The Price of Partnership in The Letter of Paul to the Philippians: “Make My Joy Complete”

Description

Mark A. Jennings challenges the consensus that there is no clear single purpose that shapes the entire epistle to the Philippians; instead arguing that there is significant evidence for Paul to have written the letter with the sole intent of persuading the church to maintain its exclusive partnership with him and his gospel mission. Jennings examines each section of Philippians using standard historical-critical methods, rhetorical criticism, and social-scientific methods. In support of his argument, Jennings establishes that Paul’s argument is rooted in three fundamental tenets. He first addresses the focus on koinonia, and the agreement that Paul and the Philippians had entered into regarding his apostolic mission. Second, Jennings looks at ‘rival’ and the repeated ‘proofs’ Paul offers that simultaneously affirm the ordained superiority of his apostolic mission and repudiate the claims of his antagonists. Third, Jennings looks at the issue of finances in the epistles and at how Paul rhetorically transforms the Philippians’ financial support into a salient indicator of which gospel mission they esteem authentic. Finally, whereas other scholars have argued that Paul entreats the Philippians to be steadfast in their commitment to the gospel of Christ, Jennings proposes that Paul urges the church to be steadfast in their commitment to his gospel of Christ. Jennings then considers how this seemingly small distinction has profound ramifications for understanding the letter, and shows the gap between these interpretations. Cover Title Copyright Dedication Contents Acknowledgments Abbreviations Introduction Thesis and Methodology Chapter 1: Paul’s Letter to the Philippians: Setting the Scene 1.1 Overview 1.2 Integrity of the Epistle 1.3 Friendship- Letter vs. Family- Letter 1.4 Paul’s Incarceration and the Dating of the Epistle 1.5 Disunity or Unity 1.6 Gospel/ Gospel Mission 1.7 Perseverance 1.8 The Philippians’ Gift Chapter 2: The Way Forward for Interpreting Philippians: Philippians 1:1–11 2.1 Overview 2.2 Philippians 1:3–8 2.3 Philippians 1:9–11 2.4 Summary and the Way Forward Chapter 3: Paul’s Circumstances and the Question of Legitimacy: Philippians 1:12–26 3.1 Overview 3.2 Philippians 1:12–18a 3.2.1 Philippians 1:12–14 3.2.2 Philippians 1:15–18a 3.3 Philippians 1:18b–26 3.3.1 Philippians 1:18b–20 3.3.2 Philippians 1:21–26 3.4 Summary Chapter 4: To Persevere as the People of God, 1: Philippians 1:27–2:4 4.1 Overview 4.2 τὸν αὐτὸν ἀγῶνα ἔχοντες, οἷον εἴδετε ἐν ἐμοὶ καὶ νῦν ἀκούετε ἐν ἐμοί (Phil 1:30) 4.3 πολιτεύεσθε (Phil 1:27a) 4.4 Philippians 1:27a 4.5 Philippians 1:27b–30 4.6 Philippians 2:1–4 4.6.1 Philippians 2:1 4.6.2 πληρώσατέ μου τὴν χαράν 4.6.3 Philippians 2:2–4 4.7 Summary Chapter 5: To Persevere as the People of God, 2: Philippians 2:5–18 5.1 Overview 5.2 Philippians 2:5–11 5.2.1 Philippians 2:5 5.2.2 Philippians 2:6–11 5.3 Philippians 2:12–16a 5.3.1 Philippians 2:12–13 5.3.2 Philippians 2:14–16a 5.4 Philippians 2:16b–18 5.5 Summary Chapter 6: The "Ocular Proof” of Fidelity and Fellowship: Philippians 2:19–4:1 6.1 Overview 6.2 Form and Purpose of Phil 2:19–30 6.3 Philippians 2:19–24 6.4 Philippians 2:25–30 6.4.1 The Epithets of Epaphroditus (Phil 2:25) 6.4.2 Philippians 2:25–30 6.5 Summary of 2:19–30 6.6 Philippians 3:1–4:1 6.6.1 Philippians 3:2–16 6.6.2 Philippians 3:17–21 6.6.3 Philippians 4:1 6.7 Summary Chapter 7: To Continue the Fellowship in the Gospel: Philippians 4:2–20 7.1 Overview 7.2 Philippians 4:2–3 7.3 Philippians 4:4–9 7.3.1 Philippians 4:4–7 7.3.2 Philippians 4:8–9 7.3.3 Summary of 4:4–9 7.4 Philippians 4:10–20 7.4.1 The Delay of 4:10–20 7.4.2 Philippians 4:10–14 7.4.3 Philippians 4:15–20 7.5 Summary Conclusion Bibliography Index of Reference Index of Authors