A Roman Commentary on St. Paul's Letter to the Philippians

by Richard Cassidy

Overview

Paul writes his letter to the Philippians referencing two related forms of persecution. The Christians of Philippi are experiencing persecution by the Roman authorities who govern the Philippi. Paul himself is experiencing persecution by the Roman authorities (the Roman emperor’s praetorian guard) in Rome. Roman persecution is thus the fundamental context for his letter. Paul’s most basic premise in this letter is to hold high the slave, Jesus Christ!
In perhaps the most moving passage he ever wrote (Phil 2:6-11) Paul delineates that Jesus did not count equality with God something to be grasped at but rather empties himself taking the form of a slave and embracing crucifixion, the slave’s form of death. Accordingly. God has raised Jesus to the highest place and has caused all on the earth, above the earth, and under the earther to bow at the name of Jesus and to proclaim that Jesus alone is Lord to the glory of God the Father.
Very significantly, Paul affirms that Christian slaves are ennobled by Jesus initiatives. Because these slaves now join the other Christian citizens in having “citizenship in heaven,” Paul’s letter constitutes a radical threat to the Roman imperial authorities in this way as well.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780824501679
Publisher:	PublishDrive
Publication date:	02/28/2020
Sold by:	PUBLISHDRIVE KFT
Format:	eBook
Pages:	232
File size:	5 MB

About the Author

Richard J. Cassidy is a New Testament scholar whose books have explored aspects of the Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, and Paul's letters that have traditionally not been treated by other New Testament scholars. That these writings are now becoming viewed as “counter-imperial” is due is no small degree to the pioneering work of Professor Cassidy.

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

1 Titles of Exaltation in the Eastern Provinces 1

2 Maiestas 3

3 The Character of Augustus's Rule 5

4 The Military History of Philippi 6

5 The Roman Character of Philippi 7

6 Roman Citizenship at Philippi 11

7 The Emperor Cult at Philippi 12

8 Slavery in the Roman Empire 16

9 Paul's Ministry at Philippi according to Acts 20

10 Christian Slaves at Philippi 21

11 The Christian Community of Philippi and Its Persecution 23

12 The Perspectives and Responses of Philippi's Magistrates 27

13 Philippians Authored from Rome 29

14 The Date of Philippians 32

15 The Unity of Philippians 34

16 Philippians as a Prison Letter 34

17 Paul's Purposes in Philippians 38

18 The "Narrative" Embedded in Philippians 42

19 Philippians' Subversiveness When Performed 43

Commentary 45

Outline of Philippians 45

I Opening of the Letter (1:1-11) 46

A Address and Salutation (1:1-2) 47

B Thanksgiving (1:3-11) 54

II Overview of Paul's Situation (1:12-26) 61

A Paul's Chains Advance the Gospel (1:12-13) 63

B Paul's Chains Engender Division (1:14-18) 65

C Paul's Potential for Death or Life (1:19-26) 70

III The Same Conflict at Philippi and Rome (1:27-30) 74

IV Harmony and Unselfishness (2:1-5) 78

V Drama Depicting Christ's Descent to a Roman Cross Followed by Cosmic Exaltation (2:6-11) 81

VI Further Encouragement for the Philippians (2:12-16) 99

VII Paul again Envisions His Death (2:1748) 102

VIII The Mission of Timothy (2:19-24) 104

IX The Mission of Epaphroditus (2:25-3:1) 108

X Paul's Response to a Threat from "the Circumcisers" (3:2-7) 113

XI Paul's Communion with Christ in Life and Death (3:8-16) 115

XII Paul's Response to a Threat from "the Enemies of the Cross of Christ" (3:17-4:1) 121

XIII Entreaty to Euodia and Synteche (4:2-3) 131

XIV Encouragement to Rejoice and Be Grounded in Christ (4:4-9) 134

XV Response to the Philippians' Gift (4:10-20) 137

XVI Concluding Greeting and Benediction (4:21-23) 144

Appendix I Cartography 148

Appendix II Roman Provincial and Imperial Coins 160

Appendix III Images of Slaves 166

Appendix IV Later Images of Paul as an Imperial Prisoner 170

Appendix V Material Factors in the Production of This Commentary 172

Bibliography 174

Index of Passages 202

Index of Authors and Contributors 208

Index of Subjects 212