Philippians

• DatesAbout AD 60–62 from Rome, or the mid-50s from Ephesus (debated)
• GenrePaul’s Letters
• AuthorshipPaul; accepted by nearly all scholars
• TimelineEarly Church
• Key textsPhilippians 1; Philippians 2:5–11; Philippians 4
• Read the textPhilippians in the World English Bible
• Covered in classSession 4

What the sources say, and how sure we are

• The text says

  Paul writes from prison, thanks the Philippians for their gift, and quotes a hymn about Christ’s humility and exaltation. Acts describes Philippi as a Roman colony in Macedonia where Paul first preached in Europe.Phil 1:7; Phil 2:5–11; Phil 4:15–18; Acts 16:12

• Debated

  Paul does not say where he is imprisoned. Scholars propose Rome (the traditional view), Ephesus, or Caesarea, with dates from the mid-50s to the early 60s. Some also think the letter combines more than one letter, because of the break at 3:1.Phil 1:13; Phil 3:1

• Christian conclusion

  Christians read the hymn in 2:5–11 as an early confession of Jesus’ divinity and lordship.Phil 2:6–11