NEW TESTAMENT
PHILIPPIANS
What is the book of Philippians about in the Bible? The church in Philippi was the first Jesus community that Paul started in eastern Europe (Acts 1 6) Philippi was a Roman colony in ancient Macedonia full of retired soldiers and well-known for its patriotic nationalism. So Paul faced resistance there for announcing Jesus as the true King of the world. After Paul had moved on, those who became followers of Jesus continued to suffer persecution, but they remained a vibrant community, faithful to the way of Jesus.
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Background of the Book of Philippians: ​
Author: The Apostle Paul wrote Philippians, likely from prison in Rome around 61-62 C.E., though some scholars suggest it could have been from Ephesus or Caesarea.
Audience: The letter is addressed to the Philippian church, a community Paul had founded during his second missionary journey. The Philippians had a close relationship with Paul and had sent him support while he was in prison.
Who Wrote the Book of Philippians? Christian tradition holds that the Apostle Paul wrote the book of Philippians.
Context:
The events described in Philippians take place in the city of Philippi. Philippians was likely composed while Paul was in custody in Rome between 60 and 64 C.E.
Curiosities of the Book of Ephesians:
City of Ephesus: Ephesus was a prominent city known for its extensive trade, cultural significance, and religious practices, particularly the worship of Artemis, whose temple was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Audience: The letter is addressed to the believers in Ephesus, though it is believed to have been intended for a broader audience of churches in the region, suggesting it may have been circulated among several congregations
Literary Styles: The book of Philippians is a letter to the churches in Philippi.
Key Themes:
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Imitation of Jesus through humble service.
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The hope for the resurrection life.
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God’s gift of peace in difficulty.
Structure:
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Philippians has five parts. Chapter 1:1-26 tells of Paul’s gratefulness.
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1:27-2:18 focuses on imitating Jesus. 2:19-30 explores imitating Jesus.
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3:1-4:1 describes Paul’s life as an imitation of Jesus’. And 4:2-23 reflects on Jesus’ humility.
Reflect:
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What is one way this video expanded your understanding of Paul’s letter to the Philippians?
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What is Paul’s attitude toward life? (see video at 1:54-3:08 or Philippians 1:12-26
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How does the whole letter relate to the Messiah poem at its center?
Go Deeper:
Paul centers his letter to the Philippians around a poem that highlights Jesus’ attitude of humility in the face of suffering. His letter invites all readers to consider other people's needs and interests, even when life is hard. Difficult circumstances often make humans want to complain, compete against one another, and hoard resources to meet our own needs. But Paul invites us to remember how Jesus’ selfless sacrifice leads to true life. His resurrection gives us a reason to humbly share with others in the most difficult times. Paul’s prison chains prove that sharing Jesus’ attitude isn’t easy, so he encourages the church and reminds them to endure. Now let’s take the time to internalize his message and reflect more together.
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Read: Philippians 2, Genesis 3, Isaiah 45:21-23Compare Philippians 2:5-11 with Genesis 3.
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Why did Adam and Eve take advantage of the opportunity to be equal to God, and what was the result? Why did Jesus refuse to exploit his equality with God, and what was the result?
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Read Isaiah 45:21-23 and Philippians 2:9-11 What does Paul want to communicate about the identity of Jesus by quoting from Isaiah’s scroll?
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How does Paul specifically encourage his readers to share Jesus’ attitude in Philippians 2:1-3 and 2:12-16
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How do Timothy, Epaphroditus, and Paul specifically follow the self-giving example of Jesus (see Philippians 2:19-30)
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Take some time to pray. Express gratitude for who Jesus is, acknowledge any specific mindsets that may be hindering your example, and pray for Jesus’ humble attitude to reshape your life and community.
Paul calls the Phillipians to imitate Jesus’ self-giving love.
Paul explains to the persecuted church at Philippi that living as a Christian means seeing our own story as a living expression of Jesus' story. Paul calls the people to imitate Jesus’ way of life, so that even in their suffering, they can find contentment and purpose through his example.
The Gospel in Poetry:
In the book of Philippians, we read a series of short vignettes revolving around the Messiah Poem in Chapter 2
Philippians 2 The poem retells the Gospel story and references Adam's rebellion from Genesis and the suffering servant in Isaiah.
