Overview

""Have this mind among yourselves..."" Everyone needs examples. We all need mentors we admire and after whom we can pattern our lives. Without them, we will not mature. Philippians is a letter full of good examples. Paul, Epaphroditus, and Timothy are all portrayed as exemplars. But none is more important than Jesus himself. In Self-Giving Love, Dean Flemming shows how Jesus and the story of his self-emptying love are the very heart of Philippians. This ultimate example provides a lens for clearly seeing the rest of the letter. By emulating Jesus' radical love, we will become mature, foster unity, and find joy. Self-Giving Love presents the message and themes of Philippians in a concise and accessible guide, with probing questions for reflection and discussion.

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9781683594482

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Reviews

"Philippians is my favorite letter from the apostle Paul, and now Dean Flemming's masterful engagement with this gem has become my favorite travel guide to the letter. It is eloquent, perceptive, and relevant to Christians today--just like the letter itself. Philippians is full of joy, community, and (above all) Jesus the self-giving Lord of love. Dean's exposition of it will richly reward any and all who read it. --Michael J. Gorman, Raymond E. Brown Professor of Biblical Studies and Theology, St. Mary's Seminary and University This book is easy to read and understand. It is a cross between a lay commentary and a Bible study, built on Dr. Flemming's in-depth scholarship in Philippians. It is a great small group tool and personal study book, as well as a pastoral resource for preaching on the timely themes of self-giving love, joyful discipleship and community unity. --C. Jeanne Orjala Serrão, professor of biblical literature, Mount Vernon Nazarene University Dean Flemming effectively translates his wealth of knowledge about Paul's letter to the Philippians into a readily accessible guide to its argument. His explanation of self-giving love as the essence of Paul's message accurately captures the heartbeat of the letter's appeal. Having taught Philippians for decades now, I know of no more reliable, theologically informed introduction to this letter than this short gem of a book. --James Miller, professor of inductive biblical studies and New Testament, Asbury Theological Seminary This theological guidebook to Philippians captures the heart of Paul's message to this beloved church: live in and imitate the love of Jesus. Flemming is a wise, warm, and witty companion on the journey to better understanding this rich letter. --Nijay K. Gupta, professor of New Testament, Northern Seminary In the wonderful biblical epistle known as Philippians, the apostle Paul probes the great mystery that in the self-giving love of Christ the fullness of the nature of God is revealed. Dean Flemming calls this the ""V-shaped Story"" of God's revelation in this wonderful guide for individuals, small groups, or Bible study classes to use to explore Paul's great letter. The beauty of this road map through Philippians is that it not only helps the reader understand the Scripture more fully, but it helps them know how to enter into the transforming V-shaped story themselves. --T. Scott Daniels, Pastor, College Church of the Nazarene, Nampa, Idaho The story of Christ's costly, self-giving love that Paul tells in Philippians 2:6-11 is the basis for everything else Paul says in this letter. Using sound scholarship and a warm, engaging style, Dean Flemming takes his readers on a journey through the letter with the ultimate goal of helping them to embody Christ's story in analogous ways in their own contexts. The book is peppered throughout with moving stories of individuals and communities who have done and are continuing to do this, which makes it ideal for small group Bible studies or Sunday School curriculum. It'll be the first thing I recommend to lay readers who are interested in Philippians! --Andy Johnson, professor of New Testament, Nazarene Theological Seminary After reading Self-Giving Love, I felt that I had just read the fifth Gospel account. But It's not about the life of Jesus as much as it is about how the life of Jesus can be lived out in community. Dean Flemming takes this letter to the Philippians and turns it into a letter to us, the church, as we face pressure from the inside and outside, as we're tempted by success, security, power and prestige. This is a book that shows us how to become the Gospel, how to embody it in skin and blood for a watching world. --Dean Nelson, journalist and author of God Hides in Plain Sight: How to See the Sacred in a Chaotic World In a world stuffed with carbo-loaded commentaries, here is the pithy book that pierces to the heart of the matter. Pastorally attuned, missionally sensitive, and keenly perceptive, Flemming's introduction to Philippians delivers the clarity that only arrives on the far side of prolonged study, seasoned by teaching and living with the biblical text. Through Philippians, Flemming takes us into the heart of Paul's theology. At the church potluck of commentaries and introductions, Self-Giving Love is the recipe everyone is asking for. --Daniel G. Reid, retired academic editor, InterVarsity Press Many writers of a full-size commentary on a biblical book struggle with summarizing its thoughts succinctly in straightforward language. Not so Dean Flemming, despite having written a much longer treatment than this on Philippians! This gem of a little book introduces the reader to the key themes of this wonderful letter of Paul, in easy-to-digest chapters. Practical applications and personal illustrations, including questions for thought and discussion at the end of each chapter, keep the reader's feet firmly on the ground. At the same time, Flemming constantly points us to what in Philippians supports his conclusions, and he writes with a distinguished missionary career behind him that absolutely brims with integrity, service and self-sacrifice for others. If you let it, this book can change your life. --Craig L. Blomberg, Distinguished Professor of New Testament, Denver Seminary"

Philippians is my favorite letter from the apostle Paul, and now Dean Flemming's masterful engagement with this gem has become my favorite travel guide to the letter. It is eloquent, perceptive, and relevant to Christians today--just like the letter itself. Philippians is full of joy, community, and (above all) Jesus the self-giving Lord of love. Dean's exposition of it will richly reward any and all who read it. --Michael J. Gorman, Raymond E. Brown Professor of Biblical Studies and Theology, St. Mary's Seminary and University This book is easy to read and understand. It is a cross between a lay commentary and a Bible study, built on Dr. Flemming's in-depth scholarship in Philippians. It is a great small group tool and personal study book, as well as a pastoral resource for preaching on the timely themes of self-giving love, joyful discipleship and community unity. --C. Jeanne Orjala Serrao, professor of biblical literature, Mount Vernon Nazarene University Dean Flemming effectively translates his wealth of knowledge about Paul's letter to the Philippians into a readily accessible guide to its argument. His explanation of self-giving love as the essence of Paul's message accurately captures the heartbeat of the letter's appeal. Having taught Philippians for decades now, I know of no more reliable, theologically informed introduction to this letter than this short gem of a book. --James Miller, professor of inductive biblical studies and New Testament, Asbury Theological Seminary This theological guidebook to Philippians captures the heart of Paul's message to this beloved church: live in and imitate the love of Jesus. Flemming is a wise, warm, and witty companion on the journey to better understanding this rich letter. --Nijay K. Gupta, professor of New Testament, Northern Seminary In the wonderful biblical epistle known as Philippians, the apostle Paul probes the great mystery that in the self-giving love of Christ the fullness of the nature of God is revealed. Dean Flemming calls this the V-shaped Story of God's revelation in this wonderful guide for individuals, small groups, or Bible study classes to use to explore Paul's great letter. The beauty of this road map through Philippians is that it not only helps the reader understand the Scripture more fully, but it helps them know how to enter into the transforming V-shaped story themselves. --T. Scott Daniels, Pastor, College Church of the Nazarene, Nampa, Idaho The story of Christ's costly, self-giving love that Paul tells in Philippians 2:6-11 is the basis for everything else Paul says in this letter. Using sound scholarship and a warm, engaging style, Dean Flemming takes his readers on a journey through the letter with the ultimate goal of helping them to embody Christ's story in analogous ways in their own contexts. The book is peppered throughout with moving stories of individuals and communities who have done and are continuing to do this, which makes it ideal for small group Bible studies or Sunday School curriculum. It'll be the first thing I recommend to lay readers who are interested in Philippians! --Andy Johnson, professor of New Testament, Nazarene Theological Seminary After reading Self-Giving Love, I felt that I had just read the fifth Gospel account. But It's not about the life of Jesus as much as it is about how the life of Jesus can be lived out in community. Dean Flemming takes this letter to the Philippians and turns it into a letter to us, the church, as we face pressure from the inside and outside, as we're tempted by success, security, power and prestige. This is a book that shows us how to become the Gospel, how to embody it in skin and blood for a watching world. --Dean Nelson, journalist and author of God Hides in Plain Sight: How to See the Sacred in a Chaotic World In a world stuffed with carbo-loaded commentaries, here is the pithy book that pierces to the heart of the matter. Pastorally attuned, missionally sensitive, and keenly perceptive, Flemming's introduction to Philippians delivers the clarity that only arrives on the far side of prolonged study, seasoned by teaching and living with the biblical text. Through Philippians, Flemming takes us into the heart of Paul's theology. At the church potluck of commentaries and introductions, Self-Giving Love is the recipe everyone is asking for. --Daniel G. Reid, retired academic editor, InterVarsity Press Many writers of a full-size commentary on a biblical book struggle with summarizing its thoughts succinctly in straightforward language. Not so Dean Flemming, despite having written a much longer treatment than this on Philippians! This gem of a little book introduces the reader to the key themes of this wonderful letter of Paul, in easy-to-digest chapters. Practical applications and personal illustrations, including questions for thought and discussion at the end of each chapter, keep the reader's feet firmly on the ground. At the same time, Flemming constantly points us to what in Philippians supports his conclusions, and he writes with a distinguished missionary career behind him that absolutely brims with integrity, service and self-sacrifice for others. If you let it, this book can change your life. --Craig L. Blomberg, Distinguished Professor of New Testament, Denver Seminary

Philippians is my favorite letter from the apostle Paul, and now Dean Flemming's masterful engagement with this gem has become my favorite travel guide to the letter. It is eloquent, perceptive, and relevant to Christians today--just like the letter itself. Philippians is full of joy, community, and (above all) Jesus the self-giving Lord of love. Dean's exposition of it will richly reward any and all who read it. --Michael J. Gorman, Raymond E. Brown Professor of Biblical Studies and Theology, St. Mary's Seminary and University This book is easy to read and understand. It is a cross between a lay commentary and a Bible study, built on Dr. Flemming's in-depth scholarship in Philippians. It is a great small group tool and personal study book, as well as a pastoral resource for preaching on the timely themes of self-giving love, joyful discipleship and community unity. --C. Jeanne Orjala Serrao, professor of biblical literature, Mount Vernon Nazarene University Dean Flemming effectively translates his wealth of knowledge about Paul's letter to the Philippians into a readily accessible guide to its argument. His explanation of self-giving love as the essence of Paul's message accurately captures the heartbeat of the letter's appeal. Having taught Philippians for decades now, I know of no more reliable, theologically informed introduction to this letter than this short gem of a book. --James Miller, professor of inductive biblical studies and New Testament, Asbury Theological Seminary This theological guidebook to Philippians captures the heart of Paul's message to this beloved church: live in and imitate the love of Jesus. Flemming is a wise, warm, and witty companion on the journey to better understanding this rich letter. --Nijay K. Gupta, professor of New Testament, Northern Seminary In the wonderful biblical epistle known as Philippians, the apostle Paul probes the great mystery that in the self-giving love of Christ the fullness of the nature of God is revealed. Dean Flemming calls this the V-shaped Story of God's revelation in this wonderful guide for individuals, small groups, or Bible study classes to use to explore Paul's great letter. The beauty of this road map through Philippians is that it not only helps the reader understand the Scripture more fully, but it helps them know how to enter into the transforming V-shaped story themselves. --T. Scott Daniels, Pastor, College Church of the Nazarene, Nampa, Idaho The story of Christ's costly, self-giving love that Paul tells in Philippians 2:6-11 is the basis for everything else Paul says in this letter. Using sound scholarship and a warm, engaging style, Dean Flemming takes his readers on a journey through the letter with the ultimate goal of helping them to embody Christ's story in analogous ways in their own contexts. The book is peppered throughout with moving stories of individuals and communities who have done and are continuing to do this, which makes it ideal for small group Bible studies or Sunday School curriculum. It'll be the first thing I recommend to lay readers who are interested in Philippians! --Andy Johnson, professor of New Testament, Nazarene Theological Seminary After reading Self-Giving Love, I felt that I had just read the fifth Gospel account. But It's not about the life of Jesus as much as it is about how the life of Jesus can be lived out in community. Dean Flemming takes this letter to the Philippians and turns it into a letter to us, the church, as we face pressure from the inside and outside, as we're tempted by success, security, power and prestige. This is a book that shows us how to become the Gospel, how to embody it in skin and blood for a watching world. --Dean Nelson, journalist and author of God Hides in Plain Sight: How to See the Sacred in a Chaotic World In a world stuffed with carbo-loaded commentaries, here is the pithy book that pierces to the heart of the matter. Pastorally attuned, missionally sensitive, and keenly perceptive, Flemming's introduction to Philippians delivers the clarity that only arrives on the far side of prolonged study, seasoned by teaching and living with the biblical text. Through Philippians, Flemming takes us into the heart of Paul's theology. At the church potluck of commentaries and introductions, Self-Giving Love is the recipe everyone is asking for. --Daniel G. Reid, retired academic editor, InterVarsity Press Many writers of a full-size commentary on a biblical book struggle with summarizing its thoughts succinctly in straightforward language. Not so Dean Flemming, despite having written a much longer treatment than this on Philippians! This gem of a little book introduces the reader to the key themes of this wonderful letter of Paul, in easy-to-digest chapters. Practical applications and personal illustrations, including questions for thought and discussion at the end of each chapter, keep the reader's feet firmly on the ground. At the same time, Flemming constantly points us to what in Philippians supports his conclusions, and he writes with a distinguished missionary career behind him that absolutely brims with integrity, service and self-sacrifice for others. If you let it, this book can change your life. --Craig L. Blomberg, Distinguished Professor of New Testament, Denver Seminary

Author Information

Dean Flemming is professor of New Testament at MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe, Kansas. Dean has pastored churches in Ohio and Japan and taught in various countries throughout the world as a missionary educator for over twenty years. Dean is the author of several books, including Contextualization in the New Testament, winner of a 2006 Christianity Today book award; Philippians: A Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition, which received a Smith-Wynkoop book award; and Recovering the Full Mission of God.

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