PHILIPPIANS (1): Introduction to Philippians (Philippians 1:1)

We study the background to Philippians in the Book of Acts, giving a potted history, leading up to Paul's imprisonment in Rome (AD 60 - 62), after appealing to Caesar. We see that Paul was in prison for preaching Jesus as the risen Messiah, and the key issue for him was the defence and confirmation of the Gospel. During these 2 years under house arrest, chained to soldiers, God used Paul's chains to bring the Gospel to the heart of the Empire, including to the whole Praetorium Guard and Caesar's Palace in Rome. Paul wrote Philippians near the end of these 2 years, on the threshold of his trial before Nero. He introduces himself as a slave of Jesus Christ. We discuss the issue of slavery, and what it means for us to be slaves of God.