Philippi At The Time Of Paul And After His Death

Representing a cooperative effort between archaeologists and New Testament Scholars, this volume presents a full account of all archaeological finds related to Philippi as it existed in the early Roman imperial period. In addition, it contains a discussion of the consequences of the discovery in Philippi of the early fourth-century "Basilika of Paul" and the subsequent construction of an octagon around an older tomb of a hero, suggesting that a cult of the martyr Paul flourished in Philippi during the fourth, fifth, and sixth centuries. The volume also includes the first-ever publication of a recently discovered inscription mentioning a Jewish synagogue, photographs, and illustrations. Contents: "Introduction" by Helmut Koester "Colonia Iulia Philippensis" by Chaido Koukouli-Chrysantaki "Paul and Philippi: The Archaeological Evidence" by Charalambos Bakirtzis "Paul and Philippi: The Evidence from Early Christian Literature" by Helmut Koester "Dead Paul: The Apostle as Martyr in Philippi" by Allen Dwight Callahan

Representing a cooperative effort between archaeologists and New Testament Scholars, this volume presents a full account of all archaeological finds related to Philippi as it existed in the early Roman imperial period. In addition, it contains a discussion of the consequences of the discovery in Philippi of the early fourth-century "Basilika of Paul" and the subsequent construction of an octagon around an older tomb of a hero, suggesting that a cult of the martyr Paul flourished in Philippi during the fourth, fifth, and sixth centuries. The volume also includes the first-ever publication of a recently discovered inscription mentioning a Jewish synagogue, photographs, and illustrations. Contents: "Introduction" by Helmut Koester "Colonia Iulia Philippensis" by Chaido Koukouli-Chrysantaki "Paul and Philippi: The Archaeological Evidence" by Charalambos Bakirtzis "Paul and Philippi: The Evidence from Early Christian Literature" by Helmut Koester "Dead Paul: The Apostle as Martyr in Philippi" by Allen Dwight Callahan

"With updated bibliography"--Copyright page.

Although relatively brief, Philippians is one of the most interesting and beloved of Paul’s undisputed epistles. In Philippians and Philemon, Bonnie Thurston makes a convincing case that canonical Philippians is as Paul wrote it, one letter. Although there is not enough specific evidence to “name names,” she suggests a number of possible audiences. A translation conforming as closely as possible to the original Greek is provided, along with a careful analysis of the language of the letter that yields insights into the context and theological underpinning of this epistle. The apostle’s very brief letter to Philemon stands solidly within the Pauline collection of authentic and canonical letters. In this volume, Judith Ryan argues that Philemon makes two specific appeals. The first seeks to elicit Philemon’s partnership and his community’s support in welcoming Onesimus back as both beloved brother and honored guest. The second requests that Onesimus be allowed to use the freedom he already has to serve Christ and his Gospel. In this commentary Ryan provides a fresh translation, critical notes for each verse, and interpretation on defined sections. She situates the letter in the historical context of slavery in the ancient world and shows how Paul combined his theology with contemporary rhetorical strategies to produce an effective challenge to his audience.

This book combines careful reading of texts, inscriptions, coins and other archaeological materials to examine how religious practice, material culture and urban landscape changed as Philippi developed from a Roman colony to a major center for Christian worship and pilgrimage.

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 with standard historical-critical methods, rhetorical criticism, and social-scientific methods. Establishing that Paul's argument is rooted in three fundamental tenets, emphasis is first placed on koinonia, and the agreement that Paul and the Philippians had entered into regarding his apostolic mission. Second, Jennings looks at the repeated 'proofs' that Paul offers, that simultaneously affirm the ordained superiority of his apostolic mission and repudiate the claims of his rivals. Third, Jennings analyses the issue of finances in the epistle, discussing how Paul rhetorically transforms the Philippians' financial support into a salient indicator that they esteem his gospel mission 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.

Paul’s letter to the Philippians has often been read as one of the apostle’s clearest denials of his (previous) Jewish identity in order to preempt the “Judaizing” tactics of false teachers who might infiltrate the congregation. But is this really the problem that Paul is confronting? And did Paul really abandon his identity as a Jew in order to “know Christ”? Furthermore, what should Paul’s gospel converts understand about their own identity "in Christ"? Zoccali provides fresh answers to these questions, offering a more probable alternative to the traditional view that Christianity has replaced Judaism (supersessionism). Tracing Paul’s theology in the light of social theory, Zoccali demonstrates that, for Paul, the ethnic distinction between Jew and gentile necessarily remains unabated, and the Torah continues to have a crucial role within the Christ-community as a whole. Rather than rejecting all things Jewish (or gentile), Paul seeks in this letter to more firmly establish the congregation's identity as members of God’s holy, multiethnic people.

Isaac Blois argues that Paul's focus in Philippians on the mutual boasting shared between himself and his converts draws on the mutual boasting shared between Israel and her covenant God, as apparent in both Deuteronomy and Isaiah. Using the appearance of this central theme in the pivotal passages of Phil 1:25-26 and 2:14-16 as his focus, Blois stresses the integral relation between mutual boasting and the role that it plays in Paul's exhortations to the Philippian believers, exploring its backdrop in both the biblical tradition and the cultures surrounding them. Blois demonstrates how the mutual boasting that Paul shares with his beloved community is culturally appropriate; the sharing of honor among friends and family was common in antiquity, as seen through the epistolary writing of prominent Roman authors such as Cicero, Seneca, and Fronto. In light of the Scriptural and cultural basis for this motif of shared boasting, Blois argues that the apostle is able to deploy the motif in order to motivate an appropriate response from his audience in the letter. Focusing on the prominence of mutual honor and its use for motivation in Philippians 1 and 2, Blois offers a fresh perspective on the exhortative function of the eschatological boasting that is to exist between Paul and his congregation on the day of Christ.