Consolation in Philippians: Philosophical Sources and Rhetorical Strategy

Cover......Page 1
Half-title......Page 3
Title......Page 7
Copyright......Page 8
Dedication......Page 9
Contents......Page 11
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS......Page 12
ABBREVIATIONS......Page 13
INTRODUCTION......Page 17
Part I LITERARY AND RHETORICAL CONTEXTS......Page 21
1 THE INTEGRITY OF PHILIPPIANS......Page 23
External evidence that Philippians is a Composite......Page 24
That 3:2–4:3 reflects a different set of circumstances than 1:1–3:1......Page 28
That an abrupt shift in tone between 3:1 and 3:2 marks a redactional seam......Page 31
That various formal elements and verbal clues in 2:14–3:1 signal the end of "a Pauline Letter''......Page 35
That Phil. 2:25–30 presupposes communications between Paul and the Philippians in which Paul must have already thanked them…......Page 40
That 4:10–20 comes unacceptably late in a letter of thanks......Page 42
That 4:10–20 is a self-contained pericope loosely tied to the rest of the letter......Page 43
Additional evidence for the integrity of Philippians......Page 45
Conclusion......Page 48
2 THE RHETORICAL SITUATION OF PHILIPPIANS......Page 50
Bitzer's theory of the rhetorical situation......Page 51
Miller, Vatz, and Consigny on Bitzer......Page 53
"Rhetorical situation'' and "Rhetorical problem''......Page 56
Some general observations......Page 57
The Philippians' self-understanding......Page 59
Discouragement at Philippi......Page 61
Discouragement as a cause of disunity at Philippi......Page 63
Lack of knowledge as the cause of the Philippians' discouragement......Page 64
Two rhetorical problems......Page 68
3 ON THE GENRE OF PHILIPPIANS: ANCIENT CONSOLATION......Page 71
The sources......Page 72
Range of subjects......Page 76
Sympathy, consolation, and exhortation......Page 78
Ancient theories of consolation......Page 81
Cleanthes' theory......Page 82
Peripatetic theory......Page 83
Epicurean theory......Page 85
Cyrenaic theory......Page 87
Chrysippus' theory......Page 88
Two important consolatory topoi......Page 90
The adiaphora topos in ancient consolation......Page 91
"Joy'' in ancient consolation......Page 94
Part II CONSOLATION IN PHILIPPIANS......Page 101
4 PAUL'S CONSOLATORY STRATEGY: DISCERNING THE THINGS THAT MATTER (PHIL. 1:3–11)......Page 103
The thanksgiving prayer proper: Paul's appreciation of the Philippians (Phil. 1:3–6)......Page 104
A digression: Paul's appreciation of the Philippians is justified (Phil. 1:7–8)......Page 106
Two problems of interpretation......Page 108
…in context......Page 113
Consolation and ethical conduct......Page 115
5 DISCERNING THE THINGS THAT MATTER IN THE GOSPEL MISSION (PHIL. 1:12–2:30)......Page 117
The progress of the gospel message (Phil. 1:12–18a)......Page 118
The salvation of the gospel messenger (Phil. 1:18b–21)......Page 124
Paul's promised release and the Philippians' lack of progress (Phil. 1:22–6)......Page 128
Behaving in a manner worthy of the gospel (Phil. 1:27–30)......Page 131
Discharging one's duties to other believers (Phil. 2:1–4)......Page 136
The example of Christ (Phil. 2:5–11)......Page 137
Discharging one's duties to God (Phil. 2:12–18)......Page 139
Timothy to come soon (Phil. 2:19–24)......Page 142
The return of Epaphroditus (Phil. 2:25–30)......Page 143
6 DISCERNING THE ONE THING THAT MATTERS IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE (PHIL. 3:1–4:1)......Page 146
Introductory exhortation: "rejoice in the Lord'' (Phil. 3:1)......Page 147
Warning against those who do not "boast in Christ'' (Phil. 3:2–3)......Page 149
Paul's testimony relativizing his accomplishments in Judaism to the knowledge of Christ (Phil. 3:4–11)......Page 152
Paul's testimony relativizing his accomplishments as an apostle to the knowledge of Christ (Phil. 3:12–16)......Page 156
Exhortation to adopt Paul's Christological values (Phil. 3:17–21)......Page 158
Concluding exhortation: "stand thus in the Lord'' (Phil. 4:1)......Page 160
Concluding parenesis and consolation (Phil. 4:2–9)......Page 162
A postscripted thank-you note (Phil. 4:10–20)......Page 171
Final greetings (Phil. 4:21–3)......Page 176
II. Introductory thanksgiving period with intercessory prayer-report (1:3–11)......Page 177
III. Letter body: on discerning things that matter (1:12–4:9)......Page 178
V. Final greetings and benediction (4:21–3)......Page 180
Reference works......Page 181
Primary sources: texts, editions, translations......Page 182
Commentaries on Philippians......Page 188
Other Pauline and related studies......Page 190
Ancient consolation and related topics......Page 197
Rhetoric and the "rhetorical situation''......Page 201
INDEX OF MODERN AUTHORS......Page 204
INDEX OF PASSAGES CITED......Page 208