Best on Philippians 3

I received, earlier, a comment asking me to offer a place to start for reading Phil. 3.  Now, my paper at Exeter was more focused on Phil. 1, but I did have to dip into chapt. 3, so I can offer a few thoughts.  Chapter 3 deals with several issues (enemies, Paul’s background, suffering/glory-resurrection), but my interest was just in the motif of suffering.  That will be the focus of my comments.

 COMMENTARIES

For more general resources I recommend the following:

Bockmuehl, M. Philippians (Black’s NTC).  A short, but balanced, and sane analysis of the text. 

 Fee, Gordon. Philippians (NICNT).  A massive commentary, this offers theological and traditional exegetical analysis. 

Hooker, Morna. Philippians (New Interpreter’s).  This is more of an exposition commentary, and it is rather short, but I really enjoy her perspective and especially on matters of ‘interchange’ or ‘participation’ with Christ.

Fowl, Stephen. Philippians (Two Horizons).  This new series really tries to marry systematic theology and biblical studies.  Though it is not meant to offer rigorous exegesis, Fowl is excellent in drawing out the theological inferences or implications of a text.  There are also some helpful excurses in the back.

 Articles/Monographs/Essays

More specifically on the matter of suffering/resurrection in Phil. 3. see

 Bloomquist, G. The Function of Suffering in Philippians (1993).  He also has a related article in Theoforum. 

 Gorman, M. Cruciformity: Paul’s Narrative Spirituality of the Cross (2001).

Hooker, M. ‘Interchange and Suffering’ in Suffering and Martyrdom (ed. Horbury 1981).  Her focus is, in part, on Phil. 3. 

Jervis, L. Ann. At the Heart of the Gospel (2007).  One of her chapters is on suffering in Philippians.

If you are looking for something more on Paul’s opponents read the Brill volume on Paul and his Opponents (ed. Porter, see esp. Sumney), and take note of especially (in her commentary) Hooker’s thoughts on the opponents and also John M G Barclay’s caveat in his article on ‘Mirror-reading a Polemical Letter’ (JSNT 1987).

I could go on and on, but I think that is a good start.  I’m sure others will have their favorite books/commentaries, but here is my two cents.