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Basics for Believers: The Core of Christian Faith and Life
Christians taking their first steps of faith, as well as experienced believers reexamining their spiritual foundations, will find wisdom in this study of Philippians and the disciplines of the Christian life. They'll be encouraged to let the cross shape their outlook on suffering, emulate worthy Christian role models, persevere by developing seven virtues, and put the gospel first in all aspects of life.
156 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1996
86 people are currently reading
355 people want to read
About the author
D.A. Carson
337Ìýbooks723ÌýfollowersDonald A. Carson is research professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. He has been at Trinity since 1978. Carson came to Trinity from the faculty of Northwest Baptist Theological Seminary in Vancouver, British Columbia, where he also served for two years as academic dean. He has served as assistant pastor and pastor and has done itinerant ministry in Canada and the United Kingdom. Carson received the Bachelor of Science in chemistry from McGill University, the Master of Divinity from Central Baptist Seminary in Toronto, and the Doctor of Philosophy in New Testament from the University of Cambridge. Carson is an active guest lecturer in academic and church settings around the world. He has written or edited about sixty books. He is a founding member and currently president of The Gospel Coalition. Carson and his wife, Joy, reside in Libertyville, Illinois. They have two adult children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
June 6, 2019
Carson's style in this book is almost chatty at times, but the points he makes still have depth. The book began life as four messages delivered to a conference in 1994, which may account for its accessible style. Whether Carson subsequently expanded on the talks he doesn't say, but at 132 pages long, they must have been quite substantial messages.
That aside, this is an excellent exposition of the Epistle to the Philippians. Having finished it I'm inclined to think I'll probably turn round and read it again. Maybe not straight away, but certainly next year. It's a book that has a great foundation to build on, of course, in Paul's epistle, and Carson teases out Paul's occasionally more elusive remarks in a way that makes them viable and understandable. Not that Philippians is a particularly difficult book - having memorised a chunk of it at one time, I'm more familiar with it than I am with some of the other epistles, and it was good to come back to lines and verses I knew well and see them expanded on. But it was more valuable to see the sections I didn't know so well broadened out. Carson is basic in the best of senses: he believes the Gospel, he believes thoroughly in the work of Christ, and these things shine through whatever he writes.
A good book to have on my shelves!
I note that a few other reviewers have complained about Carson's use of the word 'Basics' in the title. I think they're right: the title almost implies a book about getting started as a Christian, and it's soon obvious that that isn't what the book is about. However it is about some things that are basic to walking in Christ, and I assume that's more what Carson meant.
That aside, this is an excellent exposition of the Epistle to the Philippians. Having finished it I'm inclined to think I'll probably turn round and read it again. Maybe not straight away, but certainly next year. It's a book that has a great foundation to build on, of course, in Paul's epistle, and Carson teases out Paul's occasionally more elusive remarks in a way that makes them viable and understandable. Not that Philippians is a particularly difficult book - having memorised a chunk of it at one time, I'm more familiar with it than I am with some of the other epistles, and it was good to come back to lines and verses I knew well and see them expanded on. But it was more valuable to see the sections I didn't know so well broadened out. Carson is basic in the best of senses: he believes the Gospel, he believes thoroughly in the work of Christ, and these things shine through whatever he writes.
A good book to have on my shelves!
I note that a few other reviewers have complained about Carson's use of the word 'Basics' in the title. I think they're right: the title almost implies a book about getting started as a Christian, and it's soon obvious that that isn't what the book is about. However it is about some things that are basic to walking in Christ, and I assume that's more what Carson meant.
February 24, 2021
A wonderful exegetical exposition of Paul's Epistle to the Philippians structured in five "Scripture-packed" chapters.
1. Put the Gospel first; 2. Focus on the Cross; 3. Adopt Jesus's death as a test of your outlook; 4. Emulate worthy Christian leaders; 5. Never give up the Christian walk.
It is really pleasant to see how well his scholarly rigor is woven into his pastoral care.
-------------------
"The riches bound up in Him [Jesus] are unending. We shall spend all eternity getting to know Him better, and we shall discover that knowing Him is knowing God, and the exploration is eternal and inexhaustible. And already, during our pilgrimage here, it is our delight as well as our duty to know Jesus Christ better and better." Carson's thoughts on Paul's "I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection" reminded me of a story of Saint Augustine: while walking by the seashore contemplating the mystery of the Holy Trinity, he saw a young boy carrying water with a seashell from the ocean to a small pit he had made himself in the sand.
Augustine came up to him and asked him what was he doing and the boy replied, explaining his intention to pour the entire ocean into that hole. Baffled, Augustine pondered on his task of trying to "explain the Trinity" and realized how much of "a young boy" he was.
1. Put the Gospel first; 2. Focus on the Cross; 3. Adopt Jesus's death as a test of your outlook; 4. Emulate worthy Christian leaders; 5. Never give up the Christian walk.
It is really pleasant to see how well his scholarly rigor is woven into his pastoral care.
-------------------
"The riches bound up in Him [Jesus] are unending. We shall spend all eternity getting to know Him better, and we shall discover that knowing Him is knowing God, and the exploration is eternal and inexhaustible. And already, during our pilgrimage here, it is our delight as well as our duty to know Jesus Christ better and better." Carson's thoughts on Paul's "I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection" reminded me of a story of Saint Augustine: while walking by the seashore contemplating the mystery of the Holy Trinity, he saw a young boy carrying water with a seashell from the ocean to a small pit he had made himself in the sand.
Augustine came up to him and asked him what was he doing and the boy replied, explaining his intention to pour the entire ocean into that hole. Baffled, Augustine pondered on his task of trying to "explain the Trinity" and realized how much of "a young boy" he was.
February 18, 2019
Summary: Expositions of the Letter to the Philippians focusing on the core concerns of Christian faith and life.
This work is part of a series of expository studies by D. A. Carson originally published from the late 1970's to the mid-1990's being re-issued in a reasonably priced, re-packaged form. In this case, Carson exposits the Letter to the Philippians. These messages are lightly edited versions of four messages given during Holy Week of 1994 at the "Word Alive" conference in Skegness England. The second message has been broken into two messages.
The title of the work,ÌýBasics for Believers, might give the impression that this is a book for new believers. The subtitle actually helps us see the importance of the book forÌýallÌýbelievers: "The Core of Christian Faith and Life." He draws this from his study of Philippians, in which he sees a church perhaps ten years old, challenged in various ways, and needing encouragement to re-focus and maintain their commitment to the core of the Christian faith, centering around the gospel of Christ crucified and raised, and a life lived worthily of that gospel. I suspect we all can use this, kind of like an annual physical that reminds us of essentials of healthy physical life.
The five messages address the following themes:
1. Put the Gospel First (Philippians 1:1-26)
2. Focus on the Cross (Philippians 1:27-2:18, focus on 2:5-11)
3. Adopt Jesus's Death as a Test of Your Outlook (Philippians 1:27-2:18, focus on 1:27-2:4, 2:12-18)
4. Emulate Worthy Christian Leaders (Philippians 2:19-3:21)
5. Never Give Up the Christian Walk (Philippians 4:1-23)
Several qualities about these messages stood out to me. I appreciated the gracious and clearly articulated explanation of the propitiatory work of Christ in his chapter on the cross. This is not a popular idea in contemporary discusses, often caricatured. Those who would oppose propitiation ought to consider and engage Carson's articulation of this doctrine. Carson carefully connects doctrine and life throughout.
While these are not exegetical commentaries, but rather expository studies, it is very clear that Carson's messages reflect disciplined exegesis and that his preaching outline arises from careful textual study and reflection. An example I particularly appreciated was in his fourth message, "Emulate Worthy Christian Leaders."
1. Emulate those who are interested in the well-being of others, not in their own (Philippians 2:19-21)
2. Emulate those who have proved themselves in hardship, not the untested upstart and the self-promoting peacock(!) (Philippians 2:22-30)
3. Emulate those whose constant confidence and boast is in Jesus Christ and in nothing else (Philippians 3:1-9)
4. Emulate those who are continuing to grow spiritually, not those who are stagnating (Philippians 3:10-16)
5. Emulate those who eagerly await Jesus's return, not those whose mind is on earthly things (Philippians 3:17-21)
The outline elaborates both the basic theme of the text ("emulate worthy Christian leaders") and summarizes the content of each section in memorable form. The outline alone gives much grist for reflecting on the question of, after whom we are modeling our lives.
The other mark of good exposition evident in this work is incisive application. Once again, I will give but one example from the first message on putting the gospel first. He has just cited a scholar who traced the course of a movement who in one generation believed the gospel and advanced certain social, economic, and political entailments, the next generation assumed the gospel and identified with the entailments, and the third denied the gospel and made the entailments everything. Then he asks:
"What we must ask one another is this: What is it in the Christian faith that excites you? What consumes your time? What turns you on? Today there are endless subgroups of confessing Christians who invest enormous quantities of time and energy in one issue or another: abortion, pornography, homeschooling, women's ordination (for or against), economic justice, a certain style of worship, the defense of a particular Bible version, and much more....Not for a moment am I suggesting that we should not think about such matters or throw our weight behind some of them. But when such matters devour most of our time and passion, each of us must ask: In what fashion am I confessing the centrality of the gospel?"Ìý(pp. 31-32).
Theological acuity, exegetical and expository clarity, and searching application. All of these challenge the reader to join the Apostle Paul in his aspiration: "I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection, becoming like him in his death, and so somehow, to attain the resurrection from the dead" (Philippians 3:10-11, NIV).
_____________________________________
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
This work is part of a series of expository studies by D. A. Carson originally published from the late 1970's to the mid-1990's being re-issued in a reasonably priced, re-packaged form. In this case, Carson exposits the Letter to the Philippians. These messages are lightly edited versions of four messages given during Holy Week of 1994 at the "Word Alive" conference in Skegness England. The second message has been broken into two messages.
The title of the work,ÌýBasics for Believers, might give the impression that this is a book for new believers. The subtitle actually helps us see the importance of the book forÌýallÌýbelievers: "The Core of Christian Faith and Life." He draws this from his study of Philippians, in which he sees a church perhaps ten years old, challenged in various ways, and needing encouragement to re-focus and maintain their commitment to the core of the Christian faith, centering around the gospel of Christ crucified and raised, and a life lived worthily of that gospel. I suspect we all can use this, kind of like an annual physical that reminds us of essentials of healthy physical life.
The five messages address the following themes:
1. Put the Gospel First (Philippians 1:1-26)
2. Focus on the Cross (Philippians 1:27-2:18, focus on 2:5-11)
3. Adopt Jesus's Death as a Test of Your Outlook (Philippians 1:27-2:18, focus on 1:27-2:4, 2:12-18)
4. Emulate Worthy Christian Leaders (Philippians 2:19-3:21)
5. Never Give Up the Christian Walk (Philippians 4:1-23)
Several qualities about these messages stood out to me. I appreciated the gracious and clearly articulated explanation of the propitiatory work of Christ in his chapter on the cross. This is not a popular idea in contemporary discusses, often caricatured. Those who would oppose propitiation ought to consider and engage Carson's articulation of this doctrine. Carson carefully connects doctrine and life throughout.
While these are not exegetical commentaries, but rather expository studies, it is very clear that Carson's messages reflect disciplined exegesis and that his preaching outline arises from careful textual study and reflection. An example I particularly appreciated was in his fourth message, "Emulate Worthy Christian Leaders."
1. Emulate those who are interested in the well-being of others, not in their own (Philippians 2:19-21)
2. Emulate those who have proved themselves in hardship, not the untested upstart and the self-promoting peacock(!) (Philippians 2:22-30)
3. Emulate those whose constant confidence and boast is in Jesus Christ and in nothing else (Philippians 3:1-9)
4. Emulate those who are continuing to grow spiritually, not those who are stagnating (Philippians 3:10-16)
5. Emulate those who eagerly await Jesus's return, not those whose mind is on earthly things (Philippians 3:17-21)
The outline elaborates both the basic theme of the text ("emulate worthy Christian leaders") and summarizes the content of each section in memorable form. The outline alone gives much grist for reflecting on the question of, after whom we are modeling our lives.
The other mark of good exposition evident in this work is incisive application. Once again, I will give but one example from the first message on putting the gospel first. He has just cited a scholar who traced the course of a movement who in one generation believed the gospel and advanced certain social, economic, and political entailments, the next generation assumed the gospel and identified with the entailments, and the third denied the gospel and made the entailments everything. Then he asks:
"What we must ask one another is this: What is it in the Christian faith that excites you? What consumes your time? What turns you on? Today there are endless subgroups of confessing Christians who invest enormous quantities of time and energy in one issue or another: abortion, pornography, homeschooling, women's ordination (for or against), economic justice, a certain style of worship, the defense of a particular Bible version, and much more....Not for a moment am I suggesting that we should not think about such matters or throw our weight behind some of them. But when such matters devour most of our time and passion, each of us must ask: In what fashion am I confessing the centrality of the gospel?"Ìý(pp. 31-32).
Theological acuity, exegetical and expository clarity, and searching application. All of these challenge the reader to join the Apostle Paul in his aspiration: "I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection, becoming like him in his death, and so somehow, to attain the resurrection from the dead" (Philippians 3:10-11, NIV).
_____________________________________
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
November 9, 2018
This is a reprint of a book originally published in 1996. It is an exploration of the major themes in Paul's letter to the Philippians. Even though this book was written over twenty years ago, the message is important for contemporary Christians.
Carson leads off early with an emphasis on the centrality of the gospel. He brought this home by writing about our relationships. The gospel should be at the center of our conversations when we get together, not sports or hobbies. Everything should revolve around the gospel. We should be encouraging one other and praying for one other. His emphasis clarified for me that the gospel was not at the center of my relationships and encouraged me to move to that end in the future.
The last major theme Carson explores is that we are to never give up on our Christian walk. It sums up all of Philippians four. It includes working toward being like minded with other believers, resolving to always rejoice, and more.
Carson's style is almost conversational and not at all academic. This is a good book for Christians who need to be reminded of the basic truths of the gospel and the kind of life that pleases God. Unfortunately, there are no questions included for personal reflection or group discussion. The book style lends itself more to devotional reading than to study.
I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.
Carson leads off early with an emphasis on the centrality of the gospel. He brought this home by writing about our relationships. The gospel should be at the center of our conversations when we get together, not sports or hobbies. Everything should revolve around the gospel. We should be encouraging one other and praying for one other. His emphasis clarified for me that the gospel was not at the center of my relationships and encouraged me to move to that end in the future.
The last major theme Carson explores is that we are to never give up on our Christian walk. It sums up all of Philippians four. It includes working toward being like minded with other believers, resolving to always rejoice, and more.
Carson's style is almost conversational and not at all academic. This is a good book for Christians who need to be reminded of the basic truths of the gospel and the kind of life that pleases God. Unfortunately, there are no questions included for personal reflection or group discussion. The book style lends itself more to devotional reading than to study.
I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.
February 15, 2021
A very good survey of Philippians. The book is based on a number of sermons that D. A. Carson gave, and on the whole, they are very helpful. He helps us to make sense of what Paul wrote to the Philippians, but always with an eye to application for Christians today (even if the sermons themselves and the book are now somewhat dated). Carson puts a lot into his sermons, and I often wished he had spent more time on some of his points. In fact, his main points could easily have been stand-alone sermons, though neither he nor the publisher can be faulted for this.
December 27, 2018
Good thoughts & overview of the book of Philippians.
based off 5 of his sermons on Philippians
based off 5 of his sermons on Philippians
July 30, 2019
If you're preaching through Philippians. This is a good, short helpful commentary to use! I highly recommend it.
June 24, 2013
"Other kinds of obedience sink into a pathetic brand of legalism" (p. 101) the caveat that Carson gives here, is unfortunately the problem with this book, appealing regularly to this Western guilt-Gospel where we owe our Saviour and other believers. Missing the motivation behind these 'actions' or 'instructions' that Paul is giving here, out of the freedom and love that believers gain from being in Christ.
The title of the book is highly misleading, as it would seem that basics is for the middle-class educated, who have been immersed in Christian-culture, and it would seem is more of a book for those in leadership of a church or even preachers. This is not for beginners who are seeking to grapple with the Gospel, pure and simple. Any book with basic in its title, which has me reaching for a dictionary every 20 pages, should not have 'basics' in the title. Often drifting off course with some literature critique of the formation of sentences and giving his personal take on translations. There are cases where claims are made which are seldom substantiated or relevant to the Philippians passage.
This being taken into account, there are still some great Carson nuggets contained within this book, which are encouraging and challenging, it is wading through the rest which is the tricky part.
The title of the book is highly misleading, as it would seem that basics is for the middle-class educated, who have been immersed in Christian-culture, and it would seem is more of a book for those in leadership of a church or even preachers. This is not for beginners who are seeking to grapple with the Gospel, pure and simple. Any book with basic in its title, which has me reaching for a dictionary every 20 pages, should not have 'basics' in the title. Often drifting off course with some literature critique of the formation of sentences and giving his personal take on translations. There are cases where claims are made which are seldom substantiated or relevant to the Philippians passage.
This being taken into account, there are still some great Carson nuggets contained within this book, which are encouraging and challenging, it is wading through the rest which is the tricky part.
August 21, 2013
Great little book! Taken from five sermons preached by Carson a few years back. This was a good resource for my preaching series in Philippians but I think it would has benefited me even if it were not for sermon prep. Thank you Lord for the book of Philippians it is such a blessing!
February 21, 2016
If you want to understand Paul's letter to the church at Philippi, this is a superhelpful little book. It's clear, concise, perceptive, illuminating, conversational, and easy to read. Highly recommended.
May 11, 2018
I led a small group through this book and wrote some discussion questions.
Figured I'd share them here.
Pages 9-19 (Preface � Philippians 1:8)
1. How do you “buy about 3 dollars worth of gospel� (page 12) in your own life? (In what ways do you lessen God’s standards? Do you, for instance, compare yourself to others instead of looking at God’s requirements, etc.? How do you try to manage your sin and get just enough of a “hit� from your pet sins?)
2. “It has become more important to be comfortable and secure than to be self-sacrificing and giving� (page 14). How does this specifically play out in your life? (How do you over-value comfort, security, predictably, etc.? Or, to state it from another angle, how do you react when comfort, security, or predictability are threatened or lost?)
3. “‘Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus� (1:6). This is almost a definition of what a real Christian is� (page 17). For Carson to say, “this is almost a definition of what a real Christian is,� is a bold statement. What is Paul saying in this verse? Why does this verse sum up the life of a Christian so well?
4. “Because God is persevering them, Paul is convinced that they will persevere� (page 17). In what ways do you sometimes (perhaps even right now) feel stuck in your walk with God? (What does it mean right now for you to be reminded about God’s promise to complete your salvation?)
5. Carson (page 19) poses the simple question: “What ties us together?� That’s a great starting-point for a small group� What ties us together? “What must tie us together as Christians is this passion for the gospel, this fellowship in the gospel� (page 19). Re-read the second-to-last paragraph on page 19. The paragraph that follows says, “We must put the fellowship of the gospel at the center of our relationships with fellow believers� (page 19). How might that sentence affect the way we function in this small group? (How might it affect how we share about our struggles? How might it affect the way we listen, the way we encourage one another, the way we challenge one another, etc.?)
Pages 20-31 (Philippians 1:9-26)
1. Consider Paul’s encouragement (reworded by Carson) to “Put the Priorities of the Gospel at the Center of Your Prayer Life� (pages 20-22). If you were to record all of your prayers for an entire week, and then listen to that recording at the end of the week, what would the majority of the content of your prayers be about? (What would the main topics be? For whom would you pray for the most often?) What would it look like to put the priorities of the gospel at the center of your prayer life this week?
2. Carson summarizes one of the points Paul is making in this passage by encouraging believers to “Put the Advance of the Gospel at the Center of Your Aspirations� (pages 22-28). How might your view of advancing in your career be impacted if you put the gospel first with regard to your goals in your work? (How might the relationships you have with your coworkers be impacted? How might this affect your goals and desires for marriage, money, family, etc. if the gospel became more of a priority in those areas of your life? In what ways do you currently see the gospel not functioning as a priority in those areas of your life?)
3. Finally, Carson summarizes another of Paul’s points in this passage by encouraging believers to “Put the Converts of the Gospel at the Center of Your Principled Self-Denial� (page 28-31). In what ways would you be denying yourself if you made a larger priority of sharing the gospel with other people? (In what ways do we often protect yourself by not talking about Jesus with other people? Try to be specific and name the ways, and the reasons, that you often avoid talking about having a relationship with Jesus.)
Pages 33-44 (Five Perspectives on the Cross)
1. Two big (but important in our understanding of salvation), theological words are used in this section: propitiation and expiation. The ex in expiation means out of or from. The Old Testament image of expiation was a goat upon which the priest symbolically placed the sins of the people, and then the goat was sent out of town. This image was a reminder to the people that their sins were removed from them. The pro in propitiation means for� propitiation is for God; it is the act by which God’s wrath is appeased so that He becomes “favorable toward those who have offended him� (page 35). The issue Carson is stressing in this section is that modern, liberal theologians wish to stress only expiation while arguing against the idea of propitiation. The point is not that one word is good and the other is bad; they are both biblical words, but we must not lose the biblical view of propitiation (or else we would lose part of the core meaning of our salvation). Simply put, because Jesus propitiated God’s wrath, our sin has been expiated from us. While our culture would wish to stress the love of God and downplay the wrath of God, Carson shows that “it is the cross that unites God’s love and his perfect holiness� (page 38). How does a biblical view of God’s wrath actually make more (not less) of the love of God?
2. “The Bible insists that God is simultaneously angry and loving. � God’s wrath is a function of his holiness� not the explosion of a bad temper� but rather a just and principled opposition to sin� (page 37). How does it affect your view of your own sin, as well as your view of receiving forgiveness, to consider both the anger and love of God?
3. When you are tempted (and when you give into) sin, Carson reminds believers that they “escape the accusations of Satan himself� because they make instant appeal to the cross� (page 40). Practically speaking, what would this look like when you face temptation in your own life? (Is there anything specific from this past week that you could name that needs to be brought to the cross right now?)
4. When we trust in Christ’s work on the cross to deliver us from sin and death, “the promise of deliverance� is tied not to the intensity of our faith or the consistency of our faith. When we approach God in prayer, our plea is not that we have been good that day or that we have just come from a Christian meeting full of praise or that we try harder, but that Christ has died for us� (pages 41-42). Jesus compared faith to a mustard seed (Matthew 17:20), which is a very small seed; His point was that it is not the impressiveness of the faith that matters, but rather the impressiveness of the One in whom our faith is placed that matters. In what ways do you often approach God based on whether or not you have been good that day? (Specifically, in regards to confessing your sin and believing that you are forgiven, in what ways do you allow your performance to often matter more that Christ’s performance as it relates to you receiving forgiveness?)
Pages 44-49 (Philippians 2:5-11)
1. Philippians 2:5 says, “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.� The passage then goes on to define the attitude of Jesus. Jesus is God (Philippians 2:6), and yet He took on the “form of a servant� (Philippians 2:7). For Jesus, “his very status as God meant he had nothing to prove� (page 45). The attitude of Jesus that believers are called to imitate in this passage is His attitude of humility. He was God, and yet He became “a slave� (page 45). Think about the difference between pride and humility, and then consider the phrase “he had nothing to prove� (page 45). Try to think of a specific moment in the last couple of weeks when you struggled with pride, how might you have been able to act in humility in that moment if you realized that you “had nothing to prove�? (Meaning: How do your struggles with pride often come from trying to prove yourself to others, trying to impress others, or trying to manage others� opinions of you? Try to be specific in naming the ways in which you struggle with pride. What areas of your life do you specifically want to “prove yourself� to others?)
2. Part 1 of this passage (Philippians 2:5-8) calls believers to imitate the humility of Christ; Part 2 of this passage (Philippians 2:9-11) calls believers to praise Christ. This passage illustrates two seemingly opposite extremes in Christ, highlighting his humility while also claiming that He is worthy of all praise. In this passage, “unqualified divine majesty unites with the immeasurable divine self-sacrifice� (page 49). Believers are called to imitate Christ’s humility, while they are also called to praise Christ. Consider how humility and praise relate to one another. How does praise open the door to humility in the life of a believer? (To state it another way, in what ways does praising Jesus mold our hearts towards imitating the humility of Jesus? How does a heart of praise lead to a heart of humility? Or, how does an unthankful heart lead towards pride? Name any specific ways in which you have seen this work itself out in your own life. How have moments of unthankfulness led towards pride in your heart? How have moments of praise developed humility in your heart?)
Pages 51-64 (Philippians 1:27-2:4; 2:12-18)
1. Consider what it means to conduct yourself “in a manner worth of the gospel of Christ� (Philippians 1:27). Carson defines this phrase by encouraging Christians “to be diligent to live up to the good news that we have received, the good news that has saved us� The conduct that Paul wants is the consistent kind, one that acts the same way whether or not an apostle is looking over your shoulder� (page 54). In what ways are you convicted by these words right now? (In what ways might you be encouraged today as you consider what it means to conduct yourself “in a manner worth of the gospel?)
2. Think about your regular, daily relationships (friends, family, work, etc.). What would it look like this week for you to live, speak, and act in a way “that promotes the gospel� (page 55)? (Try to be practical and talk about real relationships and specific situations and scenarios in your life. What are some ways in which you have not responded in a way “that promotes the gospel� this past week?)
3. It has been “granted� (Philippians 1:29) to Christians “the privilege of suffering for Christ� (page 55). What might taking up your cross (page 56) and suffering for Christ look like in your life this week? (Consider relationships, temptations, and places of difficulty in your life as you think about this question. How might the final two paragraphs on page 57 relate to this question?)
4. If you are a Christian, then “other Christians have mediated God’s grace to you� (page 59); God uses other believers to encourage new believers as they grow in their relationship with Jesus. Is there anyone specific that comes to your mind right now that the Lord might be calling you to encourage their growth in the gospel? (Try to name a specific person and name any ways in which God might be drawing you towards caring for them as they grow in Christ.)
5. “It is always deeply disturbing to find some professed Christians, members of the church, who think only of what they get� (page 61). How is the modern understanding of church, and religion, (which stresses the individualized far above the community, or breeds statements like, “For me, going to church is a quiet afternoon in the park�) totally opposed to the biblical view of Christianity? (How does an over-individualized view of religion actually kill religion?)
6. When you consider your struggles (battles with sin and temptation, the ways in which you have not been conducting “yourself in a manner worth of the gospel�, the ways in which you have not been living in a manner “that promotes the gospel�), why is it significant for you to remember that “God’s continuous, gracious, sovereign work in our lives becomes for us an incentive to press on with fear and trembling� (page 62)? (How does being reminded of God’s grace free you to live in a “manner worthy of the gospel�?)
Pages 65-80 (Philippians 2:19-30)
1. Drawing from Philippians 2:19-30, Carson encourages believers to “emulate worthy Christian leaders� (pages 65-95). Think of someone who has modeled godly, Christ-like character in your life� whether now, or while growing up. Name a specific person who has played this role in your life. Name some of the specific ways in which this person showed you what it looks like to be a follower of Christ. Try to name specific instances, words, actions, conversations, etc. Consider moments where you saw this person as someone who was “interested in the well-being of others� (page 72) as opposed to their own well-being.
2. Consider Paul’s words, when he says, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ� (1 Corinthians 11:1, page 69 of Basics for Believers). Name a specific person in your life that the Lord might be drawing you to play the role of a Christian leader in his or her life. Is there someone that might look to you as a Christian leader worthy of emulating? If you feel like there is not, or that you are not in a place to be leading others right now, why do you think that is the case?
3. One significant change that took place after Jesus became the perfect sacrifice that all of the sacrifices in the Temple and the Tabernacle were pointing towards is that now, “worship embraces all of life and every location� true Christians should never not be worshipping� (page 77). “Either we are God-centered in all that we do, or we are not� (page 79). In what ways does this both encourage and convict you?
Pages 80-95 (Philippians 3)
1. “Many Jews, including [Paul] in his pre-Christian days, had come to think of the law in a way that God never intended. Instead of seeing the law as one of the preparations for the righteousness from God that would be secured by the coming death of the Messiah, the law had increasingly become the basis for being ‘righteous� before God� (page 85). There is something about human nature that causes people to want to add to the work of God in order to feel presentable in His sight. In what ways do you try to add to Christ’s work so that you can feel more like you are allowed to be in God’s presence? (Meaning: Are there any ways in which you try to clean yourself up with a “good streak� of not committing a certain sin before you feel like you can connect with God? Or, are there any ways in which you feel like you cannot connect with God because of your recent imperfections? Are there any ways in which you try to add to Christ’s work on the cross?)
2. “Paul recognizes that in God’s universe, the most important thing is to know God� it is infinitely more important than� our wealth, our status, our education, our emotional stability, our families� (page 86). How does this put financial success, a good reputation, an impressive job, a loving spouse, a healthy family, as well as anything else you might value in perspective? (How do you struggle to believe this, or to live like you believe this?)
3. Consider sins that you struggle with on a regular basis. How does it encourage you that “the same power that raised Jesus from the dead–is the power that is at work in us to make us holy� (page 87)? How might that knowledge impact your battles with temptation, your prayers, or your words of encouragement to other believers this upcoming week?
4. Paul looks at suffering and persecution and says, “I want more of it, if it means I may know Christ better� (page 88). How might this view of suffering and knowing God impact something difficult that you are currently enduring?
Pages 97-110 (Philippians 4:1-5)
1. People disagree often. Christians disagree often. “Where there are disagreements of principle, argue them out. Take out your Bibles, think things through, find out why you are disagreeing, and be willing to be corrected� (page 103). What does it reveal about someone’s heart if he or she is not “willing to be correct�? (Name a person in your life that you think is very teachable� someone who shows a humble attitude of being “willing to be corrected�. How does that make you respect, and want to emulate, him or her? In what ways do you personally struggle with being “willing to be corrected�? If you can think of a specific instance from this past week where you did not have a heart that was “willing to be corrected�, share about what you think was going on in your heart at that moment. What values, wounds, desires, or fears were being revealed in that moment?)
2. “If we fail to respond with joy and gratitude when we are reminded of [the gospel], it is either because we have not properly grasped the depth of the abyss of our own sinful natures and of the curse from which we have been freed by Jesus or because we have not adequately surveyed the splendor of the heights to which we have been raised� (page 104). “The kingdom of God may be entered through suffering (Acts 14:22), but it is characterized by joy� (page 105). Thanklessness reveals how small our cross is. To put it another way: one’s understanding, and appreciation, of the gospel can be measured by one’s thankfulness, or lack thereof. In what ways do you see any signs of thanklessness in your life? (Try to be specific about what that looks like for you.)
3. “The ultimate ground of our rejoicing can never be our circumstances� Our delight must be in the Lord himself. That is what enables us to live with joy above our circumstances� page 105). In what ways have your circumstances impacted your joy over the course of this past week?
4. “The Lord is near spatially or perhaps better personally. He is not far off, he is very near� (page 110). In what ways does the fact that the Lord has been near to you this past week convict you? (In what ways does the fact that the Lord has been near to you this past week encourage you?)
Pages 110-124 (Philippians 4:6-23)
1. Name one or two specific things that you are anxious about this week. What does that anxiety look like for you? (Meaning: When you get anxious, do you get angry, fearful, controlling, sad, discouraged, cynical, etc.?)
2. Scripture “tells us how to overcome our anxieties. ‘Do not be anxious about anything� is not a naked prohibition; the alternative is immediately provided: ‘but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God’� (pages 111-112). “According to Philippians 4, the way to be anxious about nothing is to be prayerful about everything� (page 112). What is it about prayer that makes it impossible for anxiety to coexist alongside it? (How does all of this relate to the circumstance causing you anxiety that you shared about a moment ago?)
3. “Paul does not expect that the answer to our prayers will most likely take us out of the problems, but that our hearts and minds will be garrisoned by the peace of God� (page 114). Prayer is not necessarily about a promise of changed circumstances, but about a promise of peace. What do you learn about God from reflecting on this biblical truth? (In what ways does this comfort, confuse, conflict, surprise, or encourage you about who God is and the way He cares for His people?)
4. Carson encourages believers to “resolve to think holy thoughts� (page 115). The point is not to simply stop thinking unholy thoughts, but to replace those thoughts with holy thoughts. If you simply tell yourself, “Stop thinking that!� you will replace that!� you will replace that thought with something. What would this look like, practically speaking, in your struggles with thinking unholy thoughts?
5. It is impossible to change “apart from the truth of the gospel taking hold of our minds� (page 116). In what specific ways does this encourage, and challenge, you as you face the temptations that will surely come your way this upcoming week?
Figured I'd share them here.
Pages 9-19 (Preface � Philippians 1:8)
1. How do you “buy about 3 dollars worth of gospel� (page 12) in your own life? (In what ways do you lessen God’s standards? Do you, for instance, compare yourself to others instead of looking at God’s requirements, etc.? How do you try to manage your sin and get just enough of a “hit� from your pet sins?)
2. “It has become more important to be comfortable and secure than to be self-sacrificing and giving� (page 14). How does this specifically play out in your life? (How do you over-value comfort, security, predictably, etc.? Or, to state it from another angle, how do you react when comfort, security, or predictability are threatened or lost?)
3. “‘Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus� (1:6). This is almost a definition of what a real Christian is� (page 17). For Carson to say, “this is almost a definition of what a real Christian is,� is a bold statement. What is Paul saying in this verse? Why does this verse sum up the life of a Christian so well?
4. “Because God is persevering them, Paul is convinced that they will persevere� (page 17). In what ways do you sometimes (perhaps even right now) feel stuck in your walk with God? (What does it mean right now for you to be reminded about God’s promise to complete your salvation?)
5. Carson (page 19) poses the simple question: “What ties us together?� That’s a great starting-point for a small group� What ties us together? “What must tie us together as Christians is this passion for the gospel, this fellowship in the gospel� (page 19). Re-read the second-to-last paragraph on page 19. The paragraph that follows says, “We must put the fellowship of the gospel at the center of our relationships with fellow believers� (page 19). How might that sentence affect the way we function in this small group? (How might it affect how we share about our struggles? How might it affect the way we listen, the way we encourage one another, the way we challenge one another, etc.?)
Pages 20-31 (Philippians 1:9-26)
1. Consider Paul’s encouragement (reworded by Carson) to “Put the Priorities of the Gospel at the Center of Your Prayer Life� (pages 20-22). If you were to record all of your prayers for an entire week, and then listen to that recording at the end of the week, what would the majority of the content of your prayers be about? (What would the main topics be? For whom would you pray for the most often?) What would it look like to put the priorities of the gospel at the center of your prayer life this week?
2. Carson summarizes one of the points Paul is making in this passage by encouraging believers to “Put the Advance of the Gospel at the Center of Your Aspirations� (pages 22-28). How might your view of advancing in your career be impacted if you put the gospel first with regard to your goals in your work? (How might the relationships you have with your coworkers be impacted? How might this affect your goals and desires for marriage, money, family, etc. if the gospel became more of a priority in those areas of your life? In what ways do you currently see the gospel not functioning as a priority in those areas of your life?)
3. Finally, Carson summarizes another of Paul’s points in this passage by encouraging believers to “Put the Converts of the Gospel at the Center of Your Principled Self-Denial� (page 28-31). In what ways would you be denying yourself if you made a larger priority of sharing the gospel with other people? (In what ways do we often protect yourself by not talking about Jesus with other people? Try to be specific and name the ways, and the reasons, that you often avoid talking about having a relationship with Jesus.)
Pages 33-44 (Five Perspectives on the Cross)
1. Two big (but important in our understanding of salvation), theological words are used in this section: propitiation and expiation. The ex in expiation means out of or from. The Old Testament image of expiation was a goat upon which the priest symbolically placed the sins of the people, and then the goat was sent out of town. This image was a reminder to the people that their sins were removed from them. The pro in propitiation means for� propitiation is for God; it is the act by which God’s wrath is appeased so that He becomes “favorable toward those who have offended him� (page 35). The issue Carson is stressing in this section is that modern, liberal theologians wish to stress only expiation while arguing against the idea of propitiation. The point is not that one word is good and the other is bad; they are both biblical words, but we must not lose the biblical view of propitiation (or else we would lose part of the core meaning of our salvation). Simply put, because Jesus propitiated God’s wrath, our sin has been expiated from us. While our culture would wish to stress the love of God and downplay the wrath of God, Carson shows that “it is the cross that unites God’s love and his perfect holiness� (page 38). How does a biblical view of God’s wrath actually make more (not less) of the love of God?
2. “The Bible insists that God is simultaneously angry and loving. � God’s wrath is a function of his holiness� not the explosion of a bad temper� but rather a just and principled opposition to sin� (page 37). How does it affect your view of your own sin, as well as your view of receiving forgiveness, to consider both the anger and love of God?
3. When you are tempted (and when you give into) sin, Carson reminds believers that they “escape the accusations of Satan himself� because they make instant appeal to the cross� (page 40). Practically speaking, what would this look like when you face temptation in your own life? (Is there anything specific from this past week that you could name that needs to be brought to the cross right now?)
4. When we trust in Christ’s work on the cross to deliver us from sin and death, “the promise of deliverance� is tied not to the intensity of our faith or the consistency of our faith. When we approach God in prayer, our plea is not that we have been good that day or that we have just come from a Christian meeting full of praise or that we try harder, but that Christ has died for us� (pages 41-42). Jesus compared faith to a mustard seed (Matthew 17:20), which is a very small seed; His point was that it is not the impressiveness of the faith that matters, but rather the impressiveness of the One in whom our faith is placed that matters. In what ways do you often approach God based on whether or not you have been good that day? (Specifically, in regards to confessing your sin and believing that you are forgiven, in what ways do you allow your performance to often matter more that Christ’s performance as it relates to you receiving forgiveness?)
Pages 44-49 (Philippians 2:5-11)
1. Philippians 2:5 says, “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.� The passage then goes on to define the attitude of Jesus. Jesus is God (Philippians 2:6), and yet He took on the “form of a servant� (Philippians 2:7). For Jesus, “his very status as God meant he had nothing to prove� (page 45). The attitude of Jesus that believers are called to imitate in this passage is His attitude of humility. He was God, and yet He became “a slave� (page 45). Think about the difference between pride and humility, and then consider the phrase “he had nothing to prove� (page 45). Try to think of a specific moment in the last couple of weeks when you struggled with pride, how might you have been able to act in humility in that moment if you realized that you “had nothing to prove�? (Meaning: How do your struggles with pride often come from trying to prove yourself to others, trying to impress others, or trying to manage others� opinions of you? Try to be specific in naming the ways in which you struggle with pride. What areas of your life do you specifically want to “prove yourself� to others?)
2. Part 1 of this passage (Philippians 2:5-8) calls believers to imitate the humility of Christ; Part 2 of this passage (Philippians 2:9-11) calls believers to praise Christ. This passage illustrates two seemingly opposite extremes in Christ, highlighting his humility while also claiming that He is worthy of all praise. In this passage, “unqualified divine majesty unites with the immeasurable divine self-sacrifice� (page 49). Believers are called to imitate Christ’s humility, while they are also called to praise Christ. Consider how humility and praise relate to one another. How does praise open the door to humility in the life of a believer? (To state it another way, in what ways does praising Jesus mold our hearts towards imitating the humility of Jesus? How does a heart of praise lead to a heart of humility? Or, how does an unthankful heart lead towards pride? Name any specific ways in which you have seen this work itself out in your own life. How have moments of unthankfulness led towards pride in your heart? How have moments of praise developed humility in your heart?)
Pages 51-64 (Philippians 1:27-2:4; 2:12-18)
1. Consider what it means to conduct yourself “in a manner worth of the gospel of Christ� (Philippians 1:27). Carson defines this phrase by encouraging Christians “to be diligent to live up to the good news that we have received, the good news that has saved us� The conduct that Paul wants is the consistent kind, one that acts the same way whether or not an apostle is looking over your shoulder� (page 54). In what ways are you convicted by these words right now? (In what ways might you be encouraged today as you consider what it means to conduct yourself “in a manner worth of the gospel?)
2. Think about your regular, daily relationships (friends, family, work, etc.). What would it look like this week for you to live, speak, and act in a way “that promotes the gospel� (page 55)? (Try to be practical and talk about real relationships and specific situations and scenarios in your life. What are some ways in which you have not responded in a way “that promotes the gospel� this past week?)
3. It has been “granted� (Philippians 1:29) to Christians “the privilege of suffering for Christ� (page 55). What might taking up your cross (page 56) and suffering for Christ look like in your life this week? (Consider relationships, temptations, and places of difficulty in your life as you think about this question. How might the final two paragraphs on page 57 relate to this question?)
4. If you are a Christian, then “other Christians have mediated God’s grace to you� (page 59); God uses other believers to encourage new believers as they grow in their relationship with Jesus. Is there anyone specific that comes to your mind right now that the Lord might be calling you to encourage their growth in the gospel? (Try to name a specific person and name any ways in which God might be drawing you towards caring for them as they grow in Christ.)
5. “It is always deeply disturbing to find some professed Christians, members of the church, who think only of what they get� (page 61). How is the modern understanding of church, and religion, (which stresses the individualized far above the community, or breeds statements like, “For me, going to church is a quiet afternoon in the park�) totally opposed to the biblical view of Christianity? (How does an over-individualized view of religion actually kill religion?)
6. When you consider your struggles (battles with sin and temptation, the ways in which you have not been conducting “yourself in a manner worth of the gospel�, the ways in which you have not been living in a manner “that promotes the gospel�), why is it significant for you to remember that “God’s continuous, gracious, sovereign work in our lives becomes for us an incentive to press on with fear and trembling� (page 62)? (How does being reminded of God’s grace free you to live in a “manner worthy of the gospel�?)
Pages 65-80 (Philippians 2:19-30)
1. Drawing from Philippians 2:19-30, Carson encourages believers to “emulate worthy Christian leaders� (pages 65-95). Think of someone who has modeled godly, Christ-like character in your life� whether now, or while growing up. Name a specific person who has played this role in your life. Name some of the specific ways in which this person showed you what it looks like to be a follower of Christ. Try to name specific instances, words, actions, conversations, etc. Consider moments where you saw this person as someone who was “interested in the well-being of others� (page 72) as opposed to their own well-being.
2. Consider Paul’s words, when he says, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ� (1 Corinthians 11:1, page 69 of Basics for Believers). Name a specific person in your life that the Lord might be drawing you to play the role of a Christian leader in his or her life. Is there someone that might look to you as a Christian leader worthy of emulating? If you feel like there is not, or that you are not in a place to be leading others right now, why do you think that is the case?
3. One significant change that took place after Jesus became the perfect sacrifice that all of the sacrifices in the Temple and the Tabernacle were pointing towards is that now, “worship embraces all of life and every location� true Christians should never not be worshipping� (page 77). “Either we are God-centered in all that we do, or we are not� (page 79). In what ways does this both encourage and convict you?
Pages 80-95 (Philippians 3)
1. “Many Jews, including [Paul] in his pre-Christian days, had come to think of the law in a way that God never intended. Instead of seeing the law as one of the preparations for the righteousness from God that would be secured by the coming death of the Messiah, the law had increasingly become the basis for being ‘righteous� before God� (page 85). There is something about human nature that causes people to want to add to the work of God in order to feel presentable in His sight. In what ways do you try to add to Christ’s work so that you can feel more like you are allowed to be in God’s presence? (Meaning: Are there any ways in which you try to clean yourself up with a “good streak� of not committing a certain sin before you feel like you can connect with God? Or, are there any ways in which you feel like you cannot connect with God because of your recent imperfections? Are there any ways in which you try to add to Christ’s work on the cross?)
2. “Paul recognizes that in God’s universe, the most important thing is to know God� it is infinitely more important than� our wealth, our status, our education, our emotional stability, our families� (page 86). How does this put financial success, a good reputation, an impressive job, a loving spouse, a healthy family, as well as anything else you might value in perspective? (How do you struggle to believe this, or to live like you believe this?)
3. Consider sins that you struggle with on a regular basis. How does it encourage you that “the same power that raised Jesus from the dead–is the power that is at work in us to make us holy� (page 87)? How might that knowledge impact your battles with temptation, your prayers, or your words of encouragement to other believers this upcoming week?
4. Paul looks at suffering and persecution and says, “I want more of it, if it means I may know Christ better� (page 88). How might this view of suffering and knowing God impact something difficult that you are currently enduring?
Pages 97-110 (Philippians 4:1-5)
1. People disagree often. Christians disagree often. “Where there are disagreements of principle, argue them out. Take out your Bibles, think things through, find out why you are disagreeing, and be willing to be corrected� (page 103). What does it reveal about someone’s heart if he or she is not “willing to be correct�? (Name a person in your life that you think is very teachable� someone who shows a humble attitude of being “willing to be corrected�. How does that make you respect, and want to emulate, him or her? In what ways do you personally struggle with being “willing to be corrected�? If you can think of a specific instance from this past week where you did not have a heart that was “willing to be corrected�, share about what you think was going on in your heart at that moment. What values, wounds, desires, or fears were being revealed in that moment?)
2. “If we fail to respond with joy and gratitude when we are reminded of [the gospel], it is either because we have not properly grasped the depth of the abyss of our own sinful natures and of the curse from which we have been freed by Jesus or because we have not adequately surveyed the splendor of the heights to which we have been raised� (page 104). “The kingdom of God may be entered through suffering (Acts 14:22), but it is characterized by joy� (page 105). Thanklessness reveals how small our cross is. To put it another way: one’s understanding, and appreciation, of the gospel can be measured by one’s thankfulness, or lack thereof. In what ways do you see any signs of thanklessness in your life? (Try to be specific about what that looks like for you.)
3. “The ultimate ground of our rejoicing can never be our circumstances� Our delight must be in the Lord himself. That is what enables us to live with joy above our circumstances� page 105). In what ways have your circumstances impacted your joy over the course of this past week?
4. “The Lord is near spatially or perhaps better personally. He is not far off, he is very near� (page 110). In what ways does the fact that the Lord has been near to you this past week convict you? (In what ways does the fact that the Lord has been near to you this past week encourage you?)
Pages 110-124 (Philippians 4:6-23)
1. Name one or two specific things that you are anxious about this week. What does that anxiety look like for you? (Meaning: When you get anxious, do you get angry, fearful, controlling, sad, discouraged, cynical, etc.?)
2. Scripture “tells us how to overcome our anxieties. ‘Do not be anxious about anything� is not a naked prohibition; the alternative is immediately provided: ‘but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God’� (pages 111-112). “According to Philippians 4, the way to be anxious about nothing is to be prayerful about everything� (page 112). What is it about prayer that makes it impossible for anxiety to coexist alongside it? (How does all of this relate to the circumstance causing you anxiety that you shared about a moment ago?)
3. “Paul does not expect that the answer to our prayers will most likely take us out of the problems, but that our hearts and minds will be garrisoned by the peace of God� (page 114). Prayer is not necessarily about a promise of changed circumstances, but about a promise of peace. What do you learn about God from reflecting on this biblical truth? (In what ways does this comfort, confuse, conflict, surprise, or encourage you about who God is and the way He cares for His people?)
4. Carson encourages believers to “resolve to think holy thoughts� (page 115). The point is not to simply stop thinking unholy thoughts, but to replace those thoughts with holy thoughts. If you simply tell yourself, “Stop thinking that!� you will replace that!� you will replace that thought with something. What would this look like, practically speaking, in your struggles with thinking unholy thoughts?
5. It is impossible to change “apart from the truth of the gospel taking hold of our minds� (page 116). In what specific ways does this encourage, and challenge, you as you face the temptations that will surely come your way this upcoming week?
January 12, 2016
A good introduction to Philippians with substance.
January 21, 2019
When D.A. Carson had the opportunity to interview two well-known and highly influential American theologians, he went straight to the core of their long ministries with this question: “You have not succumbed to eccentricity in doctrine, nor to individualistic empire-building. In God’s good grace, what has been instrumental in preserving you in these areas?�
Their reply came with passion: “How on earth can anyone be arrogant when standing beside the cross?�
When Jesus chose the humiliating path to the cross, He beat a clear trail for His followers. D.A. Carson issues a call to return to the cross as the main thing in our communication of the gospel. In our relationships, our prayer life, our career goals, and our personal choices, we demonstrate the depth of our commitment to the cross in a way that mere words cannot equal.
Truth from Paul’s letter to the Philippians is an anchor to The Main Thing. Basics for Believers: The Core of Christian Faith and Life is Carson’s exposition of a well-loved epistle. Although Paul’s words have become the source for many a swoon-worthy Instagram post, they are a gritty call to fellowship in the gospel, where the focus is obedience, self-denial and a muscular commitment to the well-being of others.
The Gospel is the Main Thing
I am often convicted that my conversations and my hospitality look and sound pretty much the same as anyone else’s. While we gather around my dining room table for “fellowship,� we are most likely to be sharing stories about common interests and family news, and I wonder: Why does the topic of God’s glorious rescue plan rarely make it to the conversational flow? Why are we not inquiring of one another about the “good work� God is determined to accomplish in us?
Carson states the goal:
“The fellowship of the gospel, the partnership of the gospel, must be put at the center of our relationships with other believers.� (21)
The Main Thing About the Gospel is the Cross
Because Jesus “humbled himself and became obedient to death–even death on a cross,� the cross becomes not only a symbol of our following life. It becomes “the supreme standard of our behavior.� (51) Self-denial is not second nature, and it is one thing to say, “I’m willing to be a servant for Christ’s sake,� but quite another thing when someone actually treats us like a servant. Carson employs the word “slave� to describe this and clarifies the self-emptying behavior as Jesus “making himself a nobody� (56)–our greatest fear in this selfie culture!
New believers will benefit from this primer for persistent progress in the faith, but seasoned followers of Christ will find their comfort zone invaded and their notions about Christian leadership and the faithful walk challenged and expanded. Paul’s message is unapologetic and his thinking about contentment, prayer, anxiety, rejoicing, and unity among believers ratchets up the “normal Christian life� to a standard that takes me back to the gospel as the only means by which this following life can be lived. Carson puts his finger on the soure of my dilemma: If I were living faithfully by the standard set forth in Philippians, the Gospel would quickly become the main thing for me as it was for Paul.
Many thanks to BakerBooks for providing a copy of this book to facilitate my review, which, of course, is offered freely and with honesty.
Their reply came with passion: “How on earth can anyone be arrogant when standing beside the cross?�
When Jesus chose the humiliating path to the cross, He beat a clear trail for His followers. D.A. Carson issues a call to return to the cross as the main thing in our communication of the gospel. In our relationships, our prayer life, our career goals, and our personal choices, we demonstrate the depth of our commitment to the cross in a way that mere words cannot equal.
Truth from Paul’s letter to the Philippians is an anchor to The Main Thing. Basics for Believers: The Core of Christian Faith and Life is Carson’s exposition of a well-loved epistle. Although Paul’s words have become the source for many a swoon-worthy Instagram post, they are a gritty call to fellowship in the gospel, where the focus is obedience, self-denial and a muscular commitment to the well-being of others.
The Gospel is the Main Thing
I am often convicted that my conversations and my hospitality look and sound pretty much the same as anyone else’s. While we gather around my dining room table for “fellowship,� we are most likely to be sharing stories about common interests and family news, and I wonder: Why does the topic of God’s glorious rescue plan rarely make it to the conversational flow? Why are we not inquiring of one another about the “good work� God is determined to accomplish in us?
Carson states the goal:
“The fellowship of the gospel, the partnership of the gospel, must be put at the center of our relationships with other believers.� (21)
The Main Thing About the Gospel is the Cross
Because Jesus “humbled himself and became obedient to death–even death on a cross,� the cross becomes not only a symbol of our following life. It becomes “the supreme standard of our behavior.� (51) Self-denial is not second nature, and it is one thing to say, “I’m willing to be a servant for Christ’s sake,� but quite another thing when someone actually treats us like a servant. Carson employs the word “slave� to describe this and clarifies the self-emptying behavior as Jesus “making himself a nobody� (56)–our greatest fear in this selfie culture!
New believers will benefit from this primer for persistent progress in the faith, but seasoned followers of Christ will find their comfort zone invaded and their notions about Christian leadership and the faithful walk challenged and expanded. Paul’s message is unapologetic and his thinking about contentment, prayer, anxiety, rejoicing, and unity among believers ratchets up the “normal Christian life� to a standard that takes me back to the gospel as the only means by which this following life can be lived. Carson puts his finger on the soure of my dilemma: If I were living faithfully by the standard set forth in Philippians, the Gospel would quickly become the main thing for me as it was for Paul.
Many thanks to BakerBooks for providing a copy of this book to facilitate my review, which, of course, is offered freely and with honesty.
December 22, 2018
I actually read the 2018 repackaged version. It's slightly longer
D.A. Carson is a prolific writer, and a good one. He is also one of the founders of The Gospel Coalition, the group which has re-issued his book Basics for Believers; the Core of Christian Faith and Life (A Study of Philippians). (Baker Books, 1996; repackaged 2018).
I was skeptical at first that this small book—only about 150 pages—could even begin to cover the basics, but Carson has done a remarkable job of simplifying the list of things believers need to know. And he came at the task from an unlikely perspective. I often have people read John’s gospel to learn about Jesus as God, or perhaps chapters 5-7 of the Gospel of Matthew, or James� letter to see how Christians should act. But Carson turned to the book of Philippians, a joy-filled letter written by the Apostle Paul while he was in prison, to point out five important things for believers to focus on.
Starting with chapter one of Philippians (verses 1-26), we see that we should “put the gospel first�. In everything: no exceptions, no excuses. Much easier said than done!
Using Phil 1:27 to 2:18, Carson shows why the believer should stay focused on the Cross, and with the death of Jesus as the standard, how we test our outlook on life and death. It’s certainly a different perspective than most people are used to.
We can’t do it alone, and every believer is not called to reinvent the wheel. Based on Phil 2:19-thru 3:21, Carson says that we should emulate worthy Christian leaders. This piece of advice seems simple at first, but think about it. Who gets to decide who those leaders are? We’re left to find the people who are living a Christ-like life, and to follow and emulate them. And sometimes we get confused!
And lastly, based on the 4th and final chapter of this letter, we are reminded to never give up the Christian Walk. Paul, even from prison continued with his ministry of sharing the Gospel throughout the empire. He didn’t give up, and neither should we.
As a member of their bloggers� team, I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
4/5
D.A. Carson is a prolific writer, and a good one. He is also one of the founders of The Gospel Coalition, the group which has re-issued his book Basics for Believers; the Core of Christian Faith and Life (A Study of Philippians). (Baker Books, 1996; repackaged 2018).
I was skeptical at first that this small book—only about 150 pages—could even begin to cover the basics, but Carson has done a remarkable job of simplifying the list of things believers need to know. And he came at the task from an unlikely perspective. I often have people read John’s gospel to learn about Jesus as God, or perhaps chapters 5-7 of the Gospel of Matthew, or James� letter to see how Christians should act. But Carson turned to the book of Philippians, a joy-filled letter written by the Apostle Paul while he was in prison, to point out five important things for believers to focus on.
Starting with chapter one of Philippians (verses 1-26), we see that we should “put the gospel first�. In everything: no exceptions, no excuses. Much easier said than done!
Using Phil 1:27 to 2:18, Carson shows why the believer should stay focused on the Cross, and with the death of Jesus as the standard, how we test our outlook on life and death. It’s certainly a different perspective than most people are used to.
We can’t do it alone, and every believer is not called to reinvent the wheel. Based on Phil 2:19-thru 3:21, Carson says that we should emulate worthy Christian leaders. This piece of advice seems simple at first, but think about it. Who gets to decide who those leaders are? We’re left to find the people who are living a Christ-like life, and to follow and emulate them. And sometimes we get confused!
And lastly, based on the 4th and final chapter of this letter, we are reminded to never give up the Christian Walk. Paul, even from prison continued with his ministry of sharing the Gospel throughout the empire. He didn’t give up, and neither should we.
As a member of their bloggers� team, I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
4/5
December 26, 2018
D. A. Carson. Basics for Believers: The Core of Christian Faith and Life. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1996, 2018. 157 pp.
Balance in Christian training can be tough. Some books or sermon series can take up a great deal of one’s time without imparting anything beyond the simplest of truths. Other writings can go so deep into minutia that they discourage readers and offer next-to-nothing for our daily lives. Teachers and authors who have the gift of true teaching, a gift that both shares information and promotes transformation, they are a treasure to the church.
One such teacher and treasure to the church is D. A. Carson. Carson’s book Basics for Believers is an excellent example of teaching that is both easy-to-understand and certainly not shallow. Carson has a way of writing that is clear and helpful even as he opens our eyes to important truths from the word of God.
Basics for Believers is a book that arose from a series of 4 sermons that Carson preached through the book of Philippians. Carson’s messages have been adapted to make five chapters of helpful and enjoyable reading. This book walks verse-by-verse through Philippians. Carson is not here writing a scholarly commentary. Nor is he simply summarizing the text. But, as a good preacher would try from the pulpit, Carson is working to communicate important truths to believers in ways that will encourage, convict, and change them.
I would recommend the use of this book in a couple of ways. Basics for Believers would be a fine read for any growing Christian. This work would also be a helpful resource for a Sunday School teacher or group leader wanting to walk a group through Philippians. I believe that anyone who reads this book will walk away with an appreciation for the grace of God and a challenge to live to his glory in all things.
** Note: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for writing an honest review.
Balance in Christian training can be tough. Some books or sermon series can take up a great deal of one’s time without imparting anything beyond the simplest of truths. Other writings can go so deep into minutia that they discourage readers and offer next-to-nothing for our daily lives. Teachers and authors who have the gift of true teaching, a gift that both shares information and promotes transformation, they are a treasure to the church.
One such teacher and treasure to the church is D. A. Carson. Carson’s book Basics for Believers is an excellent example of teaching that is both easy-to-understand and certainly not shallow. Carson has a way of writing that is clear and helpful even as he opens our eyes to important truths from the word of God.
Basics for Believers is a book that arose from a series of 4 sermons that Carson preached through the book of Philippians. Carson’s messages have been adapted to make five chapters of helpful and enjoyable reading. This book walks verse-by-verse through Philippians. Carson is not here writing a scholarly commentary. Nor is he simply summarizing the text. But, as a good preacher would try from the pulpit, Carson is working to communicate important truths to believers in ways that will encourage, convict, and change them.
I would recommend the use of this book in a couple of ways. Basics for Believers would be a fine read for any growing Christian. This work would also be a helpful resource for a Sunday School teacher or group leader wanting to walk a group through Philippians. I believe that anyone who reads this book will walk away with an appreciation for the grace of God and a challenge to live to his glory in all things.
** Note: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for writing an honest review.
December 8, 2018
Hearing the title of D.A. Carson’s new book, Basics for Believers, a Christian reader could legitimately expect Carson to expound on the essential doctrines of the faith, using the book of Romans as his main text. Romans has, after all, been called “one of the most powerful and influential books every written.� (Kent Hughes, Romans, Preaching the Word, p. 15) Scofield says, “It’s the most complete exposition in the New Testament of the central truths of Christianity� (The Scofield Study Bible III: NIV, pg. 1175). But, instead, Carson claims that the book of Philippians “contains subjects…at the core of Christian faith and life� (D.A. Carson, Basics for Believers: The Core of Christian Faith and Life, Baker Books, 2018, p. 9). With that choice, Carson develops his book by interweaving the basic doctrines of the faith with its implications in practical living.
The five themes he explores in Philippians are: �1) Put the Gospel First, 2) Focus on the Cross, 3) Adopt Jesus� Death as a Test of Your Outlook 4) Emulate Worthy Christian Leaders 5) Never Give Up the Christian Walk� (p. 7). He says “What Paul offers is not simply doctrinal content (though that is important) or simple orders designed to elicit some sort of explicitly Christian behavior, but attitudinal commands aimed at fostering whole-life, long-lasting commitment to the one true God� (p. 124). Carson models that same balance in Basics for Believers. The book is simultaneously thorough in its exegesis and specific in its practical applications in life. This makes it an invaluable resource for Christian teachers and practitioners.
5 stars Dr. ML Codman-Wilson, Ph.D., 12/8/18
The five themes he explores in Philippians are: �1) Put the Gospel First, 2) Focus on the Cross, 3) Adopt Jesus� Death as a Test of Your Outlook 4) Emulate Worthy Christian Leaders 5) Never Give Up the Christian Walk� (p. 7). He says “What Paul offers is not simply doctrinal content (though that is important) or simple orders designed to elicit some sort of explicitly Christian behavior, but attitudinal commands aimed at fostering whole-life, long-lasting commitment to the one true God� (p. 124). Carson models that same balance in Basics for Believers. The book is simultaneously thorough in its exegesis and specific in its practical applications in life. This makes it an invaluable resource for Christian teachers and practitioners.
5 stars Dr. ML Codman-Wilson, Ph.D., 12/8/18
December 21, 2018
D. A. Carson’s book “Basics for Believers� is a study of Paul’s letter to the Philippians. The book is split into five chapters, 1) Put the Gospel First, 2) Focus on the Cross, 3) Adopt Jesus’s Death as a Test of Your Outlook, 4) Emulate Worthy Christian Leaders, and 5) Never Give Up The Christian Walk. I like Carson a lot and so I jumped at the chance to read this one. It’s a concise book, just over 150 pages, so it doesn’t require a lot of reading time.
One thing I enjoyed a lot about the book is the level it's written on. Understandable and clear enough to get the point across but no so much that Carson bores his readers. His style is engaging and interesting, but the new believer should have little difficulty in understanding his points.
About the actual content, Carson brings a solid and sound understanding of the application of the book of Philippians. He portrays both what the text is saying and what it means for the Christian life. Each chapter is broken up into smaller portions expanding on the title of the chapter, such as the centrality of the gospel in fellowship, prayer, aspirations, and self denial in the first.
While the title says “Basics for Believers� it is not strictly for those just learning the basics of the faith. The content actually deals more with the basics of discipline for the Christian life. I would definitely recommend this book for new believers, those looking to re-examine their foundations, or those who just want to study the book of Philippians with the help of scholar D. A. Carson.
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Many thanks to Baker books for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
One thing I enjoyed a lot about the book is the level it's written on. Understandable and clear enough to get the point across but no so much that Carson bores his readers. His style is engaging and interesting, but the new believer should have little difficulty in understanding his points.
About the actual content, Carson brings a solid and sound understanding of the application of the book of Philippians. He portrays both what the text is saying and what it means for the Christian life. Each chapter is broken up into smaller portions expanding on the title of the chapter, such as the centrality of the gospel in fellowship, prayer, aspirations, and self denial in the first.
While the title says “Basics for Believers� it is not strictly for those just learning the basics of the faith. The content actually deals more with the basics of discipline for the Christian life. I would definitely recommend this book for new believers, those looking to re-examine their foundations, or those who just want to study the book of Philippians with the help of scholar D. A. Carson.
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Many thanks to Baker books for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
May 24, 2019
Thoughts:
- I would like $3 worth of the gospel. Not so much that it changes me but enough for me to be secure.
- put the fellowship of the gospel at the center of your relationships with believers (fellowship means self sacrificing conformity to a shared vision), the priorities of the gospel at the center of your prayer life, advance of the gospel at the center of your aspirations, and the converts of the gospel at the center of your principled self denial.
- pagan propitiation we offer sacrifices and the gods are propitiated. In the Bible God is both the origin and the object of the propitiating sacrifice.
- the cross was a gruesome death for terrible people. We talk about it so freely today but back then it was something that was terrible to talk about.
- conduct worthy of the gospel is conduct that promotes the gospel
- we are called not only to enjoy the comforts of the Gospel but to pass them on.
- emulate those who are interested in the well being off others not their own, those who proved themselves in hardship, whose constant confidence and boast is in Christ, are continuing to grow spiritually, eagerly await Jesus return and their mind if not on earthly things.
- worship is the consistent offering of all of one's life, time, energy, body, and resources to God. We should never not be worshipping. It isn't just Sunday morning.
- we are called to be worthy Christian leaders whom others will emulate. Share in Christ's sufferings and become like Him in His death.
- our delight must be in the Lord himself. That is what enables us to live with joy above our circumstances. Our joy cannot be derived from our circumstances.
- I would like $3 worth of the gospel. Not so much that it changes me but enough for me to be secure.
- put the fellowship of the gospel at the center of your relationships with believers (fellowship means self sacrificing conformity to a shared vision), the priorities of the gospel at the center of your prayer life, advance of the gospel at the center of your aspirations, and the converts of the gospel at the center of your principled self denial.
- pagan propitiation we offer sacrifices and the gods are propitiated. In the Bible God is both the origin and the object of the propitiating sacrifice.
- the cross was a gruesome death for terrible people. We talk about it so freely today but back then it was something that was terrible to talk about.
- conduct worthy of the gospel is conduct that promotes the gospel
- we are called not only to enjoy the comforts of the Gospel but to pass them on.
- emulate those who are interested in the well being off others not their own, those who proved themselves in hardship, whose constant confidence and boast is in Christ, are continuing to grow spiritually, eagerly await Jesus return and their mind if not on earthly things.
- worship is the consistent offering of all of one's life, time, energy, body, and resources to God. We should never not be worshipping. It isn't just Sunday morning.
- we are called to be worthy Christian leaders whom others will emulate. Share in Christ's sufferings and become like Him in His death.
- our delight must be in the Lord himself. That is what enables us to live with joy above our circumstances. Our joy cannot be derived from our circumstances.
December 20, 2018
The Christian life is one that is lived out - not merely thought about. D.A. Carson certainly encouraged believers to live out their faithfulness in his study on Philippians, "Basics for Believers". While there is much practical wisdom in this book that I certainly enjoyed, I found some of the thoughts in the book to be distracting from the overall message (perhaps due to my recent theological shifts).
Carson's theological positions on the cross was a bit to Evangelical/Reformed for my taste (I hold more of a nuanced Christus Victor view). The topic of the cross also seemed to be emphasized more in the book than it is in Philippians itself. Don't get me wrong, the cross is an important topic; it just seems that the enthronement which resulted from Christ's work on the cross was Paul's primary emphasis.
He also mentioned that we prepare for Heaven a few times. While this is true, we tend to think of Heaven as our final destination. It is not. Heaven will one day come to Earth - this is part of the Gospel. This is a part of the whole narrative of the Bible. Leaving it at Heaven tend to cause confusion amongst believers.
Perhaps my critiques seem nitpicky, but there is some theology I'm trying to move away from that I found in this book. Nevertheless, as I mentioned in the beginning, there is much that is good about this book. We need to truly live according to God's ways and not be lazy about it. This book can help us remember to do that.
Carson's theological positions on the cross was a bit to Evangelical/Reformed for my taste (I hold more of a nuanced Christus Victor view). The topic of the cross also seemed to be emphasized more in the book than it is in Philippians itself. Don't get me wrong, the cross is an important topic; it just seems that the enthronement which resulted from Christ's work on the cross was Paul's primary emphasis.
He also mentioned that we prepare for Heaven a few times. While this is true, we tend to think of Heaven as our final destination. It is not. Heaven will one day come to Earth - this is part of the Gospel. This is a part of the whole narrative of the Bible. Leaving it at Heaven tend to cause confusion amongst believers.
Perhaps my critiques seem nitpicky, but there is some theology I'm trying to move away from that I found in this book. Nevertheless, as I mentioned in the beginning, there is much that is good about this book. We need to truly live according to God's ways and not be lazy about it. This book can help us remember to do that.
January 29, 2024
Wow, what a gem! I picked this book up because I have been leading my family in exposition of Philippians every night for devotions. We are picking one short book each month and my wife and I are reading it every day for a month (or 30 times, the Macarthur method) while we also take smaller sections every evening and exposit the Word with the kids. We choose memory verses each week from the section we are in and it's been incredible so far to see the growth in our family, as we are all learning the same things in scripture and meditating on them and taking about them together.
All of that to say, this book was absolutely perfect in helping me prepare for leading family devotions. Carson is brilliant and I was honestly worried at first that because of his extensive knowledge of the languages that this commentary would be "heady" and not help explain the book to kids. But this was quite the opposite! Carson was pastoral, used ample illustrations, got right to the heart while also explaining the difficult or commonly misunderstood passages (4:13 for example).
I would recommend this book to anyone going though Philippians, but honestly to anyone who isn't it would be a HUGE benefit as well! Just picking this one up and reading it would be well worth it and cause one to grow in the love of Christ and pursuit of His likeness for His glory!
It is not a "technical" commentary but it is not designed to be and it is beautifully laid out and very readable. 5 stars!
All of that to say, this book was absolutely perfect in helping me prepare for leading family devotions. Carson is brilliant and I was honestly worried at first that because of his extensive knowledge of the languages that this commentary would be "heady" and not help explain the book to kids. But this was quite the opposite! Carson was pastoral, used ample illustrations, got right to the heart while also explaining the difficult or commonly misunderstood passages (4:13 for example).
I would recommend this book to anyone going though Philippians, but honestly to anyone who isn't it would be a HUGE benefit as well! Just picking this one up and reading it would be well worth it and cause one to grow in the love of Christ and pursuit of His likeness for His glory!
It is not a "technical" commentary but it is not designed to be and it is beautifully laid out and very readable. 5 stars!
November 8, 2018
Basics for BelieversÌýis a study of Philippians for both new and seasoned believers by author D.A. Carson. The scripture references are written in the book which makes it adequate for a mature leader guiding a new believer. Unless otherwise stated the scripture references are from the NIV.Ìý
I wish there was a summary at the end of each chapter as well as relative questions. This would help assure the material is understood. I did learn that sixty years ago it became unpopular to speak of propitiation (the atoning sacrificeÌýfor our sins) (see page #42). That made me realize America's demise began over sixty years ago. The country that takes the Truth out is a country that will fail.
I recommend this book to new and seasoned believers.
Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255
I wish there was a summary at the end of each chapter as well as relative questions. This would help assure the material is understood. I did learn that sixty years ago it became unpopular to speak of propitiation (the atoning sacrificeÌýfor our sins) (see page #42). That made me realize America's demise began over sixty years ago. The country that takes the Truth out is a country that will fail.
I recommend this book to new and seasoned believers.
Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255
January 10, 2019
D. A. Carson offers a very clear exposition of Philippians in "Basics for Believers." Philippians has often been a great book of encouragement and insight for me as I wander through this life. I have spent much time considering what it means to imitate Christ's humility. I have also contemplated how I might imitate the lives of Timothy, Epaphroditus, and Paul. On the flip side, I have spent time wondering if my life is one worthy of imitating. Should others look upon me and see my striving, is it worthy of the grace of God? In approaching Philippians, D. A. Carson has given me guidance in continuing these contemplations. Of particular value are the insights regarding the characters of Timothy and Epaphroditus. This will be a book I turn to often for my own spiritual edification and for insights on how to teach others the basics of living out the Christian life. I received this book from Baker Books as part of their blogging program.
February 14, 2019
Wonderfully insightful and applicable, this book will help the new Christian and the seasoned Christian understand the basics. There's always something new to learn. I love the personable feel of this book. The author is sometimes blunt and to the point but it's such an effective way to communicate the message. It is easy to read, understand and apply the lessons. The book of Philippians came alive to me in a new way.
The book is divided into 5 sections:
1. Put the Gospel first.
2. Focus on the Cross
3. Adopt Jesus's Death as a Test of your Outlook
4. Emulate Worthy Christian Leaders
5. Never Give up the Christian Walk.
I was encouraged and challenged throughout this book. It is definitely one I will go back to in the future.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was in no way required to write a positive review. All thoughts are my own.
The book is divided into 5 sections:
1. Put the Gospel first.
2. Focus on the Cross
3. Adopt Jesus's Death as a Test of your Outlook
4. Emulate Worthy Christian Leaders
5. Never Give up the Christian Walk.
I was encouraged and challenged throughout this book. It is definitely one I will go back to in the future.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was in no way required to write a positive review. All thoughts are my own.
January 19, 2021
Another 5-star book from DA Carson!
Professor Carson effortlessly expounds Philippians and practically applies the lessons learned exquisitely and powerfully. I have little doubt that I will find myself returning to read this wee book biannually as a much-needed booster to my spiritual understanding, life, and walk for the Lord.
Carson is absolutely right that the first thing in every Christians' life is the gospel - what it is, how it is articulated, how it is modeled, and why! It is both the source of and the basis for every other aspect of Christian experience etc. I was a billionaire, I would ensure that every Christian, every deacon, every elder, every pastor, every preacher and every missionary I know (and even those I don't) would get a copy of this book, so fundamental and important ios its message!
Buy two; read one and give the other away!
Professor Carson effortlessly expounds Philippians and practically applies the lessons learned exquisitely and powerfully. I have little doubt that I will find myself returning to read this wee book biannually as a much-needed booster to my spiritual understanding, life, and walk for the Lord.
Carson is absolutely right that the first thing in every Christians' life is the gospel - what it is, how it is articulated, how it is modeled, and why! It is both the source of and the basis for every other aspect of Christian experience etc. I was a billionaire, I would ensure that every Christian, every deacon, every elder, every pastor, every preacher and every missionary I know (and even those I don't) would get a copy of this book, so fundamental and important ios its message!
Buy two; read one and give the other away!
December 16, 2021
D.A. Carson has put together a series of 5 lectures on Paul's letter to the Philippians that is written in a popular, easy-to-read format. This is a great companion for anyone wanting to dig deeper into the book of Philippians. Carson is a master exegete and everything he puts out is "must" reading, but this treatment is a good sample of Carson's skill as a careful preacher of God's word. Not all scholars make good preachers, but Carson has brought together skilled exegesis with a view to applying the word of God and aiming at life-change! I recommend this to laymen and preachers, scholars and students of God's word! Enter into the book of Philippians with this trusted tour guide and get some gospel encouragement and help for your soul! And raise the banner, "To live is Christ, and to die is gain."
November 13, 2018
D.A. Carson’s book, Basic For Believers: The Core of Christian Faith and Love is a focused overview on the book of Philippians. Carson tackles Paul’s letter to the Philippians with the care and precision that readers are accustomed to.
Dr. Carson takes five chapters to exposit Paul’s epistle, all of which are packed with gospel-centered reality and principles that encourage and equip followers of Christ. The book is basic enough for new believers to comprehend but also contains a wealth of information that seasoned believers will benefit from.
Christians are encouraged to gaze intently on the cross of Christ, emulate worthy Christian leaders and stand firm in the gospel. The principles are an accurate reflection of Paul’s letter to the Philippians, all of which are timeless and transcendent realities. I commend this work for anyone who seeks a solid treatment of Philippians and needs Christ-centered encouragement in a godless age.
Dr. Carson takes five chapters to exposit Paul’s epistle, all of which are packed with gospel-centered reality and principles that encourage and equip followers of Christ. The book is basic enough for new believers to comprehend but also contains a wealth of information that seasoned believers will benefit from.
Christians are encouraged to gaze intently on the cross of Christ, emulate worthy Christian leaders and stand firm in the gospel. The principles are an accurate reflection of Paul’s letter to the Philippians, all of which are timeless and transcendent realities. I commend this work for anyone who seeks a solid treatment of Philippians and needs Christ-centered encouragement in a godless age.
November 10, 2018
This book was very encouraging and compelling to read with also very unique full of information and knowledge that provide from a letter the apostle Paul wrote to Philippian Christians almost two thousand years ago. This book also leading us to focus on Christian faith and life like, Put the Gospel First, Focus on the Cross, Adopt Jesus’s Death as a Test of Your Outlook, Emulate Worthy Christian Leaders and Never give Up the Christian Walk. I highly recommend to everyone must to read this book. � I received complimentary a copy of this book from Baker Book Blogger for this review�.
July 22, 2020
I have a reissue of this delightful book. Through it all, I felt that Carson came alongside me and helped walk me through Philippians. This was helpful in not only understanding the true root of what Paul wrote to the church, but also the why. It helped to illuminate the cultural patterns of the time.
As a result, I would highly recommend this as a foundational book for Philippians. I think Christians of all ages could learn from this book.
This book was gifted to me in exchange for an unbiased review.
As a result, I would highly recommend this as a foundational book for Philippians. I think Christians of all ages could learn from this book.
This book was gifted to me in exchange for an unbiased review.
June 4, 2019
I used this book as a verse by verse companion as I memorised the book of Philippians. It was a fantastic aid in digging deeper into each verse and it’s so simply written it makes for the perfect gift for a new believer. I would thoroughly recommend it.
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