PHILIPPI was so called from Philip, king of Macedonia, who much enlarged and beautified it. Afterwards it became a Roman colony, and the chief city of that part of Macedonia. Hither St. Paul was sent by a vision to preach and here, not long after his coming, he was shamefully entreated. Nevertheless many were converted by him, during the short time of his abode there; by whose liberality he was more assisted than by any other church of his planting. And they had now sent large assistance to him by Epaphroditus; by whom he returns them this epistle.

It contains six parts:

I. The inscription,......................................... C.i. 1,2
II. Thanksgiving and prayers for them,............................ 3-11
III.He relates his present state and good hope:.................. 12-24
Whence he exhorts them,
1. While he remains with them to walk worthy of the
gospel,.................................................... 25-30
C. ii. 1-16
2. Though he should be killed, to rejoice with him,........... 17,18
And promises,
1. To certify them of all things by Timotheus,................ 19-24
2. In the mean time to send Epaphroditus,..................... 25-30
IV. He exhorts them to rejoice,........................... C. iii. 1-3
admonishing them to beware of false teachers, and
to imitate the true,...................................... 2-21
commending concord,................................. C. iv. 1-3
He again exhorts them to joy and meekness.................... 4-7
and to whatsoever things are excellent,...................... 8-9
V. He accepts of their liberality,.............................. 10-20
VI. The conclusion,.............................................. 21-23