The book of philippians is a powerful letter of encouragement. This commentary, just like others in the series, reads like a book. While most hold to the authenticity of philippians, there are portions of the letter that some consider to be nonpauline. Philippians is a magisterial treatment of various topicssufferings relationship to gospel advance, selfcenteredness versus sacrificial service, the basis of a believers assurance before god, interpersonal conflict, and finding true contentmentthat paul relates to the touchstone of christ, his cross, and his resurrection. In it, paul freely expresses his fond affection for the philippians in view of their consistent testimony and support, and lovingly urges them to center their actions and thoughts on the. There apparently never was a question in the minds of the fathers of the church as to the canonical authority of philippians or about its authorship. The book of philippians paul writes a thankyou note to the believers at philippi for their help in his hour of need, and he uses the occasion to send along some instructions on christian unity. A roman colony, philippi was situated in macedonia, or currentday northern greece. Many of the philippians were retired military men who had been given land in the vicinity and who in turn served as a military presence in this frontier city.
It was a prosperous roman colony, which meant that the citizens of philippi were also. Paul wrote to the philippians from his roman prison concerning the progress of the gospel among the praetorian guard 1. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers. The city of philippi and the origin of the church there. Negrito groups were the first inhabitants to settle in prehistoric philippines. Commentary on the book of philippians by matthew henry. Summarize what the bible says about philippi the city or the church outside the book of philippians. For these reasons and others, philippians is a book of the bible that deserves not just our routine reading but our careful study and meditation.
The city was named after philip ii, the father of alexander the great. Landscape of the book of philippians under house arrest as a prisoner in rome, yet full of joy and thankfulness, paul wrote to encourage his fellow servants living in philippi. His work is christcentered and very helpful in understanding the epistle to the philippians. The authorship of the book, then, according to most scholars is fairly certain. The question of when philippians was written cannot be separated from that of where it was written. This commentary has been through advanced checking. Johnson shows how paul, writing from imprisonment to a church. The book of philippians chapter four workbook eeonline biblestudy.
Philippians was written from rome during pauls first imprisonment, about 62 ad. Intro to philippians biblica the international bible. The book of philippians free online bible study lessons. The epistle to the philippians, one of pauls prison epistles, was written in rome. It is evident that paul wrote the letter from prison see 1. Apprehensive that his execution was close at hand, yet hoping somehow to visit the philippians again, paul explains that he was imprisoned for preaching the gospel of christ. Alright, so any time you study a book of the bible its critical that you check out. Someone sends word to the church in philippi that paul was in. The history of the philippines is believed to have begun with the arrival of the first humans using rafts or boats at least 67,000 years ago as the 2007 discovery of callao man suggested. The main themes that run through philippians are imitating christs example and rejoicing in every.
Below i have included material on who wrote the book, when it was written, who it was written to, as well as what some of the messages and themes of the book are. Hey everyone, today we are doing something a little different. This would have had special meaning to the veterans and citizens in philippi. Apprehensive that his execution was close at hand, yet hoping somehow to visit the. The poem retells the gospel story and references adams rebellion from genesis and the suffering servant in isaiah. Book of philippians matthew henry bible commentary complete. Epaphroditus carried the philippian letter from rome back to philippi. The epistle to the philippians, commonly referred to as philippians, is a pauline epistle of the new testament of the christian bible. Luke described the city called philippi as a roman colony acts 16. The apostle paul, joined in his salutation by timothy. The book of philippians is a prison epistle letter written while in prison. It was at philippi, which the apostle visited on his second missionary journey. Nothing in the letter would have motivated a forger to write it.
An easyenglish bible version and commentary 2800 word vocabulary on pauls letter to the philippians. Internally the letter reveals the stamp of genuineness. Today we are going to start our first book study on the beat. Philippians is one of pauls shortest letters and one of the smallest books in the new testament but there are such powerful teachings in this little dynamo. The apostle paul wrote the letter to express his gratitude and affection for the philippian church, his strongest supporters in ministry. Intro to philippians biblica the international bible society. The traditional view is that philippians, along with the other prison epistles ephesians, colossians, philemon, was written during pauls first imprisonment at rome ca. Letter of paul to the philippians, new testament letter written by paul. The account of the founding of the church at philippi, which occurred in a.
Therefore god has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that jesus christ is lord, to the glory of god. The words joy, and rejoice occur some 16 times in the book of philippians. Letter of paul to the philippians work by saint paul britannica. Book of philippians overview insight for living ministries. Introduction to the book of philippians 12 philippians is the epistle of joy and encouragement in the midst of adverse circumstances. Aug 19, 2016 today we are going to start our first book study on the beat. A word list at the end explains words with a star by them. After that, groups of austronesians later migrated to the islands scholars generally believe that these social groups. But the portrait of jesus christ as a humble servant. Death grip a study in philippians historical background. Paul sent the other three prison epistlesephesians, colossians, and philemonby the hand of tychicus, as their destinations were near one another. Letter of paul to the philippians work by saint paul.
Introduction to the book of philippians clover sites. Philippians introduction commentary peoples new testament. The city was already ancient by the time paul arrived there around 49 ce acts 16. Paul does not mention this guard in any other place. Best evidence, however, favors rome as the place of origin and the date as c.
Letter of paul to the philippians, new testament letter written by paul the apostle, while he was in prison probably at rome about ad 62, and addressed to the christian congregation he had established in macedonia. Philippians derives its name from the greek city where the church to which it was addressed was located. Philippi was the first town in macedonia where paul established a church. Upon completion of the study, it is recommended that you discuss your answers and insights with other bible students who also completed the workbook. The early church was unanimous in its testimony that philippians was written by the apostle paul see 1. Book of philippians is a letter from paul and timothy to christians in the city of philippi. Philippians was among the last letters paul penned, having written it from roman custody sometime around 61 ad. Study philippians using matthew henry bible commentary complete to better understand scripture with full outline and verse meaning. I was extremely blessed by his work on philippians 3. Philippians appears in the oldest extant lists of nt writingsthe muratorian canon later second century and the special canon of marcion d. Paul encourages the philippians to live as citizens of a. Book of philippians introduction and summary learn religions. The unanimous testimony of the early church was that the apostle paul wrote philippines.
Book of philippians matthew henry bible commentary. Summary of the book of philippians story of the bible. He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of christ jesus philippians 1. Philippians the book of philippians, in the bible, is depicted from the perspective of the apostle paul. Use this topic or order a custom research paper, written exactly how you need it to be. The words joy and rejoice are used 16 times in the epistle. Discover the best philippines history in best sellers. The book of philippians shows how living as a christian means seeing your own story as a living expression of jesus story.
Philippians intro to philippians biblica the international bible. Watch our overview video on the book of philippians, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. Paul was the author of philippians, he names himself and his style and personality shows through. Pauls macedonian call in troas during his 2nd missionary journey led him to his work in philippi. That philippi was a roman colony may explain why there were not enough jews there to permit the establishment of a synagogue and why paul does not quote the ot in the philippian letter. Knowing jesus is a deeply personal and transformative encounter. Paul ministered at philippi during his second missionary journey, spending about three months in the city. This summary of the book of philippians provides information about the title, author s, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of philippians. The apostle paul wrote this letter to the christians in philippi, probably from rome c. Matthew henry 18 october 1662 22 june 1714 was an english commentator on the bible, who published his works in 1706, sixvolume exposition of the old and new testaments 17081710 or complete commentary, provides an exhaustive verse by verse study of the bible, covering the whole of the old testament, and the gospels and acts in the new testament.
With this sermon we come to the end of our series from the book of philippians. Even now, prayerfully ponder the last few verses from the first chapter, which aptly summarize pauls aims and themes in philippians. Commentary on the book of philippians by matthew henry new. I have mentioned several times that this book is essentially a thankyou note from the apostle paul to the church at philippi.
Pauls authorship of this letter is also supported by the testimony of early church fathers such as polycarp and irenaeus. A few modern scholars 4 have questioned pauline authorship of philippians, but these radical views are not convincing. Make a list of bible passages outside the book of philippians that refer to the city or church at philippi use a concordance and crossreferences. It was written to show his appreciation and love to the philippians in a thankyou letter for their. They key personalities are the apostle paul, timothy, epaphroditus, euodia, and syntyche. The book of philippians is one of pauls most personal letters, written to the church in. Some of these who are recorded in the book of acts were lydia and her family and an unnamed philippian jailer and his family acts 16. The book of philippians was written in approximately a. Knights were also generally the wealthiest of the three types of soldiers. A map of philippi and surrounding regions the city of philippi and the origin of the church there the city of philippi, as one can see from the map, is located in north eastern greece macedonia. A study in philippians historical background 1 during his second missionary journey, paul visited the town of philippi where several people heard the gospel message and accepted christ as their savior. Paul prays for the church to grow in knowledge and depth of insight so we will be filled with the fruit of righteousness. The many personal references of the author fit what we know of paul from other nt books. Check out this commentary, summary and key verses from the book of philiipians.
The joy of the christian experience is the dominant theme running through the book of philippians. Paul had been imprisoned at rome sends the church at philippi a love letter of thanks, commending. Jun, 2014 for these reasons and others, philippians is a book of the bible that deserves not just our routine reading but our careful study and meditation. Even when things go wrong, you can have joy by warren w. There are, however, questions about whether the letter as a whole is unified or a composite of pauline letters sent to the philippian church and later grouped together by an editor. The book of philippians shows christians how to live jesus. Paul writes a thankyou note to the believers at philippi for their help in his hour of need, and he uses the. Paul wrote the epistle to show his appreciation and gratitude to the church at philippi and its members for their continued support and generosity. It was written to show his appreciation and love to.
In the book of philippians, we read a series of short vignettes revolving around the messiah poem in chapter 2. An introduction to the book of philippians christopher l. Philippi was the location of the first christian community established in greece. The book of philippians 4 failing to give roman citizens a proper trial 16. How paul of tarsus impacted the history of christianity. Jesus christ is our life chapter 1 jesus christ is our example chapters 2 jesus christ is our prize chapter 3. The book of philippians, in the bible, is depicted from the perspective of the apostle paul. The book of philippians is an epistle that paul wrote while he was anticipating his release from prison.
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