The Letter to the Philippians

Christian Joy

Philippi was a well-known city, founded by Philip of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great, in 358/357 B.C. It was also the site where Marc Antony defeated Brutus and Cassius in 31 B.C. In Paul’s time, the city was the capital of the region of Macedonia and a center of trade because of its location on the Egnatian Way that linked Rome with the East. It was also a colony of military people, whose citizens enjoyed the full rights of those living in Italy.

The time was A.D. 49–50 and Europe was waiting for the Gospel. The moment constituted a turning point in the life of Paul and in the missionary efforts of the young Church. Philippi was the first European city in which Paul proclaimed Jesus Christ and founded a community of Christians. The Acts of the Apostles (16:11-40) has preserved the memory of that mission and of a visit of Paul, who retained a special affection for that community, as he did for the nearby one of Thessalonica (see 1 Thes 1–2). It was perhaps the only community from which he accepted any financial aid.

Paul began his preaching in Philippi at a “place of prayer” by the riverside. His exorcism of a slave girl resulted in his arrest, scourging, and imprisonment. After an earthquake during the night, Paul refused to escape and revealed his Roman citizenship (Acts 16:12-40).

The community seems to have been made up predominantly of Gentiles and to have had leading roles for women right from the start, especially Lydia, a “worshiper of God” (Acts 16:14f, 40), Euodia, and Syntyche (Phil 4:2f).

In order to ease Paul’s imprisonment, the Christians of Philippi had recently sent Epaphroditus with a generous offering (Phil 4:10-18). Paul was in fact a prisoner, perhaps in Rome (see the final greeting in Phil 4:22); we would then be in the years A.D. 62–63. However, Paul was imprisoned more than once, although the Book of Acts does not record this fact (see 2 Cor 11:23).

He may also have written this Letter from Ephesus, which was closer and where he spent difficult days (see 1 Cor 15:32; 2 Cor 1:8; 4:8-10; 6:9). If so, the Letter can be dated A.D. 56–57, and the tone of closeness becomes more intelligible. Trust, surrender, and cordiality are the characteristics of this Letter from prison. It is, above all, a letter of joy and of fellowship in joy.

The absence of any grave problems to be treated enables Paul to carry on this heart-to-heart discourse. He injects in it something about his lot as a prisoner, but he does not forget his fundamental preoccupation with the unity of Christians in the internal relations of the community. He goes on to pass quickly from one idea to another—leading some scholars to consider this writing as an amalgam of several Letters.

The Apostle offers personal news and is also aware that internal or external influences lead to the temptation to establish antagonistic groups. However, the desire for unity brings with it the refusal of all personal pretense. He emphasizes this point by setting forth Christ as an example—which results in our having the wonderful hymn to the Lord Jesus (Phil 2:6-11).

In contrast to the temptation to follow the easy way of life, Paul depicts the Christian life as a journey and even as a course to run, as the project of a life united with Christ so that—with him and through him—one may ultimately enter the city of God.

The Letter to the Philippians may be divided as follows:

I: Introduction (1:1-11)

II: News and Instructions (1:12—3:1a)

III: Warning against False Teachers (3:1b—4:1)

IV: Counsels and Thanksgiving (4:2-9)

V: Acknowledgment of the Community’s Gift (4:10-20)

VI: Conclusion (4:21-23)