Current Trends in Pauline Research

The scope and purpose of this Special Issue is to highlight the current trends and methods for interpreting Paul’s letter to the Philippian Christ followers, understanding the letter’s aim(s), methods, recipients, and theological impact. Paul is an adept epistle writer, with his corpus reflecting rhetorical sophistication, pastoral sensitivity, missional zeal, and theological power, all of which are on display in his short letter to the Philippian saints. As a shorter Pauline epistle—often assumed to be merely a “warm, friendly, joy-filled letter” in the commentary tradition—Philippians has historically been underappreciated and misunderstood in biblical studies. However, a recent scholarship has corrected some of this neglect and misunderstanding, and this Special Issue seeks to present the latest insights emerging therefrom. Philippians, far from being a minor member of the Corpus Paulinum, serves as a powerful monument to Paul’s overall and mature theological, Christological, and pastoral vision.