Fragility and Eccentricity: the Mortal and Glorified Body in Philippians 3:21

Abstract

Abstract Recent Pauline scholarship has shown increasing interest in the concepts of agency, body, personhood, and self. Situating itself within an emerging current of Pauline interpretation of the σῶμα, this article provides an analysis of Paul’s language concerning the σῶμα in Philippians 3:21. In the first part, we focus on Paul’s description of the body as τῆς ταπεινώσεως, “of humiliation.” It is argued that Paul conceives of the body in terms of its mortality, owing to its tendency towards death, as well as its monstrosity, a characteristic that illuminates how Paul reframes the perception of the body. In the second part, we analyze Paul’s description of Christ’s body as τῆς δόξης, “of glory.” It is argued that the glorification of Christ’s body emerges as a function of heavenly existence in God’s presence. In our third part, we use the results from our preceding analyses of the language in Philippians 3:21 in order to construct a conceptual framework for interpreting the σῶμα in Paul from new interpretive angles. It is proposed that the concepts of fragility and eccentricity will shine more light on Paul’s conception of the body, which has a twofold character as both fragile and eccentric.