Joyce Meyer continues her series of Biblical commentaries with Philippians: Practical Insights For Everyday Christian Living (FaithWords, 2021). Much like her other commentaries of Galatians and Proverbs (you can read reviews by typing into the search engine), this easy to read guide is geared for both male and female readers.
Meyer starts out writing that the book of Philippians is considered by many as the “book of joy”, with Paul writing his letter from prison. A small history of the city is given where a major battle was heard after Julius Caesar’s assassination, which many know through the writing of William Shakespeare’s play from our school days. Paul’s writing is a short book, with only four chapters involved, but there is quite a bit of information that Meyer brings out in the short segments.
Meyer covers topics like choosing friends wisely, the importance of mentors (like Timothy had with Paul, which is mentioned in the Biblical text), the importance of hope, and the way Paul prayed among other subjects. She looks into how Paul prayed less about the circumstances he was dealing with and more about the spiritual welfare of his friends and the people of Philippi, and states that Christians can benefit from this action in their own lives.
The text also discusses how to overcome fear and relying more on the strength of God, along with being like-minded, which is different than being in total agreement with a person’s opinion. The question of being obedient to God, as opposed to just “dating” him, working through our spirit (letting the inside work through to our outside appearance), and , of course, the topic of having joy are also covered.
Like the other books in the series, it is easier to read the Bible chapter first before reading Meyer’s take on the section, and with this book over four chapters, it is not a difficult task. Throughout the book, there are questions asked for deeper reflection for the reader, along with a part where the writer can jot down notes or answer the thoughts as a journal on top of just being a book.
Again, these guides appeal to me because it is not geared only to the female readers and Christians, which is a major base for her ministry. Where the other books may have a few parts that are geared towards females, this one has none of that, so the male reader would not have to be bored at any section (such as reading about shopping for clothing for example). With the short book of Philippians, this could be read and studied in several days, but it is not a text that is one and done. The points and challenges the author provides, and the writing style, is not just easy to understand, but also is something that the reader can go back many times and learn something.
Sometimes commentaries are written so over the head with historical text and filled with the origins of the words, but this book has very little of it, and is down to earth. There are a few stories of Christian history, such as a part about Ambrose and a few Christian authors, but it is only a page or two to bring home the points being brought out. This writing may be the favorite so far of the commentaries that she has put out which I have reviewed. There is no filler to make the book longer, nor is there too in-depth investigations on every word that bores the reader. Philippians is a text that Christians will enjoy going back to several times to read and apply to their lives.
This review copy was sent courtesy of Faith Words and Hachette Book Group.
Philippians: Practical Insights For Everyday Christian Living (FaithWords, 2021) ISBN : 978-1-5460-2618-1 (hardcover), 978-1-5460-2616-7 (ebook) can be ordered at: http://www.faithwords.com
For information about the author, visit: http://www.joycemeyer.org
The Overall:
Pages: 180 pages
Language: None
Geared For: 12 and Up
For Fans Of: Biblical Studies, Commentaries, Christian Living, Religion, Faith
lancewrites: Reviews By Lance Lumley 