PPE-05 Paul and the Philippians

When soldiers face the uncertainties of war, their minds often turn toward thoughts of death. And they look for ways to comfort themselves and to comfort loved ones back home. Often, they write letters of thanks and final words of advice, encouraging their loved ones to carry on. Well, in many ways, Paul’s epistle to the Philippians is like a letter from a soldier facing the possibility of imminent death. Paul wrote Philippians at a time when he was suffering in prison, when he was weary and wondered if he might soon lose his life for Christ. And he wrote to people he loved. So his words to the Christians in Philippi were heavy but caring; sad but consoling; appreciative but bittersweet. As we study this epistle, we must always keep in view that, from Paul’s perspective, these could well be his final words to his faithful Christian friends.

This is the fifth lesson in our series Paul’s Prison Epistles, and we’ve entitled it “Paul and the Philippians.” In this letter, Paul wrote to encourage the Philippian Christians who were worried about the sufferings he was enduring in prison. As he realized the possibility that he might die soon, Paul wrote to give the church in Philippi hope and assurance.

We’ll divide our study of Paul and the Philippians into three main parts. First, we’ll introduce the background of Paul’s letter to the Philippians. Second, we’ll look closely at the structure and content of the epistle. And third, we’ll explore the modern application of this letter. Let’s begin by looking at the background of Paul’s letter to the Philippians.

As we’ve said throughout this series, Paul wrote all of his epistles to address the particular needs of different churches. So, it’s always important to know something about Paul’s circumstances and the circumstances of the people to whom he wrote. Knowing these details helps us orient ourselves properly to Paul’s message, and to receive his letters as he intended. As we approach the letter to the Philippians, we need to ask questions like, “Who were the Philippians?” and, “What was happening in their lives and in Paul’s life?” and, “Why did Paul write to them?” The answers to questions like these will help us to understand Paul’s authoritative teaching in this letter, and to apply it more fully to our own lives.