%0 Journal Article
%T Politeuma as a Hybrid Patriotic Identity in Christ: A Socio
%A Sin Pan Ho
%J Biblical Theology Bulletin
%@ 1945-7596
%D 2019
%R 10.1177/0146107919831879
%X This article argues that Paul, in Philippians 3:17¨C21, borrows the present honorable civic identity of the first readers, namely, patriotic merchant, to persuade them to be transformed into Christ-citizens running with the King of Kings forever in the future. Drawing on insights from the concept of possible social identities, a new socio-rhetorical interpretation of Philippians 3:17¨C21 is proposed. Instead of eliminating or marginalizing it, I argue that Paul makes use of the civic identity ˇ°patriotic merchantˇ± of the first readers to construct a new hybrid social identity. Not only is there no anti-imperial connotation, but first readers may also hear Paul's encouragement to retain their civic identity re-oriented in their new future hybrid social identity
%K anti-imperial
%K patriotic merchant
%K Philippians 3
%K politeuma
%K possible social identities
%K socio-rhetorical
%U https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0146107919831879