1. Philippians 1:13. How far was Paul’s influence spreading at this writing?

The word is “praitorio” and though it is officially a place noun, some see it as possibly a group of people also. The place would be the Palace. It describes the palaces at Jerusalem and Caesarea of King Herod. It could mean here the very Palace of the Emperor, or a slightly inferior building that would house the Praetorian Guard of Rome. A prestigious audience to be sure. This was one of the reasons God sent his man here. He wanted the word of Jesus to get out to as many as possible in this city. A church already existed there, but now it shall be bolstered with the witness of an apostle, soon to be a martyr.

2. Philippians 1:17. Why would the preaching of Christ by some bring distress to Paul in his imprisonment?

These were the Judaizers, who seem to be present in every segment of the early church. They wanted Christ, but they wanted to hang on to Moses just to be sure. They knew Paul was opposed to this message and they were happy in the knowledge that he was in jail, and they were not.

3. Philippians 1:19, 20. First he declares he will be delivered. Then he suggests that maybe death is the way he will exalt Christ. Explain.

Though the deliverance he speaks of is not from sin (salvation), it is still not what we normally describe as deliverance. It could indeed mean death, which is the ultimate deliverance from all our enemies. But whatever happens, the series of events that have brought him thus far, including all the people, good and evil, will eventually “work together for good”, as was his faith in all things.

4. Philippians 1:23-25. Does Paul know the outcome of the trial in his future? Has God already told him that he must remain on earth a while for the brethren’s sake?

It certainly seems so. No one should make claims of deliverance and continued life after a trial before a Roman Emperor unless he has some inside information. It almost looks as though Paul is in charge here, deciding whether to die or stay. I think the truth is closer to the emotions we all have in advanced life or when life is threatened. We want to be with Jesus and we are willing to go. We also feel strong pulls toward those we would leave behind and in need.

He has decided that for now it is more important that he stay on a while. Since he knows that to be the perfect will of God, he is convinced God will bring it to pass. He may have arrived at that conclusion by revelation, or by dealing with godly principles and placing faith in them. That is equal to a revelation, and we can work through life’s crises in this way ourselves, at least much of the time.

5. Philippians 2:1. Why all the “if” clauses, since we know that all these things are realities?

Just as I used “since” in the question, the apostle’s “if” could be changed to “since” in all four of his segments. The word here does not express doubt, but quite the opposite. Like saying, “If you’re really a man [and you are, implied] then act like one [do something to prove it]” We could say, “since you are a man, you must act like it”, and mean essentially the same thing.

6. Philippians 2:6. “Thought it not robbery”. What does this mean?

The newer translations have made “robbery” into “a thing to be grasped.” Being equal with God was not something Jesus ever had to strive for, steal, desire. He already was equal with God, existing in God’s very form. A classic declaration of the Deity of Christ.

But though He was Divine, He did not allow that Divinity to define Him in His daily life. He became like us in every way but sin, and even became sin for us on the Cross.

7. Philippians 2:12. We must work out our own salvation?

But the next verse indicates God Himself is doing the work inside of you that will cause you success in your work. He puts His desire within you, then gives you the ability to do what you desire. So it looks from the outside like we are doing the work, but in fact the work is being done through us by God’s pre-ordained plan.

8. Philippians 2:17. How was Paul being “poured out as a drink offering”?

Sacrifices were prepared by “libations”, pourings of water or wine. This cleansed them and made them ready to be offered to God.

Paul sees the Philippians as offering their bodies as living sacrifices to God through their service to the Lord, whether by life or death. He further sees himself as the one who is getting them ready for that sacrifice by his own ministrations to them.

9. Philippians 2:23-24. What was Paul’s faith telling him?

He seemed to believe, and tradition confirms it, that he would be released. But later he was imprisoned a second time, and finally met his death after that trial.

10. Philippians 2:30. What are we to conclude about the ministry of Epaphroditus?

The Philippians, according to 4:10, had always wanted to help Paul, but did not have the opportunity to do so. God raised up this dear servant to minister to Paul’s needs, and he worked so hard in his travels and ministrations that he almost died from exhaustion. There is no attempt to blame the church, as it seems to be in our translations, but only to praise this brother.

11. Philippians 3:2. Beware of dogs? What dogs?

Half-wild dogs roamed the streets of the towns in that day, grabbing everything they could from the ground to satisfy their hunger. They were unclean, dangerous, to be avoided. Paul is using the term, we think, to apply, not to these 4-footed creatures of nature, but to their counterpart in the world of humans. Perhaps, say most, he refers to the Judaizers, roaming the church’s highways and byways, looking for people to snatch away from the grace they have found to come back to the spiritually unclean world of salvation by Moses. Unclean, dangerous, to be avoided.

12. Philippians 3:15. How many of us are “perfect”?

Here the word stands in for “mature” or at least perfectly motivated. He has just said he is not perfect, so he is not talking about sinlessness here, but rather about a perfect direction, set in place by the perfect Spirit of God.

13. Philippians 4:3. How did Paul know that Clement and other fellow workers had already been registered in the book of life?

Paul’s discernment was such that he knew a true Christian from a false one. The people he had in mind were truly among the born again, and therefore truly inscribed in that Book. Is our life such that when godly people look at us they are so convinced? Or is our discernment so great that we are able after fellowshipping with a brother can soon tell which side of the fence he is on? It is a valuable place to be, in either case.

14. Philippians 4:5. What is it that is to be known to all, since the Lord is near?

Translators have variously said “gentleness”, “you are considerate”, “reasonableness”, “moderation”, “graciousness”, “humility”, “forbearing spirit,” “fairness”, “modesty”, etc. How can one Greek word have so many possibilities?

The word is epieikes . It comes from the combination of epi, a preposition with any number of meanings, and eiko, to be weak, to resemble, to give place, to be like etc. Together, the basic meaning is “appropriate” or “mild.”

Does that help? Not a lot? You see how the translators had a problem with it. Nevertheless, the KJV translates that word “gentle” in three other places, one of which may be definitive for us:

I Peter 2:18. “Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable.”

So “gentleness” seems to win the contest, followed maybe by humility or even reasonableness.