Essay on Paul's Letter to the Philippians: Interpretative Issues

Introduction

In the Philistine epistle represents a letter from one friend to the other as spiritual guidance and an acknowledgment for the kind help. Paul tells Christian in Philippians church regarding his reassurance to their sympathy as a sign of their Christian friendship. He also illustrated to them about the uncertainty regarding his trial that may result in either life or death. Nonetheless, he courageously prepared for either occurrence because to him dying was gain and living was by the help of Christ. Hence, being allowed to lead a holy life was as much a blessing receives in partaking of the holy death. Paul also explains his open-hearted acceptance for their gifts. Even though he was unwilling to receive aid from other churches, he accepted help from Philippians. Paul grew a trusting and affectionate which resulted in close intimacy between them. He valued their advice mostly because it reaffirmed their love for him and their maturity in charity that is ranked first amongst Christian graces. However, Paul also accepted those gifts because it elevated him from the prison hardships. Paul declared that he was a contented person that mastered the art of self-sufficiency in Christian operations. Even though there lacked persons that felt his physical body weaknesses more than himself. Even so, he could manage to do everything through the strength of Christ.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

Paul's letter to Philippians conveys four themes throughout the text. These include thanksgiving for God's provisions. Secondly, the importance of having regards for each other than for oneself. Thirdly, rejoicing for salvation even when persons are facing suffering and lastly, and trusting in God for divine preservation for our salvation.

There are two primary notable attributes in dressing challenges faced by Philippians. Firstly, Paul illustrated the critical placing of servant attitude when one is a leader in Christian churches. Paul refers to himself as a savant of Christ. He considerably practiced the virtue of humility while planting and shepherding churches. Paul wished for Christian leaders to emulate him by practicing humility to offset rising interpersonal challenges in the church. Paul emphasized on his humble calling by referring to himself as a slave. Even though being a slave in the ancient days was not as harsh as it was in the modern world. The position of a slave lacked esteem because it was a position of savant hood. Being a slave was a position beneath others and hence outlined taking a lower place to benefit others. Consequently, he used the statement in addressing deacons and overseers of the church, through comparing dignity, which they practiced and lower position that Paul was.

Secondly, Paul advocated for the virtue in submitting to each other by taking Jesus Christ as the example. Christ managed to serve human beings even though he was God. Hence church leaders ought to spread the Gospel in humility, which involves benefiting others at the expense of oneself. Even though Jesus knew about his high stature in heavenly, he did not compete for power with God the Father. However, he came down to the earth and taking the forms of a slave. Jesus became humble even to accepting death on the cross. Hence, Jesus was divine and superior to man but still managed to humble himself. Paul beseeched the Church leaders to emulate Jesus exemplary life in service of others persons in the church at the expense of oneself.

Additionally, St Paul explained to the Philippians what it truly meant by loving one another. The society highly advocates for love, which receives high ranked in regards to Christian values. Nonetheless, it is impossible to practice real love when persons do not have humility. Love requires persons to submit with the intentions of fulfilling other people's needs. Contrarily, engaging in activities that are only self-beneficial at the expense of other persons is not love since you grieve the other person with the intention of gaining from the interactions.

The Philippians epistle comprises of a composition of the hymn in 2:6-11. Critics claim that the song could have emerged in three different ways. Firstly, there are views that Paul was the author of the hymn and wished to use the content in explaining the servant-hood in Jesus. The second group claimed that the psalm is part of quotation for a pre-existing hymn by Paul. The third claims believe that the psalm is part of non-Pauline songs added to the Philippines epistle. Nonetheless, the second opinion seems most accurate because the theological structure and terms of the hymn bear little association with Pauline authorship. However, two lines disrupted the poetic nature of the hymn. These lines are the only part of the psalm that fit nicely to Pauline. Therefore Paul managed to incorporate a hymn in the Philippians' letter, which had some modification done to it.

According to Gould, the reasons for writing the Philippians was the only means through which Paul could help Philippians in overcoming aspects of pride, divisions, and strife, which increasingly marred their church. Unfortunately, such vices cultivated grounds for false teachings within the church. Gould's position is significant because of relating the evil practice of false teachings in the church with the resultant effect that is disunity. Disunity may be overlooked in Philippians church to involve just the two women. However, divisions were present in the early Philippians early church. Nonetheless, it meant few personalities. Mostly, Philippian's disunity resulted from lack of humility and practices aimed at self-interests. Additionally, there existed personality difference amongst them that were bound to occur in divisions. Airing polarized opinions as an attempt to do different activities always result in conflicts. However, it takes humility to let the idea of others prevail against your own. Therefore, because of various self-interests, persons and leaders in the Philippians church began quarreling.

Major Points

Paul's letter to the Philippians has two major sections. The first part he addresses to the young church that underwent a mirage of challenges. As part of the solution, Paul advocated for the message regarding the salvation as a "The Great Race." Paul encouraged the Philippians by explaining that whatever challenges they face, it was just but part of the journey. Hence, it would not endure forever but pass by with time. Additionally, that while pressing to a higher calling, god was always near. Paul explains to the Philippians that they were on a joyous journey because God accompanied them. Additionally, having the knowledge that God was in control of situations and that dedicating our lives to him was not in vain because he was worth their lives.

Secondly in the book of the Philippians Paul explains to the Church the jail situation as a way of comfort their concerns about him. Philippians was surprised that Paul demonstrated that God was glorified even in jail. Through his letter, Paul advice the church not to worry but instead rejoices with him in the Lord.

There are numerous themes that arise from the cross-section of Paul's writing of the letter towards Philippians church because of the fu...