Writing was a significant part of Paul’s ministry, in addition to being a traveling evangelist. Because God had appointed him to be an apostle to the Gentiles, he travelled from place to place, establishing the truth of the gospel. The result is that he did not spend much time in any one place. The longest he stayed in any one area (as recorded in the biblical history) was one and a half years in Corinth (Acts 18:11) and three years in Ephesus (Acts 20:31). But his practice was to write back to the churches he had visited.

From the earliest times Paul’s letters were recognized as authoritative. He himself fully accepted that responsibility. He did not hesitate to identify himself as an “apostle” and to wield his authority in writing. His written ministry carried such weight that others forged his name in circulating their own false teaching. For example, he wrote the Thessalonians to , “… not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come” (2 Thess 2:2).

Peter, one of the original twelve, also one of the “inner circle” of three with James and John, recognized the authority of Paul’s writings in referring to them on the same level as Scriptures: “…our beloved brother Paul …wrote to you, as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction” (2 Pet 3:15-16).

Paul himself was conscious of the effect his letters had and encouraged the Christians to circulate his writings. To the Colossians he wrote, “When this letter is read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and you, for your part read my letter that is coming from Laodicea” (Col 4:16). His written ministry would go far beyond his “in person” ministry. In fact, his letters are continually used by the Lord to the present day, though Paul is long dead.

Here in this letter to the Philippian church, Paul reminded them of the basic things he taught them in person. The truth was so delightful to him, rehearsing it over and over was not drudgery, but a real joy. He never tired of his task of spreading the Word of God, nor of emphasizing it repeatedly. Truth needs to be constantly reinforced, lest our joy dissipate. In the case of the Philippians, he was now about to remind them of the lofty goal that had captured his heart for a life of service: the prize of the high calling in Christ.