Paul wrote the letter to the church located at Philippi in the same time frame as the letter to the church at Colossi (around AD 62). Again, we note that Paul is under “house-arrest” in Rome. He is awaiting his assigned date to go be the Roman Emperor. Even though he is chained to a Roman soldier all the time, he is able to receive any and all visitors at his house. Because of this, he is able to have an extensive ministry in the city. It is also here that he is able to write these letters to the select churches.
Paul was able to have a very successful ministry in the city of Philippi, in spite of the many negative events that presented themselves there. Let us refresh our memories concerning his days there.
Philippi
The church at Philippi was the first Christian church in Europe, planted by the apostle Paul on his second missionary
journey around AD 50 or 51. The initial converts of the church at Philippi were Gentiles, and the congregation developed into a predominately Gentile fellowship. Women
also played an essential role in the life of the church at Philippi.
The city of Philippi was located in ancient Greece on the eastern border of the Roman province of Macedonia, about
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10 miles inland from the coast, directly northwest of its nearest port city, Neapolis. A strategic area in ancient times, Philippi sat on a fertile plain through which passed the Via
Egnatia (Egnatian Way), a trade highway that linked the Aegean and Adriatic Seas. Many travelers passed through Philippi on their way to Rome.
Originally founded by immigrants from Thrace, the city of
Philippi was famous for its abundant gold mines and
plenteous springs of water. From these springs, the town received its name Crenides, meaning “fountains” or
“springs.” Later, around 359 BC, the city was renamed Philippi after Philip of Macedonia, father of Alexander the
Great. Under Alexander, the city rose to become the capital
of the Greek Empire. By New Testament times, the city had
come under Roman rule with a diverse population of native
Thracians, Greeks, and Romans. A famous school of
medicine existed in Philippi, where the gospel writer Luke
may have studied.
Extensive archaeological and historical research has been done at Philippi, uncovering ruins that include the forum, agora, streets, gymnasium, baths, library, and acropolis.
Also, the site contains what may be a 400 BC temple of Apollo and Artemis, along with numerous inscriptions and
coins.
While in Troas on his second missionary journey, Paul was
called by God in a vision to go to Macedonia: “So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. During the night,
Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us.’ After
Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for
Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the
gospel to them” (Acts 16:8–10). Paul traveled to Philippi accompanied by Silas, Timothy, and Luke.
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Paul’s custom was to go to the synagogue whenever he first
arrived in a new city, but in Philippi, apparently, there was no synagogue, and he went to the river where he knew that
Jews would be worshipping (Acts 16:13). There Paul met Lydia, a Gentile who became the first Christian convert in
Europe: “One of those listening was a woman from the city
of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a
worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to
Paul’s message. When she and the members of her
household were baptized, she invited us to her home. ‘If you
consider me a believer in the Lord,’ she said, ‘come and stay at my house.’ And she persuaded us” (Acts 16:14– 15).
Lydia’s conversion was the first of three significant events
associated with the beginning of the church in Philippi. The
second was the exorcism of demons from a slave girl, which
resulted in Paul and Silas being thrown into prison (Acts 16:16–24). The third important event was the conversion of
the Philippian jailer and his family (Acts 16:25–40).
Paul visited the church at Philippi again on his third missionary journey, and the believers there gave generously
to support Paul’s ministry (Philippians 4:15; 2 Corinthians
11:9) as well as the church in Jerusalem (2 Corinthians 8:1-
5). While Paul was imprisoned in Rome, the church at Philippi sent Epaphroditus to minister to him. In return, Paul sent Timothy to the congregation at Philippi.
From the time it was established, the church at Philippi was
healthy, strong, and generous, becoming a model church that
only experienced minor problems of disunity (Philippians 4:2–7). After the apostolic age, the early church father Ignatius traveled through Philippi, and Polycarp wrote a famous letter to the church there.1
Overview of the Epistle to the Philippians
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The Philippian church was an ideal one in many respects. It was very appreciative and benevolent (4:15, 16; 2 Corinthians 8:2).
It was started by Paul on his second missionary journey, in the midst of a storm of persecution. The beginnings of the work were small, among a few women at the river side. Lydia, a seller of purple, was the first convert, and she was soon joined by the Philippian jailor and his family. These, and perhaps a few others, became the nucleus of the church (Acts 16:12-40).
The characteristics of the letter are as such as would be a spiritual love letter to the church. It contains outbursts of warm affection, and gratitude.
Written under hard circumstances, while Paul was a prisoner in Rome, he strikes the keynotes of victory and joy. Therefore, he rejoices: 1. In prayer, 1:4
2. In the gospel, 1:18
3. In Christian fellowship, 2:1, 2
4. In sacrifices for the cause, 2:17, 185. In the Lord, 3:1
6. For the loving care of the church, 4:10
The Central Message of the letter is Jesus Christ.