resurrection.
- 3Philippians 3: The righteousness from God on the basis of faith
Paul counts his own righteousness loss to gain Christ and the righteousness from God by faith, and presses on.
We who are the circumcision 3:1–3 · Confidence in the flesh 3:4–6 · That I may gain Christ 3:7–11 · I press on toward the goal 3:12–16 · Our citizenship is in heaven 3:17–21
The true circumcision 3:1–6
Beware the mutilators; Paul's own grounds for confidence in the flesh.
Loss and gain 3:7–11
All loss for the surpassing worth of knowing Christ and being found in Him.
Pressing on 3:12–16
Not yet perfect, he strains toward the prize of God's heavenly calling.
Citizens of heaven 3:17–21
Not the enemies of the cross: we await the Savior who will transform our bodies.
Part 5 · Stand firm, rejoice, and thanks for the gift 4:1–23
Stand firm and agree in the Lord; rejoice and pray; Paul is content in Christ, thanks them for their gift and sends greetings.
- 4Philippians 4: Rejoice in the Lord always
Stand firm and agree; rejoice and pray in everything; Paul is content in Christ and thanks them for their gift.
Stand firm in the Lord 4:1–3 · The peace of God 4:4–7 · Think on these things 4:8–9 · I have learned to be content 4:10–14 · A fragrant offering 4:15–20 · The household of Caesar 4:21–23
Stand firm, rejoice, think 4:1–9
Agree in the Lord; rejoice always; pray with thanks; think on what is good.
Content in Christ: the gift 4:10–20
Contentment learned in Christ; their gift a fragrant offering; God will supply every need.
Greetings 4:21–23
Greetings from the saints, especially Caesar's household; grace.
Plus What TheoMaps holds for the outline of Philippians
- The 24 section notes, one for every section of Philippians
- How each of its 15 movements leads into the next, in its own words
- The shape of Philippians: 4 repeated words and phrases and 6 literary patterns
TheoMaps Plus opens the Outline of every book the way Genesis is open, on the map.