Everything's Possible - Day 1

Philippians 1:1 This letter is from Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus.
I am writing to all of God’s holy people in Philippi who belong to Christ Jesus, including the church leaders and deacons.

2 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

Philippi is located about 9 miles or so inland from the Northern Shore of the Aegean Sea. It became a colony of the Roman Empire in 31 BC, and Roman military veterans were given land there when their 20 years of service were finished. Due to the influx of retired soldiers and colonists, the Macedonian natives and Greek immigrants living in Philippi probably saw a sharp decline in their social and economic status. Paul arrived to preach around AD 50; the city’s culture and institutions would have been completely Roman, with the government's power being in the hands of a pretty small number of elites who would have owned property in the surrounding countryside. 

These larger dwellings would have been served by a large underclass that lived mainly in the city—non-Roman laborers, tradesmen, and service workers. Unlike many other cities Paul would have visited, Philippi never had a synagogue. Neither the text of Acts 16 nor the book of Philippians indicate a Jewish community being present. 

Paul planted a church there, and when you plant a church, you have a tendency to fall in love with the people who make up that church. This is true of Paul as well. So, years later, we think around either AD 60 from Rome or perhaps a bit earlier in Caesarea (AD 58-59). In the text, we know that the church in Philippi was worried about Paul, and they sent Epaphroditus to deliver gifts and support for Paul while he was in prison. It becomes clear that this church had helped to fund Paul’s missionary work for many years. They were not strangers but supporters and cheerleaders for the work that God had sent Paul to do. 

One point that should be noted. We know they were familiar with Paul because he did not designate himself as an Apostle like he seemed to have to do in other letters (Phil 1:1: Compare 2 Cor. 1:1; Gal 1:1; 1 Tim 1:1). They knew him, and they knew the call he had received from God. 

This book overflows with joy and thanksgiving, even though it was written from a prison cell. And there are major themes of service, sacrifice, kenosis, and friendship. 

1. Have you ever read the whole of Philippians in one setting before? Let’s do it every day during this series. 
2. Paul was in prison many times. How do you think you would fare if you found yourself incarcerated for the Gospel?
3. Did you notice that Paul didn’t introduce himself as an apostle? Is this the difference between writing a formal email and writing a quick text to friends?