1 Introduction to Philippians
2 Introduction to Philippians I. Philippi A. Philippi was located eight to ten miles inland from its seaport, Neapolis. B. The city was named for Philip of Macedon, the father of Alexander the Great, who captured it in 356 B.C. C. Gold mines on Mount Pangaeus and numerous springs near the city enhanced its value. D. The Romans conquered Philippi by the battle of Pydna in 168, 167 B.C. and it became a Roman province. E. In 42 B.C., on the plains of Philippi, Antony and Octavian defeated Brutus and Cassius, Caesar s assassins, which determined the future of the Roman Empire for many years to come. F. In 31 B.C. Octavian, who fifteen years later became known as Caesar Augustus, defeated Antony. G. Philippi was made a Roman colony with its residents being granted Roman citizenship which provided distinct rights and privileges. 1. Octavius settled many retired soldiers in Philippi. 2. Much Roman money was spent on Philippi, which became a significant Roman outpost. H. Philippi was located on one of the major roads of the first century connecting the Adriatic Sea through Thrace to the
3 Bosphorus, a distance of 500 miles, and also had ready access to the sea at nearby Neapolis. I. The population of Philippi consisted largely of Romans and Greeks and only a relatively few Jews. II. The Church in Philippi A. Acts 16:6-40, 6 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 endeavored 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. 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. And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination
4 met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour. And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers, And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans. And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. 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
5 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. And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go. And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace. But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out. And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans. And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city. And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed. B. Lydia was the first convert to Christ in Philippi. 1. She was a dealer in purple from the city of Thyratira. 2. Paul there lodged with Lydia and her family. a. Matthew 10:11, And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, inquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence. C. A fortune-telling slave girl, who possessed an evil spirit and was used by her owners for much personal gain, was healed by Paul.
6 1. This removed her owners financial benefit. 2. They incited a riot which led to Paul and Silas being severely beaten and imprisoned. 3. When people s greed is attacked, watch out! D. While in prison an earthquake struck which opened the cell doors. 1. Paul and Silas did not attempt to escape. a. Philippians 4:11, Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 2. The jailor, who was about to kill himself because he was responsible for the security and safety of the prisoners, heard Paul preach Christ. 3. The jailor and his family became Christians. E. Paul and Silas then were respectfully asked to leave the city, the rulers now having knowledge of Paul s citizenship and realizing they had made a serious mistake in regard to beating and imprisoning Paul and Silas. F. These events are dated to A.D. 49-52. 1. The Philippian church was established on Paul s second missionary journey and afterward grew and prospered.
7 2. The Philippian church was the first established by Paul in what we know as Europe. 3. While in Troas, Paul in a vision saw a man of Macedonia pleading, Come over to Macedonia and help us. Acts 16:9. 4. God had spoken! Paul did not argue about what God had said. He packed his bags and away he went! May it ever be so with us. 5. Silas, Timothy, and Luke traveled with Paul from Troas to Philippi via Neapolis. G. The church in Philippi sent support to Paul in Thessolonica, Corinth, and Rome as well. 1. Philippians 4:16, For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. 2. II Corinthians 11:9,And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself. H. Their gift to Paul during Paul s first imprisonment in Rome was delivered by Epaphroditus. 1. Epaphroditus stayed for a while to minister to Paul, but he became seriously ill while in Rome.
8 2. When Epaphroditus health improved, he returned home with a letter of thanks and encouragement from Paul which we know as the Biblical book of Philippians. 3. Philippians 2:25-30, Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants. or he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick. For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful. Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation: Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me. III. Date and Place of Writing A. Although there are other possibilities, Rome during Paul s first imprisonment there appears to be the place at which Philippians was written. B. Philippians was likely written in the early years of the 60s A.D., perhaps in A.D. 63.
9 C. Scriptures in support of Rome as the place Philippians was written: 1. Phillippians 1:7-13, Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace. For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ. And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places; 2. Philippians 4:21, Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren which are with me greet you. 3. Philippians 1:20-26, According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far
10 better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith; That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again. 4. Philippians 2:24, But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly. D. Colossians, Ephesians, Philemon, and Philippians are called prison epistles having been written during Paul s Roman imprisonment. IV. Reasons for Writing Philippians A. Paul wrote to thank the Philippians for their contribution which was delivered to him by Epaphroditus. B. Paul wrote to inform the Philippians of his current situation and problems. C. Paul wrote to correct certain problems which existed within the Philippian church. D. Paul wrote to warn the Philippians of certain enemies of the cross. Note: The above material was taken from: (1) The College Press NIV Commentary on Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon by Anthony L. Ash; (2) James Burton Coffman Commentaries, Volume 8; (3) New Testament Commentaries, David Lipscomb and J. W. Shepherd.
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12 Questions 1. When, by whom, and under what circumstances was Philippi established? 2. For whom and by whom was Philippi named? How was Philippi involved with the military exploits of Alexander the Great? 3. How were the Romans involved with Philippi? 4. Describe the population of Philippi. 5. How, by what route, did Paul travel to Philippi and how did he leave? Who traveled to Philippi with Paul?
13 6. What transportation advantages did Philippi enjoy? 7. Specify major events of Paul s first sojourn in Philippi. 8. What led Paul to go to Philippi? What lesson does Paul s actions on this occasion teach us? 9. What was the relationship of Paul and the Philippian church in the following years?
14 10. Tell all you know about Epaphroditus. 11. When, where, and by whom was Philippians written? 12. What Biblical books are known as prison epistles? Why are they called prison epistles? 13. Why did Paul write Philippians? 14. Who were Antony, Octavian, Caesar Austus, Octavius, Brutus, and Cassius? What did they have to do with Philippi?
15 15. What happens when greedy people have their possessions and source of income threatened? Give examples.