BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF PHILIPPIANS

BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF PHILIPPIANS:

AUTHOR, DATE, and TIME:

Apostle Paul (Phil 1:1) is considered to be the author based on the Internal and External evidence. Most probably, Paul would have written the book of Philippians while he was first imprisoned (Phil 1:13, 14) by the Romans in 61 A.D (Some others state that Paul may have written Philippians while he was imprisoned in Ephesus by 53-55 A.D., and also Paul may have written it while he was imprisoned in Caesarea during 57-59 A.D.)

RECIPIENTS:  - People of the City of Philippi.

The City is named after King Philip II of Macedonia, the Father of Alexander the Great. The City is Prosperous and resembles the Roman colonies, so the citizens take pride in it. Paul writes to the believers of the city that their citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:21). Many believers in Philip are retired military men who were given land in the military regimen. There weren’t enough Jews to construct a Synagogue, and there wasn’t any teaching of the OT Scriptures known to exist there.

PURPOSE:

Ø  To thank the Philippians for their Gifts (Phil 4: 10-19)

Ø  To make them know about Paul’s own Circumstances (Phil 1:12)

Ø  To encourage the Philippians to stand firm in the face of Persecution (Phil 1:27)

Ø  To rejoice always. (Phil 4:4)

Ø  To imitate Christ’s Humility (Phil 2:1-11)

Ø  To inform the visit of Timothy and Epaphroditus (Phil 2: 19-30)

Ø  To warn Philippians against Legalism as well as Leniency. (Phil 3Ch)

LITERARY FEATURES:

Ø  There is no Old Testament reference written by Paul in the book of Philippians.

Ø  It’s primarily a missionary thank-you letter

Ø  It manifests the Christian living through Self Humbling (Phil 3:13-14), Pressing toward the Goal (3:13,14), Lack of Anxiety (Phil 4:6), Ability to do all things through Christ (Phil 4: 13)

Ø  It is called the Letter of Joy in the New Testament. The Word Joy is used 16 times in its various forms.

Ø  It contains the Profound Christological Passage (Phil 2:5-11), though it is mentioned here for an illustrative purpose.

OUTLINE:

1st Chapter- Greetings, Thanksgiving & Prayer for the Philippians, Paul’s Personal Circumstances

2nd Chapter- Imitating Christ’s humility, Rejoicing in the midst of Suffering, Information about Sending Timothy and Epaphroditus

3rd Chapter- Having no confidence in the flesh and Legalism, Pressing on toward the Goal

4th Chapter- Final Exhortations, Thanksgiving for the Gifts, Final Greetings

LEARNINGS:

Ø  We could learn from the Characteristics of the Philippians

Ø  We could learn from the Characteristics of Paul

Ø  We could learn from the Teachings of Paul

We could learn from the Characteristics of Christ

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