For the Sake of the Gospel: Philippians Simply Explained

by Hywel Jones

Publisher:

Evangelical Press

, 2010

Overview

A comparison of the Epistle to the Philippians to the letters that Paul had written before it might seem to indicate that the church at Philippi had no censurable weaknesses at all. Such a thought, of course, cannot be true, because just as “there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins” (Eccl. 7: 20 ESV), so it is with churches, even though the church at Philippi was not charged with any doctrinal deviation or moral blemish. At this point, it is sufficient to note that, as it was a church that could be prayed for (1:4) and preached to (1:28), it obviously did not have all it needed. It could gain more. It could even lose much of what it had (see 3:1–2; 17–18). In these general but important respects, it was a church like any other in any place or time. It could prosper or decline. The apostle Paul wrote so that it might grow (1:9–11, 25–30), and as he did so in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, the only Head of the Church, what he wrote speaks to churches at the present time.

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Key Features

• Background to the letter
• Scripture readings before each chapter

Contents

Top Highlights

“It relates to the skill of seeing the relevance of the fear of the Lord to the complexities of life in a fallen world” (Page 41)

“The way to become anxious about nothing is to be prayerful about everything” (Page 146)

“Paul is writing to a church, but he does not use that term. Instead, he focuses on people (see 1:1–3) who, although they have shown their genuine character by a concern for the gospel, need to live worthily of ‘the faith of the gospel’ (1:27). Possessing and expressing ‘the mind of Christ’ (2:5, KJV) and ‘the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ’ (1:19), not only will they will make spiritual progress, but so also will the gospel in ‘a crooked and twisted generation’ (2:15).” (Page 25)

“It was a cosmopolitan city and its religious outlook was syncretistic. Monuments to the imperial cult existed side by side with sanctuaries for the gods of Egypt. Isis was regarded as the protector of Philippi from 42 bc and Serapis was recognized, as was Cybele, the great mother goddess.” (Pages 13–14)

“The picture which is painted by these words is one in which truth is not merely rejected, but so distorted as to seem to be falsehood, and goodness is regarded as evil (see Isa. 5:20–21).” (Page 95)

Product Details

• Title: For the Sake of the Gospel: Philippians Simply Explained
• Author: Hywel Jones
• Series: Welwyn Commentary Series
• Publisher: Evangelical Press
• Publication Date: 2010
• Pages: 167

About Hywel Jones

Dr. Jones was ordained in the Presbyterian Church of Wales in 1963 and ministered in several pastorates in Wales and England over 25 years. During those years, he was a member of the executive committee of the British Evangelical Council of Churches, editor of its theological journal and chairman of its study conference. In addition he was co-chairman of the Westminster Fellowship of Ministers succeeding Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones. The London Theological Seminary commenced in 1977 and Dr. Jones became its first principal in 1985, lecturing in Hebrew and biblical studies, hermeneutics, and homiletics. During that time he also taught in Romania, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, and Italy. In 1995, he was Scholar in Residence at Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, MS; and since 1998 has been a member of the Adjunct Faculty at Puritan and Reformed Theological Seminary in Michigan. Before coming to Westminster Seminary California in 2000, he served for four years as Editorial Director of the Banner of Truth Trust. Dr. Jones has written commentaries on Exodus, Philippians, and most recently, Job. He has also written Gospel and Church; Unity in Truth; Only One Way; and Let’s Study Hebrews. He contributed two essays to the Faculty Symposium CJPM. He and and his wife, Nansi, have been married for more than 45 years. They are blessed with three children and five granddaughters. Their son-in-law studied at Westminster Seminary California and is now a pastor in England.