concerned. "That in the dispensation of the fulness of times
He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both
which are in heaven and which are on earth; even in
Him" (1:10). (c) Prayer. A petition that the
understanding of believers may be illuminated; that they may
know the hope of their calling and the riches of their
heritage, which comes through unity with their risen and
ascended Lord.

2. Doctrinal. Unity in Christ (ch. 2-3). (a) The
calling of the Gentiles out of "trespasses and sins" into
a new life in Christ. (b) Jews and Gentiles are
reconciled and brought together in one body by the cross; "no
more strangers and foreigners but fellow citizens with the
saints, and of the household of God." All built upon
the foundation of Jesus Christ, through the Spirit. (c)
The mystery of the universal call was made known to
Paul by a new revelation. Prayer for a more full
comprehension of this unity.

3. Practical. The new life in unity with Christ
(4:1-6:17). (a) Exhortation to walk worthy of this new
life. (b) Exhortation to gain the victory over sin "in
virtue of the sense of unity with man in Christ." (c)
Social duties. The regeneration and consecration in this
new life of the relations of husbands and wives, children
and parents, and slaves and masters, (d) Final entreaty,
in the battle against the powers of evil, to put "on the
whole armour of God."

4. Conclusion (6:18-24). (a) Personal. Paul requests
special prayer for himself in captivity. Tychicus
is commended. (b) Farewell and blessing.

THE EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS

The City of Philippi and the Church.--This city is
notable from the fact that it was the first, in Europe, in
which the gospel tidings were made known. Accounts
of how Paul came to visit Macedonia and to begin the
work in Philippi are given in Acts (16:10, 12-40).
Going out of the city as he did by the river side, where
prayer was wont to be made, and talking to a number of
women about the "New Way" would not seem to be a
very favorable beginning for a movement which was to
produce such exceedingly large results. But Paul was so
full of zeal for Christ that he seized every opportunity,
no matter how small, to make Him known. This church
afterwards was a great comfort to the Apostle. This
letter shows how he loved it and how he exhorted them to
rejoice in the Lord (4:4).

+Occasion.+--Paul was in prison in Rome. The
Philippian converts were gre