NT Exegetical #6 - Claire Coffey
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Amount of time spent on this step: 2 hours Situational Reconstruction | Book of Philippians
The situational reconstruction is a research essay that investigates and explains the historical situation that prompted an author of a book/work to write.
Instructions: Reconstruct the historical situation of Philippians
1)
Research (Consult the following as part of your research):
a.
Use the notes you gathered in the book level observation stage (
internal evidence
) and . . .
b.
Read Hawthorne, G. F. “Philippians, Letter to the” pp. 1249-1260 in Dictionary of Paul and His Letters
, edited by Gerald Hawthorne et al., IVP, 2020. And
Osiek, Carolyn, “Philippians, Letter to the” pp. 1049-1050 in Eerdman’s Dictionary of the Bible, edited by David Noel Freedman, Eerdman’s Publishing Company, 2019. c.
You should also read and incorporate Acts 16 as part of your external evidence
. 2)
Write a minimum 500-word situational reconstruction essay that discusses the following four elements:
Author/Authorship – The authorship of Philippians is traditionally ascribed to the Apostle Paul, and this attribution is widely accepted among scholars. Paul, known for his missionary journeys and extensive writings, is believed to have penned this letter during his imprisonment, likely in Rome. While some debates exist about the authorship of certain Pauline epistles, Philippians is generally undisputed in this regard (hawthorn 1259).
Who are the recipients and what is known about them and about the town/location where they are at the time of the writing – The recipients of the letter are the Philippians Christians, residing in Philippi, a Roman colony in Macedonia. Philippi, situated on the ancient Egnatian Way, held strategic importance as a military outpost. The Philippian church was likely composed o a diverse mix of Roman citizens, retired military personnel, and local residents. Acts 16, which narrates the establishment of the Philippian church, provides insight into the initial converts, including Lydia, a businesswoman, and the Philippian jailer. This diverse congregation faced challenges, as suggested by Paul’s exhortations in the letter.
When and Where the Book Was Written – The exact date of the letter’s composition is a matter of scholarly debate, but it is generally agreed that Paul wrote Philippians during his imprisonment. The location is traditionally associated with Rome, as suggested by phrases like “the praetorian guard” (Philippians 1:13). Hawthorne concurs, stating, “The weight of the evidence favors Rome as the place of composition” (Hawthorne 1259).
The specific problem – The specific situation prompting the writing of Philippians involves a combination of external circumstances and internal challenges within the Philippian community
. While Acts 16 provides a positive account of the church’s founding, the letter suggests internal issues, including potential disunity and external threats. References to “opponents” and Paul’s concern for their “conduct” imply a need for ethical and relational correction within the community.
How the problem is addressed – In addressing the identified issues, Paul employs a pastoral and encouraging tone. The letter is marked by expressions of joy and thanksgiving, despite the challenging circumstances. Paul emphasizes the need for unity, humility, and imitating Christ’s self-sacrificial love. Theological affirmations, such as the kenosis hymn in Philippians 2:5-11, are incorporated to inspire ethical conduct and foster a Christlike mindset. Work Cited Hawthorne, G. F. "Philippians, Letter to." The IVP Bible Dictionary Series: Dictionary of Paul and His Letters, edited by Gerald F. Hawthorne, et al., InterVarsity Press, 1st edition, 1995.
Osiek, Carolyn. “Philippians, Letter to.” Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible, edited by David Noel
Freedman et al. W.B. Eerdmans, 2000.
The Bible, Acts 16; Philippians.
3)
This assignment must use in-text citation and
have a Works Cited. These should include the two Bible dictionary articles and the Bible. You do not need to cite your notes from the book level observations
Advice on handling debates in research: Sometime research uncovers debates about when or where a work was written, who the author is, or one of the other five areas of the situational reconstruction. For this assignment, it’s not important to detail these debates. Instead do the following: If there is debate about one of the five areas, summarize briefly the views (one to two sentences per view maximum) and which view seems to have more support from scholars than others, then move on.
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