11 Oct. Paul writes to the Christians in Philippi
"From Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus.
To all of God's holy people in Christ Jesus who live in Philippi, including your elders and deacons:
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."
"I thank my God every time I remember you, always praying with joy for all of you. I thank God for the help you gave me while I preached the Good News - help you gave from the first day you believed until now."
"God began doing a good work in you, and I am sure he will continue it until it is finished when Jesus Christ comes again."
"And I know that I am right to think like this about all of you, because I have you in my heart. All of you share in God's grace with me while I am in prison [i.e. imprisoned under house arrest] and while I am defending and proving the truth of the Good News. God knows that I want to see you very much, because I love all of you with the love of Christ Jesus."
"This is my prayer for you: that your love will grow more and more; that you will have knowledge and understanding with your love; that you will see the difference between good and bad and will choose the good; that you will be pure and without wrong for the coming of Christ; that you will do many good things with the help of Christ to bring glory and praise to God."
(Philippians 1:1-11)
Paul wrote this letter to the believers in Philippi in c.61AD while he was still under house arrest in Rome, awaiting his trial before the emperor Nero. Paul was writing to the church he had established in Macedonia (northern Greece) during his second missionary journey in 50 – 52AD (see Acts 16:12-40) and had visited at least twice more during his third missionary journey in 52 – 56AD (see Acts 20:1-6).
The letter was taken from Rome to Philippi by Epaphroditus (see Philippians 2:25-30) who had recently brought a monetary gift from the Philippian believers to Paul at his rented house in Rome (see Philippians 4:18).
In his letter, Paul thanks the believers for their financial support. He urges them to be humble – like Jesus – rather than selfish and proud, and reminds them that their life in union with Christ is the result of faith rather than by following the Jewish law.
Paul begins by sending greetings from Timothy who is with Paul in Rome (see Acts 16:1-3 & Philippians 2:19-23).
He then thanks God for the financial support he has received from the believers in Philippi both while under house arrest in Rome and when he was completely free to spread the Good News of Jesus.
The photo shows the Via Egnatia (the 'Egnatian Way') - the stone-paved Roman road that ran through Philippi. You can read more from Paul's Letter to the Philippians @ https://www.thebiblejourney.org/…/15-pauls-letter-to-ephesu…