Cosmic Christology in Paul and the Pauline school : Colossians and Ephesians in the context of Graeco-Roman cosmology, with a new synopsis of the Greek texts

Reflections on God, Christ and cosmos in the writings of Paul and the Pauline School show that these authors were familiar with important notions from Graeco-Roman cosmology and theology. George van Kooten comes to the conclusion that they might even have adopted a way of thinking in which Judaism and Graeco-Roman cosmology were forged into a new synthesis, and Christ was viewed as a cosmic god. In this development, Paul and the authors of the Pauline School took up various positions which were all represented in contemporary discussions about God and cosmos in the philosophical schools. Against this background this study also sheds new light on the specific relationship between Colossians and Ephesians. Cover Titel Preface Table of Contents Introduction Chapter 1: The Body of the Cosmos and its Coherence according to the Letter to the Colossians: Early Christian Thought in the Context of Contemporary Stoic and Middle Platonist Physics Introduction 1.1 The centrality of the concept of body (σῶμα) in the warnings against the rival philosophy: A general analysis of Col 2.8–3.4 Introduction 1.1.1 The first warning (Col 2.8–15) 1.1.2 The second warning (Col 2.16–17) 1.1.3 The third warning (Col 2.18–19) 1.2 The concept of body (σῶμα) against the background of Stoic and Middle Platonist physics 1.2.1 An introduction to Stoic physics and the stability of the cosmic body 1.2.2 The stability of the cosmic body according to the author of Col 1.2.3 The location of the cosmos in Christ (Col 1.17b) 1.2.4 The cosmic body and head (Col 2.9–10) 1.2.5 The cosmological meaning of body (σῶμα) in Col 2.17 1.2.6 The bonds holding together the cosmic body (Col 2.19) (a) Alexander of Aphrodisias (fl. c. 200 AD) on Stoic physics (b) The Old and Middle Stoa (c) Stoicism of the later period: Cornutus, Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius, and the account of Stoic physics in Cicero’s De natura deorum (d) Cicero and the Timaeus of Plato (e) Plato and Middle Platonism: Timaeus of Locri, Philo, Plutarch, Alcinous, Apuleius, Numenius, and the account of Plato’s physics in Diogenes Laertius (f) Numismatic evidence 1.2.7 Review of previous research and conclusions Chapter 2: Physics and Cosmic Christology in Paul’s Authentic Writings Introduction 2.1 Physics and cosmic Christology in Paul’s Letter to the Galatians: Christ’s descent to lift man’s bondage to the cosmic elements (Gal 4.3–10) Introduction 2.1.1 The realm of the cosmic elements 2.1.2 The elements of the cosmos and (Jewish) law 2.2 Physics and cosmic Christology in Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians: Christ’s subjugation of the cosmic principles, powers and forces (1 Cor 15.23–28) Introduction 2.2.1 Christ’s gradual subjugation of the cosmic powers: A general analysis of 1 Cor 15.23–28 2.2.2 The Jewish tradition of the heavenly eschatological agent Introduction (a) The tradition of the heavenly eschatological agent (b) The heavenly eschatological agent in Daniel 7 LXX 2.2.3 Paul’s understanding of ‘powers’ in Daniel 7.27 LXX as cosmological principles and forces (a) Powers, principles, and forces in Jewish literature The powers (ἐξουσίαι) The principles (ἀρχαί) The forces (δυνάμεις) (b) The principles (ἀρχαί) and forces (δυνάμεις) in relation to the elements of the cosmos (στοιχεῖα τοῦ κόσμου) 2.2.4 The gradual disappearance of the present cosmos and God’s new reality (a) The gradual disappearance of the present cosmos (b) God’s new reality: The Anaxagorean phrase ‘all in everything’ 2.2.5 Paul and the author of Col Chapter 3: Paul and the Letter to the Colossians Reconsidered: The Further Hellenization of Paul’s Cosmology and Cosmic Christology Introduction 3.1 The principles and powers according to the introductory prayer (Col 1.9–23) Introduction 3.1.1 The structure of the introductory prayer: Creation and reconstitution of the cosmos (a) The introductory prayer of Col 1.9–23 (b) Earlier attempts at the reconstruction of a hymn in Col 1.15–20 3.1.2 Philosophical background of the introductory prayer Introduction: Thrones, dominions, principles and powers (a) Prepositional metaphysics (b) Christ’s role in creating the cosmos (c) The notion of filling the cosmos (d) The notions of cosmic reconciliation and peace 3.2 The principles, powers and elements in the central part on the Colossian philosophy (Col 2.8–3.4) 3.2.1 Christ and the reconstitution of the cosmos 3.2.2 Harmonising the primordial antagonism of the cosmic principles: Aphrodite and Eros 3.2.3 Resolving present cosmic discord: Osiris Conclusion 3.3 The identity of the Colossian philosophy Introduction 3.3.1 The general tenor of the author’s criticism 3.3.2 The Colossian philosophy as it emerges from the first warning 3.3.3 The Colossian philosophy as it emerges from the second warning 3.3.4 The Colossian philosophy as it emerges from the third warning 3.3.5 The philosophies of the author of Col and his opponents: Two conflicting instances of Middle Platonism Chapter 4: The Reasons for the Letter to the Ephesians: The Pauline Debate on God, Christ, and the Cosmos Continued Introduction 4.1 Part A–Sender, addressees, and greetings (Eph 1.1–2) 4.2 Part B–The author’s thanksgiving to God (Eph 1.3–14) and the letter’s subject matter: The cosmos will be recapitulated and summarized in Christ 4.3 Part C–The author’s introductory prayer for his readers (Eph 1.15–2.10): The extension of Christ’s influence over the cosmos Introduction 4.3.1 Description of the introductory prayer in part C of Col 4.3.2 The adaptation of the introductory prayer in part C of Eph–first section (Eph 1.15–23): Christ and the cosmos (a) General outline (b) The relation between Christ and the cosmos 4.3.3 The notion of filling the cosmos (Eph 1.23) 4.3.4 The adaptation of the introductory prayer in part C of Eph–second and last section (Eph 2.1–10): The remaining evil cosmic powers 4.4 Part NEW 1–The first ecclesiological passage (Eph 2.11–22): Fellow-citizens of the household of God 4.5 Part D–Paul’s ministry and the mystery revealed to him (Eph 3.1–21): The church’s mission to the cosmos Introduction 4.5.1 Part D in Col 4.5.2 The adaptation of part D in Eph: The global church and its mission to the cosmos 4.5.3 The Stoic notion of the cosmic city 4.5.4 The notion of cosmic dimensions 4.6 Part NEW 2–The second ecclesiological passage (Eph 4.1–16): The ascending Christ, the filling of the cosmos, and the church’s active involvement 4.6.1 General outline 4.6.2 Christ’s ascension and the instruction of the church in its cosmic task 4.6.3 Critique of the notion of Christ’s cosmic body 4.7 Part NEW 3–The fight against the cosmic rulers (Eph 6.10–17) 4.8 Part I–Ending: Personal matters, a note on the messenger, and greetings (Eph 6.21–24) 4.8.1 General outline 4.8.2 Eph as the Letter to the Laodiceans (a) The chronological order of Col and the Letter to the Laodiceans (b) The original addressees of Eph: Laodicea 4.8.3 The reasons for Eph Chapter 5: Summary and Conclusions 5.1 Cosmic Christology in Paul and the Pauline School 5.2 Leading themes in the Letter to the Colossians: Christ’s cosmic body and its coherence 5.3 The cosmic principles, powers and elements according to Paul 5.4 The cosmic principles, powers and elements according to the Letter to the Colossians 5.5 The cosmic principles and powers according to the Letter to the Ephesians Appendixes Appendix I: Towards a Genetic Interpretation of the Letter to the Ephesians: Brief Review of Previous Synopses & the Present Synopsis Introduction 1 E.J. Goodspeed’s synopsis (1933) 2 C.L. Mitton’s synopsis (1951) 3 R. Reuter’s synopsis (1997) 4 M.-A. Wagenführer’s synopsis (1941) 5 The present synopsis 5.1 Analyses of the structures of Eph and Col 5.2 Relation between Eph, Col, Paul and the Septuagint Introduction (a) The relationship between Eph and Col (b) The relationship between Eph and Paul (c) The relationship between Eph and the Septuagint 5.3 Definition of parallelism 5.4 Synopsis layout 5.5 The synopsis and the reasons for Eph 5.6 Introduction and key to the synopsis Appendix II: Synopsis of the Greek Texts of the Letter to the Ephesians, the Letter to the Colossians, Paul’s Authentic Letters and the Septuagint Bibliography 1 Bibliographical abbreviations 2 Sources 2.1 Individual authors or separate anonymous and pseudepigraphic writings 2.2 Other literary sources (collections of texts) 2.3 Epigraphic and papyrological material 2.4 Numismatic material 2.5 Tools 3 Literature Indexes 1 Index of Passages from Ancient Authors 1.1 Biblical references 1.1.1 Old Testament: MT, LXX, and Vulgata 1.1.2 New Testament 1.2 Classical, pseudepigraphic, apocryphal, Qumran, and patristic references 1.3 Epigraphic, numismatic, and papyrological references 1.4 References to collections of philosophical texts: Diels, Diels-Kranz, KRS, LS, and SVF 2 Index of Modern Authors 3 Index of Subjects and Selected Ancient Names The Body Of The Cosmos And Its Coherence According To The Letter To The Colossians : Early Christian Thought In The Context Of Contemporary Stoic And Middle Platonist Physics -- Physics And Cosmic Christology In Paul's Authentic Writings -- Paul And The Letter To The Colossians Reconsidered : The Further Hellenization Of Paul's Cosmology And Cosmic Christology -- The Reasons For The Letter To The Ephesians : The Pauline Debate On God, Christ, And The Cosmos Continued -- Summary And Conclusions -- Appendix I. Towards A Genetic Interpretation Of The Letter To The Ephesians : Brief Review Of Previous Synopses & The Present Synopsis -- Appendix Ii. Synopsis Of The Greek Texts Of The Letter To The Ephesians, The Letter To The Colossians, Paul's Authentic Letters And The Septuagint. George H. Van Kooten. Revision Of The Author's Thesis (ph. D.)--university Of Leiden, 2001. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [291]-316) And Indexes.