Exam #3 (Philippians 1-4)

Question 1

Occasion of the letter. (listing)

Answer 1

1. Letter of thanks for gifts
2. Letter to tell them that Epaphroditus had fallen ill
3. Letter to encourage them in the trials they were experiencing
4. Letter of appeal for unity

Question 2

The CHURCH of Philippi.

Answer 2

Begun when Paul, Silas, Timothy, and Luke responded to the Macedonian call. Lydia, seller of dyed goods, was the first European convert. Paul and Silas encountered a slave girl who was a fortune teller because of a demon, when they cast it out they were thrown into prison. Luke stayed with this church, while Paul carried on. Philippi seemed to be Paul’s favorite church.

Question 3

Theme of Philippians.

Answer 3

REJOICE!

Question 4

Personnel of the book.

Answer 4

Paul
Timothy
Epaphroditus- A christian from Phillipi who had been sent to care for Paul in Rome, as well as bring gifts to him.
Euodia- sister in the Lord at Philippi involved in a dispute with syntyche
Syntyche- a sister in the Lord at Phillipi involved in a dispute with Euodia
“loyal yokefellow”- an unknown party at Philippi. No way to identify them.
Clement- A well known worker at Philippi

Question 5

Unusual feature of the greeting.

Answer 5

This is the only Pauline letter where leaders are included in the address.

Question 6

Reasons for his joyful thanks.

Answer 6

1) Their partnership in the gospel

2) His confidence that God will complete what he begun in them

Question 7

Things for which Paul prayed. (listing)

Answer 7

1) love that was abounding and able to discern

2) For their character, that they might be pure and blameless

Question 8

Good things that happened. (listing)

Answer 8

1) The gospel has progressed through his circumstances

2) Christian brothers have taken courage to proclaim the word more boldly

Question 9

(2:5-11) Principle lines of thought. (Listing)

Answer 9

1) Ethical interpretation: Paul is presenting Christ as an example that they should follow
2) Kerygamatic interpretation: The passage simply recounts the story of incarnation, death and exaltation to remind them that they are “in Christ” and that obedience is appropriate.

Question 10

Ways he emptied himself. (listing)

Answer 10

1) Taking the very nature of a servant

2) Being made in human likeness

Question 11

God’s response to Jesus’ obedience. (listing)

Answer 11

1) Exalted him to the highest place

2) Gave him the name above every name

Question 12

Aspects of this section (ch.2) which generate discussion. (listing)

Answer 12

1) The nature of the imitation required of the Christian reader
2) The character of God’s response to Christ’s obedience
3) The extent of “made himself nothing”
4) Whether the passage teaches Christ’s deity and preexistence

Question 13

Commendations for Timothy.

Answer 13

1) He understands what it means to be united in spirit with other believers
2) He stands apart from others because he puts the interests of Jesus before his own
3) He has been tested in the service and found faithful as a son

Question 14

Description of Epaphroditus.

Answer 14

Brother, Fellow worker, Fellow soldier, Messenger, Minister.

Question 15

Term of reproach.

Answer 15

“Dogs” is an expression of reproach and contempt.

Question 16

Characteristics of God’s people. (listing)

Answer 16

1) Worship by the spirit
2) Glory in Christ
3) Put no confidence in the flesh

Question 17

Types of Paul’s advantages. (listing)

Answer 17

1) Those that were his by birth

2) Those he atttained

Question 18

Paul’s solution/response to the “enemies of the cross.” (listing)

Answer 18

1) Unite in their efforts to follow the example of mature Christians
2) Remember that they are citizens of heaven

Question 19

Admonitions in 4:4-7

Answer 19

1) Rejoice
2) Let your gentleness be evident
3) Do not be anxious
4) Present your requests to God

Question 20

Items to think about. (listing)

Answer 20

True
Noble
Right
Pure
Lovely
Admirable

Question 21

What two texts are “the most rationalized, rejected, and ignored passages in Paul’s letters?’

Answer 21

Colossians 3:17-18 and Ephesians 5:21-33.

Question 22

What are “three current approaches to these passages?”

Answer 22

1) Paul didn’t say it, I don’t believe it, that settles it.
2) The apologetic purpose of the household codes
3) Paul modifies commonly held chauvinistic values

Question 23

What is Paul’s “unique contribution to this discussion” on marriage and singleness?

Answer 23

It is not his traditional stance on husbands and wives or even his countercultural stance on singleness. But it is to draw attention to the fact that devotion to Christ is to deeply affect one’s practical decision making and unquestioned cultural conditioning.

Question 24

Explain/describe (4) differences between american chattel slavery and ancient greco-roman slavery.

Answer 24

1) American- Slavery a permanent condition, with no hope of freedom. Greco-Roman- Unless a criminal, a slave have every hope of emancipation.
2) American- Slavery racially delineated: negro slaves, white masters. Greco-Roman- Impossible to distinguish a slave on the basis of color, clothing, or race.
3) American- slaves had no legal rights. Greco-Roman- Slaves had many legal rights, including the right of appeal to a higher authority in the case of unfair treatment.
4) American- illegal to educate slaves. Greco-Roman- Slaves often highly education, acting as tutors and advisers for their owners.

Question 25

What is “thriambolos” (and what it its role in this discussion of slaves?”

Answer 25

it was a slave seized by conquering Roman army and paraded through the streets to display the glory of Rome and the inferiority and subjugation of the inhabitants of the newly annexed territory. The majority of freed slaves during Paul’s time probably experienced this kind of slavery. By this Paul means that he is Christ’s slave, who has been captured and enslaved, and is now paraded throughout the empire by God as a means of spreading the knowledge of Christ.

Question 26

What is, in Paul’s view, the greatest evil and enemy of human happiness? Explain.

Answer 26

Spiritual slavery. Because we need to have a relationship with God and be freed from the bondage of sin.

Question 27

What three things indicate the liberating tendency in Paul regarding slavery?

Answer 27

1) Slaves are included with masters in the one new humanity incorporated into the church.
2) In the household codes of Eph 6 and Col 3.
3) In the way he treats slavery as somewhat of an exception in his line of argument in 1 Corinthians 7.

Question 28

In contrast to the traditional view of Onesimus as a runaway slave, what is the recent view proposed by Lampe, Bartchy and Rapske?

Answer 28

Onesimus sought a third party his master respected to become his advocate before his aggrieved owner, a common case in Roman legal evidence.