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JOURNAL FOR THE STUDY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT SUPPLEMENT SERIES 188 Executive Editor Stanley E. Porter Editorial Board David Catchpole, R. Alan Culpepper, James D.G. Dunn, Craig A. Evans, Stephen Fowl, Robert Fowler, Robert Jewett, Elizabeth Struthers Malbon, Robert W. Wall Sheffield Academic Press 'Servants of Satan', Talse Brothers' and Other Opponents of Paul Jerry L. Sumney Journal for the Study of the New Testament Supplement Series 188 For Elizabeth, Victoria and Margaret May they and their father never need to argue as Paul had to argue with his 'children' Copyright © 1999 Sheffield Academic Press Published by Sheffield Academic Press Ltd Mansion House 19 Kingfield Road Sheffield SI 19AS England Typeset by Sheffield Academic Press British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library EISBN 9781841270609 CONTENTS Preface Abbreviations 9 10 Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION The Method Ranking of Types of Passage for Use in Identifying Opponents 13 20 28 Chapter 2 QUESTIONING THE EXTENT OF PAUL'S AUTHORITY— 1 CORINTHIANS Explicit Statements Allusions Affirmations Conclusion 33 34 51 71 76 Chapter 3 POWERFUL PNEUMATIC APOSTLES AND PAUL'S WEAKNESS— 2 CORINTHIANS THE LETTER OF CHAPTERS 1-7 Explicit Statements Allusions Affirmations Conclusion THE LETTER OF CHAPTERS 10-13 Explicit Statements Allusions Affirmations Conclusion 79 82 82 85 99 100 102 102 116 125 128 Servants of Satan A COMPARISON OF THE OPPONENTS IN THE TWO LETTERS OF 2 CORINTHIANS 130 Chapter 4 PAUL MAKES SOME ENEMIES—GALATIANS Explicit Statements Allusions Affirmations Conclusion 134 135 141 152 156 Chapter 5 OPPONENTS EVERYWHERE—PHILIPPIANS Explicit Statements Allusions Affirmations Conclusion 160 162 176 180 186 Chapter 6 THOSE WHO 'PASS JUDGMENT'—COLOSSIANS Explicit Statements Allusions Affirmations Conclusion 188 190 202 207 211 Chapter 7 A WORRIED CHURCH—1 THESSALONIANS Statements about the Situation Allusions Conclusion 214 216 222 227 Chapter 8 'THE DAY OF THE LORD IS HERE': OVERREALIZED ESCHATOLOGY ARRIVES IN THESSALONICA—2 THESSALONIANS Explicit Statements Allusions Affirmations Conclusion 229 231 240 245 250 Contents Chapter 9 THE PASTORAL EPISTLES 1 TIMOTHY Explicit Statements Allusions Affirmations Conclusion about the Opponents of 1 Timothy 2 TIMOTHY Explicit Statements Allusions Affirmations Conclusion about the Opponents of 2 Timothy TITUS Explicit Statements Allusions Affirmations Conclusions about the Opponents of Titus CONCLUSIONS ABOUT THE OPPONENTS OF THE PASTORAL EPISTLES Chapter 10 OF OPPONENTS AND 'OPPONENTS': A RECONSTRUCTION OF THOSE OPPOSED IN THE PAULINE LETTERS An Application of these Findings about Pauline Opponents Bibliography Index of References Index of Authors 253 254 256 268 274 277 278 279 286 288 289 290 290 297 300 300 301 303 319 323 343 00 PREFACE I was prompted to undertake this study by two things: desire to understand the Pauline texts more clearly and an interest in understanding the shape of earliest Christianity. It is my belief that the two are interrelated. It is my hope that this work contributes to the clarification of both; this book tries to contribute to the scholarly discussion of early Christianity and the Pauline letters. There are many people who need to be thanked for their contributions. Thanks goes to Ferrum College for their granting me funds to do research over several summers and a sabbatical. I also thank the Faculty Scholars