Philippians is a letter of encouragement from Paul to the church in the city of Philippi. Written from Rome while Paul was in prison, it offers the hard-learned lessons of faith that Paul has experienced through his suffering as a preacher of the gospel (elsewhere, Paul lists the number of times he was arrested, whipped, shipwrecked, and more). Essentially, Paul recognizes God's blessings in all circumstances for people who know the truth through the gospel of Jesus Christ. Like many Christians, Paul awaits eternal life where he will live with Jesus and other Christians in heaven in perfect peace. However, he also finds joy in his life on earth, despite the suffering and obstacles, because he is helping others discover and grow in faith.
Paul believes that all Christians can approach the hardships and challenges of life with an open attitude. While all Christians anticipate leaving in a perfect new world through Jesus, they can find joy in their earthly lives as long as they are growing in faith and helping others to grow in their faith too.
