The book of Philippians
Author
- Scholars are divided as to whether Paul wrote Philippians or not.
- In the lesson on Ephesians, several reasons were given why some scholars believe that Paul did not write the letter. That was important to cover so you can understand academic thinking behind issues such as authorship of a letter.
- But let's examine another issue: If someone else wrote Ephesians and Philippians other than Paul, did plagiarism or deception take place? After all, Paul's name is on both of them. The answer is no, and it has an historical explanation.
- Today, if someone uses a quote in a paper without using quotation marks or including a reference, he/she has plagiarized. Even more: If someone writes a paper and puts someone else's name on it, plagiarism has also occurred. But that was not the situation in ancient Rome. In those days, and even going back to the Greek period before that, brilliant scholars started schools, such as Plato and Socrates. Sometimes people wrote essays, books, etc., and put the head scholar's name on it. But they did not intend to plagiarize or lie; instead they were acknowledging that everything they learned came from that person.
- Therefore, if Paul did not write this letter, it was written by someone who learned from Paul and attached Paul's name to the letter to let everyone know that Paul was the source of all the information in the letter. A similar situation happened with the book of Hebrews: the author of Hebrews learned from Paul and then wrote the letter, although the author did not sign Paul's name to it.
- Nevertheless, I will present this lesson as if Paul wrote the letter (which I believe he did).
Place and Time of Writing
- If Paul wrote it, he probably wrote it from Rome while under house arrest, just like with Ephesians.
- From the second part of 4:22: "all the saints send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar's household."
- The timing would be the same as Ephesians, in the early 60s.
Unique Characteristics
- This is a friendly letter in which Paul encouraged and thanked the Christians in Philippi. See the map from Paul's Second Missionary Trip here and you will see Philippi in the upper-left hand corner.
- It is a Prison Epistle.
- The Philippian house churches had no problems, although Paul was aware of a potential problem in the future for the Philippian Christians.
- The letters are getting shorter. Whereas Romans has 16 chapters, Philippians only has 4 chapters.
Audience
- Paul introduced Christianity to Philippi on his Second Missionary Trip.
- The house churches at Philippi were the first churches Paul started in the area of Macedonia.
- Paul visited again on his Third Missionary Trip.
- While Paul was under house arrest in Rome, they sent Epaphroditus to Paul with a gift of money. Paul wrote a letter to the Christians in Philippi and gave it to Epaphroditus to take back to Philippi.
Theme
- A letter of thanks for the money they sent, instructions about Jesus' incarnation, instructions on humility, and encouragement to stay strong during persecution.
More details about Philippians
Why did Paul write the letter?
- Paul was in Rome under house arrest in the early 60s. While there Epaphroditus visited him. The Christians in Philippi heard that Paul was in prison and sent Epaphroditus to Paul with a gift of money. Epaphroditus shared with Paul about the situation of the Christians in Philippi, and Paul decided to write this letter.
A letter of thanks
- Paul mentions the gift of money that the Christians in Philippi sent him: from the last part of 4:18: "I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent." That would help to answer a question I have not asked yet but needs to be asked: how was Paul able to afford to rent a house while under house arrest in Rome? Because Christians like those in Philippi sent Paul money.
- But why would the Christians in Philippi send money? We have covered the letter to the church in Ephesus, and there is no evidence that they sent Paul money. The answer is probably because Paul was arrested while in Philippi and so the Christians there were accostumed to helping Paul when he was in prison.
- The book of Acts describes Paul's Second Missionary Trip and includes a discussion of Paul's arrest in Philippi (Acts 16:16-40). But why would the Philippians equate being in jail with needing money? After all, if someone is arrested today the government takes care of food, housing, etc. Because in the Roman period people were sometimes allowed to receive gifts of food, etc., while in prison. In addition, the last verses in Acts points out that Paul lived in a rented house while under arrest. Therefore, he needed money while under arrest, and that came in the form of gifts from people like the Philippian Christians.
- Paul mentions that the they had previously given him money when he was in need: 4:14-16: "Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the Gospel, when I set out from Macedonia [the region where Philippi was located], not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need." Therefore, they experienced Paul needing assistance, and, realizing the nature of Roman prisons, they sent him money while he was a prisoner.
Instructions about Jesus' incarnation and instructions on humility
- Philippians contains one of the clearest descriptions of the incarnation of Jesus. [Incarnation: God came to earth as a human.]
- 2:6-8: "Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross. Therefore God [the Father] exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name."
- The idea of the incarnation is one of the most confusing in Christianity. In the next letter [Colossians] you will learn about a group that misunderstood incarnation and created an alternative idea about Jesus. Please stop for a minute and reread the one-paragraph summary concerning the incarnation of Jesus here.
Encouragement to stay strong during persecution
- Paul believed that the Philippian Christians would face persecution in their near future.
- 1:27-30: "Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the Gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have."
- Paul, therefore, encouraged them to remain firm in the upcoming opposition. But he has an "unusual" way of encouraging them: he tells them that suffering will be a privilege.
- Why would Paul tell the Philippians that suffering for Christ is a good thing? He is not clear, but perhaps that the Philippian Christians will better understand the suffering that Jesus experienced. Think about it this way: it is the difference between sympathy and empathy. "Sympathy" means to feel sorry for someone without knowing what he/she is experiencing. "Empathy" means to feel sorry for someone because you have also experienced that same suffering. Being persecuted will cause them to have empathy for the sufferings of Jesus because they will undergo similiar sufferings; therefore they will understand love at a higher level. If they are beaten, then they will understand what Jesus experienced as he was being beaten on behalf of God.
How to live as a Christian
- 4:4-7: "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."
- 4:8: "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
Outline of Philippians
- 1:1-2: Greetings
- 1:3-11: Thankfulness and prayer
- 1:12-30: Suffering produces positive results
- 2:1-11: Look to Jesus as an example
- 2:12-18: Encouragement to lead successful Christian lives
- 2:19-30: Paul describes that actions and motives of Paul and Epaphroditus
- 3:1-11: Warning against Judaizers
- 3:12-4:13: How to live as a Christian
- 4:14-23: Final remarks
Quiz
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“Consider this” prompts do not need an answer and do not affect your grade. Their discussion will appear after you grade the quiz.
Timeline up to the book of Philippians
Dates are approximate.
| Year | Event |
| 63 B.C. | Romans conquer Israel. |
| 27 B.C. | Pax Romana began and lasted until A.D. 180. |
| 4 B.C. | Jesus born. |
| All dates after this are A.D. | |
| 27 | Jesus baptized. |
| 30 | Jesus was crucified, buried, rose from the dead, and ascended to heaven. Apostles travel to Jerusalem and choose Matthias to replace Judas as an Apostle. Day of Pentecost: Peter assumes leadership of Christianity. |
| 30-50 | Peter was leader of Christianity. |
| 33 | Jesus appeared to Paul and Paul became a Christian. |
| 48-50 | Paul's First Missionary Trip. |
| 50 | Council of Jerusalem; Paul became one of the main Christian leaders. |
| 50-55 | Paul's Second Missionary Trip. |
| 51-53 | Galatians and I & II Corinthians written. |
| 55-60 | Paul's Third Missionary Trip. |
| 57 | Romans written. |
| 60-62 | Paul arrested in Jerusalem and taken to Rome. Ephesians and Philippians written while Paul was under house arrest in Rome. |
| 62-63 | (Not in Acts) Paul probably released from prison during this time. |
| 63-65 | (Not in Acts) Paul probably traveled. He may have gone to Spain. |
| 64 | Fire in Rome and Christians persecuted by Emperor Nero. |
| 65 | (Not in Acts)Paul back in Rome; he and Peter arrested and martyred: Peter crucified upside down and Paul beheaded. |
| 67 | Gospel of Mark written. |
| 70 | Temple in Jerusalem destroyed by Romans (it has not been rebuilt). |
| 80 | Gospels of Matthew and Luke written. |
| 90 | Gospel of John and book of Acts written. |
| 95 | Christians persecuted by Emperor Domitian; Apostle John exiled on island of Patmos where he wrote Revelation. |
| 96 | Emperor Domitian died; Apostle John probably moved to Ephesus. |
| 100 | Apostle John died; he was the last Apostle to die. |
| 390's | New Testament canon "closed" at Councils of Hippo (393) and Carthage (397). |
| 1200's | Chapters added to the New Testament. |
| 1500's | Verses added to the New Testament. |
©2016 Mark Nickens