Bible Study Lesson:

Philippians: Overview and Introduction

• Paul found church at Philippe on his second missionary journey. (Acts 16:11-40)
• The letter to the Philippians is like a ‘Thank You’ letter for the gift sent by the church
• Philippians sent gift to Paul through Epaphroditus (Phil 4:18)
• Epaphroditus fell very sick during his trip almost up to the point of death (Phil 2:27)
• Very personal letter, ‘I’ are used more than 100 times
• Letter was written in about 61 a.d. from Rome in prison
• It was first church in Europe

  

Philippe – Overview:

• Roman colony
• Located in Macedonia, present day Northern Greece
• Leading city in Macedonia
• Church constituted mainly of gentiles

Philippians Church Background:

• Paul, Silas, Timothy and Luke visited Philippe on second missionary journey around A.D. 50 (Acts 16:12)
• Other religions were not allowed in the city, so Paul and Co. used to go out of the city to preach. (Acts 16:13-15)
• Lydia was the first believer, she was a business woman.
• Paul casted out evil spirit from slave girl who had a spirit of fortune-telling (Acts 16: 16-18)
• Paul and Silas was thrown in to prison due to that.
• Jailer and his household’s conversion in the prison (Acts 16: 27-34)
• Paul, citizen of Rome, were escourted out of prison (Acts 16:39)
• Paul’s continued Influence in the Prison
• Note Phil 1:13 – Prison guards testifies about Paul
• Phil 4:22 – Caesar’s households, note that he was not a guest there, he was prisoner

Major Theme of the letter to the Philippians:

• Rejoice in Suffering
• Joy, Gospel
• Jesus Christ – used more than 25 times
• Church of Philippi was persecuted church. Phi 1:30 – “Since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.”
• (Also check, The Book of Hebrew- Introduction)

Interesting Facts:

• Greece – Athens was birth place of Olympics and Running was the first Olympic game. See how Paul uses this analogy to his walk with Christ (Phil 3:14)

Check out excellent resource on Introduction of Philippians – The Church that Almost wasn’t there from thebiblepost.com.

More Bible Study Lessons:

• 1st Thessalonians Bible Study – 1:1-10
• Who is the Holy Spirit: Bible Doctrine
• Paul’s Thorn in the Flesh – 2 Cor 12:7-10 | Bible Study
• Overcoming Sexual Temptations: Bible Study
• Jesus Christ – The Cornerstone of the Church