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"Philippi
Philippi, anciently, was the site of a rich gold mine. King Philip II of Macedon (the father of Alexander the Great) seized the mines in the area, fortified the city, and named it after himself. Later Philippi became a Roman colony (Acts 16:12) and, at the time of the New Testament, was more a military town than a hub of major commerce.
Paul visited Philippi on his second and third evangelistic journeys. It is the place where he made his first convert on the European continent, a woman named Lydia, who traveled extensively due to her business of selling purple dyed fabrics (Acts 16:13 - 15). It is also the location where the first European Christian church started.
The believers in Philippi and the surrounding area were special to Paul, as they were the only ones who supported him financially, even as he ministered in other areas (2Corinthians 11:7 - 9, Philippians 4:15 - 18)." (https://www.biblestudy.org/maps/new-testament-churches/corinth-philippi-thessalonica.html)
Philippians 1: 1-7
Salutation
1 1 This letter is from Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus. I am writing to all of God's holy people in Philippi who belong to Christ Jesus, including the elders and deacons.
2 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.
Paul's Prayer for the Philippian Christians
3 Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God.
4 Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy,
5 for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now.
6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
7 So it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart. You share with me the special favor of God, both in my imprisonment and in defending and confirming the truth of the Good News.
(the following is from Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary -- www.christianity.com)
"Chapter Contents
The apostle offers up thanksgivings and prayers, for the good work of grace in the Philippians. (1-7) He expresses affection, and prays for them. (8-11) Fortifies them against being cast down at his sufferings. (12-20) He stood prepared for glorifying Christ by life, or death. (21-26) Exhortations to zeal, and constancy in professing the gospel. (27-30)
Commentary on Philippians 1:1-7
The highest honour of the most eminent ministers is, to be servants of Christ. And those who are not really saints on earth, never will be saints in heaven. Out of Christ, the best saints are sinners, and unable to stand before God. There is no peace without grace. Inward peace springs from a sense of Divine favour. And there is no grace and peace but from God our Father, the fountain and origin of all blessings. At Philippi the apostle was evil entreated, and saw little fruit of his labour; yet he remembers Philippi with joy. We must thank our God for the graces and comforts, gifts and usefulness of others, as we receive the benefit, and God receives the glory. The work of grace will never be perfected till the day of Jesus Christ, the day of his appearance. But we may always be confident God will perform his good work, in every soul wherein he has really begun it by regeneration; though we must not trust in outward appearances, nor in any thing but a new creation to holiness. People are dear to their ministers, when they receive benefit by their ministry. Fellow-sufferers in the cause of God should be dear one to another."
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