E-Book Content
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