Philippians

In 42 B.C. Philippi became famous as the place where Mark Antony and Octavian defeated the Roman Republican forces of Brutus and Cassius, the assassins of Julius Caesar. The victors settled a number of their veteran soldiers there and established Philippi as a Roman colony.… After the battle of Actium (31 B.C.), in which Octavian defeated Antony, more settlers, including some of Antony’s disbanded troops and former supporters, were settled in Philippi by order of Octavian (Augustus), who renamed the colony after himself, and it finally became Colonia Iulia Augusta Philippensis. These settlers, along with some of the previous inhabitants, constituted the legal citizen body. Philippi was given the highest privilege possible for a Roman provincial municipality—the ius Italicum—which meant that it was governed by Roman law.… The citizens of this colony were Roman citizens.… Philippi itself was modeled on the mother city, Rome: it was laid out in similar patterns, the style and architecture were copied extensively, and the coins produced in the city bore Roman inscriptions. The Latin language was used, and its citizens wore Roman dress. Although not the capital of the province, Philippi was a leading city and an important stopping place on the Via Egnatia, the recently constructed military road linking Byzantium with the Adriatic ports that led to Italy. (O’Brien, Epistle, 4)

This made Philippi very nationalistic toward Rome, so much so, the the emperor, Nero, was called Kyrios and Sōtēr (“Lord and Savior”). This would’ve been hard for believers in Philippi. Gordon Fee notes, “In a city like Philippi this would have meant that every public event (the assembly, public performances in the theater, etc.) and much else within its boundaries took place in the context of giving honor to the emperor, with the acknowledgment that (in this case) Nero was “lord and savior.”(Fee, Philippian, 30)

The Philippian Church Plant (Acts 16:6-40)

After Paul’s conversion, Paul set out to joyful advance the kingdom of God. He was passionate and motivated. He had plans to preach Christ where Christ had never been preached. There were several times in Paul’s ministry where the Holy Spirit redirected Paul mission. The church in Macedonia is one of them.

In Acts 16:6, Paul had plans to go to Asia, but the Holy Spirit forbid him to go. God had plans to plant a church in Macedonia. Through a vision of a man pleading with Paul to come to them, Paul and Silas set out to preach the gospel to them.

It is wise to point out that God has tie sovereign right to change your course of direction. Paul’s life, after he met Jesus, was all about making much of Jesus. Paul set his eyes in one direction. Paul wanted to preach Christ in Asia and Bithynia, but the the Spirit of Jesus would not let them. Paul’s plans were good and Christ exalting, but they were not the plans Jesus had for Paul at that time. itr reminds me of David and his desire to build the temple. David’s desire to build the temple was good and right, but God wanted Solomon to build it. So, there are times in your ministry where you want to do something for the Lord, and it is good and right, but it may not be the plans God has for you. Like Paul, you need to submit to God’s direction. You need to go where God leads you. For Paul, God led him to Macedonia where a woman named Lydia was waiting to hear the gospel.

In verse 14, Luke introduces the readers to Lydia, a woman who is wealthy and a worshiper of God. We know she is wealthy because she sells purple cloth with was a lucrative business at the time. Only wealthy people could afford purple cloth. She also had a home, like a vial, which was big enough for the church to gather.

She is described as a worshiper of God. Lydia was a gentile who converted to Judaism. She knew Yahweh was the one true God. She followed Jewish customs and practices, which explains why she is gathered with the other women to pray on the Sabbath. But her faith was insufficient. She did not know of Jesus. So,

Acts 16:14 (ESV)

14 ... The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.

The Greek conveys the idea of enabling someone to perceive or understand what is being said. Some translations, like the CEV, says “he made her willing to accept what Paul was saying.”

Lydia was drawn to the Son by the Father (John 6:44). Her heart paid attention to the Paul’s message of the gospel. The other women were hearing words about Jesus. Lydia is hearing the truth of Jesus. And she felt compelled to respond.

Lydia’s faith was stirred up and she accepted the truth about Christ.

Acts 16:15 ESV

15 And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.

We know she believes because she is baptized. The bible teaches that baptism is a response of obedience to your faith. She confesses Christ as Lord, and Paul baptizes her and everyone in her house who confesses Christ. We also know she believes because she tells Paul, “If you believe I am a true believer, come stay at my house.” Paul accepts her invitation and stays with her and her household. Paul is sure Lydia is truly converted. And thus the Philippian church was established.

God draws a demon possessed girl and a Philippian jailer with his family and the following verses. The church begins to grow and meets in Lydia’s home.

The Diversity in the Philippian Church

It should be noted that the Philippian church was very diverse. Lydia was a wealthy Asian woman. The demon possessed girl was a native greek slave. The Philippian jailer was a Roman blue collar soldier. I’ve said this before, and its worth saying again; only Jesus can take people from completely opposite socio, economic, cultural backgrounds who have nothing in common and genuinely unify them in His church. When the church submits to the Spirit and bears the fruit of the Spirit, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self control, the gates of hell cannot prevail over our unity. The church can be one of the greatest examples, portraits really, of Christ’s unifying power to the world.

Paul’s Letter to the Philippian Church

Paul writes this letter to the Philippian church in 62 AD, approximately ten years after it was planted. Its had time to settle into the community and suffer some growing pains. Paul’s tone is friendly and full of thanksgiving. He loves the church. He calls them his “joy and crown” (4:1). He thanks them for their generosity, especially in their poverty (4:14-19). he says their giving is an example to other churches. In the opening section of the letter, he gives them an update on his present situation. He’s suffering imprisonment for preaching the gospel, something they were likely aware because they witnessed his suffering in Philippi (1:12-26l 27-28). He explains why he had to send Epaphroditus back soon (2:25-30). Paul recognizes the church is struggling with the pressure of persecution and strife inside the church. He appeals to them to unite in the gospel (1:27-2:11; 4:2-3). He warns them of false teaching (3:2); and he urges them, no matter what, to persevere with joy in Jesus Christ. The joy of the Lord is your strength that keeps your unity tight.

I like what Tony Merida and Francis Chan say about joy and unity.

“When you get the gospel, you get joy. When you focus on the gospel, you get unity. But we must persevere in believing the true gospel, and we must persevere in cultivating harmony in our relationships around the gospel.” (Merida & Chan)

With this as our backdrop, I want offer you seven themes in the form of application to consider when we work through Philippians.

We will suffer for the Gospel, but Jesus is worth it.

Philippi was devoted to Rome. Its citizens were former Roman military. Nero was their Lord and Savior. Nero, and the rest of Rome, saw Jesus’ kingdom as a threat to Rome. Paul says our citizenship is in heaven. Our Lord and Savior is Jesus and we claim that Jesus is the only Lord and Savior. Nero never stood a chance. So, the kingdom of the world collides with the kingdom of God, and for now we suffer for it. Paul wrote this letter from prison in Rome. He was in prison because he was preaching that Jesus is the only Lord and Savior.

Paul says, however, that to live is Christ, to die is gain. Jesus is far better than anything the world has to offer. The riches of his glory and grace and the inheritance of His kingdom makes our suffering look light in comparison.

Rejoice, again I say rejoice, in all things.

Rejoice is an imperative in this letter. Paul commands that we rejoice in all things. Its a decision you make, even when the circumstances are hard and trying. Just because Paul was in prison did not mean he had the right to be disgruntle. Paul sought Christ while in prison, and Christ gave him joy. So much joy that he shared Jesus with the Roman guard and converted people to the kingdom.

Partner together to joyfully advance the kingdom.

The Philippian church, maybe more than any other church, partnered with Paul in his ministry, and stuck with him even while he was in prison. There partnership was deep and abiding, so much as that Paul says he’s not only thankful for them, but that he yearns for them with the affections of Jesus (Phil 1:8). It was not business as usual. Nor was it s consumer relationship like we see in the church today. This partnership feels more covenantal in its commitment. We are coworkers on a mission, a mission to joyfully advance the kingdom of God by making much of Jesus until the church, community, and home joyfully abide in Jesus.

Give Generously and Sacrificially

With their partnership to Paul they gave financially out of their poverty. Pauls speaks to their giving in 2 Cor 8:1-5

2 Corinthians 8:1–5 ESV

1 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— 5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.

Serve each other in humility.

Paul calls the church to lay aside your self-interest for the sake of your brothers and sisters. He says there is joy to be found in serving one another in humility. Then, to prove his point, he gives Christ as his example of one who served you by humbling himself.

Philippians 2:5–8 ESV

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Fight for the unity of the Spirit.

We must actively make it our aim to avoid conversation and actions that would disrupt the unity of the church. We cannot be passive about this. Unity is hard work and its intentional. We must fight for each other in order to maintain the unity of the Spirit.

Draw from Christ’s riches to be content in all things.

At the heart of self-interest and disunity is discontentment. In my opinion, Paul addresses the main heart need in chapter four when he says he learned to be content in all things. A discontent church is a broken church, an arrogant church, a selfish church, and dying church. I pray Paul in his letter to Philippians will teach us Christ filled contentment that compels us to stop worrying about our own kingdom, and to fix our eyes on His kingdom, no matter the cost.

Pauls’ humility filled Greeting (Philippians 1:1-2)

Philippians 1:1–2 ESV

1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Grace is what the Father gives you in Christ. Peace is the fruit that grace, and so is humility. In verse 1, Paul identities himself, along with Timothy, as the writers of the letter. Look how Paul describes he and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus. The word servant is the word doulos, which literally means slave. In the New Testament, it is often used to describe a bondservant, one who is subservient to, and entirely at the disposal of, his master; a slave.” As one commentator notes, “In Roman times, the term bondservant or slave could refer to someone who voluntarily served others. But it usually referred to one who was held in a permanent position of servitude. Under Roman law, a bondservant was considered the owner’s personal property. Slaves essentially had no rights and could even be killed with impunity by their owners.”

Paul and Timothy were slaves of Jesus. he bought them with the price of his blood, and they lived their life in perpetual servitude to Him. Paul is setting the tone for the letter. Humble servitude is a motif in the Letter to Philippians. Paul is going to call in the Philippian church to be humble serve one another. He sets himself as an example, following His masters example, Jesus, whom Paul speaks of in Philippians 2:5-11.

Paul is writing to the saints in Philippi. He is referring to those who are in Christ Jesus. Saints is a term that means to be set apart. He is writing to Christians, God’s elect, in Philippi. He also mentions the overseers and deacons. Remember from our study of elders, an elder is a pastor who oversees the church. Paul is addressing the elders of the church of Philippi. The deacons are not the overseers. They are the a special body of servants who meet the physical needs of the church. So, Paul is recognizing the plurality of elders and the role of deacons in the Philippian church.

Paul desires the grace of God and the peace of Christ to be in the saints, the elders, and the deacons of the church. Isn’ t that what we desire as well? The structure of the church is important to the health of the church. The elders must be filled with the grace of God and the peace of Christ to lead the church well. The deacons must be filled with the grace of God and the peace of Christ if they are to serve the church well. And the saints must be filled with the grace of God and the peace of Christ if they are going to follow the leadership, suffer for the gospel, rejoice in all things, partner to joyfully advance the gospel, serve each other in humility, fight for the unity, and draw from Christs riches to be content in all things.

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