The aim of this study is the analysis of social concepts of honor and identity in Paul’s letter to the Philippians. In the first chapter, the research problem is formulated and the appropriate methodology, which could address the issue under investigation, is chosen. It was observed, that in the social studies of the New Testament texts, the key analytical categories – honor, identity and (social) values, – as well as the correlation between them, were not properly defined. At the same time, the text of the letter to the Philippians demonstrates that to aspire for honor is not totally rejected within Christian community (1:20; 2:29; 3:14). The discourse analysis (discovery of social patterns embedded in the text) was taken as main methodological approach; clarifying of social concepts and text analysis were main tools used to test the hypothesis: In his letter to the Philippians, Paul does not argue to reject honor as a social value, yet he promotes a new identity and new source of honor; aspiration to honor within one’s group remains the same for non-Christians and for “heavenly society.” In the second chapter, the main terminology is defined. So, “value” is an often non-verbalized, invisible conception, which determines one’s understanding of the desirable or rationality. The same values can have different embodiments in different cultures; the same values can be shared by different groups. Identity is based on the visible manifestations of a culture; people of different identities can share the same values. Honor is a positive evaluation of one’s behavior; it is very significant for every collectivistic society. The source of honor is at the same time the source of identity: the one whose opinion matters, whose approval is valuable is the one with whom a person associates/identifies him/herself. In the third chapter, the language of identity in the letter to the Philippians is analyzed. Paul pays a lot of attention to his readers’ new identity “in Christ.” He accentuates their distance from the non-members of the group (negative identity); he insists on their unity, mutual support, and call to leave aside any inner quarrel or competitiveness in order to concentrate on the survival and development of the “in-Christ” group. His own example of changed identity demonstrates that Christ gives Paul both a sense of belonging and a sense of worth. Strong orientation of the members of the Christian commune to their group reflects the common dependence of an individual on his/hew group in collectivist societies. In the fourth chapter, the issue of honor in the text of Philippians is investigated. The Christological hymn (Phil 2:6-11) and its context presents the only appropriate way of behavior and hence, gaining honor within the “in-Christ” community: God is the only honor-bestower; one must stay loyal to the community and obedient to its leaders despite suffering and death. Paul’s account of his own experience demonstrates that he is anxious about honor, yet he seeks it exclusively in terms of the “in-Christ” group: God is the only source of honor; hence honor must be achieved strictly via loyal service to God and his group. Any attempt to gain honor in competition with other members of the “in-Christ” group is interpreted as treason, as it denies the status of God as the only honor-bestower. In the fifth chapter, the findings of the research are summarized. It is concluded that social values of “heavenly society” are very much the same as those of a non-Christian society. Belonging to a group and positive evaluation of such a group (honor) – relational values common for Mediterranean cultures – are still most significant for the “in-Christ” group members. The only thing which is changed is identity (and hence, the source of honor): for Christians, God and Christ are an exclusive source of identity and an exclusive source of honor. Hence, the “in-Christ” group and the outer world both share the value of honor; the only difference between them is the source of that honor (i.e. identity). Values remain the same, identity is different. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / gm2014 / New Testament Studies / unrestricted

[pt] A presente pesquisa analisa a segunda linha do hino cristológico da perícope 1Tm 3,14-16 na qual encontramos a expressão foi considerado justo no Espírito (v.16b). Essa perícope está dividida em dois gêneros literários: prosa (v.14-16a) e poesia (v.16b-g), assim como por dois temas básicos: eclesiologia e cristologia. Nota-se, porém, que tanto o primeiro tema quanto o segundo encontram-se bem entrelaçados em todo o texto, por meio de palavras isoladas ou mesmo de expressões. Além disso, tal pesquisa constata que o coração da perícope é o hino cristológico presente no v.16, no qual o redator faz referência ao maior de todos os modelos de vida para a Igreja, Àquele cujo exemplo, segundo a perícope, deve ser imitado e a vida proclamada, Jesus Cristo. Utilizando o Método Histórico-Crítico e a Análise Retórica Bíblica Semítica, são apresentadas as seis linhas do hino, que estão em paralelismo antitético e dispostas da seguinte forma: carne (primeira linha) x Espírito (segunda linha) – anjos (terceira linha) x nações (quarta linha) – mundo (quinta linha) x glória (sexta linha). Com base nesses parâmetros, a presente pesquisa sugere uma proposta interpretativa para todo o hino; todavia, com enfoque principal à segunda linha, objeto primeiro desta pesquisa. / [en] This research analyzes the second line of the Christological hymn of the 1Tm 3,14-16 pericope, in which we find the expression was considered righteous in the Spirit (v.16b). This pericope is divided into two literary genres: prose (v.14-16a) and poetry (v.16b-g), as well as two basic themes: ecclesiology and christology. It is noted, however, that both the first theme and the second are well intertwined throughout the text, through isolated words or expressions. In addition, such research finds that the heart of the pericope is the Christological hymn present in v.16, in which the writer makes reference to the greatest of all models of life for the Church, the One whose second, the example, it must be imitated and the life proclaimed, Jesus Christ. Using the Historical-Critical Method and the Biblical Semitic Rhetorical Analysis, the six lines of the hymn are presented, which are in antithetical parallelism and arranged as follows: flesh (first line) x Spirit (second line) - angels (third line) x nations (fourth line) - world (fifth line) x glory (sixth line). Based on these parameters, the present research suggests an interpretive proposal for the entire hymn; however, with a main focus on second line, the first object of this research.

[pt] Filipenses 2,6-11 é texto fundamental na cristologia do cristianismo primitivo e neotestamentária. Inserido na parênese da carta de Paulo aos Filipenses, a passagem desenvolve uma narrativa cristológica que começa na preexistência, passa pela encarnação e culmina na exaltação de Jesus. No contexto da carta funciona como um chamado ético aos que estão em Cristo à obediência ao Senhor exaltado. Literariamente o texto é um hino composto de duas partes: 2,6-8 e 2,9-11, e a leitura proposta é ver nesta segunda seção o clímax do hino, que justamente trata da exaltação de Jesus. O tema da exaltação é apresentado dentro de uma perspectiva escatológica, pois o início do senhorio de Jesus é o cumprimento da esperança israelita no triunfo de Deus, é a virada escatológica que traz o tempo de salvação. Através da exaltação Deus compartilhou com seu Filho a soberania sobre o universo, implicando que todos os seres precisam agora dobrar os joelhos diante de Jesus e reconhecê-lo como Senhor. Aqueles que já fazem isso voluntariamente vivenciam antecipadamente o que será a realidade escatológica final. Esse novo papel de Jesus é descrito pelo título kurios, que combinado com outros elementos do texto atribui a ele contornos divinos e de igualdade com YHWH, além de uma oposição às ideologias romanas. A exaltação de Jesus também está ligada com a revolução cristológica que aconteceu no culto cristão primitivo, quando os cristãos judeus adoraram Jesus ao lado de Deus Pai, sem renunciar ao seu monoteísmo. O final do hino enfatiza exatamente que a exaltação de Jesus foi conduzida por Deus e resulta em sua própria glória. / [en] Philippians 2,6-11 is a fundamental text in the Christology of early Christianity and the New Testament. Inserted in the parenesis of Paul s letter to the Philippians, the passage develops a Christological narrative that begins in the preexistence, passes through the incarnation and culminates in the exaltation of Jesus. In the context of the letter functions as an ethical call to those who are in Christ in obedience to the exalted Lord. Literarily, the text is a hymn composed of two parts: 2,6-8 and 2,9-11; and the proposed reading is to see in this second section the climax of the hymn, which precisely deals with the exaltation of Jesus. The theme of exaltation is displayed within an eschatological perspective, since the beginning of the lordship of Jesus is the fulfillment of the Israelite hope in the triumph of God, it is the eschatological turn that brings the fulfillment of salvation. Through exaltation, God shared with His Son the sovereignty over the universe, implying that all beings must now bend to his knees before Jesus and acknowledge him as Lord. Those who already do so voluntarily experience in advance what will be the reality of the eschatological end. This new role of Jesus is described by the title kurios, which combined with the other elements of the text gives it contours to the divine and equality with YHWH, in addition to opposition to Roman ideologies. The exaltation of Jesus is also connected to the Christological revolution that happened in the worship of the early Christian, when the Jewish Christians worshipped Jesus alongside God the Father, without giving up their monotheism. The end of the hymn emphasizes exactly that the exaltation of Jesus was led by God and results in his own glory.