Philippi originally was called Krenides, or "The Little Fountains," because it was near to numerous springs. The region was important because of the rich deposits of gold and silver in the mountains to the south, and further because through a pass in these mountains lay the natural trade routes from the east to the west, from Asia to Europe. The name of Philippi is famous not so much for its relationship to Philip of Macedon as for its connection with the Apostle Paul. The modern world knows Philippi not because on its plains in 42BC a battle was fought which led to the defeat of Brutus & Cassius and the fall of the Roman Republic by Octavian and Anthony. The Roman Empire was born on the plains of Philippi. Augustus in appreciation made Philippi a Roman colony (31BC-14AD). Philip II of Macedonia, the father of Alexander the Great, recognized the strategic value of this region. In 356BC, 4 years after he took charge of the government, Philip annexed the territory, enlarged and fortified the town, and gave it the name Philippi, "Pertaining to Philip." Working the gold mines with energy, Phillip secured from them more than 1,000 talents a year, and found it possible to provide for the West a currency in gold. Paul was in prison in Rome (61-63A.D.), about 10 years after he had founded the Church in Philippi, and about 3 or 4 years after he had last visited there. Then Epaphroditus arrived from far away Philippi "to minister to my wants". Paul was deeply touched, and when Epaphroditus was able to travel, Paul sent him to Philippi with this lovely letter of 4 ch.,104 vs. It contains a expression of gratitude for the love and gifts of the Philippian saints. It is a letter of JOY |
