Philippians 1: Encouragement and Confidence in the Christian Life
1:1-8 Remembering God’s Past Work, What He Has Already Done: Philippi
(1-2 Greeting; 3-5 Thanks; 6-8 Confidence and Affection)
1 Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: 2 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, 5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; 6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: 7 Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace. 8 For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.
Introduction
Date of writing: A.D. 62; about 30 years after Jesus’s earthly ministry and resurrection; during those years His work continued through the Holy Spirit. Cp., Lk 1:1-4; A 1:1-2.
Place of writing: Probably prison in Rome (cf., 1:13 πραιτωριον – Praetorian, palace of chief magistrate, 4:22 Caesars household; A 28:16).
Purpose of book overall: Encouragement and Joy in face of trials, prison and death, with Exhortation to:
- Look to Christ, 2:5-11 (whose life of humility and sacrifice led to His exaltation by the Father);
- Live as lights, Press on for the prize, high call, 2:12-16; 3:12-16 (faith in Christ, a godly life, sharing in His suffering).
I. Remember God’s Past Work: He has already shown his love and transforming power.
1. “Philippi”: Earthly powers have not prevailed; God has overcome the world in which you live.
1.1 Philippi generally:
– AD 49/50, Philippi is the first evangelized city on Second missionary journey, the first journey specifically to Europe and Gentiles; Paul’s first preaching to Gentiles on European soil appears to have been at Philippi.
– A 16:11-12, “Therefore, sailing from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and the next day came to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is the foremost city of that part of Macedonia, a colony.”
– Located in southern Balkans, below Bulgaria (AD 2023).
– Hillside town (now Filippoi) overlooking coastal plain and the bay, about 10 miles from coastal town Neapolis (now Kavála) in Greece.
– City of approx. 167 acres with walls about 2 miles in circumference.
– Great Roman colony, population approx. 10,000-15,000
– Region is a gateway for trade between Europe and Asia.
– To the west: 100 miles to Thessalonica, 800 miles to Rome; to the east: 290 miles to Byzantium (later Constantinople, now Istanbul).
1.2 Philippi significance:
– In 360 BC, Greeks from Thasos colonized the region, named town Crenides (“Fountains”) because of springs. Mount Pangaion/Pangaion Hills to the southwest, Orbelos/Orvilosl/Lekani mountain range to the east. Region known for gold.
– Colonizing Greeks, at odds with Thracians, seek aid of King of Macedon, Philip II (382 BC – 21 October 336 BC). In 356 BC, Philip assists, takes over town, enlarges and fortifies walls, and renames it.
– Philip establishes strong gold production and a mint. Per Greek historian Diodorus Siculus: “6 After this he went to the city of Crenides, and having increased its size with a large number of inhabitants, changed its name to Philippi, giving it his own name, and then, turning to the gold mines in its territory, which were very scanty and insignificant, he increased their output so much by his improvements that they could bring him a revenue of more than a thousand talents. 7 And because from these mines he had soon amassed a fortune, with the abundance of money he raised the Macedonian kingdom higher and higher to a greatly superior position, for with the gold coins which he struck, which came to be known from his name as Philippeioi, he organized a large force of mercenaries, and by using these coins for bribes induced many Greeks to become betrayers of their native lands. But concerning these matters the several events, when recorded, will explain everything in detail, and we shall now shift our account back to the events in the order of their occurrence.” (Diodorus of Sicily, Library of History, 16.8.6, 7; LCL 7:261;) https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Diodorus_Siculus/16A*.html
“There are very many gold mines in Crenides, where the city Philippi now is situated, near Mt. Pangaeum. And Mt. Pangaeum as well has gold and silver mines, as also the country across, and the country this side, the Strymon River as far as Paeonia. And it is further said that the people who plough the Paeonian land find nuggets of gold.” (Strabo Geography 7, fr 34; LCL 3:355); https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Strabo/7Fragments*.html
– Built largest theater in Greece.
– Philip was father of Alexander (“the Great”) (July 356 – June 323 BC), who became one of most famous and powerful rulers in ancient world.
– Alexander: αλεχω – defend(er) + ανδρος – of man
– Philip hired Aristotle (384-322 BC) to be Alexander’s tutor beginning 343 BC. Aristotle was a student of Plato (428,7,4 or 3 – 348 BC), who was a student of Socrates (c. 470–399 BC).
– Alexander, by the age of 30 and in just 13 years, built the largest empire in ancient world at the time: was King of Macedon (336-323), Hegemon of Hellenic League (336-323), Pharaoh of Egypt (332-323), King of Persia (330-323); founded between 20-70 cities; had access to gold of region to fund military troops and campaigns.
– June 323 BC, Alexander dies a month short of 33 years of age.
– 168 BC, Romans conquer Macedonia, divide it into 4 parts; Philippi the chief city at time of Paul (A 16:12).
– Romans reconstruct the Via Egnatia (“Egnatian Way”), 700-mile royal road approx. 20′ wide, famous for east-west travel and trade, with Philippi a main stop.
– Polybius (c. 200-118 BC, Greek historian who chronicled Roman Empire during republic, 264-146 BC) in The Histories (8.12) writes of Philip and Alexander: “But when speaking of Philip and his friends, a man ought to be on his guard, not so much of accusing them of effeminacy and want of courage, or still more of shameless immorality, but on the contrary lest he should prove unequal to express their praises in a manner worthy of their manliness, indefatigable energy, and the general virtue of their character. It is notorious that by their energy and boldness they raised the Macedonian Empire from a most insignificant monarchy to the first rank in reputation and extent. And, putting aside the achievements of Philip, what was accomplished by them after his death, under the rule of Alexander, has secured for them a reputation for valour with posterity universally acknowledged. For although a large share of the credit must perhaps be given to Alexander, as the presiding genius of the whole, though so young a man; yet no less is due to his coadjutors and friends, who won many wonderful victories over the enemy; endured numerous desperate labours, dangers and sufferings; and, though put into possession of the most ample wealth, and the most abundant means of gratifying all their desires, never lost their bodily vigour by these means, or contracted tastes for violence or debauchery. On the contrary, all those who were associated with Philip, and afterwards with Alexander, became truly royal in greatness of soul, temperance of life, and courage. Nor is it necessary to mention any names: but after Alexander’s death, in their mutual rivalries for the possession of various parts of nearly all the world, they filled a very large number of histories with the record of their glorious deeds.” http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:abo:tlg,0543,001:8:12
– Powerful Roman general Pompey (106-48 BC) adopted for his own nickname “the Great,” wore his hair like Alexander, and tried to locate Alexander’s coat.
– 69 BC, standing before Alexander’s statue in the temple of Hercules in the city of Gades (modern Cadiz) in Spain where the Mediterranean flows into the Atlantic ocean, Julius (100-44 BC)(as quaestor, not yet Caesar) laments that at his age he had accomplished so little compared to Alexander at the same age. See historians Suetonius, Dio Cassius, and Plutarch. https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Suetonius/12Caesars/Julius*.html#7; https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Cassius_Dio/37*.html#52; https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Plutarch/Lives/Caesar*.html#ref24 (upon reading a history of Alexander rather than seeing his statue);
– 48 BC Julius visits Alexander’s tomb in Alexandria, Egypt.
– 44 BC Julius is murdered by Brutus and Cassius.
– 42 BC, on a plain about two miles west of Philippi, Mark Antony and Octavian (63 BC – 14 AD) avenge Julius’s death at the hands of Brutus and Cassius by defeating them in the “Battle of Philippi”: largest conflict in Roman warfare to that point (19 legions of 110,000 men for Triumvirate against 17 Republican legions of 90,000), resulting in 40,000 dead and the end of the 500-year old Roman Republic.
– Octavian resettles Philippi with many military veterans, probably some former members of Praetorian Guard.
– 30 BC Octavian visits Alexander’s tomb in Alexandria, Egypt.
– 27 BC Octavian is granted the name “Augustus,” becomes first Roman emperor, founds the Roman Empire, and reigns 27 BC – AD 14. Is the Caesar in Luke 2:1.
– Later emperors Nero, Trajan, and Caracalla all venerated Alexander.
– AD 49/50 Paul goes to Philippi. Claudius (10 BC – AD 54) is Emperor, reigning AD 41-54.
– Philippi was mini-Rome: of approx. 12,000 population, 10,000 citizens, 2000 slaves; under municipal law of Rome, governed by two military officers appointed directly by Rome.
– Acts 16:6-40, difficult situation is overcome: Paul/Silas teaching, meet Lydia (seller of purple), exorcised fortune-telling slave girl, beaten, imprisoned, released, Jailer converted, Paul claims Rome citizenship, confronts authorities, is released, meets with new converts in Philippi, continues on second missionary journey.
– The first, oldest congregation in Europe.
– AD 56/57, Paul visits again.
– AD 62, Paul writes Philippians.
– Current and coming events, trying times: In AD 54, Nero (AD 37-68) becomes Emperor just before turning 17 years old and reigns AD 54-68; Nero institutes 1st great persecution of Christians in AD 64; Vespasian destroys Jericho in June AD 68; in AD 69 Rome will go through internal conflict and four Emperors, eventually Vespasian rules; Colosseum not yet started (Vespasian begins work in AD 69, his son Titus continues work); Titus sacks Jerusalem in AD 70. Rome’s power appears to be on the rise and unstoppable.
– Philippi appears to be under Rome’s unassailable control, with earthly rulers holding Paul’s life in the balance.
– Rome also has the Imperial cult: worship of the Emperor as a god. After Julius Caesar’s death, the Roman Senate proclaimed him a god (“divus”). According to Suetonius, the common people believed he was divine. Augustus identified himself with the movement. “The senate formally conferred upon Caesar the title of Divus, ‘the deified,’ and ordered a temple to be erected for his worship.” Burton, The Worship of the Roman Emperors, at 82. https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/pdf/10.1086/474622. Caligula declared himself to be a god.
– But all things are ultimately under the rule of Jesus Christ, who truly is God, humbled himself, and was exalted: 2:5-11 “5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
– Lydia, a seller of purple, noted as first convert in Europe was from Thyatira, now (2023) called Akhisar, in western Turkey. Purple was rare, expensive, and a sign of prosperity and power.
– Today (2023) remains: walls, a Greek theater, foundations of house and little temple; rectangular forum area 150 ft. wide and 300 ft. long with porticoes, temples and other public buildings (marketplace); also located the bema, or judgment seat. Excavated by the French School at Athens between 1914 and 1938, and Greek archaeologists since 1945. See, https://biblearchaeology.org/research/new-testament-era/2343-gods-gold-and-the-glory-of-philippi.
– As great and powerful as Philip, Alexander, and the Caesars were, Paul tells the Philippians that the true Father made His Son ruler of the world; after beginning among the Gentiles in Philippi, the work of Jesus the Lord would continue to expand throughout Europe and the world.
– Large churches were built in Philippi between mid-4th C and end of 6th C. “Basilica A” built in 5th C was 130 meters x 50 meters (142 yards x 54 yards).
– Philippi was a witness to the greatness of Philip and his son for 500 years: 356 BC – AD 150.
– Through the work of the Father, the Son, and the Spirit, Philippi has been a witness to Jesus Christ for nearly 2000 years, from AD 50 to today.
1.3 Is there hope for our current world? Will God overcome the world, our current cultural mess? Yes.
– Darkness does not overcome light: Jn.1:5 Light shined in darkness….; God can take a dark, unbelieving place and make it full of light.
– Caesar did not prevail. Cannot forget the transformation from the condition at the time of Luke 2:1 (“And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed”). Though Joseph was ordered by Augustus to go pay taxes (Lk.2), his Son, Jesus, was exalted to glory. Scripture promises victory of Christ.
– The world was transformed: Roman Empire, Europe, and beyond were transformed by Christian rulers who were transformed by the gospel, e.g., Constantine, Clovis, Charlemagne, Alfred the Great (England), and many of the later kings and queens of Europe; in the 20th century, the openly atheistic Soviet Union (U.S.S.R.) collapses.
– The world will be transformed: Corrupt, perverse & otherwise destructive ideologies and activities (e.g., atheistic Marxism, “Wokeness”, efforts at totalitarian state control, manipulated economies), will all eventually fail and the glory of Christ and the light of the gospel will shine brighter and brighter. House churches multiply in Communist China despite repression. What God did in Philippi and in so many other places so many times throughout history, he will do again.
– Fitting that in the town named for Philip, the father of the ancient world’s most renowned ruler, Alexander, God the Father established the sweetest New Testament witness of his work in His own Son, Jesus Christ, the true Defender of men, who overcame their greatest enemies: sin, death and the Devil.
– Philip’s son ruled the greatest empire, now God’s own son will rule the world.
– Westminster Larger Catechism
Q. 54. How is Christ exalted in his sitting at the right hand of God?
A. Christ is exalted in his sitting at the right hand of God, in that as God-man he is advanced to the highest favor with God the Father, with all fullness of joy, glory, and power over all things in heaven and earth; and doth gather and defend his Church, and subdue their enemies; furnisheth his ministers and people with gifts and graces, and maketh intercession for them. Phil. 2:9; Acts 2:28; Ps. 16:11; John 17:5; Eph. 1:22; 1 Pet. 3:22; Eph. 4:10-12;Ps. 110:1; Rom. 8:34.
– Not with swords loud-clashing: Lead On, O King Eternal, Enest W. Shurtleff, 1888
Lead on, O King eternal,
The day of march has come;
Henceforth in fields of conquest
Thy tents shall be our home.
Through days of preparation
Thy grace has made us strong;
And now, O King eternal,
We lift our battle song.
Lead on, O King eternal,
Till sin’s fierce war shall cease,
And holiness shall whisper
The sweet amen of peace.
For not with swords’ loud clashing,
Nor roll of stirring drums;
But deeds of love and mercy
The heavenly kingdom comes.
Lead on, O King eternal,
We follow, not with fears,
For gladness breaks like morning
Where’er Thy face appears.
Thy cross is lifted over us,
We journey in its light;
The crown awaits the conquest;
Lead on, O God of might.
WORSHIP Magazine 