5375. Philippoi
Lexical Summary
Philippoi: Philippi

Original Word: Φίλιπποι
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: Philippoi
Pronunciation: fee'-lee-poy
Phonetic Spelling: (fil'-ip-poy)
KJV: Philippi
NASB: Philippi
Word Origin: [plural of G5376 (Φίλιππος - Philip)]

1. Philippi, a place in Macedonia

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Philippi.

Plural of Philippos; Philippi, a place in Macedonia -- Philippi.

see GREEK Philippos

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from Philippos
Definition
Philippi, a city of Macedonia
NASB Translation
Philippi (4).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 5375: Φίλιπποι

Φίλιπποι, Φιλίππων, οἱ (on the plural cf. Winers Grammar, § 27, 3), Philippi, a city of Macedonia Prima (see B. D., under the word Macedonia), situated on (near) the northern coast of the Aegean Sea, between the rivers Strymon and Nestus, and the cities Neapolis and Ampbipolis. It took its name from Philip I. of Macedon, who built it up from a village called Κρηνιδες, and adorned and fortified it: Acts 16:12 (on this passage, see κολωνία); ; Philippians 1:1; 1 Thessalonians 2:2. (See Lightfoot's Commentary on Philippians, Introduction, iii.)

Topical Lexicon
Geographical and Historical Background

Philippi lay in northeastern Macedonia near the Via Egnatia, the strategic east–west Roman highway. Founded by Philip II of Macedon and later refounded as a Roman colony after the Battle of Philippi (42 BC), the city possessed ius Italicum, granting its citizens many privileges of Roman law and culture. Gold mines in the vicinity and its position between Europe and Asia made Philippi commercially significant and a natural base for the spread of the gospel into the western world.

Philippi in Acts: The Gospel’s Beachhead in Europe

Acts 16:12 records the city as “a leading city of that district of Macedonia and a Roman colony.” Guided by the “Macedonian vision” (Acts 16:9–10), Paul, Silas, Timothy, and later Luke arrived, marking the first explicitly recorded entrance of the missionary band into continental Europe.

• Conversion of Lydia (Acts 16:13–15): The riverside prayer gathering shows a Jewish presence too small for a synagogue, yet prepared for the gospel. Lydia’s hospitality established the first house–church in Europe.
• Deliverance of the slave girl (Acts 16:16–18): Demonstrates the power of Christ over demonic exploitation and exposes the economic motives behind pagan opposition.
• Imprisonment and the jailer’s conversion (Acts 16:19–34): Through worship in suffering, Paul and Silas model true joy, leading the jailer to ask, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30).
• Public vindication (Acts 16:35–40): Paul’s insistence on legal redress for their unlawful beating affirmed the mission’s integrity and protected the infant church from immediate civic harassment.

Later Visits and Travels through Philippi

Acts 20:6 notes, “After the Feast of Unleavened Bread, we sailed from Philippi” on Paul’s third missionary journey, indicating an ongoing relationship and the probable presence of a mature congregation able to host and send the apostolic team. Philippi thus served as a staging point for further ministry into Greece.

Paul’s Epistle to the Philippians

Addressed “to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons” (Philippians 1:1), the letter reflects:
• A partnership in the gospel marked by generous financial support (Philippians 4:14–18).
• An atmosphere of joy and unity grounded in Christ’s humiliation and exaltation (Philippians 2:5–11).
• A congregation mature enough to be exhorted on leadership structure (“overseers and deacons”) and doctrinal vigilance against Judaizers (Philippians 3:2–3).

Recollection of Suffering at Philippi

Paul reminds the Thessalonians, “Though we had suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi… we had boldness in our God to proclaim to you the gospel of God in the face of great opposition” (1 Thessalonians 2:2). The memory underscores the costliness of mission and the triumph of the gospel despite hostility.

Character and Testimony of the Philippian Church

1. Joyful generosity: Their gifts arrived more than once while Paul was in Thessalonica and later in Rome.
2. Spiritual maturity: Evident in steadfastness under persecution and willingness to support other churches.
3. Leadership development: The only Pauline salutation that explicitly mentions both “overseers and deacons,” indicating organized local governance.

Doctrinal and Pastoral Themes Associated with Philippi

• Christocentric humility and exaltation (Philippians 2).
• The believer’s citizenship in heaven versus earthly citizenship in a Roman colony (Philippians 3:20).
• Partnership in gospel mission as a foretaste of koinonia in eternity.
• Joy in suffering, flowing from union with Christ and the hope of resurrection (Philippians 1:20–26; 3:10–11).

Legacy in Christian History

Philippi became a symbol of gospel advance into Europe, illustrating how strategic urban centers can influence whole regions. Lydia’s household offers an early example of household conversion, and the city’s mixed Jewish, Greek, and Roman population foreshadows the multiethnic nature of Christ’s body. Even today archaeological remains—the forum, theater, and alleged prison site—bear silent witness to the historical reliability of Acts and the transformative power of the gospel first preached there.

Forms and Transliterations
Φιλιπποις Φιλίπποις Φιλιππους Φιλίππους Φιλιππων Φιλίππων Philippois Philíppois Philippon Philippōn Philíppon Philíppōn Philippous Philíppous
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Acts 16:12 N-AMS
GRK: κἀκεῖθεν εἰς Φιλίππους ἥτις ἐστὶν
NAS: and from there to Philippi, which
KJV: from thence to Philippi, which is
INT: from there to Philippi which is

Acts 20:6 N-GMS
GRK: ἀζύμων ἀπὸ Φιλίππων καὶ ἤλθομεν
NAS: We sailed from Philippi after the days
KJV: from Philippi after
INT: unleavened bread from Philippi and came

Philippians 1:1 N-DMP
GRK: οὖσιν ἐν Φιλίπποις σὺν ἐπισκόποις
NAS: Jesus who are in Philippi, including
KJV: at Philippi, with
INT: are in Philippi with [the] overseers

1 Thessalonians 2:2 N-DMP
GRK: οἴδατε ἐν Φιλίπποις ἐπαρρησιασάμεθα ἐν
NAS: and been mistreated in Philippi, as you know,
KJV: ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in
INT: you know at Philippi we were bold in

Strong's Greek 5375
4 Occurrences


Φιλίππων — 1 Occ.
Φιλίπποις — 2 Occ.
Φιλίππους — 1 Occ.

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