Our politeuma is in heaven!
Subtitle: Paul's polemical engagement with the "enemies of the cross of Christ" in Philippians 3:18-20
By: Gennadi A. Sergienko
Publisher: Langham Monographs
Published: 2013
Place of publication: Carlisle
Language: eng
Number of pages: 227
ISBN-13: 9781907713743; 9781907713729; 9781907713736
Subjects: Bible; Language; Political and social views; Language, style; Hapax legomena; Language and languages
Description: Paul's letters to Philippians show us that this rather outspoken man had plenty of opportunity and cause to aggravate his Christian contemporaries. However, for Paul to use such hostility, as he does in Philippians 3:18-20, and to name people as "enemies" shows us that we should take note and try to understand the meaning behind his statement. In this work the author asks: who were these enemies? What did they do wrong? Why did they deserve destruction? In search of these questions the investigation looks to the early Christian communities and their formation within the socio-political realities of the urban centers of the Roman Empire. Through this we learn a great deal about the uneven and complex dynamics of the early Christian community and a deep understanding of Paul's warning to them.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (pages 201-227).
Table of contents: title: Introduction; title: Voluntary associations within a Graeco-Roman city; title: The Roman colony of Philippi; title: Voluntary associations at Philippi; title: Christian ekklēsia at Philippi and voluntary associations: discovering the points of correlation; title: The earthly politeuma of the enemies of the cross and Paul's vision of the politeuma in Heaven (Phil. 3:18-20); title: Cults attested at and near Philippi; title: Membership list of the Silvanus Association at Philippi; title: Graeco-Roman and Jewish literary sources on politeuma.