Throughout April, we’re diving into the book of Philippians – a four-chapter journey that begins with some profound questions: What makes life worth living? And related: What does it mean to live a worthy life?

The Philippian Context

Paul wrote this letter from prison, likely in Rome around 62 AD, about 30 years after Jesus’s ministry. The Philippian church was special to Paul – these were the first Christian converts in Europe that we know of from scripture. The city of Philippi was a Roman colony, essentially a retirement community for Roman veterans who enjoyed the privileges of Roman citizenship.

When Paul first visited Philippi (Acts 16), he met remarkable individuals like Lydia, a successful businesswoman who sold luxury purple cloth. He encountered a demon-possessed girl being exploited by her masters, and eventually found himself imprisoned with Silas. That imprisonment led to an earthquake, followed by the conversion of their jailer. These were the very people Paul was now writing to – people whose lives had been radically transformed.

Continue reading → A Worthy Life (Philippians 1)