WHO WROTE:  Paul.

 

 

WHAT TIME PERIOD IS COVERED:  57 A.D. - 62 A.D.?

 

 

WHEN WRITTEN:  This Epistle was written by Paul during the two years when he was “in bonds” in Rome (Php. 1:7-13), probably early in the year of 62 A.D., or at the end of 61 A.D.  Here is AA:479:  “Paul’s letter to the Philippians, like the one to the Colossians, was written while he was a prisoner at Rome.”

 

 

INTRODUCTION:  Any Book written by Paul must be classified with this important statement from Peter, that all the writings of Paul are “hard to be understood,” Second Peter 3:16.

 

In Paul’s personal addresses in this Epistle the word “all” occurs nine times.  It is sufficiently accounted for by the expansiveness of grateful Christian feeling, which marks the entire Letter.  The Apostolic Epistles were sent more directly to the Churches, “to all the saints,” more than to the pastors of them.  He writes rather in a tone of affectionate familiarity.  The members are meant by “all the saints in Christ Jesus.”

 

At Philippi the Apostle was evilly entreated, and saw little fruit of his labor; yet he remembers Philippi with joy.  We must thank our God for the graces and comforts, gifts and usefulness of others, as we receive the benefit, and God receives the glory.  The affection of the Philippians is expressed through the sending of help to the Apostle (see 2Co. 11:9; the Church at Philippi being that which was in Macedonia; the only Church to do so, which is why he speaks of this to the Corinthians to their shame).  This fact reminded him of the spirit of the Philippians which they had always shown; and they had cordially associated themselves with the labors and trials of the Gospel (Php 1:7).

 

Paul speaks of his bonds, which they had remembered.  And to this point his implores them not to be in the bonds of sin.  The Christians at Philippi seem to have been Paul’s favorites among all his converts.  He never lost any opportunity of visiting them and refreshing his spirit with their presence in the after-years of his original work there.  They were Christians after his own heart.  He thanks God for their fellowship from the first day until now (Php. 1:5).  He declares that they are his beloved, who have always obeyed, not in his presence only, but much more in his absence (Php. 2:12).  With fond repetition he addresses them as his brethren, beloved and longed for, his joy and crown, his beloved (Php. 4:1).

 

Thus we can see that this was Paul’s favorite Church, and we can gather from the Epistle good reason for this fact.  It is a simple Letter to personal friends.  It has no theological discussions and no rigid outline and no formal development.  It rambles along just as any real letter would with personal news and personal feelings and outbursts of personal affection between tried friends.  It is the most spontaneous and unaffected of the Pauline Epistles.  It is more personified than any of the other Letters addressed to the Churches.  In Philippi alone there is no fault to be found.  The only suggestion of such is in the reference to the difference of opinion (Php. 4:2).

 

Thus, the Epistle was written in order to thank them for their contributions sent by Epaphroditus, who, in returning takes back the Epistle.  Also, it was to express Christian sympathy, and to exhort them to the imitation of Christ in humility and lowly love, instead of the existing dissensions, as between Euodias and Syntyche.

 

What is very interesting and that makes this Epistle distinctive, is that Paul is very affectionate and intimate, and he is provocatively free of any doctrinal dissertations.  There are no appeals against errors in the Church; no claiming his Apostolic authority; and he is not more lavish or as affectionate to any other Church he wrote to as this one.  There are no misgivings of their loyalty to him and the doctrine of Christ; there are no suspicions of false play; no reproaches of disorderly living; and even more startling and telling is that there are no warnings against serious sins.  All this as compared to the Letters to the other Churches, which carry most or all of these.  Thus, by the time we get to the Book of Revelation we can understand how John in vision of the 7 Churches of Chapters 2-3 finds this Church as the triumphant one.