King James Version
Philippians
Philippians in the King James Version (1769), public domain in the United States.
Background and History
The chapters above are the King James text. This essay is the setting of Philippians: who is said to have written it, when and where, what happens in it, and how the text has been copied.
At a Glance
| Author | Paul, with Timothy in the greeting. Scholars accept Paul as the author. |
|---|---|
| Date | AD 54–62 in one survey, depending on whether Paul wrote from Ephesus, Caesarea, or Rome. |
| Place written | A prison. Rome, Italy, is traditional. Ephesus, near modern Selçuk, Turkey, and Caesarea, near modern Caesarea, Israel, are alternatives. |
| Genre | A letter of friendship and thanks. |
| Chapters | 4 |
| Verses | 104 in the King James Version |
| Key verse | Philippians 2:5–6Philippians 2:5 · King James VersionLet this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:Philippians 2:5 · King James VersionOpen the Source |
Who Wrote It
Philippians 1:1Philippians 1:1 · King James VersionPaul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:
Philippians 1:1 · King James VersionOpen the Source (1) names Paul and Timothy, servants of Jesus Christ. The letter is in Paul’s first person and speaks of his bonds. Eusebius counts it among Paul’s undisputed letters. (2) The Muratorian fragment lists it. (3) Athanasius lists it. (4) Polycarp of Smyrna later wrote to the Philippians and spoke of Paul writing to them. This page did not check that text and does not quote it. Pauline authorship is accepted across scholarship. Some scholars think the book joins more than one letter, especially at Philippians 3:1–2Philippians 3:1–2 · King James Version3:1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.
3:2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.
Philippians 3:1–2 · King James VersionOpen the Source, and others defend its unity.
Who It Is Not
Timothy is a co-sender, not the author. Epaphroditus carries a gift and returns with the letter in Philippians 2:25Philippians 2:25 · King James VersionYet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.
Philippians 2:25 · King James VersionOpen the Source.
When and Where
Bible Gateway gives AD 54–62, with the range resting on where Paul was held. (5) Philippians 1:13Philippians 1:13 · King James VersionSo that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;
Philippians 1:13 · King James VersionOpen the Source mentions the palace, or praetorium, and Philippians 4:22Philippians 4:22 · King James VersionAll the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar’s household.
Philippians 4:22 · King James VersionOpen the Source (1) the saints of Caesar’s household. Those fit Rome. They could also fit a governor’s headquarters elsewhere.
Audience and Setting
The church at Philippi, the first church Paul founded in Europe according to Acts 16:12–40Acts 16:12–40 · King James Version16:12 And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days.
16:13 And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.
16:14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.
16:15 And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.
16:16 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:
16:17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.
16:18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.
16:19 And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,
16:20 And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,
16:21 And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.
16:22 And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.
16:23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:
16:24 Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
16:25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
16:26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.
16:27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.
16:28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
16:29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,
16:30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
16:32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
16:33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
16:34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.
16:35 And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go.
16:36 And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace.
16:37 But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out.
16:38 And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans.
16:39 And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city.
16:40 And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.
Acts 16:12–40 · King James VersionOpen the Source. The purpose is thanks for their gift, news of Paul’s situation, and a call to unity and joy.
Rulers at the Time
The letter mentions Caesar’s household in Philippians 4:22Philippians 4:22 · King James VersionAll the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar’s household.
Philippians 4:22 · King James VersionOpen the Source but does not name an emperor. This page adds none.
| When | What |
|---|---|
| Founding | Lydia and the jailer at Philippi. Acts 16 |
| Gift | Epaphroditus brings help and falls sick. Philippians 2:25–30Philippians 2:25–30 · King James Version2:25 Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.2:26 For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick.2:27 For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.2:28 I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful.2:29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation:2:30 Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.Philippians 2:25–30 · King James VersionOpen the Source |
| The letter | AD 54–62 in one survey. (5) |
Places in This Book
| Ancient name | Modern-day location | References |
|---|---|---|
| Philippi | Ruins near Krinides, Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, Greece. | Philippians 1:1Philippians 1:1 · King James VersionPaul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:Philippians 1:1 · King James VersionOpen the Source |
| Thessalonica | Thessaloniki, Greece. | Philippians 4:16Philippians 4:16 · King James VersionFor even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.Philippians 4:16 · King James VersionOpen the Source |
What Is Happening
Philippians 1 gives thanks and reports that Paul’s imprisonment has advanced the gospel. Philippians 2 calls for humility, with the hymn of Christ’s self-emptying, and commends Timothy and Epaphroditus. Philippians 3 warns against confidence in the flesh and presses toward the goal. Philippians 4 urges joy, peace, and contentment, and thanks the church for its gift.
Key Themes
Joy recurs, as in Philippians 4:4Philippians 4:4 · King James VersionRejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
Philippians 4:4 · King James VersionOpen the Source. Humility modeled on Christ is in Philippians 2:3–8Philippians 2:3–8 · King James Version2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
2:4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Philippians 2:3–8 · King James VersionOpen the Source. Knowing Christ above all is in Philippians 3:8Philippians 3:8 · King James VersionYea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
Philippians 3:8 · King James VersionOpen the Source. Contentment is in Philippians 4:11–13Philippians 4:11–13 · King James Version4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
4:12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Philippians 4:11–13 · King James VersionOpen the Source.
Apologetics Questions
Philippians 2:6–11Philippians 2:6–11 · King James Version2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:6–11 · King James VersionOpen the Source is central to debates over the deity of Christ. Some Unitarian and Jehovah’s Witness readers take the phrase about not grasping equality with God as a refusal of a status he did not have. Trinitarian readers take being in the form of God as possession of that status, and note that Philippians 2:10–11Philippians 2:10–11 · King James Version2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:10–11 · King James VersionOpen the Source applies Isaiah 45:23Isaiah 45:23 · King James VersionI have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.
Isaiah 45:23 · King James VersionOpen the Source, where every knee bows to the Lord, to Jesus.
How the Book Points to Christ
Philippians 2:6Philippians 2:6 · King James VersionWho, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
Philippians 2:6 · King James VersionOpen the Source says Christ was in the form of God and thought it not robbery to be equal with God. He took the form of a servant and was exalted so that every tongue confesses Jesus Christ is Lord. Jesus is God. What Is the Deity of Christ? sets this passage with the others.
Text and Manuscripts
Codex Sinaiticus contains Philippians. (6) No major variant changes the argument.
Canon Reception
Philippians was received without dispute. (2) (3) (4)
Further Reading
References
- Letter to the Philippians, 1:1; 1:13; 4:22Philippians 1:1 · King James Version
Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:
Philippians 1:1 · King James VersionOpen the Source. King James Version - Church History, Book 3, 3.3.5; 3.25Papias, in Eusebius, Church History 3.39.15 · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, New Advent
Mark, having become the interpreter of Peter, wrote down accurately, though not in order, whatsoever he remembered of the things said or done by Christ. For he neither heard the Lord nor followed him, but afterward, as I said, he followed Peter, who adapted his teaching to the needs of his hearers, but with no intention of giving a connected account of the Lord's discourses, so that Mark committed no error while he thus wrote some things as he remembered them. For he was careful of one thing, not to omit any of the things which he had heard, and not to state any of them falsely.
Papias, in Eusebius, Church History 3.39.15 · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, New AdventOpen the Source (Eusebius, Church History 3.3, 3.24–25, and 3.39, Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, second series, vol. 1, on New Advent. Chapter 25 sorts books into acknowledged, disputed, and rejected. Chapter 39 reports Papias on Mark and Matthew.) - Muratorian fragment, PhilippiansMuratorian fragment, on Acts · Roberts-Donaldson, Ante-Nicene Fathers 5
Moreover, the Acts of all the Apostles are comprised by Luke in one book, and addressed to the most excellent Theophilus, because these different events took place when he was present himself; and he shows this clearly-i.e., that the principle on which he wrote was, to give only what fell under his own notice-by the omission of the passion of Peter, and also of the journey of Paul, when he went from the city-Rome-to Spain.
Muratorian fragment, on Acts · Roberts-Donaldson, Ante-Nicene Fathers 5Open the Source (Roberts-Donaldson translation, Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 5. The Latin is damaged and the English follows restorations. The fragment lists the books read in the church and those rejected.) - Festal Letter 39, 39.4–5 (Athanasius of Alexandria, AD 367, Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, second series, vol. 4, on New Advent. The letter lists twenty-two Old Testament books and the twenty-seven books of the New Testament, and places Esther among books to be read rather than in the canon.)
- When Was Each Book of the Bible Written?, Philippians (Jacob Edson, Bible Gateway, 16 September 2024. The survey gives Philippians as AD 54–62. It is one editor’s approximation, not a manuscript date.)
- Codex Sinaiticus, About the manuscriptCodex Sinaiticus: content · Codex Sinaiticus Project
Codex Sinaiticus, a manuscript of the Christian Bible written in the middle of the fourth century, contains the earliest complete copy of the Christian New Testament.
Codex Sinaiticus: content · Codex Sinaiticus ProjectOpen the Source (The Codex Sinaiticus project’s description of the manuscript, a fourth-century Greek Bible with the earliest complete copy of the New Testament.)
The King James Version (1769) is in the public domain in the United States.