Angels and Principalities: The Background, Meaning and Development of the Pauline Phrase hai archai kai hai exousiai (Society for New Testament Studies Monograph Series, Series Number 42)

St Paul and his contemporaries - so runs a commonly accepted scholarly opinion - inhabited a world believed to be dominated by hostile superhuman powers, of whom Jews and Gentiles alike liked in fear. Dr Carr challenges this widespread assumption by means of a detailed examination of various kinds of evidence. First there is the New Testament itself. The general Mediterranean cultural background of the first century is also important, and the author looks at evidence from the early Church Fathers and gnostic material. He concludes that the notion of mighty forces of evil ranged against man was not part of the earliest Christian understanding of the world and the gospel. His argument has special significance in the light of the belief that a present-day interpretation may be given to the idea of hostile powers and their conquest by Christ, thus supporting political, social and ethical thinking within the Christian Church. 1. The Background To Paul's Thought On The Powers -- The Environment In Which Paul Worked -- The Powers In Jewish And Pagan Thought -- 2. Exegesis Of Pauline Texts -- The Powers And Christ Triumphant -- The Powers And The Spiritual World -- The Powers And The Political World -- 3. The Post-pauline Development -- Texts Within The New Testament -- Ignatius Of Antioch -- Angelomorphic Christology Of Early Jewish Christianity -- The Greek Apologists -- Clement Of Alexandria -- The Influence Of Gnosticism -- Origen -- 4. Final Remarks. Wesley Carr. A Revision Of The Author's Thesis, University Of Sheffield, 1974. Includes Index. Bibliography: P. 212-228.