Setting of Philippians Positioned at the eastern fertile plain of Datos in central Macedonia, Philippi was a flourishing city. Gordon Fee notes although originally founded by Greek colonists from the island of Thasos (ca. 360 B.C.), in 356 BCE Philippi was conquered by its namesake, the father of Alexander the Great, Philip II of Macedon. Philip seized the city due to its strategic location. Namely, it was blessed with provisions, protection, and prosperity. “It sat as sentinel to the large agricultural plain of Datos; it was well-protected by its acropolis; and, most importantly to Philip, it was nearby to Mount Pangaion on the northern side of the plain, which at that period was rich in mineral deposits, including gold.”…
Unlike most commentaries which immediately throw the reader into a verse-by-verse dissection of the epistles, the authors begin each half with a brief overview of the letter. The summary includes a brief history of the city of Corinth, an explanation of the cities religious practices, and the issues that are addressed in Paul’s letters as well as how the two relate to one another. These summaries are very well written and on their own, while they wouldn’t make much of a book, provide the reader with incredible insight of Corinthian culture and the context of the letters, and are perhaps the defining trait of this…
artificial harmonizing of pauline material and an insufficiently critical reliance uJKln the speeches of Acts as accurate representations of apostolic preaching. S…
Hildegard was the tenth child born of noble German parents in the province of Rheinhessen. During that time, it was not unusual for a family to offer up a child as a “tithe.” A sickly child, at the age of eight she was given to the care of her aunt, Blessed Jutta Von Spanheim, to live with her in her cottage next to a Benedictine monastery. This abandonment devastated Hildegard.…
Paul start out by writing a thank-you not to the believers at Philippi for their help in his hour of need, and he than uses the occasion to send along-some instruction on Christian unity. With Christ as your model of humility and services, you can enjoy a, oneness of purpose, attitude, goal, and labor a truth which Paul himself illustrates from his own life, and one the Philippians needed to hear.…
The New Testament begins with Paul’s three missionary journeys, in which his mission was to plant churches and teachings about the Lord. It is safe to say there were many other great church planters after the death of the apostle Paul, such as Peter and John. I plan to elaborate on the main issues facing each of the churches addressed by the General Epistles.…
In the words of Pastor Terry Hill when asked about his opinion on issues that may send some souls to to Heaven and others to Hell, "I will always lean towards mercy and grace.” Philemon is a perfect example of a man learning to reflect Christ in how he chooses to counter culturally give mercy and grace. We as believers are all a part of the same body and thus receive the same status of sons and daughters. Sadly, this equality is not always displayed as it should be. Paul's letter to Philemon shows us as children of God to respect each other instead of conforming to the societal norms of slavery.…
It seems as though our world is getting eviler and more corrupt by the minute. Just watching the news, the headlines are filled with murders, rapes and political disputes resulting in violence. Even this past week there was the worst mass shooting at a church in US history. There is a constant feel of hatred and revenge where we are and everyone feels entitled to something. The unfortunate fact of the matter is, our world is in a constant state of turmoil and conflict.…
This paper attempts to expose the verses of Romans 12:1-2 and Philippians 4:8-9 historical and literary context and meaning of the passages. The Historical and Literary Context of Each Passage (Romans 12:1-2 and Philippians 4:8-9). According to C. Meeks, The transition from Old Testament prophetic speech to New Testament preaching is influenced by the Roman and Hellenistic discussion on the written description of Scripture during the development of the temple. () Meeks points out, the Jewish and Christian teaching influenced by the developing tradition of Cynic and Stoic discourse in the last few centuries BC.…
Darius spent his entire childhood in Harlem; his family owned a bakery on 125th Street, a neighborhood with an insignificant amount of small, black-owned businesses in the city, and he enjoyed the high school he attended. Saturday morning trips to the bakery were usually never full of unusual sights for Darius until he noticed the construction of a Panera Bread across the street from the bakery one morning. Unbeknownst to Darius, this would mark the beginning of the end of his family’s establishment. The once packed bakery began to lose its loyal customers to the new corporate-run bakery, prompting the family to shut it down after several years in business. Soon, his parents couldn’t afford to pay the apartment bills, forcing Darius and his…
Though the Book of Romans is not a systematic theology, when one reads through Paul’s letter to these believers there is no doubt that Paul has delivered his message of grace with direction. As Paul opens this letter in chapter one he clearly explains his call, his…
Bibliography: Fee, Gordon D, Paul’s Letter to Philippians, The New International Commentary On The New Testament, Grand Rapids, Mich, W.B. Eerdmens Pub. Co., 1995…
There has been much contrast seen in Pauline studies between Paul’s gospel and his thoughts on Judaism. By understanding these contrasts and determining what Paul was thinking, readers may be able to better interpret Paul’s letters regarding works of the law, Jew and Gentile relationships, and faith versus works. The two perspectives that will be addressed in this paper include the Old Perspective and the New Perspective. This paper will define what each view presumes, how the views affect our interpretation of Paul, and which perspective I agree with.…
Bibliography: Barclay, William. The Letter to the Romans: Daily Study Bible Series. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1975.…
2. Paul wrote to the church in the city of Philippi around AD 60 during his ________ imprisonment (193–194).…