Philippians 2:6-11

by | Mar 2, 2025 | Bible

 

What theological principle underlies Paul’s application for his original
audience? In other words, what theology drives his application? Give
evidence to support your conclusion.

c. Is that principle still valid today? Is it a timeless principle or relevant only to Paul’s time? Defend yo7r answer.

d. If your answer was “no,” why is that principle no longer valid? If “yes,” what
is (are) the corresponding situation(s) in our lives today in which the principle
should be employed?

e. Given this (or these) situation(s) that correspond to the Philippians’ context,
what does God expect people to do today? How ought we apply the principle?

 

 

Sample solution

Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell. 

In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.


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God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.

Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.

To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.

 

References

Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.

Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.

Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.

To answer this effectively, we need to consider the core themes of Paul’s letter to the Philippians. While a specific passage wasn’t given, the overall tone and content of Philippians point to a central theological principle: Christ-centered humility and unity.

a. Theological Principle and Evidence:

  • Christ-Centered Humility:
    • Paul consistently points to Christ as the ultimate example of humility (Philippians 2:5-11). He urges the Philippians to have the same mindset as Christ, who “did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant.”

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To answer this effectively, we need to consider the core themes of Paul’s letter to the Philippians. While a specific passage wasn’t given, the overall tone and content of Philippians point to a central theological principle: Christ-centered humility and unity.

a. Theological Principle and Evidence:

  • Christ-Centered Humility:
    • Paul consistently points to Christ as the ultimate example of humility (Philippians 2:5-11). He urges the Philippians to have the same mindset as Christ, who “did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant.”

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    • This passage demonstrates that Paul’s application for unity and humility is rooted in the very nature of Christ’s self-sacrificing love.
    • Paul also shows his own humility in the letter. He does not put himself above the Philippians, but regards them as partners in the gospel.
  • Unity in Christ:
    • Paul repeatedly emphasizes the importance of unity among believers (Philippians 1:27, 2:2, 4:2). He encourages them to “stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel.”
    • This unity is not based on shared interests or personalities, but on their shared identity in Christ. He repeatedly uses phrases like “in Christ” to reinforce this.
    • The disputes that are mentioned within the church are adressed by Paul by reminding the church of their common connection to Christ.

c. Validity Today:

  • Yes, this principle is still valid today. It is a timeless principle because it is rooted in the unchanging character of God and the example of Christ.
  • The call to Christ-centered humility and unity transcends cultural and historical contexts. It speaks to the fundamental need for believers to prioritize Christ and others above themselves.

d. Corresponding Situations Today:

  • Divisions within the Church: Just as the Philippian church faced internal conflicts, churches today are often divided by doctrinal differences, personal disagreements, and cultural clashes. The principle of Christ-centered humility and unity is essential for overcoming these divisions.
  • Social and Political Polarization: Our societies are increasingly polarized, with deep divisions along political, racial, and ideological lines. Christians are called to be agents of reconciliation in these contexts, demonstrating humility and seeking unity.
  • Workplace Conflicts: Workplace environments can be rife with competition and conflict. The principle of humility can guide Christians to prioritize collaboration and respect for others.
  • Family Disputes: Family relationships can be strained by disagreements and misunderstandings. Christ-centered humility and unity can help families navigate these challenges and foster reconciliation.
  • Online Interactions: The anonymity of online interactions can lead to harsh and divisive communication. Christians are called to demonstrate humility and grace in their online interactions.

e. God’s Expectation and Application:

  • God expects Christians to:
    • Prioritize Christ above themselves: Cultivate a mindset of humility, putting the interests of Christ and others before their own.
    • Seek unity with fellow believers: Actively work to overcome divisions and build relationships based on love and respect.
    • Practice forgiveness and reconciliation: Extend grace to those who have wronged them and seek to restore broken relationships.
    • Engage in humble service: Use their gifts and talents to serve others, following the example of Christ.
    • Speak with grace and humility: Avoid harsh or divisive language, and strive to communicate in a way that builds up others.
    • Demonstrate unity to the world: Live in such a way that their unity testifies to the transforming power of the gospel.

In essence, Paul’s message to the Philippians is a call to live out the gospel in their relationships with one another. This call remains

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