Paul and the Philippians

If we suffer with Christ we will reign with Him. We overcome the trials and tribulations of this life through Him. Although no one is exempt from the sins of this world we are never left alone to fight the battles because we have a mediator who stands at the right hand of the Almighty who fights them along side of us.

Joy in the LORD is our strength!

Paul and the Philippians

Philippi was a  city in Macedonia (northeast Greece, today); named after Alexander the Great’s father, King Philip II. Based on Philippi’s likely demographics, the church there would have been almost entirely non-Jewish, non-Roman, and impoverished—perhaps joined by a few middle-class merchants. The believers probably faced severe persecution and economic hardships. This scenario corresponds with Paul’s main themes in the letter: suffering and unity. 

By the time Paul arrived to preach the gospel, the city’s culture and institutions would have been decidedly Roman, with civic power concentrated in the hands of a relatively small number of elites who owned property in the surrounding countryside. These estates and farms would have been served by a large underclass that lived mainly in the city—non-Roman laborers, tradesmen, and service workers. Unlike many cities that Paul visited Philippi does not seem to have had a synagogue. Neither the text of Acts 16 nor the book of Philippians indicate a Jewish community (aside from several God-fearing women meeting for prayer outside the city. Faithlife Study Bible.                                                                                                                                                                                                          

From beatings to imprisonment, Paul had endured much suffering for the cause of Christ. These trials had taught Paul to be content in all circumstances, an ability that Paul encouraged the Philippians to cultivate. Even though he was in prison, facing an uncertain future, Paul wrote this thank-you letter to the Philippians, a letter that expresses Paul’s abundant joy in what God was accomplishing through them.

Most students have favored Rome as the city from which Paul wrote this epistle. Although the distance between Rome and Philippi is great, Paul was in Rome long enough for messages to travel back and forth to that city. Furthermore, Paul’s imprisonment in Rome is well established in Scripture. Because his situation allowed him freedom to preach the gospel, he undoubtedly felt confident that his release from prison was imminent.

While on his second missionary journey, and in response to a vision from God, Paul left Troas in the province of Asia (part of present-day Turkey) and traveled to Macedonia (in present-day Greece) to establish the first church in Europe, the church in the city of Philippi. In 42 b.c., the Romans granted Philippi the highest status possible for a provincial city, the status of a Roman colony. This meant that the citizens of Philippi could purchase, own, or transfer property. They also had the privilege of filing civil lawsuits in Roman courts and were exempted from paying both poll and land taxes. Their elevated status and wealth gave them not only confidence but a pride that bordered on arrogance.

The church that Paul established in Philippi was a mixture of races, cultures, and social classes (although mostly poor from its inception. The first converts were an upper-class woman (Lydia, a seller of royal dyes, a middle-class Roman jailer, and perhaps a lower-class young girl who had been demon-possessed. As the church grew, it maintained primarily a Gentile flavor, yet the less populous group of Jewish-Christians exerted much influence over the church.

The most prominent theme of the Epistle to the Philippians is joy, specifically the joy of serving Jesus. The general tone of the letter reflects Paul’s gratitude toward the Philippians and his joy in God. This may seem strange because Paul wrote this letter while he was in prison. Paul, however, had the ability to recognize opportunities for sharing the gospel even in apparent setbacks. This was the origin of Paul’s joy: He saw God working through the difficult situations he faced. 

Another theme of Paul’s letter is “partnership in the gospel.” Paul uses the Greek word koinonia in this letter in various ways: “fellowship”, “partakers”, and “shared”. All of these passages highlight the Philippians’ active involvement in Paul’s own ministry. By supporting Paul, the Philippians had become partners with him to further the Good News of Jesus Christ. 

Fellowship has two components: love and discernment. The Philippians had expressed the former but were lacking the latter. Thus Paul exhorted the Philippians to grow in knowledge and discernment, words that in the Greek refer to a relational understanding. In other words, the Greek word for knowledge focuses on a person-to-God relationship, whereas the Greek word for discernment points to a person-to-person relationship. 

Paul wanted the Philippians not only to abound in love but also to experience more of God so that they could grow into a mature understanding of His ways.

Situations such as bickering among church members, living in this evil world, giving to missionaries, and finding contentment are still current issues for today’s Christians. In this letter, Paul provides God’s wisdom and encouragement. But most importantly, he holds up Jesus’ life as the model for believers.The NKJ Study Bible.