Philippians

About this book

Philippians is Paul's warm, personal thank-you to a church that had supported him from the beginning, written while he was in prison and uncertain of the outcome. Yet the letter is full of joy, a word that returns again and again. Paul shares news of his own situation, insisting that even chains have helped spread the gospel, and then urges the Philippians to live as citizens of heaven: united, humble and willing to put others first. At the center stands a famous hymn-like passage describing Christ, who held nothing back, took the form of a servant and was then honored by God, offered as the pattern for Christian humility. Paul also speaks candidly about counting his own credentials as loss for the sake of knowing Christ, presses on toward the goal, and encourages prayer instead of anxiety. He closes by thanking them for a gift sent through Epaphroditus. Scholars debate whether the letter was written from Rome or another city, but its message of steady joy is clear.

Author

The apostle Paul, with Timothy named in the greeting; authorship is widely accepted.

Date

Debated: most often placed about AD 60–62 from Rome, though Ephesus or Caesarea have been proposed.

Audience

The church in Philippi, a Roman colony in Macedonia and the first church Paul founded in Europe.

Themes

Outline

1. 1:1–1:11Greeting, thanks and prayer
2. 1:12–1:30Paul's imprisonment and a call to stand firm
3. 2:1–2:30Humility, the example of Christ and faithful co-workers
4. 3:1–3:21Knowing Christ and pressing toward the goal
5. 4:1–4:23Rejoicing, prayer, contentment and thanks

Key verses