Philippians 3:1b-2

Posted by DJL on Nov 8, 2012 in Daily Bread | 0 comments

To write the same things to you is not troublesome to me, and for you it is a safeguard. Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of those who mutilate the flesh!

A fair bit of controversy has attended this part of Paul’s letter for years. The major question is whether or not it signals a dramatic shift of thought in Paul or whether it betrays evidence that at some point two of Paul’s letters were combined into one.

The precipitating factors are several: first, and as we saw in our last devotion, it sure feels like Paul is coming to an end. He says, after all, “finally,” before coming to what feels like a last admonition and encouragement. Second, there is such a dramatic shift of thought that has almost nothing to do with the rest of letter that it’s hard to imagine that this is the same piece of correspondence. Paul, after all, takes now a much harsher tone, calling his opponents “dogs” and all but scolding as well as warning the Philippians. Third, after he writes this section – which runs from 3:1b-4:1 – he never returns to the subject and continues in the classic format of ancient letters.

For this reason, many scholars believe what we have may be two (or more) letters of Paul that were collected and then eventually combined at some point very early in the copying process. Those who disagree argue that Paul could very well have concluded one section of the letter, gotten up to attend to other matters, recalled that he had more difficult things he still wanted to say to the Philippians, and then come back in a very different frame of mind and written these harsher lines.

Is that possible? Absolutely. Indeed, either view is quite possible. I tend to think that this section we’re entering into probably was from another letter. But, honestly, I don’t see why it matters all that much. No one questions that it was written by Paul. No one questions that it is addressed to the Philippians. No one questions that it functions for us as Scripture.

Then what is the big deal?

Sometimes, I think, we have certain ideas about authenticity and authority – shaped far more by our own world of books and copyrights and more – that we cast back onto the books of the Bible. I think it wiser to seek to know as much as we can about these letters and books, trusting their authority not because of the way they were composed but because of the way they draw us more deeply into faith and trust in the Lord.

So, now, what is it that Paul is so upset about? That’s what we’ll delve into next.

Prayer: Dear God, enable us to trust the Bible not because of what it is – somehow different than any other letter or book ever written without flaw or error – but instead because of what it does – leads us into true knowledge of your love for us and all people. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

Post image: Valentin, “St. Paul Writing His Epistles,” 1620.