Paul’s overarching concern is with the gospel, a word that occurs more often in this letter than in any of his others. His specific concern for the Philippians is with their ongoing relationship with Christ (figure 1, line C); all of the hortatory sections and many of the others have the strengthening of this relationship as their primary aim. Because of his and their long-time relationship in the gospel (line B), evidenced most recently by their gift to him (both of material substance and of the