Paul’s letter to the Philippians was probably his first so-called “prison” epistle. It was written during his first Roman imprisonment around the year 61-62 A.D. Paul had appealed to Caesar and according to Roman law as a Roman city-state citizen (Tarsus) he had the right to be judged in Rome. So he was brought to Rome and after the shipwreck we read about in the book of Acts, he eventually reached Rome chained to a soldier. But although he was a prisoner of the Roman state, he was, nevertheless, rejoicing in his bonds as rather a “bond slave of Jesus Christ”. That became a major part of the theme of the letter since the Philippians had sent Epaphriditus to Rome to learn of Paul’s status and wellbeing. This letter comforts that assembly not only regarding how Paul himself was doing but also how their dear friend Epaphraditus was doing. They were both rejoicing in the Lord. All was well, and the trials of imprisonment were not enough to prevent God from his eternal purpose in saving many, even in Caesar’s household. The theme of the letter is on the “mind” in the sense of “thinking” and how believers need to always think correctly whatever their condition in this world. There are four positive role models or examples given in the letter and several negatives. The positives include: Christ himself, first and foremost, Timothy, Epaphraditus, and then, finally the apostle Paul. The most important exhortation there seems to be “let this mind be in you that was also in Christ Jesus”. The letter to the Philippians is a letter of correction regarding the failure to live fully and in accordance with the heavenly teaching of the Ephesian letter somewhat like the Corinthian letters are letters of correction regarding the failure to live fully and completely according to the teaching of the Romans.
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