Introduction to Philippians
Outline:
I. \\1:1-2\\ Introduction
II. \\#Php 1:3-4:23\\ Paul’s Heart
A. \\#3-10\\ Paul’s Relationship to the Philippians
1. \\#3-5, 7-8\\ Paul’s Love for the Philippians
2. \\#6, 9-11\\ Paul’s Desire for the Philippians
B. \\#1:12-30\\ Paul’s Concern for the Philippians
1. \\#12-26\\ Paul wanted them to understand.
2. \\#27-30\\ Paul wanted them to stay strong.
(Read \\#Acts 16:12-34\\.)
I. Background
A. Paul may have passed through the city of Philippi three times.
1. First, Paul stopped in Philippi while on his 2nd
missionary journey.
a. A large portion of the book of Acts can be outlined
into Paul’s journeys.
b. Counting his arrest and deportation to Rome, there are
four journeys.
(1) First Journey \\#Acts 13:1-14:28\\
(2) Second Journey \\#Acts 15:36-18:22\\
(3) Third Journey \\#Acts 18:23-21:15\\
(4) Journey to Rome \\#Acts 23:31-28:16\\
c. Paul started the church in Philippi on his second
journey \\#Acts 16:12-40\\.
2. Second, Paul may have stopped near the beginning of his
3rd missionary journey as he traveled to Greece.
a. This stop is questionable because it is not
specifically mentioned in the book of Acts.
b. If it happened, it would have occurred as Paul left
Ephesus\\#(Acts 19:1-20:1\\ and before he headed to
Greece.
Acts 20:1 And after the uproar was ceased, Paul
called unto him the disciples, and embraced them,
and departed (from Ephesus) for to go into
Macedonia.
2 And when he had gone over THOSE PARTS (maybe
including Philippi), and had given them much
exhortation, he came into Greece,
c. They may have been the occasion for \\#2Cor 8:1-5\\.
3. And last at the end of Paul’s third journey, he passed
through Philippi on his way to Troas \\#Acts 20:3-6\\.
Acts 20:3 And there (Greece) abode three months.
And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was
about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return
through Macedonia.
4 And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of
Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and
Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; and
of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus.
5 These going before tarried for us at Troas.
6 And we sailed away from Philippi after the days
of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas
in five days; where we abode seven days.
a. This journey was not Paul’s original return route, but
because some were planning to attack him on his first
choice, sailing from Corinth all the way to Syria.
b. If they both occurred, the last two visits would have
been brief.
c. The first visit would have been the longest.
(1) \\#Acts 16:12\\ They abode in the city "certain
days."
(2) \\#Acts 16:18\\ Paul endured the demon possessed
woman following them around for "many days"
before finally casting out the demon.
(3) During that time, several people were saved
(Lydia, the jailer and his family, and "the
brethren" \\#Acts 16:40\\) and a church was
started.
(4) Strong friendships, which included financial
backing for Paul’s ministry, were made.
Philippians 4:16 For even in Thessalonica ye
sent once and again unto my necessity.
(5) It appears that Luke (whom we supposed to be the
writer of Acts) may have stayed in Philippi to
continue the work there.
(a) The change in the personal pronoun from "we"
to "they" by the narrator begins after Paul
left Philippi.
Acts 16:16 And it came to pass, as we went to
prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit
of divination met us, which brought her masters
much gain by soothsaying:
Acts 17:1 Now when they had passed through
Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to
Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:
(b) The pronoun reverted back to "we" on the
third missionary.
i. Paul had travelled to Ephesus where he
stayed for over 2 years.
ii. When he leaves, the writer had rejoined
Paul’s group.
Acts 20:6 And we sailed away from Philippi after
the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them
to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days.
B. The city of Philippi
1. The city was named after Philip of Macedonia, king of that
region around 360 BC.
a. The city was about 9 miles from the Mediterranean Sea
and was located 1600 feet above sea level.
b. Paved roads, which Paul would have travelled, lead in
and out of the city.
2. The city was located on a decisive battle field.
a. Rome for centuries had been a republic but had grown
weak and divided politically.
b. For a long period of time, generals fought for the
position of emperor.
c. The battle at Philippi helped to place Octavian
(Augustus) as emperor.
d. Because of that, Octavian made Philippi his own "pet
project."
(1) It was made into a Roman colony in 42 BC.
(2) It was referred to as a "miniature Rome," because
control of the city was handled directly from
Rome.
(3) The city’s culture and citizenship were
predominately Roman.
(4) That the Roman flavor became a great source of
pride to Philippi’s inhabitants is even seen in
the Scripture:
Acts 16:20 And brought them to the magistrates,
saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly
trouble our city,
21 And teach customs, which are not lawful for us
to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.
(a) A Roman citizen had rights and privileges not
afforded to non-Romans.
(b) The greatest honors was to be born a Roman
citizen, but citizenship could be purchased.
(c) It was for this reason that the local
magistrates greatly feared when they learned
they had imprisoned and beaten a Roman
citizen.
Acts 16:35 And when it was day, the magistrates
sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go.
36 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.
37 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.
38 And the serjeants told these words unto the
magistrates: and they feared, when they heard
that they were Romans.
39 And they came and besought them, and brought
them out, and desired them to depart out of the
city.
C. The time of the actual writing of Philippians would seem to be
while Paul was imprisoned at Rome.
1. His references to…
a. the palace guard \\#Php 1:13\\,
b. Caesar’s household \\#Php 4:22\\,
c. and a long imprisonment with the prospect of death
\\#Php 1:12-20\\…
d. all support this.
2. If Paul was ever released from the Roman prison, this book
would likely have been written during his first
imprisonment there for Paul had a strong impression that
he would be released \\#Php 1:19\\.
Php 1:19 For I know that this shall turn to my
salvation through your prayer, and the supply of
the Spirit of Jesus Christ,
3. This would make Philippians one of five prison epistles.
a. Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon, and Philippians are
thought to written earlier in Paul’s imprisonment
(60-63 AD).
b. 2Timothy is thought to have been written later,
67-68 AD, which would be during Paul’s second
imprisonment if there were two.
D. The theme of the book is rejoicing.
1. The word "joy" is used 6 times
\\#Php 1:4,25 2:2,17,18 4:1\\.
2. Some form of the word "rejoice" is used 12 times in 10
verses.
3. Paul was encouraging these believers not only to continue
in his absence but to do so with rejoicing.
<Outline
Index> <Close Window>
