Kenosis Leadership - The Relational Nature of the Philippian Letter, Part 1

Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi is a friendly letter. The letter, written around 50 AD, makes clear Paul’s deep affection for his Philippian brothers and sisters in Christ. Located in northeastern Macedonia, Colonia Julia Augusta Philippensis (Philippi) had the “legal status of Italian cities” (Luter). As a miniature Rome, Philippi enjoyed autonomous government and freedom from taxation (Smith).

The religious life of Philippi was eclectic. Thracian, Roman, Greek, and Egyptian deities (Smith) provided a rich polytheistic religious texture to Philippian society. In this strategic and socially complex environment, Paul planted the first Christian church in Europe – a church that claims Paul’s particular affection for their unique partnership in Christ. Now imprisoned, Paul writes his dear friends and partners to reinforce his concern that a “proper Christian lifestyle” (Bratcher) permeate the community of Philippian disciples.

What do you think?

Why would the Kenosis Hymn be embedded in a friendly letter to encourage a proper Christian lifestyle?

• To view the hymn text see Kenosis Leadership: An Introduction, Part 1.

• For more information about Paul's experience in Philippi see the article below the references.

Reference

Bratcher, Dennis. "The Poured-out Life: The Kenosis Hymn in Context." 2003. 20 Aug. 2004 <http://www.cresourcei.org/kenosis.html>.

Luter, Boyd A., Jr. "Philippians." Evangelical Commentary on the Bible. Ed. Walter A. Elwell. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1989. 618-24.

Smith, T. C. "Philippi." Mercer Dictionary of the Bible. Ed. Watson Mills, E. Macon GA: Mercer University Press, 1990. 683, 84.

Paul's Mission to Philippi
Acts 16

On the Sabbath Paul and Silas go outside the city gates to the river where they meet some of the prominent women of the city. One of these women is Lydia, who is a believer in God. After hearing Paul's message the Lord opened her heart and she believed. She and her household were all baptized and then she persuades them to stay with her.

While in Philippi, Paul and Silas encounter a slave girl who had a spirit that predicted the future. She was able to make a great deal of money for her owners by telling peoples fortunes. For many days she followed them around shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved." Finally Paul became so troubled that he exorcised the demon from her. When the girls owners saw that their profit making scheme was destroyed they seized Paul and Silas and had them flogged and thrown in prison.

At about midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns when a violent earthquake shook the prison so that it's very foundations were shaken, and the doors to the cells were thrown open. Upon seeing this the jailer drew his sword and was about to kill himself since he thought all the prisoners had escaped. Paul cried out to him not to hurt himself and reassured him that everyone was still present. The jailer immediately asks what he must do to be saved, then he and his household are baptized. Upon finding out that they are Roman citizens, Paul and Silas are immediately requested to leave the city.


Paul's prison at Philippi. Paul bore the scars
of the flogging which he received at Philippi for
the rest of his life. (Brownrigg:332)

Source: http://unbound.biola.edu/acts/index.cfm?item=philippi2