God will complete his work in the philippians lives. Three things can be said about this quality of the philippian church. The book of philippians shows christians how to live jesus story. Most likely, the pronoun takes in these ideas in general, except the last one mentioned, i. Paul experienced an amazing amount of persecution and hardship because of his ministry 2. Read boldness in the face of persecution philippians 1.
The real quality of a christian is not seen when times are ideal. Mar 17, 2015 persecution under maximinus the thracian 23538. The early church was unanimous in its testimony that philippians was written by the apostle paul see 1. Book of first thessalonians overview insight for living. As such, both paul and timothy helped found and establish the church at philippi along with silas and luke. Listen to chuck swindoll s overview of first thessalonians in his audio message from the classic series gods masterwork. The early church was unanimous in its testimony that philippians was written by the. The apostle paul wrote the letter to express his gratitude and affection for the philippian church, his strongest supporters in ministry. Some scholars argue that the word this could refer back to the philippians faith v. To introduce the philippian church and the philippian letter. Persecution in the early church occurred sporadically almost since the beginning, but it was first sanctioned by the government under nero. Needless to say, the book of philippians can be applied to our modern lives in. This letter came out of a wonderful relationship that paul had with the philippian church.
A look at the early church from ad 0 church history timeline. What was jesus message to the church in philadelphia in. The epistle to the philippians, commonly referred to as philippians, is a pauline epistle of the new testament of the christian bible. Paul mentioned the persecution they were undergoing in philippians chapter 1. Todays passage reflects the close bond between paul and the philippians. When paul pens the letter to the saints in philippi, he is imprisoned in rome a twoyear incarceration acts 28. Book of philippians overview insight for living ministries. We, the members of the philippian missionary baptist church, are a wordcentered ministry committed to building our church and community through evangelizing the lost, equipping and empowering the found, and providing a holistic ministry to our community as well as the world. The words joy and rejoice are used 16 times in the epistle. Jun 25, 2019 the joy of the christian experience is the dominant theme running through the book of philippians. The book is about christ in our life, christ in our mind, christ as our goal, christ as our strength, and joy through suffering. Although this is a letter of friendship and encouragement for the persecuted philippians, the focus of pauls exhortation is the concept of humility. The joy of the christian experience is the dominant theme running through the book of philippians.
Epaphroditus almost died of an illness, yet remained with paul long enough for the philippians to receive word of his malady. The story begins with paul in troas, a town on the. The nazi killed his wife, his children and his parents, nazis stripped him of his clothes and cut off his wedding band. Why is it important to let people know that you are thankful for them. Paul consistently prayed with joy for the philippian church v. But whatever the specific nature of the persecution in philippi, it is at least clear that the church was truly suffering at the hands of unbelievers. Philippians intro to philippians biblica the international bible. The philippian church according to acts bible odyssey. Satanic opposition to the new church immediately arose in the person of a demonpossessed, fortunetelling slave girl acts 16. The persecution of christians in the new testament is an important part of the early christian.
Paul also concerned over the philippians persecution 1. A joyful reminder sermon by david dewitt, philippians 1. Severe persecution under diocletian and galerius 303324. Paul thanks the philippian christians for their generosity and shares how they are all called to imitate jesus selfgiving love. Thus, at philippi, paul and silas were most cruelly persecuted acts 16. The philippian church acts 16 september 67, 2006 aim.
The philippian church was used by paul as an example of generosity, so as to stimulate the corinthians to followthrough with their commitment to give to the needy saints in judea 2 corinthians 8. After paul started the church in thessalonica, he wrote this first letter to the believers there within just a few months of leaving. From reading pauls letter to them and the reference made to the churches of macedonia in ii cor. The details of pauls life mentioned in the letter phil. Two christian women, euodia1 and syntyche, evidently well. He assured them that he was praying for them regularly. When octavian defeated mark antony at the battle of actium in 31 bce, the city received another influx of new residents, this time settlers who had lost their land during reforms in italy. Persecution in the early church workman, herbert b. The philadelphian church is the recipient of this letter. What was jesus message to the church in philadelphia in revelation.
It is to be expected as a result of following christ 2ti 3. Paul had planted the church in philippi during his second missionary journey. Score a books total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. The love of money and the sin of valens in polycarps epistle. The third edition of christianity through the centuries brings the reader uptodate by discussing events and developments in the church into the 1990s. The epistle is attributed to paul the apostle and a coauthor named timothy, and is addressed to the christian church in philippi. Persecution of christians in the new testament wikipedia. The christians were being persecuted for their faith. Tortured for christ by richard wurmbrand, foxes book of martyrs by john foxe, the heavenly man. This summary of the book of philippians provides information about the title, author s, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of philippians. Join a group for the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing in many acts of thanksgiving to god. Three of the books of the new testament bear the marks of that most cruel. A look at the early church ad 0 church history timeline. Paul sent the other three prison epistlesephesians, colossians, and philemonby the hand of tychicus, as their destinations were near one another.
The two books contain numerous references to and episodes of persecution against christians, carried out primarily by jews and roman authorities. Philippi was a roman colony in northeastern greece where paul founded his first christian congregation in europe. Philippian community church participates in a wide variety of missions through financial support, prayer, and participation. Despite living in a maledominated society, the early church at philippi seems to have accepted women in prominent leadership roles. It seems that this church was closer to paul than was any other church. It is evident that paul wrote the letter from prison see 1. Philippi then became a roman colony settled by army veterans and produced its own coinage. Persecution of the church international standard bible encyclopedia. Welcome to philippian community church in jacksonville florida.
Maier, purity and danger in polycarps epistle to the philippians. Pauls gratitude for the philippians reformed bible studies. His children will have all their true needs supplied. In acts, luke recorded that paul preached for three sabbath days to the jews in the. A second problem faced by the philippian church was the threat of false teaching. Their love for him and his love for them are mirrored in this epistle. Paul s prayer for the philippians was about their love shown in the gift of financial support to him. It was written during pauls imprisonment in rome, about thirty years after christs ascension and about ten years after paul first. Such expressions of gratitude were common in firstcentury letters, and, indeed, paul regularly began his epistles in this.
Not wanting even agreeable testimony from such an evil source, paul cast the demon out of her acts 16. Fifth, philippians is a book that helps us get a proper perspective on unjust suffering, persecution, and even death. An introduction to pauls letter to the philippians marg mowczko. Books fiction and nonfiction that have persecuted christians as a central theme.
Philippian baptist church, philadelphia, pennsylvania. Aug 04, 20 no matter what, the good news of jesus will advance. Philippians can be called resources through suffering. Paul begins his letter with words thanking god for the philippians partnership in the gospel from the first day until now 1. I have chosen pauls words in chapter 1, verse 21, as the title for this series. How the church of christ began in philippi house to house.
It is likely that the philippian church initially met in her spacious home. It was written during paul s imprisonment in rome, about thirty years after christs ascension and about ten years after paul first preached at philippi. The many personal references of the author fit what we know of paul from other nt books. The philippian church could be described as being rooted,fixed, and established. Philippian baptist church is the church founded on love. When they heard of his roman imprisonment, the philippian church sent epaphroditus with financial help 4. The epistle of paul to the philippians was written to the believers in europe in the city of philippi. Paul and silas are flogged and imprisoned by gentiles in philippi. This edition has been redesigned with new typography and greatly improved graphics to increase clarity, accessibility, and usefulness. Our prayer for you is that the god of all grace anoints you with fresh oil and his precious spirit illuminates the word as you read. The book of philippians paul writes a thankyou note to the believers at philippi for their help in his hour of need, and he uses the occasion to send along some instructions on christian unity.
Of the four prison epistles, paul likely wrote philippians last, near the end of his roman imprisonment in ad 61 or 62. The author of the book of acts describes the founding of the christian community in philippi in acts 16. The book of philippians is one of pauls most encouraging letters. Second, the church at philippi is the only church i am aware of in the new testament that is used as a model for other churches to follow. The story begins with paul in troas, a town on the western coast of modern turkey, where he dreams of a man from macedonia pleading with him to cross the aegean sea and help the people there acts 16. The sin of valens in social perspective, journal of early christian studies 1, no. The church at philippi began with paul hearing the macedonian call acts 16. Scott newton said amen here is a brief outline of some of what the bible says about persecution. After the conference in jerusalem regarding whether a man had to be circumcised to be saved acts 15, paul and barnabas decided to visit the churches they had established on their first journey to confirm them in the faith and tell them of the results of this.
1165 1011 565 1220 842 1000 1320 1198 675 1108 512 1147 459 1598 528 204 1021 680 76 959 820 1377 178 1515 1131 1317 1239 1586 635 341 1282 1237 29 15 332 299 1476 621 438 525 414 1054 357