Philippians Study 2022: Background and context

[MaxPC]

Just my tuppence; when I do Lectio Divina (prayerful reading of Scripture), I apply it my own life and how it can enlighten and edify my actions. It has been many decades since I last taught a Scripture class with its focus on academic parsing. That said, neither approach is wrong and both methods serve the needs of the time and person.

Philippians has always reminded me to trust God in all things and at all times.

I agree with that, I think one of the things Philippians does is bring out the all-sufficiency of Christ and the joy that flows from that knowledge and then from that reality applied to Paul's (and our) lives. I think the word joy in various forms is mentioned at least 12 times in the text.

I have not counted how many times the word joy is used but I do agree it is a book of hope most likely helped by the usage of that word. In these crazy, uncertain economic downfalls and shortages, I am glad that Philippians has been brought forth to study. I feel it should be read with Colossians which tells us those behaviors that will rob of us joy.

[Sudsy]

Just my tuppence; when I do Lectio Divina (prayerful reading of Scripture), I apply it my own life and how it can enlighten and edify my actions. It has been many decades since I last taught a Scripture class with its focus on academic parsing. That said, neither approach is wrong and both methods serve the needs of the time and person.

Philippians has always reminded me to trust God in all things and at all times.

I agree with that, I think one of the things Philippians does is bring out the all-sufficiency of Christ and the joy that flows from that knowledge and then from that reality applied to Paul's (and our) lives. I think the word joy in various forms is mentioned at least 12 times in the text.

I have not counted how many times the word joy is used but I do agree it is a book of hope most likely helped by the usage of that word. In these crazy, uncertain economic downfalls and shortages, I am glad that Philippians has been brought forth to study. I feel it should be read with Colossians which tells us those behaviors that will rob of us joy.

Colossians sounds like a good next book to study especially for the reason you gave.

It is somewhat puzzling at the lack of participation here in a study of a book in the Bible. I am still hoping that more get involved and would be happy to see this type of study of the NT where a whole book is studied rather than the same old topics from just certain texts within a book.

[MaxPC]

I agree with that, I think one of the things Philippians does is bring out the all-sufficiency of Christ and the joy that flows from that knowledge and then from that reality applied to Paul's (and our) lives. I think the word joy in various forms is mentioned at least 12 times in the text.

I have not counted how many times the word joy is used but I do agree it is a book of hope most likely helped by the usage of that word. In these crazy, uncertain economic downfalls and shortages, I am glad that Philippians has been brought forth to study. I feel it should be read with Colossians which tells us those behaviors that will rob of us joy.

Colossians sounds like a good next book to study especially for the reason you gave.

It is somewhat puzzling at the lack of participation here in a study of a book in the Bible. I am still hoping that more get involved and would be happy to see this type of study of the NT where a whole book is studied rather than the same old topics from just certain texts within a book.

I agree. Input from Appleman, Robert and OJ would lend interest as well.

Perhaps helpful would be to open a tab with the entire book. Here is a Berean translation for example,
Book of Philippians

[ohio jones]

It is somewhat puzzling at the lack of participation here in a study of a book in the Bible.

As my distant relative John Paul would have put it, "We have not yet begun to study" the text.

[AnthonyMartin]

Where was Paul when he wrote (or dictated) Philippians? He was certainly in prison, as he mentions in several places. The traditional view is that he was in Rome. More recently people have argued that Philippians was written from Ephesus, Corinth, or Caesarea.

I personally am pretty "conservative" when it comes to things like this, and tend to think that the traditional view should be assumed unless there is a strong reason for believing otherwise. Hawthorne and Martin in the Word Biblical Commentary on Philippians identify the first historical evidence (that survives) of the traditional view (Rome) as coming from "the second-century Marcionite prologues attached to Paul's epistles." (Marcion was the guy who said that the loving and compassionate God revealed in the New Testament was different from the violent and vengeful God revealed in the Old Testament.) The original edition of this commentary landed on Caesarea as the place of origin, and the revised edition promotes Ephesus, though neither conclusion is stated dogmatically. I will continue to assume Rome as the place where Philippians was composed, though of course I am open to hearing arguments for other places.

I just wonder what spiritual significance there may be regarding where Paul wrote this letter. Or if the 'place of prayer' was in a building or outside a building.

Paul’s discussion of preachers preaching to cause him harm, and choosing to celebrate that the gospel is preached, would have some significance to where and when he wrote the letter wouldn’t it? He identifies with the Philippian’s persecution through trouble he was facing from other Christians. It would shed some light to understand who he may have been speaking about.

[Sudsy]

Where was Paul when he wrote (or dictated) Philippians? He was certainly in prison, as he mentions in several places. The traditional view is that he was in Rome. More recently people have argued that Philippians was written from Ephesus, Corinth, or Caesarea.

I personally am pretty "conservative" when it comes to things like this, and tend to think that the traditional view should be assumed unless there is a strong reason for believing otherwise. Hawthorne and Martin in the Word Biblical Commentary on Philippians identify the first historical evidence (that survives) of the traditional view (Rome) as coming from "the second-century Marcionite prologues attached to Paul's epistles." (Marcion was the guy who said that the loving and compassionate God revealed in the New Testament was different from the violent and vengeful God revealed in the Old Testament.) The original edition of this commentary landed on Caesarea as the place of origin, and the revised edition promotes Ephesus, though neither conclusion is stated dogmatically. I will continue to assume Rome as the place where Philippians was composed, though of course I am open to hearing arguments for other places.

I just wonder what spiritual significance there may be regarding where Paul wrote this letter. Or if the 'place of prayer' was in a building or outside a building.

Paul’s discussion of preachers preaching to cause him harm, and choosing to celebrate that the gospel is preached, would have some significance to where and when he wrote the letter wouldn’t it? He identifies with the Philippian’s persecution through trouble he was facing from other Christians. It would shed some light to understand who he may have been speaking about.

To your question - I don't know. I was thinking that when and where Paul wrote the letter from that the spiritual significance would not matter. Paul planted this church on his second missionary journey with guesses around AD 49 or 50. Much of his activity there we read in Acts 16:12-40. And he was jailed there where we read about the miraculous conversion of the jailor and his family. So as for a reputation amongst the Christians in Philippi I can see where some preachers might be jealous of his reputation. But just in what prison Paul wrote this letter from, I don't think it matters but it may. My understanding is that Paul was speaking about preachers of the Gospel that were in Philippi.

[joey_the_ox]

My understanding is that Paul was speaking about preachers of the Gospel that were in Philippi.

It will be interesting to dig into this more when we arrive at that part of the text. It seems to me from the surrounding context that Paul is speaking about preachers in the place from which he was writing, not preachers in Philippi.

[joey_the_ox]

If you could pick one Bible verse to serve as a sort of summary of Philippians, which would you pick? (Maybe this question would be better answered after our study is finished.)

Thomas Aquinas in his commentary on Philippians picked Proverbs 4:18:

But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,
which shines brighter and brighter until full day.

On this verse he writes:

In this text the life of the saints is described under three aspects: first, its narrowness, when it is called a path: for the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life (Matt 7:14); that path no bird of prey knows, and the falcon’s eye has not seen it (Job 28:7); second, its splendor when he says, a shining light: for once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord (Eph 5:8). For the just shine and, as a result, their life shines. Third, its progress, because it is always growing: long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up to salvation (1 Pet 2:2); and this even to the perfect day; when the perfect comes, the imperfect will pass away (1 Cor 13:10). The way of the wicked, on the other hand, is wide, obscure, dark and failing: the way of the wicked is like deep darkness: they do not know over what they stumble (Prov 4:19); the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many (Matt 7:13).

And then applying this to Philippians:

From these words we can gather the subject matter of this letter. For the Philippians were on Christ’s narrow way, enduring many tribulations for Christ. They were enlightened by faith: among whom you shine as lights in the world (Phil 2:15). Furthermore, they were making progress, as is clear from the entire letter.

[Sudsy]

If you could pick one Bible verse to serve as a sort of summary of Philippians, which would you pick? (Maybe this question would be better answered after our study is finished.)

I'll wait until we finish the study but I'm not certain at this point one Bible verse can summarize an entire letter.

[joey_the_ox]

As it is now July 7, I'm going to shift my attention to the thread on Philippians chapter 1, verses 1-11.

People can feel free to keep posting on this thread - just try to keep any new posts on the general topic of background and context for the book of Philippians.