Philip

Who was Philip?
Notes by Thomas Madron

Philip, one of the Twelve Apostles, is only mentioned by name in lists of the apostles in the Synoptic Gospels, although he is a frequent character in the Gospel According to John, according to which (1:43-51) he came from Bethsaida and answered Jesus' call ("Follow me"). Philip was called early in the ministry of Jesus (John 1:44), and promptly brought his friend Nathanael to Jesus as well. Scriptural episodes involving Philip give the impression of a shy, naive, practical individual. Tradition suggests that Philip preached in Greece and Asia Minor. At the time of his call, Philip seemingly belonged to a group influenced by St. John the Baptist. With St. Andrew the Apostle, he brought word to Jesus that certain Greeks had asked to see him (John 12:21-22). In John 14:8-9, Philip asked Jesus to reveal the Father, receiving the answer, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you do not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father."

According to one tradition Philip died of natural causes but according to another, of crucifixion, around 80 A.D., at Hierapolis, Phyrgia, thus accounting for his medieval symbol of a tall cross. If the tradition concerning Philip's crucifixion is to be believed, the city governor and a pagan priest caused Philip and Bartholomew to be crucified. While they were crucified, a large earthquake knocked everyone to the ground, and Philip prayed for everyone's safety. Seeing the earthquake abate, the people demanded that Philip and Bartholomew be released. Although Bartholomew survived, Philip, the city governor, and the pagan priest all died that day. Polycrates, the 2nd century bishop of Ephesus, wrote that Philip was buried in Hieropolis with his virgin daughters, while another daughter was buried at Ephesus.

Before feeding the Five Thousand (John 6:5), Jesus turned to Philip and asked him, "Where can we buy bread to feed these people?" Philip answered, "It would take more than a year's wages to buy each of them a mouthful." This participation in the miracle of the loaves and fishes (John 6:5-9) accounts for the use of loaves as Stephen's other symbol in medieval art. Some scholars have thought it significant that Jesus asked Philip rather than one of the others. Luke (9:10) tells us that the Feeding of the Five Thousand took place near Bethsaida, and John (1:44) tells us that Philip is from Bethsaida. If they were in Philip's home neighborhood, he would be a natural one to ask for directions. (Peter and Andrew were also from Bethsaida, but seem to have moved to Capernaum.)

In later legends Philip the Apostle was often confused with St. Philip the Evangelist (Philip the Deacon), one of the seven deacons of the early church (Acts 6:5). The Christian writer Clement states (Strom. III.52) that Philip was married, had children, and one of his daughters was also married. Eusebius quotes (H.E. III.39) a story from Papias, bishop of Hieropolis, that he had heard from one of Philip's daughters. According to later Christian tradition, after Jesus' death and resurrection Philip went about both preaching and working miracles. His travels, as noted above, may have taken him to Galilee, Greece (where he established Narcissos as bishop), Azota, Syria, and Phrygia.

In the Roman Catholic Church Philip's feast day is May 3, while in the Orthodox Church Philip's feast day is celebrated on November 14.

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