The Mission of the Church
in Paul's Letter to the Philippians in the Context of Ancient Judaism
Published on 12. October 2005
Book
Hardback
402 pages
978-90-04-14641-9 (ISBN)
Description
Paul seemingly nowhere in his letters commands his congregations to preach the gospel. Therefore many scholars have concluded that Paul's thinking had little or no place for a mission of the church. This study undertakes a fresh investigation of the question by devoting close attention to a text hitherto overlooked in discussion of early Christian mission, Paul's letter to the Philippians.
The Jewish context of Paul's thought in Philippians is the key to unlocking his understanding of church and mission in the letter. The study accordingly begins in Part One with an investigation of conversion of gentiles in ancient Judaism. Part Two, drawing upon this Jewish context, focuses on close exegesis of Philippians, revealing the crucial place of the mission of the church in Paul's thought.
The questions addressed by this study go to the heart of our understanding of Paul and of mission in earliest Christianity.
The Jewish context of Paul's thought in Philippians is the key to unlocking his understanding of church and mission in the letter. The study accordingly begins in Part One with an investigation of conversion of gentiles in ancient Judaism. Part Two, drawing upon this Jewish context, focuses on close exegesis of Philippians, revealing the crucial place of the mission of the church in Paul's thought.
The questions addressed by this study go to the heart of our understanding of Paul and of mission in earliest Christianity.
Reviews / Votes
'This study represents a fresh approach to the issue of the mission of the churches in Paul's letter to the Philippians. The author has an impressive grasp of the secondary literature; the book contains a comprehensive bibliography forty-three pages in length. The arguments are presented in a well-ordered way, and Ware's exegesis of Phil 1:12-2:18 is thorough and extensive. [...] This volume is a welcome addition to a steadily growing literature on the issue of mission in the New Testament, particularly its role in the life and letters of Paul, and a refreshing volume in a prestigious series of New Testament studies. Both missiology students of the history of the early Christian mission and New Testament scholars should find this volume worthy of reading and further discussion.'Torrey Seland, Review of Biblical Literature, 2007
'... [Ware] legt ... eine interessante Interpretation von Philipper 1:12-2:18 vor.'
Christoph Stenschke, Novum Testamentum, 2009
'Ware offers an excellent analysis of a key New Testament passage on the suffering and persecution of Christians and its relation to salvation.'
Christoph Stenschke, International Journal of Religious Freedom 5, 2012
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Leiden
Netherlands
Target group
College/higher education
Product notice
Laminated cover
Dimensions
Height: 235 mm
Width: 155 mm
Thickness: 24 mm
Weight
741 gr
ISBN-13
978-90-04-14641-9 (9789004146419)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
James P. Ware
The Mission of the Church
in Paul's Letter to the Philippians in the Context of Ancient Judaism
Software
11/2005
Brill
Unfortunately, price unknown
Available (delivery time upon request)
Person
James P. Ware received his Ph.D. in New Testament and Ancient Christianity in 1996 from Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. He is an Associate Professor of Religion at the University of Evansville in Evansville, Indiana, where he has taught since 1995.
Content
Preface
Introduction
PART ONE: CONVERSION OF GENTILES IN ANCIENT JUDAISM
Chapter One: The Problem of Jewish Mission
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Evidence of Gentile Converts
1.3 Evidence of Gentile Sympathizers or "God-fearers"
1.3.1 The Term "God-fearer" as a Designation for Gentile Sympathizers
1.3.2 The Number of Partial Converts in Antiquity
1.4 Evidence of Jewish Missionary Activity
1.5 Conclusion
Chapter Two: Conversion of Gentiles in Isaiah and Elsewhere in the Hebrew Bible
2.1 Introduction
2.2 The Nations in Isaiah and Elsewhere in the Old Testament
2.3 Conversion of Gentiles in Isaiah 40-55
2.4 The Servant of the Lord in Isaiah 40-55
2.5 Conclusion
Chapter Three: Conversion of Gentiles and Interpretation of Isaiah
3.1 Introduction
3.2 LXX Isaiah
3.2.1 Conversion of Gentiles in Greek Isaiah
3.2.2 The Servant in Greek Isaiah
3.3 Targum Isaiah
3.4 Sibylline Oracles 3.573-600
3.5 Wisdom of Solomon 2:12-5:13, 17:2-18.4
3.5.1 Wis 2:12-5:13
3.5.2 Wis 17:2-18:4
3.6 The Parables of Enoch 48, 62
3.7 Philo of Alexandria
3.7.1 On Repentance (Virt 175-186)
3.7.2 De specialibus legibus 2.162-67; De Vita Mosis 1.149; De Abrahamo 98
3.7.3 De Vita Mosis 2.43-44
3.8 Romans 2:17-29
3.9 Testament of Levi 14.3-4; 4QLevi-a ar 3-5=4Q213 3-5
3.10 Conclusion
Conclusion to Part One
PART TWO: MISSION IN PHILIPPIANS
Chapter Four: The Progress of the Gospel in Philippians 1:12-18a
4.1 Introduction
4.2 The Gospel in Philippians
4.3 Philippians 1:12-14: Paul's Imprisonment and the Progress of the Gospel
4.4 Philippians 1:15-18a: Mission and Division at Rome
4.5 Conclusion
Chapter Five: Suffering and Mission in Philippians 1:18b-2:11
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Philippians 1:18b-20: Mission and Salvation
5.3 Philippians 1:21-26: Consecration to the Gospel
5.4 Philippians 1:27-2:4: The Sign of Salvation
5.5 Philippians 2:5-11: The Example of Christ Jesus
5.6 Conclusion
Chapter Six: The Mission of the Church in Philippians 2:12-18
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Philippians 2:12-13: The Work of the Philippians and of God
6.2.1 Philippians 2:12 in its Literary Context
6.2.2 The Activity of God in Philippians 2:13
6.3 Philippians 2:14-15: Eschatology and Mission
6.4 The Meaning of the Verb ejpevcw in Philippians 2:16a
6.5 Philippians 2:16b-18: The Church's Mission and the Mission of Paul
6.5.1 The Priestly Activity of the Philippians in 2:17-18
6.5.2 Paul's Apostolic Self-Description in 2:16b
6.6 Conclusion
Conclusion
Bibliography
Index
Introduction
PART ONE: CONVERSION OF GENTILES IN ANCIENT JUDAISM
Chapter One: The Problem of Jewish Mission
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Evidence of Gentile Converts
1.3 Evidence of Gentile Sympathizers or "God-fearers"
1.3.1 The Term "God-fearer" as a Designation for Gentile Sympathizers
1.3.2 The Number of Partial Converts in Antiquity
1.4 Evidence of Jewish Missionary Activity
1.5 Conclusion
Chapter Two: Conversion of Gentiles in Isaiah and Elsewhere in the Hebrew Bible
2.1 Introduction
2.2 The Nations in Isaiah and Elsewhere in the Old Testament
2.3 Conversion of Gentiles in Isaiah 40-55
2.4 The Servant of the Lord in Isaiah 40-55
2.5 Conclusion
Chapter Three: Conversion of Gentiles and Interpretation of Isaiah
3.1 Introduction
3.2 LXX Isaiah
3.2.1 Conversion of Gentiles in Greek Isaiah
3.2.2 The Servant in Greek Isaiah
3.3 Targum Isaiah
3.4 Sibylline Oracles 3.573-600
3.5 Wisdom of Solomon 2:12-5:13, 17:2-18.4
3.5.1 Wis 2:12-5:13
3.5.2 Wis 17:2-18:4
3.6 The Parables of Enoch 48, 62
3.7 Philo of Alexandria
3.7.1 On Repentance (Virt 175-186)
3.7.2 De specialibus legibus 2.162-67; De Vita Mosis 1.149; De Abrahamo 98
3.7.3 De Vita Mosis 2.43-44
3.8 Romans 2:17-29
3.9 Testament of Levi 14.3-4; 4QLevi-a ar 3-5=4Q213 3-5
3.10 Conclusion
Conclusion to Part One
PART TWO: MISSION IN PHILIPPIANS
Chapter Four: The Progress of the Gospel in Philippians 1:12-18a
4.1 Introduction
4.2 The Gospel in Philippians
4.3 Philippians 1:12-14: Paul's Imprisonment and the Progress of the Gospel
4.4 Philippians 1:15-18a: Mission and Division at Rome
4.5 Conclusion
Chapter Five: Suffering and Mission in Philippians 1:18b-2:11
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Philippians 1:18b-20: Mission and Salvation
5.3 Philippians 1:21-26: Consecration to the Gospel
5.4 Philippians 1:27-2:4: The Sign of Salvation
5.5 Philippians 2:5-11: The Example of Christ Jesus
5.6 Conclusion
Chapter Six: The Mission of the Church in Philippians 2:12-18
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Philippians 2:12-13: The Work of the Philippians and of God
6.2.1 Philippians 2:12 in its Literary Context
6.2.2 The Activity of God in Philippians 2:13
6.3 Philippians 2:14-15: Eschatology and Mission
6.4 The Meaning of the Verb ejpevcw in Philippians 2:16a
6.5 Philippians 2:16b-18: The Church's Mission and the Mission of Paul
6.5.1 The Priestly Activity of the Philippians in 2:17-18
6.5.2 Paul's Apostolic Self-Description in 2:16b
6.6 Conclusion
Conclusion
Bibliography
Index