November 12, 2017 | Pastor John Bayles | The Letters of St. Paul: Thanksgiving for Old Friends | Philippians 1:1-11

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November 12, 2017 | Pastor John Bayles | The Letters of St. Paul: Thanksgiving for Old Friends | Philippians 1:1-11

The Letters of St. Paul: Thanksgiving for Old Friends
Philippians 1:1-11

Philippi was named after the father of Alexander the Great, Philip of Macedon and later annexed by Rome. At the time of Paul's second missionary journey Philippi had been transformed into a leading colony of the empire. In Acts 16, Paul, Silas, Timothy (and Luke) came into contact with the people of Philippi on Paul’s second missionary journey. Having been restrained from going into Asia, the missionary band traveled north along the border of Galatia trough Mysia. From there they traveled south to Troas, took a ship and arrived at the port city of Neapolis. From there they took the nine mile walk to Philippi. They stayed in Philippi several days and each morning they went down to the riverside to pray. There the met Lydia and woman from Thatyira. Paul spoke to her and shared the Gospel. The Lord opened her heart and she became the first believer. Many converts came from Paul’s preaching and a large number formed a church in Philippi. They were energetic and generous toward Paul’s person and mission. At the time of this writing, perhaps 27 years later, from a prison cell in Rome, Paul wrote this letter to the Philippians. In the very first lines of the letter, he launches into a beautiful and meaningful prayer for the Philippian church and for us today.

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