Introduction to Philippians

Introduction to Philippians

Author: Paul
Date: 61 A.D.
Theme: Joy in Christ
Key Words: Joy, rejoice

Background: The Book of Acts registers the foundation of the church of Philippi, which was established by Paul around the year 51 A.D., curing his second missionary journey. From the beginning this church developed a powerful missionary zeal and consistently helped Paul's ministry (4:15,16; see II Cor. 11:8,9). The apostle maintained a more intimate relationship with the Philippians than with any other church.

The Recipients: (HBH) The Philippian church was founded about 50-51 A.D., approximately a decade before the writing of the letter, during Paul's second missionary journey (Acts 16:12-40). Paul and Silas arrived in Philippi and apparently found no Jewish synagogue. There was, however, a place of prayer by the riverside where some women met on the Sabbath to pray. One of these women, Lydia, believed the gospel message Paul preached. As a result of her gratitude to GOD and the missionaries, she opened her home to them.

After the missionaries had settled in Philippi, they were arrested when Paul exorcised a demon from a slave girl because her masters aroused opposition against the preachers. They were beaten, thrown into prison, and fastened in stocks. yet Paul and Silas were still able to praise GOD and sing hymns. While they were in prison, there was an earthquake, and all the doors were immediately opened. The events of the evening set the stage for the conversion of the jailer and his household. Through the ministry of Paul and Silas, many in Philippi became Christians, and a church was established (see Acts 16).

When Paul and Silas, along with Timothy, left Philippi, Luke, the doctor, remained. Luke apparently did much to help stabilize the young congregation and enhance its outreach ministry.

Philippi was a Roman colony located on the great northern east-west highway, called the Egnatian Way. Philippi took its name from Philip II, Alexander the Great's father. Just west of town near the Gangitis River, Antony and Octavian defeated Cassius and Brutus in 42 B.C. In 30 B.C. Octavian made the town a Roman colony for retired soldiers and bestowed upon Philippi the full privileges of Roman citizenship. The Philippians took great pride in their privileges as Roman citizens and lived as faithful citizens of Rome, a point to which Paul appealed for illustration purposes in 3:20.

Women in this colony, as in most of the province of Macedonia, were treated with respect. As reflected in the church (Phil. 4:2,3), the women in this area were active in public life.

Occasion and Date: Paul wrote this letter probably during his first incarceration in Rome, around the year 61 A.D., to thank the Philippians for the contribution that he had received from them. He also referred with words of warm gratitude to Epaphroditus, who brought the presents from Philippi and whom he sent back.

Purpose: Although the principal reason for writing this letter was to recognize the Philippians' gesture, Paul also urged them to maintain the spirit of unity and fraternal disposition among themselves. Furthermore, he warned them against the dangerous heresies that threatened them, probably relating to Judaism and Gnosticism.

Characteristics: From several points of view, this is the most beautiful of Paul's letters. It is filled with tenderness, warmth and affection, its style is spontaneous, personal and informal, and offers us an intimate diary of the apostle's spiritual experiences.

Triumphant joy constitutes the dominant note of the letter. Although imprisoned, Paul is extraordinarily happy, and calls his readers to always rejoice in Christ. The epistle emphasizes ethical and practical questions and is centered in Jesus Christ. For Paul, Christ was more than an example, he was life itself.

Content: The constant message of Philippians has to do with the nature and basis of Christian joy. For Paul, true joy isn't a superficial emotion that is based on the favorable circumstances of the moment. Christian joy doesn't depend on external conditions, and is possible even in the midst of adverse circumstances such as persecution and privation.

Ultimately, joy is born from the companionship with the resurrected and glorified Christ. Throughout this epistle, Paul speaks of joy in the LORD emphasizing that only through Christ is the believer's joy manifested, as happens with all the other Christian blessings. The essential for enjoying it is trust in the lordship of Christ, based on the experience of the power of his resurrection. For Paul, life acquires sense thanks to this conviction. Even death ceases to be an enemy, because through it a more full experience of the presence of Christ is accessed (1:21-23).

The joy that is expressed in Philippians involves an anxious expectation of the imminent return of the LORD. That this expectancy constitutes a dominant element in Paul's thought is demonstrated with the five references to the return of Christ. In the context of each one of them, a note of joy is discovered (1:6,10; 2:16; 3:20; 4:5).

Paul also describes that joy that stems from sharing the task of extending the gospel. The letter begins thanking the Philippians for their participation in the work of the gospel through the offerings they have sent. These, however, are only an expression of their communion in the gospel, or, as the epistle states (v.4:17), from the fruit that abounds "to your account". Thus Christian joy forms an active part of the community of the body of Christ.

Literary Form: (HBH) As the letter now stands, there is some question concerning its unity and sequence. This has led some scholars to hypothesize that Philippians contains two or three letters joined together by the collector of Paul's Letters. The questions involve the placement of the matter concerning Timothy and Epaphroditus (2:19-30), which might be expected to come at the end of the letter rather than the middle. Also the farewell and benediction (4:4-9) seem appropriate for the letter's closing. The conclusion, however, does not occur until after the section concerning the Philippians' generous gifts (4:10-20), which some might expect to begin the letter. In addition there is an emotional outburst (3:2) that is surprising.

While some expect Paul to have been more logical and orderly, the literary structure of the book reveals the hypothesis, however interesting, to be unprovable. The fact that Philippians is an informal letter, probably produced over a period of time, helps explain the roughness of style and the questionable sequence of the letter.

Much discussion has also centered around the origin and interpretation of 2:5-11. It is widely held that this section exemplifies an early Christian hymn or confession that Paul used in support of his appeal for humility. Whether or not this is the case, there is no reason to doubt that Philippians 2:5-11 formed a part of the epistle as originally composed by Paul.

Purpose and Theology: (HBH) Paul wrote this letter for several reasons:

He wanted to explain why he was sending Epaphroditus back to them (2:25-30).
He wanted to let them know of his plan to send Timothy to them (2:19-24).
He wanted to thank the Philippian church for their concern for him and their generous gifts to him (4:10-20).
He desired to inform them of his own circumstances and the advancement of the gospel (1:12-26).
He wanted to exhort the church to live in humility, fellowship, and unity (1:27-2:11; 4:2-3).
He also needed to warn them concerning the false teachings of legalism, perfectionism, and careless living (3:1-4:1).

The letter is extremely practical, but the guidance and warnings are theologically based: Paul's joy was grounded in Christ, as is all of life. In this sense the letter is thoroughly Christ-centered. The preexistence, incarnation, and exaltation of Christ is set forth in 2:5-11. Christ's incarnation is offered as an example for Paul's appeal to humble living and Christian unity (2:1-4).

Paul explained his doctrine of justification by faith in contrast to a false legalism (3:1-9). He contended for a sanctified life by identification with Christ through faith, sharing in His sufferings, death, and the power of His resurrection (3:10-11). Paul exhorted the church to set its mind on heavenly, rather than earthly, realities because Christians are destined for life in the age to come (3:17-4:1).

Special Considerations: Nowhere is the mind of Christ presented to the Christian more strongly than in Philippians 2:1-11. Appealing to the Philippians to be of "one mind" (2:2) in pursuing humility, Paul cites the example of the incarnation of GOD in Jesus Christ. "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus" (2:5), urges Paul. Unlike Adam, who sought to be equal with GOD (Gen. 3:5), Christ did not try to grasp for equality with GOD. Instead, being GOD, he poured Himself out and took upon Himself the form of a slave, to the point of dying the death of a common criminal. "Therefore", glories Paul, "GOD...has highly exalted Him, and given Him the name which is above every name" (2:9).

This is the Christ whose attitude and intention all believers must share. To be identified with Christ in humility and obedience is the noblest achievement to which anyone can aspire.

Personal Application: This letter reveals the eternal message that true joy can only be found in a personal dynamic relationship with Jesus Christ, and in the assurance that GOD is able to modify adverse circumstances for our good and for his glory. Because he was united with Christ by a living faith, Paul could proclaim his contentment in any circumstance. His spontaneous testimony affirmed, "And in this I do rejoice, and I will rejoice still" (1:18), and his unequalled request was, "Rejoice in the LORD always. Again I say, Rejoice!".

Christ Revealed: For Paul, Christ was the sum and substance of life. Preaching Christ was the passion that consumed him; knowing him, his supreme aspiration; and suffering for Him a privilege. His ultimate desire, respecting those to whom he had directed the epistle, was the they would put on the mind of Christ. To support his exhortation to humility and unselfishness, Paul describes the attitude that moved Christ to renounce his glory in heaven to suffer and die for our salvation (2:5-11). On doing so, he presents the most concise declaration of the gospel about the preexistence, incarnation and exaltation of Christ. He emphasizes here the deity as well as the humanity of Christ.

The Holy Spirit in Action: The work of the Spirit is mentioned in three distinct spheres in the letter. First, Paul declares that the Spirit of Jesus Christ directed the manifestation of GOD's purpose in his own life (1:19). The Holy Spirit also promotes unity in the body of Christ (2:1). The common participation in the Spirit feeds the unity of purpose and maintains a community of love. Then, in contrast with the lifeless ritual of the legalists, the Holy Spirit inspires and directs the worship of true believers (3:3).

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