Bonner 1 Final Project Part 1 by Welton Bonner Historical Context Philippians is a powerful letter even for a reader without any clue to the beautiful story that is happening in the background. It has resonated in the hearts of many believers who have claimed various verses from the epistle to be their life verses. The aim of this work, however is to tell the background story of Philippians in such a way that will help readers of Philippians put themselves in their ancient sibling’s shoes. This will bridge the gap between the world as it was in 62 A.D. (dated according to tradition) 1 and the world as it is now in 2016. The story begins in Acts 16:6 as Paul, the ex-persecutor turned apostle, is persistently trying to take the gospel into Asia Minor, but is being forbidden by the Holy Spirit to do so. Paul tried to go to Bithynia which is still in the same region as Asia Minor, but the Spirit would not allow him preach there either. But one night after those doors were closed, Paul received a vision of a man from Macedonia begging Paul to come and help (v.9). Immediately Paul and his team comprised of Timothy, Silas, and Luke made arrangements to go to Macedonia. They landed on the shore of Neapolis and headed to one of the leading cities in the district of Macedonia called Philippi. Philippi is a city with layers of history from two great Empires. It was named after Philip II of Macedon, who fortified the city as one of his military strongholds 2 . However, he was only one of the great leaders who would stake their claim over the city. It’s ŶeaƌďLJ gold ŵiŶes aŶd it’s plaĐe oŶ the EgŶatiaŶ WaLJ were great lures for those hungry for prosperity. The Egnatian Way was a grand Roman Military Highway that stretched 1 Elwell, W. A., & Beitzel, B. J. (1988). In Baker encyclopedia of the Bible (p. 1677). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House. 2 Ibid.