Paul's Epistle to the Philippians has fascinated and encouraged Christian readers for centuries. As a personal letter from the apostle to the beloved congregation at Philippi, it resounds with the love and gratitude he felt toward God's people incorporate in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi (in the words of Dr. Hawthorne's original translation of the letter). Paul writes as a pastor who feels deep affection for his people, in the midst of their trials. Some sixteen times in this brief and heartfelt letter he uses the words joy and rejoice to describe his feeling for the Philippian Christians.