This article's thesis is that Paul's use of the expression "en morphe theou" in Philippians 2:6 is a status marker without any reference to Jesus' ontological status.

How important is a good understanding of the cultural world of the early Christians? This article wants to examine carefully Jesus' encounter with some of his adversaries narrated in Mark 11:27-33. The author highlights the way that the values of honour and shame functioned in Mediterranean culture, and illumines the text at crucial points.