MS

Philippians Lecture

Background

  • Philippians - “A martyr’s letter to martyrs”
  • Paul receives a vision from a man in Macedonia asking for help - Paul then travels to Macedonia and lands in Philippi
  • Congregation of Philippi - First known congregation in Europe
  • Philippi - in Macedonia
  • Popular Among Military Retirees - After leaving the Roman army, they would buy land and farm
    • Philippi - very patriotic to Rome
  • Prison Letter
  • Purpose - Friendly letter to strengthen relationship between Paul and the congregation

Critical Issues: Composition

  • Epaphroditus was in Philippi for awhile (2:25); Epaphroditus just arrived in Philippi (4:8)
  • Might be a mash of 2+ letters
  • Sudden shift in tone - “Beware of the dogs!”
  • Bishops and Deacons did not exist but the words were used in Philippians
    • May have just meant generic terms (Bishop - Overseer; Deacon - Servant)
  • Transliterate - put Greek word in English translation
    • Translator gets to choose which word to use so personal theology and bias can come into the text
    • Ex. Phoebe is a deacon in some versions but a servant in others

Themes: Christological Hymn

  • Context - Humility of Christ
  • Early Liturgy/Hymn - Preexistence of Jesus in the form of God before being born in human likeness and then exalted by God after the crucifixion
  • Incarnation - God becoming man
  • Hierarchy of God - God the Father, then the son, then the spirit
    • The idea of the “hierarchy of God” caused strain in Jewish communities rooted in monotheism
    • Monotheism - Belief in one God
  • God Man - Being God and man at once (debated in the church)
    • Nestorius - Patriarch of Constantinople (5th Century)
    • To keep God from swallowing up the humanity of Christ, the two natures (divine and human) must be separated (like oil and water)
    • Cyril - Bishop of Alexandria
    • Calls out Nestorius for preaching heresy
    • The two natures in Jesus are distinct and joined in a hypostatic union
    • Hypostatic Union - union in one hypostasis (being)
    • Council of Chalcedon (451 CE) - approved of Cyril’s beliefs in the hypostatic union
    • Council of Chalcedon (451 CE) - Condemned Nestorius and his belief for being heretical
    • Syrian Church (Church in the East) - most ancient church
    • Syrian Church - does not follow the Council of Chalcedon’s beliefs and follow Nestorius still
  • Athanasius - wrote On the Incarnation
    • when christ as god put on humanity, he elevated humanity to the status of the divine
    • we are broken as human beings but when Christ became human the image of god could be restored in us; death can be conquered now

Themes: Joy

  • Paul is in prison but is encouraging Philippians to have joy
  • Context - Judiasers (Must be Jews and follow the Law to be Christian), people proclaiming the Gospel with the wrong motives, materialistic people, opponents oppressing the church