Philippians 1:3-11
3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 7 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace,[d] both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
I thank God whenever I think of you.
“I yearn for you all…”
Do you hear this language from Paul?
There is intimacy.
PHILIPPIANS is unlike any other letter written by Paul.
Paul is most likely in prison in Rome awaiting possible execution.
Epaphroditus, a member of the Philippian church is sent by the church to deliver a financial gift to Paul in prison.
This church obviously held a special place in Paul’s heart.
So Paul writes this letter to say thank you.
BACKGROUND + CONTEXT
Who are the people that make up the Philippian church? (Philippians)
Who is Paul?
Their relationship?
Experiences?
Acts 16:11-12 ESV
11 So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, 12 and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the [that] district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days.
Philippi was a big city.
Major city on a road called the Via Egnatia.
Via Egnatia was the main trade route connecting Europe & Asia
The city of Philippi was also very Roman.
Known for its patriotic nationalism.
Colonized by veteran Roman soldiers.
A favorite city for Roman soldiers to retire.
Acts 16:13 ESV
13 And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together.
In the book of Acts, where does Paul usually go on the Sabbath?
Acts 13:14 ESV
On the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down.
Acts 17:2 ESV
As usual, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
Acts 18:4 ESV
He reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath and tried to persuade both Jews and Greeks.
Why is there no synagogue?
There are not enough men
Jewish tradition required at least 10 Jewish men to form a synagogue
Where are the men?
Acts 16:14-15 ESV
14 One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. 15 And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.
This is the first recorded Christian conversion in all of Macedonia.
Happens in Philippi
Imagine Paul’s experience.
We are trying to understand the context of PHILIPPIANS
WHO is Paul is writing to?
What is their life like now that they are Christians…in that city?
ALSO…What’s Paul’s story?
What were his experiences like with the Philippians?
I imagine that this experience with Lydia was encouraging.
IMAGINE…
No synagogue.
No men.
He goes down to the river.
Ladies prayer meeting.
Lydia gets saved.
A very rich woman.
Female fashionista
Think Coco Chanel.
She was a Gentile from Thyatira (Turkey)
She had converted to Judaism.
Worshiper of God
God-fearer
Paul explains the gospel to her & she believes & gets baptized
I imagine Paul was encouraged
Then, Lydia invites them to stay in her home
Paul & his guys are being refreshed and encouraged.
Acts 16:16 ESV
16 As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling.
Acts 16:17-18 ESV
17 She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” 18 And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.
This time a little slave girl
God’s power at work in Philippi
Acts 16:19 ESV
19 But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers.
What is it like for the Philippians to live as Christians in Philippi?
Acts 16:20-22 ESV
20 And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city. 21 They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice.” 22 The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods.
This was a scene that people were talking about for awhile
Acts 16:23-24 ESV
23 And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. 24 Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
Acts 16:25 ESV
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,
I imagine Paul praying & worshiping…
Acts 16:26-27 ESV
26 and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened. 27 When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.
This jailer was a Roman soldier
A man of honor & duty
He took ownership
He was doing the honorable thing
Acts 16:28-29 ESV
28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” 29 And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas.
The jailer was overwhelmed by mercy
Paul had every right to walk out of that prison.
But Paul doesn’t do that because he knows…
The price of his freedom would be another man’s death
30 Then he [the jailer] brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. 34 Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.
This is now the 3rd experience for Paul in Philippi
35 But when it was day, the magistrates sent the police, saying, “Let those men go.” 36 And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go. Therefore come out now and go in peace.” 37 But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do they now throw us out secretly? No! Let them come themselves and take us out.”
Paul is unafraid
Unashamed
He is looking for opportunities to share the gospel
38 The police reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens. 39 So they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and asked them to leave the city. 40 So they went out of the prison and visited Lydia. And when they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them and departed.
They were vindicated publicly
Future witness of the Philippian church
I imagine Paul & his guys leave the city very encouraged.
The Philippian church is filled with encouragement
This is the context of the book of Philippians
These are some of the people that Paul is writing to in the book of Philippians
These are the moments
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