Paul's Letter to Philippi

Background Information

This letter was written from Rome after Paul’s third missionary journey and subsequent imprisonment in Caesarea (Acts 28:30-31).

Though Paul wrote four New Testament (NT) letters during this first of his two imprisonments in Rome, he seems to have written this one at a later point in his imprisonment, having written the other three together earlier in his sentence (Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon).

This imprisonment was a kind of “house arrest,” in which Paul – as a prisoner of the state – was confined to a modest living space assigned by the Roman government. In this place, he was under close surveillance by Roman soldiers, perhaps even chained to them at the ankle or wrist at times. In these conditions, however, he was able to receive guests, write and send letters, conduct business, and send willing people on errands (Acts 28:16, 30-31). At one point in this letter, we get the impression that Paul had witnessed to his Roman prison guards quite effectively (Phil 1:12-14).

The audience was Christians in the city of Philippi.

Unlike the church at Colosse (which he had never visited in person) or the church at Ephesus (which he had not planted, though he had served there for multiple years), he had been integrally involved in planting the church at Philippi. As another point of contrast, too, the churches of Colosse and Ephesus were in Asia Minor (Turkey region), whereas this church was in Europe (the Grecian Peninsula).

You can read about the beginnings of this church in Acts 16. Paul had intended to carry out missionary work either northward or southward in Asia Minor, but God had directed him unexpectedly to Europe instead. After arriving at the coastal port city of Neapolis, he traveled inland to Philippi (Acts 16:6-10).

Since this city contained a marginal, small Jewish population, there was no synagogue for Paul to visit, so he visited with some Jewish women who worshipped by the river, instead. One of these ladies (who was also a prosperous businesswoman) believed on Christ, was baptized (along with her household), and opened her house to the Paul’s team and ministry (Acts 16:11-15).

Shortly afterwards, Paul freed a young woman from demonic possession. This act agitated her handlers, who were making money off her condition, so they prosecuted Paul before the local government authorities and secured for them a sentence of beating with rods and imprisonment. That night, Paul and Barnabas - though bruised and unjustly arraigned - prayed and sang hymns to God aloud from their prison cell. That same night, a significant earthquake occurred, causing such damage that the prisoners were able to escape. However, due to Paul and Barnabas’s good testimony among them, Paul persuaded the prisoners to stay put, assuring that prison guard that no one had escaped, thus preserving him from the death penalty which Roman law would have required of him. In response, the prison guard believed on Christ, and – along with his household – and was baptized (Acts 16:25-34). Not long after this, Paul departed from Philippi, leaving the new, young church to fend for itself, approx. 10 years prior to writing this letter to them.

A man named Tychicus (accompanied by Onesimus) had delivered Paul’s first three prison letters to Ephesus and Colosse, but a man named Epaphroditus (from Philippi) delivered this fourth letter to Philippi. He had visited Paul for the purpose of bringing him a love offering from the church in Philippi and offering him personal assistance on behalf of that church (Phil 2:25; 4:18). However, while he was with Paul in Rome, he became deathly ill (2:26-27). Though he nearly died, he recovered instead, and delivered this letter to Philippi when he returned to the church there.

The general theme of this epistle is “Joyful Thinking."

Paul did not write this letter to the church at Philippi to answer questions or resolve any problems or crises. Instead, he wrote it to express his gratitude for their generous support of his ministry (Phil 4:15-18) and to encourage them to persevere through suffering. Throughout this letter, he expressed a profound appreciation for the members of this special congregation (1:3-5, 25-26; 4:1).

It is fascinating to note that this letter quotes from the Old Testament not once (perhaps because this church consisted predominantly of Gentile members?), but it mentions Christ over forty times and exhibits a calm, confident, joyful, and warm tone throughout. Words for “joy” and “rejoice” occur in this letter 16 times, words for “consider,” “meditate,” “mind,” and “think” occur at least 17 times, and words for “discernment,” “know[ledge],” and “understand” occur at least 13 times. When we look at this letter comprehensively, a central theme seems to “joyful thinking.”

Summary Outline

1.Christ is the purpose of life. (1)

A.Paul’s vision for the Philippians (1:1-11)
B.Paul’s circumstances in Roman prison (1:12-26)

But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel. (1:12)

2.Christ makes humility possible. (2)

A.Call to Christian unity (2:1-4)
B.Example of Christ (2:5-16)

One of the most significant doctrinal passages of scripture occurs in 2:5-11. It describes the “kenosis” of Christ. This is a technical expression that refers to all that Christ allowed to happen to him in order to redeem fallen humanity. He is not only our example and standard of humility, he is our example!

C.Example of others (2:17-30)

3.Christ calls for a new perspective on life. (3)

But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. (3:7)

4..        Christ makes it possible to rejoice in under any circumstances. (4)

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (4:13)