Hierarchy, unity, and imitation: A feminist rhetorical analysis of power dynamics in Paul's letter to the Philippians (Saint Paul)

This dissertation analyzes the argumentation of the letter to the Philippians in order to demonstrate how Paul implements multiple rhetorical strategies to promote his own particular vision of unity with a specific set of model figures. By engaging scholars' suggestions about ancient friendship and military imagery in the letter, this analysis also examines the rhetorics of interpretation. This dual analysis illustrates the relevance of feminist approaches toward both biblical literature and biblical interpretation. As a result I focus 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.; After reviewing developments in the recent study of rhetoric, feminism, and the letter to the Philippians, the core of the study begins by reconsidering the contexts of Philippians' interpretation. In the second chapter I examine previous scholarship on the letter's imagery, evaluating how interpreters have not considered the power dynamics that inhere in both friendship and military images. Through this overview of scholarship, I demonstrate the need for my project while providing cues for the analysis to follow. In the third chapter I situate the letter in its ancient context, namely in light of the roles of women in Philippi, the use of unity concepts in civic speeches, and the status of Philippi as a Roman colony.; Having set the stage by examining these contexts, I concentrate my analysis of the argumentation of Philippians from two different vantage points. In the fourth chapter I consider Paul's evolving rhetoric, assessing the argumentative techniques in the order that they appear in the letter. In the fifth chapter I discuss the prevailing rhetoric by grouping the key arguments together according to type. This procedure allows me to discern what is most characteristic about the letter's rhetorics, while noting their interactive function. Recognizing Paul's densely interlocking arguments facilitates both the assessment of these arguments and the suggestions about the potential audience at Philippi. I conclude with observations about Philippians, scholarly interpretations, and the relevance of my approach for those communities concerned with power relations.