Epistle to the Philippians

The Author

1:1; 3:4-6

The Church at Philippi - During his 2nd Missionary Journey

Acts 16:6–12 (KJV 1900)

Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not. And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; there stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them. Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis; And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days. (Acts 16:6-12)

The Church was Established

Acts 16:13–15 (KJV 1900)

And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither. And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.

Acts 16:25–34 (KJV 1900)

And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed. And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.

The purpose of Philippians

(1) Paul is sending back Epaphroditus, an emissary of the congregation, to Philippi, and this provides him with the opportunity of dispatching a letter to the Philippians.

(2) Paul’s Christian friends at Philippi had been deeply concerned about his welfare, knowing that he was in prison awaiting trial. He therefore writes to let them know about his present circumstances.

(3) From our discussion above regarding Paul’s opponents and the false teachers at Philippi, it is clear that one of the apostle’s major purposes in writing his letter was to warn his dear friends of the dangers posed by Jewish Christian missionaries from outside the congregation who, by their Judaizing propaganda, sought to pervert the gospel of grace and to win them over.

(4) Closely related to the apostle’s concern that his readers be made aware of the dangers from opponents of the gospel is the twofold apostolic summons to stand fast and be united.

Key Verse: Philippians 4:4

Philippians 4:4 (KJV 1900)

Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

Philippians 4:4 (KJV 1900)

Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.