New Testament

Philippians

Philippians is a warm letter of thanks and encouragement from Paul in prison to the church at Philippi, his longtime partners in the gospel. Joy runs through it despite chains, rival preachers and the possibility of death, because for Paul “to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (). At its center stands the passage on Christ who emptied Himself, became obedient to death on a cross and was exalted as Lord (), held out as the pattern for a church called to humility and unity.

Author: Paul, with Timothy named alongside him (1:1). Nearly all scholars accept that Paul wrote it; some debate whether the letter as we have it joins two or three shorter notes, because of the sharp change of tone at 3:2.
Audience: The church at Philippi, which Paul founded on his second missionary journey (Acts 16:11–40), the first church Acts records in Europe. They had supported him again and again (4:15–16) and had sent Epaphroditus with a gift (2:25, 4:18).
When: If written from Rome, around AD 60–62. Some scholars argue instead for an earlier imprisonment in Ephesus in the mid-50s, or for Caesarea (Acts 23–26).
Where: Philippi was a Roman colony in Macedonia (Acts 16:12), proud of its link to Rome, which gives point to Paul’s words about heavenly citizenship (3:20). The mention of the palace guard (1:13) and of Caesar’s household (4:22) has traditionally pointed to Rome as the place of writing.
Genre: Philippians is a letter of friendship and thanks, using the language of partnership, giving and receiving that ancient friends used (1:5, 4:15). It includes 2:6–11, a poetic passage that many scholars think was an early Christian hymn, either written by Paul or adopted by him. The letter teaches largely through examples: Christ, then Timothy, Epaphroditus and Paul himself, each putting others first. Read the examples as illustrations of the one “mind” Paul urges on the church (2:5).

Shape of the book

Partners in the Gospel · ch 1Paul thanks God for the Philippians, reports that his chains have advanced the gospel, weighs life against death, and urges them to stand firm together.
The Mind of Christ · ch 2A call to unity and humility grounded in Christ’s self-emptying and exaltation, followed by the examples of Timothy and Epaphroditus.
Righteousness From God and the Upward Call · ch 3Warning against those who demand circumcision, Paul counts his privileges as loss to gain Christ, presses on toward the prize, and points to heavenly citizenship.
Peace, Contentment and Thanks · ch 4An appeal to two quarreling coworkers, commands to rejoice and pray, Paul’s secret of contentment, and thanks for the church’s gift.

Themes

Joy in Hardship. The words “joy” and “rejoice” appear again and again, though Paul writes in chains. He rejoices that Christ is preached even by rivals (), speaks of being poured out like a drink offering with gladness (), and repeats the call to rejoice in the Lord (, ). His joy rests on Christ, not on circumstances.
Partnership in the Gospel. Paul thanks God for their “partnership in the gospel from the first day until now” (). The Philippians shared in his work by prayer, suffering and gifts (, , ), and Paul calls their gift a fragrant offering pleasing to God ().
The Mind of Christ. The verb for thinking or having a mindset recurs (, , , ). Paul asks the church to consider others more important than themselves () and roots this in Christ, who did not grasp at His own status but took the form of a servant ().
Righteousness Through Faith. Paul lists his credentials, a Hebrew of Hebrews, a Pharisee, blameless in the law, and counts them loss compared with knowing Christ (). He wants to be found in Christ, “not having my own righteousness from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God on the basis of faith” ().
Heavenly Citizenship and Resurrection Hope. To depart and be with Christ is far better (), yet Paul also awaits the resurrection. “Our citizenship is in heaven,” and from there believers await the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform their lowly bodies to be like His glorious body ().

Where Christ is

Christ is the pattern and the goal of the whole letter. Existing in the form of God, He emptied Himself, took the form of a servant and became obedient to death on a cross, and God exalted Him so that every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (). Paul’s own aim is to know Christ, share His sufferings and attain the resurrection ().

The Servant Who Is Exalted. Echo and fulfillment. Christ took “the form of a servant” and humbled Himself to death (), then God exalted Him to the highest place (). Many readers hear Isaiah’s Servant, who poured out His life to death and was then raised and lifted up. (; ; )
Every Knee Will Bow. Fulfillment. In the Lord swears that every knee will bow to Him and every tongue will swear allegiance, because there is no other God. Paul applies these words to Jesus, so that the confession “Jesus Christ is Lord” brings glory to God the Father (). (; ; )
Not Grasping Like Adam. Echo, and a debated one. Adam and Eve reached to be like God (), while Christ, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped (). Many interpreters see a deliberate contrast with Adam, as Paul draws elsewhere (); others think the passage does not have Adam in view. (; ; )
The True Circumcision. Fulfillment. Moses and the prophets looked for a circumcision of the heart (, ). Paul says “it is we who are the circumcision,” those who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus (). (; ; ; )

Voices

Johann Albrecht Bengel. In his Gnomon he summed up the whole letter in two words: I rejoice; rejoice ye.
Polycarp of Smyrna. Writing to the Philippians in the early second century, he recalled that Paul taught them in person and, when absent, wrote them letters; some scholars cite his plural in the debate over whether Philippians combines more than one letter.

Reading well, key terms and common misreadings

Read it well

Trace the words “joy” and “rejoice,” and the verb for thinking or mindset; they carry the letter’s main concerns.
Read 2:5–11 as the center. Then read Timothy (2:19–22), Epaphroditus (2:25–30) and Paul (3:4–14) as living examples of the same pattern.
Read Acts 16 first. Lydia, the slave girl and the jailer show who the church was and why Paul’s chains mattered to them.
Notice the real conflict between Euodia and Syntyche, two women who worked alongside Paul (4:2–3). It may explain why unity is pressed so hard.
Read 4:10–20 as a thank-you note. Paul thanks them warmly while making clear that he has learned contentment in plenty and in need.

Key terms

Partnership, fellowship κοινωνία (koinōnia) — Shared participation in something. Paul uses it for the church’s share in his gospel work (1:5) and for sharing in Christ’s sufferings (3:10).
Joy χαρά (chara) — Gladness rooted in the Lord. The noun and the verb “rejoice” run through every chapter (1:4, 2:17–18, 3:1, 4:4).
Think, have a mindset φρονέω (phroneō) — To set one’s mind or attitude. It is the verb behind “like-minded” (2:2), the call to have Christ’s mind (2:5), and the appeal to Euodia and Syntyche to agree in the Lord (4:2).
Form μορφή (morphē) — Used for Christ existing in “the form of God” and taking “the form of a servant” (2:6–7). The parallel suggests both are real: He was truly God and truly became a servant.
Empty κενόω (kenoō) — To make empty or of no reputation. Christ “emptied Himself” (2:7), and the passage explains how: by taking the form of a servant and being made in human likeness.
Citizenship πολίτευμα (politeuma) — A citizen body or commonwealth. In a Roman colony proud of its status, Paul says believers’ citizenship is in heaven (3:20); a related verb lies behind “conduct yourselves” in 1:27.

Easy to misread

Taking “He emptied Himself” (2:7) to mean Christ stopped being God. The text says He existed in the form of God and defines the emptying as taking the form of a servant. Classic Christian teaching reads it as the Son taking on humanity and the servant’s path without ceasing to be God; some modern “kenotic” theologians propose that He laid aside the independent use of certain divine powers.
Reading “work out your salvation” (2:12) as earning it. The next verse gives the reason: “it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose” (2:13). Salvation is lived out because God is at work.
Using 4:13 as a promise of success in any goal. In context Paul is speaking of contentment whether well fed or hungry, in plenty or in need (4:11–12); Christ’s strength enables him to endure every circumstance.
Reading the warning about “dogs” and “mutilators” (3:2) as an attack on Jews. Paul himself is “a Hebrew of Hebrews” (3:5); his target is those insisting that Gentile believers be circumcised.

Further reading: David Guzik, Enduring Word · Matthew Henry on CCEL · BibleProject overview video