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The Epistle to the Philippians – Introduction

Published since 28. Oct. 2025
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The Assembly in Philippi

As Paul traveled through the Galatian countryside with Silas on his second missionary journey to consolidate the assemblies in Asia Minor, the Holy Spirit called him to a new field of work. Paul and his co-workers sailed from Troas until they finally arrived in Macedonia. The first city in Macedonia where Paul and Silas stayed for a few days was Philippi (Acts 16:12). It was there that the first assembly in Europe came into being through the two missionaries: the assembly in Philippi.

The Christians in Philippi

The believers in Philippi were very fond of the apostle. From the very beginning, they supported him in his ministry of the gospel (cf. chap. 1:5; 4:15). When Paul wrote his letter, however, he had been taken away from his field of work. Paul was a prisoner for the sake of the gospel, for which he had committed his life, and was in prison in Rome.

But even in prison, the Philippians did not abandon him. On the contrary, they were full of heartfelt sympathy. For they had Paul in their hearts and made themselves one with the apostle and his ministry of the gospel. And if Paul had to suffer for the sake of the gospel, then the Philippians also shared in this suffering by supporting him in prison and sending him a gift through Epaphroditus.

Reason for the Letter

The Philippians' gift to Paul in prison – in addition to the news that Paul had received about the Philippians through Epaphroditus – was also the reason for the letter he wrote to them. Because the believers in Philippi were so closely involved in Paul's fate, but also because they were concerned about the spread of the gospel due to Paul's imprisonment, he informed them of the circumstances in which he found himself.

Paul encouraged the Philippians and let them know that his imprisonment and supposed elimination from his ministry did not mean a defeat for the gospel or a triumph for the enemy. Rather, his difficult circumstances contributed to the spread of the gospel, for it had become evident even in the praetorium and in all other places that Paul was not a criminal but a prisoner for the sake of Christ (Phil. 1:12, 13). Thus, the gospel had evidently also reached these high-ranking personalities.

Paul's Joy

This caused Paul great joy. Even though he himself had been taken away from his field of work and was now seemingly condemned to inactivity, he was not despondent and disappointed or even despairing – although, humanly speaking, he would have had every reason to be. But Paul was inwardly above the circumstances. His heart was full of deep joy despite the adverse circumstances: Not only was he languishing in prison, but he was also experiencing headwinds there from fellow believers who were taking advantage of his imprisonment and, out of ill motives, envy, and strife, were taking action to “add affliction to his bonds.”

Nevertheless, Paul rejoiced – because Christ was proclaimed despite bad motives (Phil. 1:18). This man was not interested in his own honor. Nor did he seek the approval of men but linked everything in his life to Christ. In all situations, he had only the glorification of his Lord in mind. That is what he lived for, that is what he worked for, and that is why he accepted every personal disadvantage and harm.

No, Paul was not downcast or despairing in prison. On the contrary, he was full of deep joy. His heart was overflowing with joy. This was not a brief emotional surge that overcame him as he wrote this letter. Rather, it was a joy that characterized his life and that he also wished for the Philippians: a joy that was independent of all life's circumstances and was not triggered by earthly happiness. It was the same joy that had already become apparent during his first stay in Philippi when he sat in prison with Silas and sang hymns.

This joy had its source in a person. It is the joy of a person who is filled with Christ and lives in His fellowship; it is the joy of a person who has found everything in Christ and for whom Christ has become everything. Paul was completely taken in by this wonderful Person who had appeared to him on the road to Damascus and had changed his life so completely. Christ and Christ alone made him happy.

Theme of the Letter

Paul's joy is particularly evident in his letter to the Philippians. In fact, it is something very characteristic of this letter, and it is also closely linked to the content of the theme of this letter. You could also say that the joy that the apostle had is something that characterizes a Christian whose purpose and goal in life is Christ.

This is exactly what the letter to the Philippians is about. The letter to the Philippians uses the example of Paul to show us how the Christian life unfolds in practice. It shows us how Christianity is lived and realized in practice. This is why this letter is also known as the letter of Christian experience. It is not simply about the positive and negative experiences in the vicissitudes of life that we generally have. Rather, it is about the experiences of someone who really lives as a Christian. These are the experiences of a believer who associates everything with Christ, who experiences and lives through all of life's circumstances with Him, and who has Christ as the purpose and goal of his life in all situations.

A Letter of Christian Practice

The letter to the Philippians is, therefore, a very practical letter. In this letter, Paul does not give us a doctrinal exposition of Christian truth, such as in Romans or Ephesians. In his so-called "doctrinal epistles," Paul explains to us what being a Christian involves in terms of our position. He shows us what a great position of blessing God has called us to in His grace in Christ.

However, this is not the subject of Philippians. Philippians shows us the practical effects of Christian teaching in the life of a believer. It shows us that Christian teaching is not just theory but has a life-shaping effect. In the example of Paul, we see a man who has not only fully grasped the Christian position – which he himself was able to set out in Romans and Ephesians – but also lives it in practice. We see a man who not only understood what our heavenly calling and position in Christ entails but who is also occupied with heavenly things, with Christ in glory. Because he knows that he is united with Christ in glory, he thinks about what is above, where Christ is. He is seized by Him, the glorified Christ, he is attracted to Him, and his whole life revolves around this marvelous person.

Paul could not only say: "Christ, our life" (Col. 3:4) – a fact that applies to every born-again Christian. For Paul, Christ had also become the purpose of his life. That is why he could say with all his heart: "For to me, to live is Christ" (Phil. 1:21). This man had only one object, one motive, one goal in his life, and that was Christ. Christ meant everything to him, and apart from Christ, there was nothing of real value to him.

Paul Speaks from Experience

"Life for me is Christ" – Paul does not make this statement as a young Christian who is overwhelmed by the grace of his Saviour and now desires to live with Him and for Him. No, Paul is speaking here from many years of experience. He writes as a father in Christ who has had experiences with his Lord in all the ups and downs of life, who has experienced Him in all the circumstances of life and lived through them with Him, always keeping Christ in mind as the purpose and goal of his life.

Walk in the Spirit

This was the secret of his deep joy. It was a joy that the Spirit of God brought about in his life. If the Holy Spirit can become effective in us, then He proves to be a living source of power that lifts us above the circumstances and things of this earth by placing Christ before our eyes and occupying us with Him. That is His goal.

When our heart is filled with Christ through the work of the Holy Spirit, then joy, infinite joy, is the result; a joy that cannot be clouded and shaken by circumstances, a joy that has its source in this unique Person with whom we are so intimately connected, to whom we owe everything and in whom we possess everything.

So it was with Paul. His heart overflowed with joy, which had its deep source in the glorified Christ who had loved him and given Himself for him. Recognizing Christ – both through personal experience and through a personal relationship – meant great joy for Paul. This made the imprisoned apostle happy and free.

Structure

Since the letter to the Philippians so particularly presents the practice of the Christian life, a life with and for Christ, we also understand that the Lord Jesus occupies a very central place in this letter. He is mentioned fifty times by various names. In every chapter of this letter, we find Him, the great object and the central person of Christian life.

  • Chapter 1

In the first chapter, we find Christ as the purpose and motive of the Christian life. Christ is the object that governs or determines the Christian life. Paul writes the weighty words: “For to me, to live is Christ” (Phil. 1:21). No matter what the circumstances, no matter how the Lord led him, Paul sought only the glorification of his Lord in all situations. He associated everything he encountered with Christ. He wanted to be at His disposal; he wanted to serve Him. His whole life should belong to Christ. And his great desire was that Christ would be exalted through him. He was prepared to pay any price for this – “whether by life or by death” (Phil. 1:20).

  • Chapter 2

In the second chapter, Paul emphasizes Christ as the great example for our lives. The Lord Jesus is presented here as a man on earth in the attitude that characterized Him: He humbled Himself and was obedient to the point of death. And Paul urges us: “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 2:5). So Christ is not only the content but also the model of the Christian life. True Christian life is characterized by the nature of Christ.

  • Chapter 3

The third chapter presents the glorified Christ in heaven as the source of strength and the goal of the Christian life. As the one object and center of attraction of the heart, as the goal and the prize of our race, which ends with Him in glory. Paul says: “But one thing I do: forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:13-14).

  • Chapter 4

In the fourth chapter, we find Christ as power and strength in all circumstances of life: Christ who is sufficient in all situations. We see in Paul, a man who, on the one hand, is inwardly above circumstances because his heart is filled with heavenly things, with Christ in glory. But Paul, on the other hand, has also included Christ in all earthly circumstances and lived through them with Him, so that he can say from his own experience: The circumstances on earth are unimportant. “I have learned in whatever state I am to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things, I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:11-13).

Condition of the Recipients of the Letter

When Paul describes his experiences from his life as a Christian in this letter, he recommends himself to the Philippians (and to us) for imitation: “Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern” (Phil. 3:17). Even though the Philippians were in a good spiritual state and Paul could think of them with joy, there was something that needed to be corrected: there was a certain disunity among them that had apparently arisen in their service to the Lord. Obviously, some of them were themselves too much at the center of their thoughts and aspirations, and something was lacking in the “mind which was also in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 2:5). That is why Paul presents them with his attitude to life, his purpose and his goal in life as an example.

 

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