An Introduction to Philippians

                                                                                                K.  Elijah Layfield

Who is writing:  Paul

Who is he writing to:  Philippi- a Roman colony
    Founded c.50 AD
    Acts 16.11-40
Philippi was also a medical Centre
    This could have been Luke’s Hometown.

Behind the scenes:  Paul is in prison.  Most likely in Rome.  (Phil 1.13, 20-26)
    Philippians hear that he is in Rome and send Epaphroditus to minister to him.
    Epaphroditus becomes ill and almost dies (Phil 2.27).

The Book reveals:
1.    A church taking its share of suffering (1.29)
2.    A church in danger of division (1.27;22)
3.    A church leaning toward the doctrine of perfectionism (3.12-13)
4.    A church that has Judaizers on their heals (3.2)

Background:

Philippi

    “In the province of Macedonia, Philippi was a Roman colony, which gave its citizens special rights and privileges.  It was located on the Via Ignatia, the main east-west commercial highway through Macedonia.  A small Jewish community existed there before Paul visited the city.  Occult activities were also common in the city” (Notes from Cecil Taylor, dean of Religion at the University of Mobile).
In New Testament times, Philippi was known primarily as the site of one of the most famous events in Roman history.  In 42 B.C., the forces of Antony and Cleopatra defeated those of Brutus and Cassius at the Battle of Philippi, thus ending the Roman Republic and ushering in the Empire.  After that battle, Philippi became a Roman colony (Acts 16.12), and many veterans of the Roman army settled there.
    As a colony, Philippi had autonomy from the provincial government and the same rights granted to cities in Italy, including the use of Roman law, exemption from certain taxes, and Roman citizenship for its residents (Acts 16.21).  Recognition as a colony provided a source for much civic pride for the Philippians, who used Latin as their official language, adopted Roman customs, and modeled their city government after that of Italian cities.

Church Founding Acts 16.6-40

    "And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days. And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.

As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.

But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers. And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city. They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice.” The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened. When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.

But when it was day, the magistrates sent the police, saying, “Let those men go.” And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go. Therefore come out now and go in peace.” But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do they now throw us out secretly? No! Let them come themselves and take us out.” The police reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens. So they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and asked them to leave the city. So they went out of the prison and visited Lydia. And when they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them and departed" (Acts 16.6-40 ESV).

Third Missionary Journey, Support and Gifts Concerning Philippi

    Paul visited Philippi about five years later on his third missionary trip, Acts 20.1,2 “After the uproar had ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and when he had exhorted them and taken his leave of them, he left to go to Macedonia.  When he had gone through those districts and had given them much exhortation, he came to Greece.”
    During his absence, they has sent support for the work at Thessalonica, Php 4.15 “You yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone.”
    They also sent other gifts after that, 2Cor 11.9 “And when I was present with you and was in need, I was not a burden to anyone; for when the brethren came from Macedonia they fully supplied my need, and in everything I kept myself from being a burden to you, and will continue to do so.”

Occasion for Writing

The background of the letter can be illustrated

1.    News of Paul’s imprisonment created concern and anxiety at Philippi

2.    For a first-hand repost, the church sent Epaphroditus to confer with Paul and to take him a gift (4.10, 14-18).  Epaphroditus stayed to help Paul but grew desperately ill.

3.    News of Epaphroditus’ illness (2.25-30) reached Philippi and caused new concern (2.26).

4.    Word of this concern reached Rome (2.28).

5.    Paul sent Epaphroditus back to Philippi (2.26), this epistle in hand, so the Philippians could see that both Paul and Epaphroditus were well.

Paul intended the letter to serve as a thank you note for the gift (4.13), to prepare them for an approaching visit by Timothy (2.19) and perhaps the apostle himself (2.24), and to help the church with their problem with unity (2.2, 4.2) and with Judaizers (3).

Author

The Muratorian Canon and numerous church fathers, as well as the great majority of contemporary scholars, accept this letter as Pauline.
1.    The author refers to himself as Paul (1.1).
2.    The details of the author’s background match what is known of Paul, e.g. he regards Timothy as his ‘son’ (1.1; 2.19-23; cf. 1Tim 1.2).

Place of Writing

Paul is a prisoner (1.7, 13, 16), probably in Rome.
Rome
1.    The most natural understanding of Praetorium (1.13) and ‘Caesar’s household’ (4.22) suggests Rome.
2.    Paul seems to await an imminent judgment ending in life or death (1.19), which fits Rome.
3.    Paul’s freedom to write and preach fits Rome.
4.    The Marcionite Prologue says the letter was sent from Rome.