The Mission of the Church

In Paul's Letter to the Philippians in the Context of Ancient Judaism
Erscheinungsjahr 2005
ISBN: 978-90-04-14641-9
Verlag: Brill

Buch, Englisch, Band 120, 386 Seiten, Format (B × H): 164 mm x 245 mm, Gewicht: 844 g

Reihe: Novum Testamentum, Supplements

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.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Ware, James P

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Christentum, Christliche Theologie Bibelwissenschaften Bibelwissenschaften: Sachbuch, Erbauung, Didaktik

Inhaltsverzeichnis

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

Über Autor(innen)

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.