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In outlining the book of Philippians, there is a theme that runs throughout the book that centers around the word mind. In fact, the word mind appears in each of its four chapters at least once. However, the greatest reason for outlining the book with a focus upon the mind is rooted in Philippians 1.27 which states, "Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel..." The "one mind" of this passage is the Christian Mind. Taking that as a statement of the general theme of the book, we can develop a working outline of the book of Philippians, a book which reveals The Christian Mind.
Chapter 1 The Mind to Persevere
Chapter 2 The Mind of Christ
Chapter 3 The Mind to Gain Christ
Chapter 4 The Mind of Peace and Contentment
Key verses that are often committed to memory help to anchor this outline in the student's mind. Almost everyone remembers Paul's affirmation in 1.17 that he was "appointed for the defense of the gospel." This was his attitude in spite of maltreatment by brethren, shunning by the Hebrews, imprisonment by the Romans. He had the mind to persevere and commended that same mind to the Philippian saints. In a similar manner, no person who seriously studies the book of Philippians can overlook the tremendous section (2.5-8) in which believers are instructed to "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus..." As for Paul's own motives in continuing faithfully in the Christian calling, he summarizes this succinctly in 3.8 by saying, "Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ..." A hint of problems in Philippi can be seen in 4.2 where Paul admonishes two sisters who were apparently having difficulties "to be of the same mind in the Lord". The mind to which they are directed is a mind of peace and contentment. This was the mind that Paul had in all things, having learned to be content in any state in which he found himself (4.11). These key passages reveal the bases from which the working outline suggested above was developed.
I. The Mind to Persevere (Ch. 1)
II. The Mind of Christ (Ch. 2)
III. The Mind to Gain Christ (Ch. 3)
IV. The Mind of Peace and Contentment (Ch. 4)
Outlining is an invaluable tool in fixing an overview of the marvelous book of Philippians in the mind of the Bible student. Once again, the champion of hermeneutics is outlining because it forces the interpreter to pay particular attention to the context. A person can leave home without his credit card, but biblical interpreters should never leave home without outlining!!
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