Philippi, located in Macedonia about 10 miles from the Aegean Sea, was a significant city despite not being a seaport. Originally named Krenides, meaning fountains or springs due to its abundant water supply, it was a center for gold and silver mining, attracting commercial activity. Renamed Philippi in 356 BC by King Philip II of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great, the city was expanded through construction projects, increasing its population. Philip saw strategic value in Philippi, which commanded a vital valley leading from the Aegean Sea northward, positioning it as a key point for traffic control. In 42 BC, a major battle occurred just west of Philippi between Octavian and Marc Antony against Brutus and Cassius, highlighting its strategic importance due to its location on the Via Ignatia, a crucial Roman road connecting regions from Egypt to Rome. This road made Philippi a crossroads of the world, central to commercial, military, and political control. Following their victory, Octavian made Philippi a Roman military colony, later elevating its status under names like Colonia Augusta Julia Philippensis, conferring great dignity and autonomy. Unlike conquered cities, Philippi operated independently, with immunity from tribute, and its citizens lived as if in Italy, adhering strictly to Roman customs, language, and governance. The apostle Paul chose to begin his European mission in Philippi around 52 AD during his second journey, despite larger cities like Thessalonica or Athens being available. Arriving from Troas via the port city of Neapolis, Paul targeted Philippi due to its strategic, political, and military significance as a Roman colony and commercial center at the crossroads of east and west. His initial converts reflected the city's diversity, including Lydia, a wealthy merchant from Thyatira, a slave girl, and a Roman jailer, likely a middle-class soldier, showing that God called people from various nationalities and social statuses into His church. The church in Philippi held a unique bond with Paul, marked by a deep friendship and intimacy surpassing his relationships with other congregations. This is evident in the frequent use of terms like joy and rejoice in his letter to them, reflecting his positive feelings. Despite their poverty and persecutions, the Philippian church supported Paul financially and with manpower more than any other, sending gifts and personal assistance, including Epaphroditus, who served Paul but fell ill. Paul wrote to thank them for their help, encourage them in trials, address a minor disunity caused by two women in the congregation, and counter external pressures from certain Jews. His letter, likely written from Rome between 60 and 62 AD during his imprisonment, is a personal and encouraging message, emphasizing equality and shared service to Jesus Christ rather than asserting authority.

The church in Philippi held a special place in the heart of the apostle Paul, as evidenced by the tender and personal nature of his letter to them. This epistle, alongside his letter to Philemon, stands out as one of Paul's most intimate appeals, urging the believers to live in unity through a growing, sacrificial relationship with Jesus Christ. The circumstances surrounding the church at Philippi and Paul's deep connection with its members provide insight into the importance of this letter for understanding the unity and trials faced by God's people. Lydia, though not directly mentioned in the letter to the Philippians, played a significant role in the founding of the church in Philippi. Her industrious nature and devotion to God, as seen in Acts 16, marked her as a true servant in Jesus Christ. Paul likely relied on her influence to help resolve conflicts within the church, appealing to her as a faithful companion to guide others back into proper service before God. Paul's initial preaching of the gospel in Philippi, as recorded in Acts 16, was marked by a powerful witness of joyfully suffering wrongfully, mirroring the suffering of Christ. This example of rejoicing in persecution and submission to God's will became a foundational aspect of the church's identity, binding the believers together in unity. Through his letter, Paul reminds the Philippians of their first love and the gospel of the Kingdom of God, encouraging them to maintain their focus on Jesus Christ amidst trials. The letter to the Philippians emphasizes joy and rejoicing, mentioned sixteen times, always in the context of service, sacrifice, and suffering in unity with Jesus Christ and one another. Paul pleads with the beloved brethren to stand fast, to focus on their first love, and to rejoice in the Lord, who brings unity through thankful petitions and the careful work God has done to form the Body of Christ. This message serves as a reminder of the intimate relationship with Jesus Christ that transcends any trial, fostering unity as believers become one with Him in suffering.