Philippians Introduction

Author

There is little doubt Paul is the author of the letter to the Philippians. Paul was the apostle’s Greek name and Saul the apostle’s Hebrew name. During Paul's second missionary tour, he visited Philippi. The Bible mentions that at Philippi, some key people surrendered their lives to Christ—Lydia and her family as well as the Philippian jailer and his family (Acts 16:14-34).


Historical Background

It seems the church at Philippi did not bear the marks of difficulty and conflict as the churches in Corinth and Galatia did. The Philippian church was the first one Paul founded in Europe (Acts 16:6-40), and it was there that Paul and Silas were imprisoned for delivering a fortune-telling slave girl from a demon. 

In prison, God miraculously liberated Paul and Silas, at which time they promptly preached the gospel to the jailer, leading his whole family to Christ.

Later, Paul found himself in prison in Rome. It would seem Epaphroditus, the pastor of the Philippian church, was sent to Paul while in jail to minister to his personal needs and to deliver a contribution to make his confinement more pleasant. 

While caring for Paul in Rome, Epaphroditus became so ill that he nearly died (2:27).


Reasons for the Letter

This letter was partially to thank the Philippians, being financial supporters of Paul (4:15-18), for the gifts they had just sent by the hand of Epaphroditus. 

Paul was also writing to let the church know that, while in prison in Rome and with his execution a looming possibility, he was in great spirits (1:12-14). 

Thirdly, he wrote this letter to pass along the good news that their beloved Epaphroditus had recovered from his illness (2:25-30).

Lastly, and likely most importantly, Paul was writing this letter because the Philippians were finding themselves in an unusually tranquil season. 

Philippi was the site of the famous battle of 42 B.C. in which Antony and Octavius defeated Brutus and Cassius. In 30 B.C., Octavian made the town a Roman colony, as retired soldiers settled there. Later, residents from Italy gave up their homes and lands to move to Philippi. Eventually, the residents of Philippi were given special privileges. The soil of Philippi was considered a part of Italian soil. The citizens of Philippi were given full Roman citizenship and enjoyed the full rights of citizens, including exemption from taxes.  

While some evidence of division and discontentment exists, it was not at such levels as in other churches. In this letter, Paul was seeking to encourage the Philippians, in the absence of trials, to beware of the danger of growing lax and giving themselves over to ease. 

He encouraged them, in part, to consider that when people are too much at ease they can fall prey to the trap of becoming overly anxious about sustaining their ease instead of living surrendered lives. 

Paul's perspective of the world is that it is a dangerous place, full of many perils. The greatest of all perils was to coast through life, living off of past achievements, anxiously obsessed with keeping life at ease. 

Paul taught the Philippians they should always press forward into the resurrection Jesus-life, seeking ever for the heavenly prize and not momentary and temporal ease (3:12-16). They were to remember they were first citizens of Heaven (3:20) and were to be pressing earnestly toward their heavenly calling. 


Paul’s Message and Theme

Paul urges the Philippians to press toward the goal with all diligence (3:14) and to use himself as a model of one who did not depend on mystical experiences to keep him growing but instead depended on Christ (1:12; 3:17-19; 4:19). 

Paul did not live a feelings-driven life of filling his appetites with earthly things but was devoted to Christ and His gospel.

This letter to the Philippians was written as a calling to every believer not to depend on past achievement or mystical experience, but to continue to press into the upward calling of the resurrection (3:8-11).


A Conspicuous Omission

Lastly, Paul does not refer to himself as an apostle of Jesus Christ in his greeting to the Philippians, as was his usual custom. Only here and in his letters to the Thessalonians and Philemon is this missing.

Paul referred to himself as an “apostle” in the following letters: 

  • Romans 1: “Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God …”

  • 1 Corinthians 1: “Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes …”

  • 2 Corinthians 1: “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy, our brother …”

  • Galatians 1: “Paul, an apostle—sent neither by human commission nor from human authorities, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead …” (NRSV)

  • Ephesians 1: “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God …”

  • Colossians 1: “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy, our brother …” 

  • 1 Timothy 1: “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope …” 

  • 2 Timothy 1: “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, for the sake of the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus …” (NRSV)

  • Titus 1: “Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ …”

The likely reason Paul does not refer to himself as an “apostle” could be tied to the fact that he is clearly deferring to the local leadership, not needing to exercise his apostolic authority as was needed in other churches where he included his apostolic title.  


Outline

  • Greetings, Thanks, and Prayer (1:1-11)

  • Paul’s Imprisonment and Opposition (1:12-18)

  • Paul’s Expectation of Deliverance (1:19-26) 

  • Paul’s Description of the Resurrection Life (1:27-2:18)

  • Timothy and Epaphroditus Coming (2:19-30) 

  • Warnings Against Legalism (3:1-11)

  • Warnings Against License (3:12-21)

  • Appeal to Euodia and Syntyche (4:1-3) 

  • Exhortations (4:4-20)

  • Final Greetings (4:21-23)