Christologie und Ethik im Philipperbrief: Studien zur Handlungsorientierung einer frühchristlichen Gemeinde in paganer Umwelt

Was he a model figure or not? Heiko Wojtkowiak deals with the question of the relationship between Paul´s strict ethical mandates toward the congregation of the Philippians and Christ´s own actions. His intention is to illuminate the relationship between paraklesis and Christ´s saving action as stated in Paul´s letter to the Philippians. To approach this diputed question, he looks at the role Christ is given in the epistle as a moral model and particularly illuminates the Christian Psalm (Phil. 2.6-11) and its role in the epistle. From this ethical vantage point Wojtkowiak make the case that with his letter Paul was addressing a concrete conflict there, a crisis prompted by experiences of suffering within this Gentile Christian congregation.