Woodlawn Baptist Church

Philippians

OVERVIEW

The Church at Philippi

Paul's Audience

Church at Philippi was the first city in Europe where Paul proclaimed the gospel. Philippi is an ancient city, which received its name in 356 B.C. when Philip II, father of Alexander the Great, annexed the city in order to mine for silver and gold in the neighboring town. By the time Paul is writing to Philippi it had been a Roman conquered city for over 200 years. The people Paul was writing to had also accumulated a number of gods that they worshipped, including: Jupiter, Mars, and the goddess Artemis under the name Bendis. The city, by the time of Paul's writing was a leading city located along a significant Roman trade route. There was seemingly only a very small Jewish community represented in the city at that time. Paul is writing to a church only about ten years old, but with a long history of supporting Paul and his ministry.

Introductory Information

Philippians

Philippians is written by the Apostle Paul. He is also known as Saul in the gospel of Acts (his name change is in order to better engage with Greek speakers). Paul cites a few reasons for writing his letter. He is sending Epaphroditis to them, he wants to thank them for their support, he wants to provide instruction to them, and he desires to warn them against false teachers and opponents of the gospel.

Paul is writing towards the end of his life during a prison term, most likely in Rome. He was writing his letter approximately 25-30 years after Christ's death on the cross (about A.D. 60).

The category of writing or genre is an epistle. Epistles were much more formal in nature and more congregation in appeal. Perhaps the closest we have is a formally written "open letter." The intended practice was to read the epistle to the gathered congregation, as if a pastor rose to preach and read the letter of Paul to the church. Therefore, we find the letters to provide clear teaching and direct application to a variety of situations in the church.

Acts 15-16 describe Paul's initial engagement with the city and the first converts to Christianity. Paul had been traveling on this particular missionary journey with the accompaniment of Silas. They intended to travel to Ephesus and then Bithynia, but they were unable to pursue ministry in either direction. So they made their way to Lystra, by this time Timothy had joined Paul and Silas, and we are introduced to the first person account of the narrator, Luke. So the group of four followed the counsel of Paul - which he received in a vision - and made their way to Philippi. Paul, as was his custom, preached the gospel first to the Jews. The jewish contingent in Philippi was rather small, as they did not gather in a synagogue, but by the Gangites River. The first to believe was Lydia, after "the Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said" (Acts 16:14). Her household professed faith and were baptized shortly after her. These believers ultimately constituted the first members of the church.

Several themes run throughout the brief letter:
1. Joy. The most pronounced theme throughout the letter is the consistent refrain "count it all joy" or "rejoice."
2. Sanctification. Paul thanks God for their progression in the gospel which he is certain God will carry to completion. Therefore, he urges them to continue in the faith "being of the same mind."
3. Adversity. Paul has faced adversity (as he cites his time in prison), but he is more concerned for the Philippians who are being challenged in their faith by the opponents who come at them as "dogs" and "evildoers."
4. Gospel Partnership. Philippians 1:27-30 is arguably the thesis statement of the letter. The thrust of the passage is the admonish to "let your manner of life be worthy fo the gospel of Christ."