Philippians: Introduction
This is the start of our online Bible study of Philippians. Please feel free to leave your comments on this post. We will start with a basic introduction.
The city of Philippi in Macedonia is named after Philip II, the father of Alexander the Great. After the assassination of Julius Caesar, Mark Antony and Octavian (later Augustus) confronted Brutus and Cassius at Philippi. Octavian (Augustus) made Philippi a Roman colony and settled Roman veterans there. Philippi was known for its loyalty to the Roman Emperor.
The founding of the church is described in Acts 16. This was a significant moment in the history of the Church. Before this, the Church had only been in Asia. This was the first missionary endeavour into Europe, the beginning of a major Christian presence in Europe.
We see in Acts 16, two stories of the early church in that city. It starts with the conversion of Lydia in Acts 16:11-15 and then goes to the conversion of the Philippian jailer in Acts 16:16-40.
What we see from Acts 16 is that Paul was instrumental in the founding of the church in Philippi. This will be reflected in the tone he takes in his letter to Philippi. He is obvious familiar and fond of the Philippian Christians.
One last point about background. Paul’s letters typical follow the pattern of ancient letters. They include a greeting, thanksgiving, body and conclusion. This is true of Philippians as well. Be watching for these sections.
Discussion Questions
- What is the significance of both Lydia and the jailer being included in the origin of the Philippian church?
- What do we learn about how welcoming Philippi was to the church?
- Why are you interested in learning about the letter to the Philippians?
You can find the study of Philippians 1 here.
