Philippians - An Interpretive Paraphrase with Notes
The reading of the Epistle to the Philippians introduces one to an atmosphere. It is the atmosphere of one who was not only a man of supreme genius, but one who let himself go completely in spiritual abandonment to the love and life of Jesus. We must insist that this writing be called a letter. It is in no sense a formal treatise and has no announced theme as Romans 1:17. When this is considered, it accounts for the disjointed and somewhat broken style. As G. Campbell Morgan says, “Who can analyze a love letter: and that is what this letter is, which Paul wrote to his children at Philippi.”
Here is a door into a man’s soul. Paul puts his very heart into the message with the result that we have some of the noblest passages ever penned by mortal man. We sense a Divine Hand behind it all, brooding over and guiding the very activity. Out of the context of a Roman Jail comes the triumphant note of joy. Paul sings the song of victory and not of despair. Joy is the music that runs through this epistle and the sunshine that spreads all over it. The whole epistle radiates joy and happiness. A.T. Robertson called it “Paul’s Joy in Christ.”
SOLI DEO GLORIA
John Bob Riddle
Birmingham, Alabama
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PDF Pages: 63
John Bob Riddle, DDS
Dr. John Bob Riddle (1924 – 2012) was a beloved expositor, Bible scholar, pastor and teacher for over sixty years. Often called the Prince of Preachers by his admirers, Dr. Riddle was a friend and contemporary of such men as W. A. Criswell, R. G. Lee, Vance Havner and J. Vernon McGee, appearing often with these giants in Bible conferences and other speaking venues. As both a scholar and pastor Dr. Riddle’s dream was to translate the entire New Testament from the most reliable and authentic original Greek sources into conversational English without losing any of the impact of the original language. Prior to his death in 2012 he had completed 20 such “Study Guides,” several with his son, Dr. Bob Riddle, President of Pastorsworkshop. Several of the “Study Guides” offered through Pastorsworkshop have the original teaching notes in the margins. These have been preserved for the readers’ benefit.
Though a beloved pastor/teacher, Dr. Riddle’s passion was teaching the deep truths of Scripture to other pastors, many of whom lacked the opportunity for higher education or the ability to study Scripture in the original languages. That legacy is now continued through the distribution of his life’s work through the Pastorsworkshop and its global outreach.
