Philippians 2: 3-11
a) Comment on points of historical, theological and interpretative
interest, setting the passage into its immediate context. Additionally, make comments on significant factors such as language, genre, form / source / redaction and other relevant bible passages. Philippians 2: 3-11
The passage of scripture chosen for this essay is taken from a letter which is “almost universally acknowledged” (Murray, 2001:1180) to have been written by the apostle Paul. As is clearly stated in the opening verses of the letter it is written “To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi...” (Philippians 1:2a), which was the first city within Macedonia that Paul reached with the gospel (Acts 16:12-40). Some concern is however expressed as to whether this letter is actually one contiguous unit or an amalgam of various letters (O’Brien, 1991:11ff; Martin & Hawthorne, 2004:xxxff). The date of the letter is also uncertain with the traditional view that it was penned during Paul’s imprisonment in Rome, which would have placed the date around 60 CE, being called into question and the suggestion instead that it was written during an earlier incarceration, possibly in Ephesus, and the date earlier to the mid-50s. Paul’s reason for writing is seen by the majority of scholars to be an attempt to encourage the Christians in Philippi to stand firm in their faith even though they were facing persecution for their beliefs. It is therefore unsurprising that the verses being studied find their place within a section of text that deals with the standards that should be evident within the Christian community, namely Philippians 1:27 – 2:18 (Murray, 2004:1183; O’Brien, 1991:143; Marshall, 1991:34). Indeed
Philippians 2:3-4 are most commonly treated together with verses 1-2, with verses 5-11 being commentated on separately. Within the preceding verses Paul encourages the believers to “live ... in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that ... I will know that you are standing firm in
interest, setting the passage into its immediate context. Additionally, make comments on significant factors such as language, genre, form / source / redaction and other relevant bible passages. Philippians 2: 3-11
The passage of scripture chosen for this essay is taken from a letter which is “almost universally acknowledged” (Murray, 2001:1180) to have been written by the apostle Paul. As is clearly stated in the opening verses of the letter it is written “To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi...” (Philippians 1:2a), which was the first city within Macedonia that Paul reached with the gospel (Acts 16:12-40). Some concern is however expressed as to whether this letter is actually one contiguous unit or an amalgam of various letters (O’Brien, 1991:11ff; Martin & Hawthorne, 2004:xxxff). The date of the letter is also uncertain with the traditional view that it was penned during Paul’s imprisonment in Rome, which would have placed the date around 60 CE, being called into question and the suggestion instead that it was written during an earlier incarceration, possibly in Ephesus, and the date earlier to the mid-50s. Paul’s reason for writing is seen by the majority of scholars to be an attempt to encourage the Christians in Philippi to stand firm in their faith even though they were facing persecution for their beliefs. It is therefore unsurprising that the verses being studied find their place within a section of text that deals with the standards that should be evident within the Christian community, namely Philippians 1:27 – 2:18 (Murray, 2004:1183; O’Brien, 1991:143; Marshall, 1991:34). Indeed
Philippians 2:3-4 are most commonly treated together with verses 1-2, with verses 5-11 being commentated on separately. Within the preceding verses Paul encourages the believers to “live ... in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that ... I will know that you are standing firm in
Bibliography: Marshall, Howard 1991 Martin, Ralph P. 1987 Tyndale New Testament Commentaries: Philippians (Revised Edition). Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press The Epistle to the Philippians. London: Epworth Press Martin, Ralph P