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A lone traveler seen from behind, a leather satchel on his shoulder, walking a paved Roman road at dawn toward a small walled town at the foot of a rocky hill.

The Book of

Philippians Intro

A letter from a prisoner, overflowing with joy.

Before chapter 1≈ 2 min4 chapters

Images are artistic interpretations.

In 30 seconds

Paul is in chains, waiting for trial.

Old friends in Philippi send him a gift.

He writes back: thanks, news, love.

Be one. Think like Jesus. Press on.

And again and again: rejoice.

Tap to go deeper: meaning, history and related Scripture

Who wrote it

Paul

Apostle, writing from chains

  • Paul writes it, with Timothy beside him, to all the believers in Philippi.Philippians 1:1
  • He is a prisoner, and the whole palace guard knows it is for Christ.Philippians 1:13
  • Traditionally written from Rome around AD 60–62, while Paul waited two years under guard.Acts 28:30
  • To a church he had planted about ten years before.Acts 16:12

How it’s built

A letter to friends

Thanks andprayer1:1–11News fromprison1:12–26Be likeChrist1:27–2:30KnowingChristchapter 3Joy and thankschapter 4

Whiteboard

Thanks, news, Christ as the pattern, a warning, and thanks again for their gift.

Big themes

Four threads to follow

Where it was written

ItalyMacedoniaRomeThessalonicaPhilippi

Stylised map · locations approximate

On the map

From Rome to Philippi

Traditionally written under guard in Rome, carried across the Adriatic and east along the Via Egnatia to Philippi, a Roman colony in Macedonia.

Meet the cast

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Watch for

For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Philippians 1:21

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Question

Quick question

While Paul was under guard, the church in Philippi sent him help.

Who carried the church’s gift to Paul?

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