PHENYL, CYANIDE OF. [ Beseoto Am.) [FonstrL.] PHILIPIkANS, EPISTLE TO THE, is one of the epistles written by St. Paul dosing his first imprisonment at Rome. [Pens, ST., in Bioo. Drv.] Like the other early churches planted out of Palestine, the church at Philippi in Macedonia consisted of Jews and Gentiles, the latter forming the larger portion. These Philippians must, however, have had cultivated minds, and have been acquainted with the manners, customs, and philosophy of the Greeks, since the epistle contains allusions the force of whioh no other persons could fully understand. They were first converted by the preaching of St. Paul about twelve years before the date of this epistle, which was written apparently (ii. 21) but a short time before his release from his imprisonment at Rome, A.n. 63.
The occasion of its composition seems to have been the following : the Philippians, having heard that St. Paul was a prisoner at Rome, sent contributions for his relief by the hand of Epaphroditus, whom Theodoret and others represent as their bishop. St. Paul, being much
rejoiced by this proof of their affection towards him, and by learning how great was their proficiency in all Christian excellences, sends back Epaphroditus with this epistle.
In this epistle, of which the canonical authority is incontestable, St. Paul discovers much of his own character, the traits of which cannot fail to create in the mind of an attentive reader an idea of true dignity. He delicately proposes his own conduct for the imitation of the -Philippians; and, with no mixture of affected humility, he die elsims all personal merit for whatever wisdom or goodness they had seen in him or heard of him. His language is for the moat part con structed with great skilfulness; his thoughts are arranged in an order exactly suited to his design; and his manner is at once affectionate and authoritative.