Generous Partners: Φιλιππήσιος (Strong’s G5374: Philippesios) Models Kingdom Partnership

Strong’s G5374: A demonym referring to inhabitants of Philippi, a prominent Roman colony in Macedonia. This term specifically identifies the believers of the Philippian church, known for their exceptional partnership with Paul in spreading the Gospel and their remarkable generosity.

U- Unveiling the Word

Φιλιππήσιος represents more than just a geographical designation; it embodies the identity of a community that exemplified early Christian fellowship and mission. The term refers to the inhabitants of Philippi, particularly the Christian converts who formed the first European church planted by Paul. Their identity as Philippians carried special significance in the Roman world, as Philippi was a Roman colony whose citizens enjoyed special privileges. In Christian context, the Philippians became known for their exceptional generosity and partnership in the Gospel, setting a model for church-missionary relationships. Their legacy continues to inspire modern churches in mission partnership and financial stewardship.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: Φιλιππήσιος, Philippesios, fil-ip-PAY-see-os
• Pronunciation Guide: fil (as in “fill”) + ip (as in “hip”) + PAY (as in “pay”) + see + os (as in “dose”)
• Part of Speech: Noun/Adjective

Etymology:

• Root: Φίλιπποι (Philippoi) – name of the city, meaning “lovers of horses”
• Suffix: -ήσιος (-esios) – designating inhabitants of a place
• City named after Philip II of Macedon

D – Defining Meanings

• Inhabitant of Philippi
• Member of the Philippian church
• Person from Philippi

For compound words:
City name Φίλιπποι combines:

• φίλος (friend/lover) + ἵππος (horse)
• -ήσιος suffix indicates belonging or origin

Translation Options:

• “Philippian” – Most common translation, denoting city origin
• “Person of Philippi” – More descriptive of geographical connection
• “Member of the Philippian church” – Specific to Christian context

E – Exploring Similar Words

• Φίλιππος (Philippos, FIL-ip-pos) – The personal name Philip See G5376
• Μακεδών (Makedon, mak-ed-OHN) – Macedonian See G3110
• Θεσσαλονικεύς (Thessalonikeus, thes-sal-on-ik-YOOS) – Thessalonian See G2331

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

As a masculine noun/adjective of the second declension:

• Nominative Singular: Φιλιππήσιος
• Genitive Singular: Φιλιππησίου
• Dative Singular: Φιλιππησίῳ
• Accusative Singular: Φιλιππήσιον
• Nominative Plural: Φιλιππήσιοι

The word follows standard second declension patterns for masculine nouns/adjectives.

Cross-references:

• Related place name: Φίλιπποι (Philippoi)

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

Lexical sources provide valuable context for understanding Φιλιππήσιος. BDAG emphasizes its use as both noun and adjective, specifically in reference to the Christian community. Thayer’s highlights the historical significance of Philippi as a Roman colony. LSJ provides broader classical usage of similar demonyms. Vine’s focuses on the term’s significance in Paul’s epistles. Strong’s connects it to the city’s namesake, Philip of Macedon. Moulton and Milligan note its usage in papyri for official documents relating to Philippian citizens. The term carries both geographical and spiritual significance in New Testament usage.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First Appearance:
And you [Philippians] {Φιλιππήσιοι} yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. Philippians 4:15

Additional References:
This is the only occurrence of Φιλιππήσιος in the New Testament.

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

The term Φιλιππήσιος carries profound significance in understanding early Christian community and mission. The Philippians exemplified what it means to be partners in the Gospel, demonstrating exceptional generosity and commitment to mission. Their example shows how local churches can participate in global mission through prayer, financial support, and genuine partnership. This partnership model proclaims the good news of King Jesus by showing how His body works together in unity, each part contributing to the whole, demonstrating the transformative power of the Gospel in creating communities of generous, mission-minded believers.

D – Did You Know?

1. Philippi was the first European city where Paul established a church
2. The Philippian church was uniquely generous among Paul’s church plants
3. The -ήσιος suffix was commonly used for inhabitants of prominent Greek cities

Strong’s G5374: A demonym referring to inhabitants of Philippi, a prominent Roman colony in Macedonia. This term specifically identifies the believers of the Philippian church, known for their exceptional partnership with Paul in spreading the Gospel and their remarkable generosity.

Part of speech: Noun/Adjective

Tags: Philippi, church history, Paul’s ministry, missionary support, partnership in gospel, Roman colony, Macedonia, early church, church planting, generosity​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​