Hierarchy, Unity, and Imitation: A Feminist Rhetorical Analysis of Power Dynamics in Paul's Letter to the Philippians (Society of Biblical Literature Academia Biblica, No. 24)

Typically Paul's letter to the Philippians is seen as joyous and relatively "harmless." Yet distinctive features of Paul's arguments-his appeal to unity and use of military and ancient patronage imagery-have troubling aspects that demonstrate the hierarchical nature of Paul's rhetoric as he attempts to construct an authoritative position for himself in the eyes of the community. By attending to the power dynamics that inhere in the argumentation of Philippians, this feminist rhetorical analysis reevaluates the relevance of Paul and Pauline interpretation, highlighting a new set of hermeneutical options for the study of Philippians. In addition to examining the rhetorics of interpretation, this work focuses on the critical issues of gender and of colonial and military status, in particular by considering the roles of Euodia and Syntyche and civic and military images in the letter. It thus serves as an illustration of the relevance of feminist approaches toward both biblical literature and biblical interpretation. Paperback edition is available from the Society of Biblical Literature ((http://www.sbl-site.org) www.sbl-site.org ) Introduction. Context, Purpose, And Procedure ; Rhetorical Approaches ; Further Reflections On Feminist Rhetorical Approaches ; Preliminary Issues In The Study Of Philippians -- Setting The Stage. Critical Overview Of Scholarship On Prominent Images In Philippians. Prominent Imagery In Philippians. Friendship Imagery ; Military Imagery ; Feminist Assessment. Reconsidering Friendship Imagery ; Reconsidering Military Imagery ; Reconsidering The Connections Between Friendship And Military Imagery ; Cues From This Debate For The Rest Of The Study -- Situating The Rhetorics Of Philippians. Women's Participation In Cults At Philippi. Excursus : Imitation Of Women In Cultic Life ; Women's Participation In The Early Jesus Movement At Philippi ; Unity Rhetorics In Ancient Civic Speeches ; Colonial Status And Military Situation Of Philippi -- How Philippians Implements These Rhetorics. Evolving Rhetoric : The Interaction Of Arguments As They Develop (section-by-section Analysis). 1:1-11 ; 1:12-26 ; 1:27-2:4 ; 2:5-18 ; 2:19-30 ; 3:1-11 ; 3:12-21 ; 4:1-9 ; 4:10-23 ; Summary Of The Argumentative Techniques ; Prevailing Rhetoric : The Major Arguments. Arguments By Dissociation ; Quasi-logical Arguments ; Arguments Based On The Structure Of Reality ; Arguments Establishing The Structure Of Reality ; Summary, Implications, And Suggestions ; Conclusions. A Different Understanding Of The Letter To The Philippians ; Implications Concerning Previous Scholarship ; Usefulness For Feminist And Liberation Interpretations -- Appendix: Outline Of Argumentative Techniques In Philippians. Joseph A. Marchal. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [217]-247) And Indexes.