Philippians
Author: Paul
Date of Writing: 62 AD
Type of Book: Prison Epistle
Theme: The joy of the Lord
Paul wrote this letter to the church in Philippi around AD 62 while waiting for his final appeal before Caesar. Though chained to a prison guard in the lower dungeon of the prison, the theme of his letter is joy. It seemed appropriate that Paul would write to them from prison, since three years earlier he also had been in prison in Philippi. After delivering a slave girl who was possessed with a spirit of divination, her masters, seeing that their fortune-telling business was gone, seized Paul and Silas and accused them of "teaching customs, which are not lawful." As he and Silas were singing in prison at midnight the Lord miraculously delivered them, which led to the conversion of the jailer (Acts 16:16-34).
Philippi was located in present-day Greece and was a capital city. Paul had founded the church in Philippi on his second missionary journey. Lydia, a seller of purple, and the slave girl who was delivered from demons were among those who comprised the early church in Philippi, which grew into a healthy body that supported Paul more than any other church. Paul wrote this letter to thank them for a gift they had sent, and to give them instructions on unity within the church.
Despite terrible circumstances Paul had learned the secret to contentment and joy, and shared this with a church for which he had so much affection. Epaphroditus and Timothy were both with him at this time, helping with his writings and willing to carry his letters to the various churches. Epaphroditus would deliver the letter to the church in Philippi.
These Christians saw firsthand how joy can come while in the midst of the most difficult of circumstances, as Paul encouraged them that God was still in charge. Philippians is a special book that shows us how to live above our present circumstances; rising above adversity, not just by surviving, but by thriving in the joy of the Lord.
-from Pastor Chuck Smith from The Word for Today Bible