Humble Among true Christian brothers and sisters – not with false believers and false teachers (1 Cor 5:9-13, 16:22; Gal 1:8-9; 2 Jn 1:9-11) – there should be ___ unity in the community (Php 2:3-11).
Love In his letters, ___ and affection are motives for Paul’s correction (Php 2:12; cf. Pr 13:24; Rom 12:9; 1 Cor 13:6). We who ___ God should strive to be more godly (Jn 14:15, 21-24; Rom 8:28-29; 1 Jn 5:3).
Work Out (Two words) Though true followers of Christ has been saved (justification) (Eph 2:8-10), and will be saved on the Last Day when Christ consummates the Kingdom (glorification) (Php 1:27-28; 1 Th 4:16-18; Php 3:20-21), in the present we need to ___ ___ our salvation as we are being saved (sanctification) (Php 2:12; cf. 1 Cor 1:18).
Works In (Two words) In our lives, there should be an evident outworking of our salvation since God ___ __ us (Php 2:13).
Grumble Unlike the Israelites in the wilderness (Ex 16:2-3), Christians should not ___ against one another (Php 2:14).
Children Christians are to be blameless and pure ____ of God who resemble the Father (Php 2:15; cf. Gal 3:26; 1 Jn 3:8-10).
Pervert We must not be like this crooked and ____ed generation (Php 2:15; cf. Dt 32:5). We must watch out for those who ____ the word of God (Ac 13:8-12, 20:30).
Stars If we keep working out our salvation, we will shine like ___ (Php 2:15; cf. Dn 12:3).
Light Those who accept Christ should reflect Christ, as the ___ of the world (Jn 8:12, 9:5; cf. Mt 5:14-16; also see Is 42:6, Is 49:6).
Hold Firm (Two words) Paul urges the Philippians to ___ ___ to the Gospel every day until the Last Day (Php 2:16; cf. Mt 10:22; Lk 9:23; 1 Cor 15:2). Then they would be his pride and joy – his crowning achievement (Php 4:1; 1 Th 2:19-20; cf. 1 Cor 1:31; 2 Cor 10:17; 2 Tim 4:7-8) – on the Day when Christ comes back. His hard work would not be in vain (1 Cor 15:58).
Bibliography
Arndt, William, Frederick W. Danker, Walter Bauer, and F. Wilbur Gingrich. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000. [BDAG]
Balz, Horst Robert, and Gerhard Schneider. Exegetical Dictionary of the New Testament. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 1990–. [EDNT]
Burton, Ernest De Witt. Syntax of the Moods and Tenses in New Testament Greek. 3rd ed. Edinburg: T&T Clark, 1898.
Conybeare, F. C., and St. George Stock. Grammar of Septuagint Greek: With Selected Readings. Boston: Ginn and Company, 1905.
Everts, Janet Meyer. “Philippians”. In The Baker Illustrated Bible Commentary. Edited by Gary M. Burge, Andrew E. Hill. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2012.
Foulkes, Francis. “Philippians.” In New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition, edited by D. A. Carson, R. T. France, J. A. Motyer, and G. J. Wenham, 4th ed., 1245–59. Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994.
Gurtner, Daniel M. “Philippians.” In The Bible Knowledge Background Commentary: Acts–Philemon, edited by Craig A. Evans and Craig A. Bubeck, First Edition., 573–86. Colorado Springs, CO: David C Cook, 2004.
Hawthorne, Gerald F. “Philippians, Letter to The.” In Dictionary of Paul and His Letters, edited by Gerald F. Hawthorne, Ralph P. Martin, and Daniel G. Reid, 707–13. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993. [DPL]
Keener, Craig S. The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament. Second Edition. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic: An Imprint of InterVarsity Press, 2014.
Loh, I-Jin, and Eugene Albert Nida. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Philippians. UBS Handbook Series. New York: United Bible Societies, 1995. [UBS]
Long, Fredrick J. Kairos: A Beginning Greek Grammar. Mishawaka, IN: Fredrick J. Long, 2005.
Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains. New York: United Bible Societies, 1996. [LN]
Merriam-Webster, Inc. Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary. Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, Inc., 2003.
Mounce, William D. Basics of Biblical Greek: Grammar. Edited by Verlyn D. Verbrugge. Third Edition. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2009.
Parker III, James A. “The Incarnation: Could God Become Man Without Ceasing to Be God?” In The Apologetics Study Bible: Real Questions, Straight Answers, Stronger Faith, edited by Ted Cabal, Chad Owen Brand, E. Ray Clendenen, Paul Copan, and J. P. Moreland. Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2007.
Porter, Stanley E. Idioms of the Greek New Testament. Sheffield: JSOT, 1999.
Robertson, A. T. A Short Grammar of the Greek New Testament, for Students Familiar with the Elements of Greek. New York: Hodder & Stoughton, 1908.
Robertson, A. T. A Grammar of the Greek New Testament in the Light of Historical Research. Logos Bible Software, 2006.
Silva, MoisÈs, ed. New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology and Exegesis. Vol. 1–5. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2014. [NIDNTTE]
Thielman, Frank. “Philippians”. In Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary: Romans to Philemon. Vol. 3. Edited by Clinton E. Arnold. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2002.
