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Philippians: Background and introduction
1. Philippians: Background and introduction
Here is a brief introduction to the book of Philippians, one of seven churches to which Paul wrote. Paul wrote to Timothy and Titus.
| Place |
Churches |
People |
| Rome |
Romans |
|
| Corinth |
Corinthians 1,2 |
|
| Asia Minor |
Galatians |
|
| Ephesus |
Ephesians |
Timothy 1,2 |
| Philippi |
Philippians |
|
| Colossae |
Colossians |
|
| Thessalonica |
Thessalonians 1,2 |
|
| Crete |
|
Titus |
|
|
2. Philip II renames the city
The city was renamed in 356 BC to Philippi, in honor of himself, by Philip II of Macedon (382 - 336 BC). Philip was the father of Alexander the Great. In Greek, the name "
Philip" means "
lover of horses".
3. Military warfare
Philip innovated military warfare with the phalanx and his son Alexander used this and other ideas to conquer the known world. He and his soldiers covered about 10,000 miles in 10 years, brought down the huge Persian empire and never lost a battle.
4. Persia and Greece
At the time of Alexander the Great, Greece was very small compared to the Persian Empire, which stretched from Egypt to Afghanistan.
5. Alexander the Great
Aristotle (384-322 BC) was the personal tutor and teacher of Alexander the Great.
Daniel provides accurate prophecies about Alexander the Great in the book of Daniel.
6. Caesar
The Roman (democratic) Republic (with Senate) essentially ended in 59 BC with the Triumvirate of Caesar, Pompeius and Crassus. Thereafter, Rome was ruled by dictators called Caesar.
In 44 B.C. Caesar was assassinated by Brutus and Cassius. This was made more famous by a play by Shakespeare.
Antony and Octavian defeated these conspirators at the
Battle of Philippi in 42 B.C. This is about 90 years before Paul visits the city and about 100 years before the letter to the Philippians by Paul.
7. Roman colony
After the
Battle of Philippi in 42 B.C., many Roman veterans were settled here and many locals were awarded the coveted Roman citizenship. Paul will remind the Philippians of this twice in his letter. The
KJV (King James Version) uses "
conversation" as "
citizenship".
Philippians 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: [kjv]
ημων γαρ το πολιτευμα εν ουρανοις υπαρχει εξ ου και σωτηρα απεκδεχομεθα κυριον ιησουν χριστον [gnt]
From these veterans, the importance of law and order is seen in Paul's visit to Philippi in Acts 16 where the Philippians jailer is part of the story.
8. Philippians 3:20
KJV: For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
Greek: ημων γαρ το πολιτευμα εν ουρανοις υπαρχει εξ ου και σωτηρα απεκδεχομεθα κυριον ιησουν χριστον
9. Gold mines
There were gold mines in the area which provided wealth to the city.
By the time of Paul these mines were in decline but there was still wealth in the city. Street merchants would try to pry this wealth using various methods.
Paul encounters this in Acts 16, about A.D. 49 or 50. The letter to the Philippians is written from a Roman jail about 10 years later, A.D. 61 or 62.
10. Some Roman emperors
| Roman Emperors |
| Caesar |
46 BC ‑ 44 |
Jesus born |
| Augustus |
44 ‑ 14 AD |
Jesus born |
| Tiberius |
14 ‑ 37 |
Jesus crucified |
| Caligula |
37 ‑ 41 |
| Claudius |
41 ‑ 54 |
Paul requests trial |
| Nero |
54 ‑ 68 |
Paul executed |
| (several) |
68‑69 |
Jewish War started |
| Vespasian |
69 ‑ 79 |
Jewish War ended |
|
Note: Augustus did not have full power until after the Battle of Philippi in 42 BC (conspirators Cassius and Brutus defeated) and then after 31 BC (Mark Antony and Cleopatra defeated).
11. Timeline: Roman Emperors
12. Stoics and Epicureans
Acts 17:18 Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection. [kjv]
τινες δε και των επικουρειων και στωικων φιλοσοφων συνεβαλλον αυτω και τινες ελεγον τι αν θελοι ο σπερμολογος ουτος λεγειν οι δε ξενων δαιμονιων δοκει καταγγελευς ειναι οτι τον ιησουν και την αναστασιν ευηγγελιζετο [gnt]
Greek philosophy, as found in the
Epicureans and
Stoics, permeated Greek society at the time of Paul. Those secular ideas are still in many churches today.
Some remarks by Paul in his letters contain references their ideas that anyone familiar with Greek philosophy would understand.
13. Polycarp
About 100 years after Paul's letter to the Philippians, Polycarp (69 - 155 AD), whose name in Greek means "
much fruit", would be martyred for his beliefs at an old age. Before this, he had written a letter to the Philippians.
14. Today
The ruins of the city of Philippi are in Thrace in northeast Greece.
15. End of page
