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Philippians
Introduction
Philippi was the first church on European soil. Paul, Timothy, Silas and Luke visited the town on their second missionary journey, Acts 16. Paul and Silas were jailed after a riot, and forced to leave the town. On Paul's third missionary journey he again visited the Philippian church, Acts 20. It was mainly a Gentile church, very supportive of Paul's ministry.
1. Introduction, 1:1-11
Greeting, thanksgiving and prayer for the church, 1:1-11
2. Paul's personal situation. 1:12-26
i] Paul describes his difficulties, 1:12-18b
ii] Through Paul's personal difficulties Christ is glorified, 1:18c-26
3. Exhortations, 1:27-2:18
i] An exhortation to unity and steadfastness, 1:27-2:4
ii] Humility based on the example of Christ, 2:5-11
iii] An appeal to good relations, 2:12-18
4. Personal information, 2:19-30
Information regarding the sending of Timothy and the return of Epaphroditus
5. Warnings and appeals, 3:1-4:1
i] Paul warns of the Judaizers (nomists), 3:1-4a
ii] Seek the prize of knowing Christ, 3:4b-11
iii] Seek the high calling in Christ Jesus, 3:12-16
iv] Stand firm in the Lord, 3:17-4:1
6. Practical pastoral issues, 4:2-9
i] A personal appeal for unity, 4:2-3
ii] Christian virtues, 4:4-9
7. A word of appreciation. 4:10-20
God provides all our needs, 4:10-20
8. Conclusion. 4:21-23
Personal greetings and benediction.
The letter serves to say thank you to the church for a gift sent to Paul while in prison. The gift came via Epaphroditus, who, after a serious illness, carried the letter back to the church.
The letter tells us that Paul was in prison, but it doesn't tell us where he was imprisoned. We know that Paul was a prisoner at Philippi, Jerusalem, Caesarea and Rome. Paul mentions that during his ministry he was imprisoned a number of times, 2Cor.6:5, 11:23, 24. There is strong evidence that he spent time in an Ephesian prison, although it is not recorded in Acts. Therefore Philippians may have been written at Caesarea, possibly Ephesus, but more probably Rome. If Rome, then it would be during or after the period recorded in Acts 28, that is, after 60AD. The letter is usually dated 62-63AD.
There is some evidence that Paul wrote more than one letter to the Philippians and that both letters are present in our one letter. It is argued that from 3:1b there is a dramatic change in tone indicating the incorporation of a different document. Although the Church Father Polycarp said, when addressing the Philippian church, that Paul, "being absent, wrote letters to you", there is little possibility that our letter is a compilation of two letters.
This is a personal letter which does not seek to address any particular problem faced by the church. It is, above all, a word of appreciation. It rings with joy and gratitude. Although ostensibly a word of appreciation, Paul does touch on some important theological issues: justification, mystical union, the second coming.... In particular, Paul establishes the pre-existence of Christ, and the two states of his being, namely, humiliation and exaltation.
Beare, Blacks. Bruce, NIBC. Caird, New Clarendon. Caudill, Blue Ridge Press. Fee, NICNT. Fowl, Horizons. Grayston, EPC & CBC. Hanson, Pillar, 2009. Hawthorn, Word. Hendriksen, Banner of Truth. Koehne, ChiRho. Lightfoot, Macmillan. 1890. Martin, Tyndale / NCB. Melick, NAC. Motyer, BST. Muller, NICNT. O'Brien, NIGTC. Reumann, Anchor, 2008. Silva, BECNT. Synge, Torch. Vincent, ICC, 1897
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