In a world that is increasingly determined by secular paradigms and worldviews regarding work and economics, providing an unambivalent Christian framework for the nexus of faith with this societal dimension is paramount. The theological contemplation of work and life has been a constant theme in Christianity, which has found a renaissance in the contemporary Faith, Work, and Economic (FW&E) movement. The FW&E movement reflects a broad collection of views attempting to integrate faith with work, where a co-inherence of faith with work is seen as integral to address a prevailing detachment of the two. However, FW&E has taken on a highly pragmatic direction with scant academic or theological research, resulting in a concentration of popular level books written by clergy and businesspeople. Furthermore, the available literature is primarily situated in the discipline of Business Management, emerging from a North American cultural context. Of the most significant contributions to the literature that do address theological paradigms the authors have limited specialization in the movement, and rather appear to plunder other theological disciplines to provide general analysis. Identifying such an issue, David W. Miller, a key thinker in the movement, has provided a cogent sociological analysis of the movement’s literature through four categorising themes: Experience, Ethics, Enrichment, and Evangelism (“4-E’s”). Although Miller provides a classification schema, his work, whilst identifying the theological gaps that persist in the movement, does not provide further analysis. Furthermore, very few Christian authors in the realm of FW&E, have built significantly on Miller’s categories. As such, this thesis will, through utilization of Miller’s initial schema, provide an extended biblical and theological analysis, with special reference to the Australia context.

In particular, the thesis will concentrate on an enquiry into the epistle of Philippians, that despite scholars identifying Philippians as a necessary interlocutor to conceptualise the outworking of faith in society, is not represented as a focus of study for the FW&E movement. Of particular significance to a theology of FW&E is Paul’s use, throughout Philippians, of the Greek word φρονέω (phronéō). φρονέω is commonly, and simplistically, translated into English as “thinks rightly”. Stemming from Paul’s ontological view of the Triune God, revealed in Jesus Christ, Paul establishes, through the imperatival force in action of φρονέω, the foundation for the Church’s finite replication of Christ in daily life and society. The thesis will examine Paul’s use of φρονέω and cognates within Philippians to demonstrate his unifying thought. This thesis will demonstrate that Paul’s prolific use of the term φρονέω provides a synthesising theological motif that, when combined with Miller’s “4-E’s”, offers a promising theological framework for the FW&E movement. This research will, therefore, engage Miller’s Four-E’s in conversation with an original piece of scholarship regarding Paul’s use of φρονέω in Philippians. Such an approach aims to develop a coherent biblical theology for rationale and praxis in the FW&E movement for the Australian context. The research will furthermore contribute to challenge the perceived ‘Sunday to Monday divide’ in the modern Western labour context and seek to integrate FW&E into broader concepts of discipleship.