Philip,
an apostle of Jesus Christ
This is a true story!
Philip,
the apostle
(not
to be confused with the evangelist Philip in Acts)
Like Peter and Andrew, Philip was from Bethsaida
(John 1:44)
Philip
(his name means 'lover of horses')
is named in all three lists of Apostles (Matthew.
10:4; Mk. 3:16; Luke. 6:14-16) and in each he is the
5th Apostle listed. He is not mentioned again in
Matthew, Mark, or Luke. Everything else we know of
him comes from the Gospel of John.
In John, Philip told Nathanael that they had found the Messiah and that he was from Nazareth. When Nathanael replied “can anything good come from Nazareth?” Philip simply said “Come and see.”
(John 1:43-46)
Shortly after Nathanael became one of Jesus’ disciples.
Later, before the miraculous feeding of the multitude, Jesus tested Philip by asking, “Where will we buy bread for these people to eat?”
Philip failed the test by replying, "Eight months'
wages would not buy enough bread for each one to
have a bite!"
(John. 6:5-7)
Later shortly before Jesus
is arrested he tells his disciples that “If you
really knew me you would know my Father as well.
From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
(John. 14:7)
But Philip's response again shows a lack
of faith when he asks “Lord show us the Father and
that will be enough for us.” Jesus sternly rebukes
him and says “Philip, don’t you know me, even after
I have been with you for such a long time? Anyone
who has seen me has seen the Father.”
(Jn. 14:8-9)
Philip is not mentioned again in
the New Testament except in the list of Apostles
waiting in the upper room shortly after Christ’s
ascension
(Acts 1:13).
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Philip
said, "Lord, show us the Father,
and that will be enough for us." John 14:8
Jesus seemed to think that Philip should
have had more faith. After 3 years of living with
Jesus and seeing his miracles and listening to his Word,
we don't understand why Philip needed to see the Father
in order to believe.
BUT....we have all of
creation to show us the Father and we still don't live
as if we really believe! Jesus gave bread to the
5000; He will provide for us. We can share what we
have with others (instead of saving it all for
ourselves) knowing that Jesus will provide.
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In the second century AD Polycrates
of Ephesus mentions Philip in a letter calling
him a “great light” whom the Lord will seek on
the “last day.”
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He also said that Philip had two daughters who died of old age as virgins and that they were buried next to Philip in the city of Hieropolis.
Years later the Christian Emperor Constantine had Philip's bones moved to Constantinople then to a church in Rome.
Tradition says that Philip was crucified upside down like Peter by the Roman Emperor Domitian.
If this is true then Philip would have been a very old man at the time of his death.
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In this quiz,
see if you can identify the places on the map !!
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Copyright © 2008,
2009, Woodruff & Woodruff |
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