"This book represents a considerable advance over current studies on Philippi, increasing our understanding of the city, its church, and the importance of Paul's letter to them...In this study Oakes brings new sophistication to the context of Paul's letters to the Philippians...Thus his project is ground-breaking and a welcome addition to the scholarship on Philippians. This study is also a significant advance over previous attempts by Biblical scholars to study the Greco-Roman context of early Christianity by using sociological models...Okeas, I believe, rightly focuses on concrete life situations rather than doctrinal issues when exploring the theme of suffering in Philippians, and he spells out in detail the economic implications of conversion...I must reiterate the importance of this work in offering a detailed and thoughtout model of Philippi and the Philippian Christian community." BMCR 2001 12.02

• List of figures; Preface; 1. Philippi; 2. The Philippian church; 3. Suffering and unity; 4. Paul and the Philippians; 5. Christ and the Emperor; 6. Christ and the Philippians; Conclusion; Bibliography: ancient; Bibliography: modern; General index; Index of Biblical references.

"This book represents a considerable advance over current studies on Philippi, increasing our understanding of the city, its church, and the importance of Paul's letter to them...In this study Oakes brings new sophistication to the context of Paul's letters to the Philippians...Thus his project is ground-breaking and a welcome addition to the scholarship on Philippians. This study is also a significant advance over previous attempts by Biblical scholars to study the Greco-Roman context of early Christianity by using sociological models...Okeas, I believe, rightly focuses on concrete life situations rather than doctrinal issues when exploring the theme of suffering in Philippians, and he spells out in detail the economic implications of conversion...I must reiterate the importance of this work in offering a detailed and thoughtout model of Philippi and the Philippian Christian community." BMCR 2001 12.02

• List of figures; Preface; 1. Philippi; 2. The Philippian church; 3. Suffering and unity; 4. Paul and the Philippians; 5. Christ and the Emperor; 6. Christ and the Philippians; Conclusion; Bibliography: ancient; Bibliography: modern; General index; Index of Biblical references.

"This book represents a considerable advance over current studies on Philippi, increasing our understanding of the city, its church, and the importance of Paul's letter to them...In this study Oakes brings new sophistication to the context of Paul's letters to the Philippians...Thus his project is ground-breaking and a welcome addition to the scholarship on Philippians. This study is also a significant advance over previous attempts by Biblical scholars to study the Greco-Roman context of early Christianity by using sociological models...Okeas, I believe, rightly focuses on concrete life situations rather than doctrinal issues when exploring the theme of suffering in Philippians, and he spells out in detail the economic implications of conversion...I must reiterate the importance of this work in offering a detailed and thoughtout model of Philippi and the Philippian Christian community." BMCR 2001 12.02

• List of figures; Preface; 1. Philippi; 2. The Philippian church; 3. Suffering and unity; 4. Paul and the Philippians; 5. Christ and the Emperor; 6. Christ and the Philippians; Conclusion; Bibliography: ancient; Bibliography: modern; General index; Index of Biblical references.