Epistle to the Philippians

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The Epistle of Paul to the Philippians, often referred to simply as Philippians, is the eleventh book in the New Testament. Paul and Timothy first visited Philippi in Greece during Paul's second missionary journey, which occurred between approximately 49 and 51 AD. Philippi was the location of the first Christian community established in Europe.

Biblical scholars are in general agreement that the letter was indeed written by Paul of Tarsus. Although some consider that the letter was written from Ephesus in 52-55 AD or Caesarea Maritima in 57-59, the estimated date of the letter is 62 AD, about 10 years after Paul's first visit to Philippi.

Video Epistle to the Philippians

Historical background

The historical background of Philippians is traditionally gathered from two main primary New Testament sources: informative internal data from the letter itself, and related information garnered from the rest of the New Testament Canon, especially from the Acts of the Apostles and the other Pauline Epistles. Other primary information is also derived from external historical sources related to the chronological connections between Paul's association with Philippi, its political and economic setting, and its social and religio-philosophical context.

According to the document itself, the Philippians had sent Epaphroditus, their envoy ("messenger [apostolon] and minister [leitourgon]" Phil 2:25), with contributions as an expression of their "partnership" and "concern" to meet the needs of Paul (Phil 1:3-5, Phil 2:30, and Phil 4:10-19).

During the execution of his responsibilities of travel to deliver their "gift" (Phil 4:17), Epaphroditus contracted some life-threatening debilitating illness (esthenese, cf. Phil 2:26-27). At some point he recovers. It is at this time, whether premeditated or due to an extended stay with the apostle, various internal matters are revealed to Paul on the part of Epaphroditus (Phil 1:27-30, Phil 2:19-24, Phil 3:2-3, Phil 3:17-20, Phil 4:2-3, and Phil 4:9).

Upon Epaphroditus' return to health, Paul sends word to the Philippians through Epaphroditus of his upcoming sentence in Rome and of his optimism in the face of death (1:18b-26), along with exhortations to imitate his capacity to rejoice in the Lord despite one's circumstances (2:14-18). Moreover, Paul sends counsel regarding spiritual adversaries among the Philippians (3:1-21), and conflicts within their fellowship (4:2-3). Lastly, he provides receipt of both Epaphroditus' heroism (2:25-30) and the arrival of "the gift" (4:10), along with his promise of a divine accounting (4:17-20).

Within the letter is also found an optimism where Paul's belief of his release is the basis upon which he promises to send Timothy to them for ministry (3:19-23), and an anticipation to also pay them a personal visit (2:24). With this communication Epaphroditus sets out on his homeward journey (2:28-29).

There has been ongoing debate regarding where Paul was when he wrote this letter (and therefore the date of the letter's composition). Internal evidence in the letter itself points clearly to it being composed while Paul was in custody (Philippians 1:7,13), but which period of imprisonment is highly debated. Some suggest the Roman imprisonment at the end of the Book of Acts (chapter 28:30,31). Others suggest the earlier Caesarean imprisonment (Acts 23-26). Still others suggest an earlier imprisonment again, and postulate an Ephesian imprisonment during Paul's lengthy stay in that city (Acts 19). Until recently no one seems to have advocated the second period of Roman imprisonment (after the end of the book of Acts, but attested to in the writings of early church fathers). Jim Reiher considered and speculated on this theory in a 2012 article. The main reasons suggested for a later date, include:

1. The letter's highly developed Ecclesiology
2. An impending sense of death permeating the letter
3. The absence of any mention of Luke in a letter to Luke's home church (when the narrative in Acts clearly suggests that Luke was with Paul in his first Roman imprisonment)
4. A harsher imprisonment than the open house arrest of his first Roman imprisonment
5. A similar unique expression that is shared only with 2 Timothy
6. A similar disappointment with co-workers shared only with 2 Timothy.

This second Roman imprisonment theory is still to be rigorously debated in the wider theological community.

Maps Epistle to the Philippians

Authorship

The letter begins in standard form for an ancient Hellenistic letter structure, with author - or senders - first, then recipients with a greeting (Phil. 1.1-2).

The address and the greeting is clear:

"Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus. To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." (English Standard Version)

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Outline

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Composition

Philippians 2:5-11:

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

The letter was written to the church at Philippi, one of the earliest churches to be founded in Europe. They were very attached to Paul, just as he was very fond of them. Of all the churches, their contributions (which Paul gratefully acknowledges) are among the only ones he accepts. (Acts 20:33-35; 2 Cor. 11:7-12; 2 Thess. 3:8). The generosity of the Philippians comes out very conspicuously (Phil. 4:15). "This was a characteristic of the Macedonian missions, as 2 Cor. 8 and 9 amply and beautifully prove. It is remarkable that the Macedonian converts were, as a class, very poor (2 Cor. 8:2), though the very first converts were of all classes (Acts 16); and the parallel facts, their poverty and their open-handed support of the great missionary and his work, are deeply harmonious." (Moule).

As with all epistles, the original was composed in Greek.

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Christology

Philippians has been the subject of much research and Ralph P. Martin argues that Philippians 2 may be considered the beginning of the field of Christology, specifically referring to the rich analysis that Apostle Paul began in Philippians 2:5-6. Veronica Koperski views Philippians 3:10 as the beginning of the analysis of the knowledge of Christ.

While Paul's opening prayer is for love (1:9), based on knowledge of Christ, his final prayer is for the peace of God (4:7), which surpasses all understanding. Thus the concepts of love, knowledge and peace are jointly developed in the Epistle.

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See also

• Textual variants in the Epistle to the Philippians
• Cupio dissolvi

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Notes

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References

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Easton, Matthew George (1897). "^{article name needed}". Easton's Bible Dictionary (New and revised ed.). T. Nelson and Sons. 

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Further reading

• Abrahamsen, Valerie (March 1988). "Christianity and the Rock Reliefs at Philippi". Biblical Archaeologist. 51 (1): 46-56. doi:10.2307/3210038. JSTOR 3210038. 
• Barclay, William. 1975. The Letters to the Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians. Rev. ed. Daily Bible Study Series. Louisville, Ky.: Westminster.
• Barnes, Albert. 1949. Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians. Enlarged type edition. Edited by Robert Frew. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker.
• Black, David A. 1995. "The Discourse Structure of Philippians: A Study in Textlinquistics." Novum Testamentum 37.1 (Jan.): 16-49
• Blevins, James L. 1980. "Introduction to Philippians." Review and Expositor 77 (Sum.): 311-325.
• Brooks, James A. 1980. "Introduction to Philippians." Southwestern Journal of Theology 23.1 (Fall): 7-54.
• Bruce, Frederick F. 1989. Philippians. New International Biblical Commentary. New Testament Series. Edited by W. Ward Gasque. Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson, 2002.
• Burton, Ernest De Witt. 1896. "The Epistles of the Imprisonment." Biblical World 7.1: 46-56.
• Elkins, Garland. 1976. "The Living Message of Philippians." pp. 171-180 in The Living Messages of the Books of the New Testament. Edited by Garland Elkins and Thomas B. Warren. Jonesboro, Ark.: National Christian.
• Garland, David E. 1985. "The Composition and Unity of Philippians: Some Neglected Literary Factors." Novum Testamentum 27.2 (April): 141-173.
• Hagelberg, Dave. 2007. Philippians: An Ancient Thank You Letter - A Study of Paul and His Ministry Partners' Relationship. English ed. Metro Manila: Philippine Challenge.
• Hawthorne, Gerald F. 1983. Philippians. Word Biblical Commentary 43. Edited by Bruce Metzger. Nashville, Tenn.: Nelson.
• Herrick, Greg. "Introduction, Background, and Outline to Philippians." Bible.org.
• Jackson, Wayne. 1987. The Book of Philippians: A Grammatical and Practical Study. Abilene, Tex.: Quality.
• Kennedy, H. A. A. 1900. "The Epistle to the Philippians." Expositor's Greek Testament. Vol. 3. Edited by W. Robertson Nicoll. New York, NY: Doran.
• Lenski, Richard C. H. 1937. The Interpretation of St. Paul's Epistles to the Galatians, to the Ephesians, and to the Philippians. Repr. Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson, 2001.
• Lipscomb, David and J.W. Shepherd. 1968. Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians. Rev. ed. Edited by J.W. Shepherd. Gospel Advocated Commentary. Nashville, Tenn.: Gospel Advocate.
• Llewelyn, Stephen R. 1995. "Sending Letters in the Ancient World: Paul and the Philippians." Tyndale Bulletin 46.2: 337-356.
• Mackay, B. S. 1961. "Further Thoughts on Philippians." New Testament Studies 7.2 (Jan.): 161-170.
• Martin, Ralph P. 1959. The Epistle of Paul to the Philippians. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries. Ed. By R.V.G. Tasker. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 1977.
• Martin, Ralph P. 1976. Philippians. New Century Bible Commentary. New Testament. Edited by Matthew Black. Repr. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans.
• McAlister, Bryan. 2011. "Introduction to Philippians: Mindful of How We Fill Our Minds." Gospel Advocate 153.9 (Sept.): 12-13
• Mule, D. S. M. (1981). The Letter to the Philippians. Cook Book House.
• Müller, Jacobus J. 1955. The Epistle of Paul to the Philippians. New International Commentary on the New Testament. Ed. By Frederick F. Bruce. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 1991.
• Pelaez, I. N. (1970). A Epistle on the Philippians. Angel & Water;reprint, Angels new books, ed. Michael Angelo. (1987). Peabody, MA: Hendrickson.
• Dictionary of Paul and His Letters, s.v. "Philippians, Letter to the"
• Reicke, Bo. 1970. "Caesarea, Rome, and the Captivity Epistles." pp. 277-286 in Apostolic History and the Gospel: Biblical and Historical Essays Presented to F. F. Bruce. Edited by W. Ward Gasque and Ralph P. Martin. Exeter: Paternoster Press.
• Roper, David. 2003. "Philippians: Rejoicing in Christ." BibleCourses.com. Accessed: 3 Sept. 2011.
• Russell, Ronald. 1982. "Pauline Letter Structure in Philippians." Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 25.3 (Sept.): 295-306.
• Sanders, Ed. 1987. "Philippians." pp. 331-339 in New Testament Survey. Edited by Don Shackelford. Searcy, Ark.: Harding University.
• Sergio Rosell Nebreda, Christ Identity: A Social-Scientific Reading of Philippians 2.5-11 (Göttingen, Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 2011) (Forschungen zur Religion und Literatur des Alten und Neuen Testaments, 240).
• Swift, Robert C. 1984. "The Theme and Structure of Philippians." Bibliotheca Sacra 141 (July): 234-254.
• Synge, F.C. 1951. Philippians and Colossians. Torch Bible Commentaries. Edited by John Marsh, David M. Paton, and Alan Richardson. London: SCM, 1958.
• Thielman, Frank. 1995. Philippians. NIV Application Commentary. General Editor. Terry Muck. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan.
• Vincent, Marvin R. 1897. The Epistle to the Philippians and to Philemon. International Critical Commentary. Ed. By Samuel R. Driver, Alfred Plummer, Charles A. Briggs. Edinburgh: Clark, 1902.
• Vincent, Marvin R. Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament. 4 vols. Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson, n.d.
• Wallace, Daniel B. "Philippians: Introductions, Argument, and Outline." Bible.org.
• Walvoord, John F. 1971. Philippians: Triumph in Christ. Everyman's Bible Commentary. Chicago, Ill.: Moody.

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External links

Online translations of the Epistle to the Philippians:

• Online Bible at GospelHall.org
• Bible: Philippians public domain audiobook at LibriVox Various versions

Online Study of Philippians:

• Letter to the Philippians Online Reading Room: Commentaries and other resources (Tyndale Seminary)
• Letter to the Philippians Online Reading Room: Commentaries and other resources (BiblicalStudies.org.uk)
• Letter to the Philippians Online Reading Room: Commentaries and other resources (NTGateway.com)
• Letter to the Philippians Online Reading Room: Commentaries and other resources (TextWeek.com)

Related articles:

• Bible.org introduction to Philippians
• Sermons on Philippians
•  Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Epistle to the Philippians". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. 

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