Creation in Paul and Philo: The Beginning and Before (Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen Zum Neuen Testament 2.Reihe)

God's creative activity "in the beginning" is important to many aspects of Paul's theology. Jonathan Worthington explores Paul's protology by analyzing his interpretation of scripture concerning creation, mainly the beginning of Genesis. By examining Paul's exegetical manoeuvres within 1-2 Corinthians and Romans, and by comparing these with the contemporary but more detailed treatments of the same texts by Philo of Alexandria in his formal commentary on Genesis 1-2, De Opificio Mundi, the author uncovers an approach to creation that is fundamental to both ancient interpreters. Paul's interpretation of creation, like Philo's in his commentary, contains three interwoven aspects: the beginning of the world, the beginning of humanity, and God's intentions before the beginning. Recognizing this basic hermeneutical interplay between "the Beginning" and "the Before" facilitates a more appropriate comparison between Paul and Philo as well as a more adequate treatment of difficult and debated passages in both interpreters regarding creation Cover Dedication Preface Table of Contents Introduction Beginnings Recent Treatments of Paul’s View of Creation Paul as a Reader of Genesis in Comparison with Philo Paul’s and Philo’s Three-Strand Hermeneutic of Creation Chapter 1: Before the Beginning? 1.1 Proverbs 8:22–31 and Before Genesis 1 1.2 Philo’s “Before”: God’s Pre-Creational Deliberation for Goodness’ Sake 1.2.1 The Presence in Philo of a Pre-Creational Plan and the Timaeus of Plato (Op. 16, 26–28) (a) Philo’s Timing of “In the Beginning”: Before the Beginning (Op. 26–28) (b) The Purpose of God’s Pre-Creational Intentions: For Goodness’ Sake (Op. 16) 1.2.2 Philo’s Content of God’s Pre-Creational Plan: The Invisible, Beautiful Paradigm (Op. 29 and 129–30) (a) Philo’s First Reading of the Before: An Invisible Earth and Gen. 1:1–5 (Op. 29) (b) Philo’s Second Reading of the Before: Invisible Green in Gen. 2:4–5 (Op. 129–30) 1.3 Paul’s Before: God’s Pre-Creational Deliberation for our Glory 1.3.1 The Presence in Paul of a Pre-Creational Plan and the Text of Proverbs 8 (1 Cor. 2:7) (a) The Presence of God’s Pre-Set Intentions (1 Cor. 1:18–2:5, 2:7) (b) The Timing and Text(s) of “Before the Ages”: Prov. 8:23, Genesis 1, and Before (1 Cor. 2:7) 1.3.2 Paul’s Content of God’s Pre-Creational Wisdom: Christ, His Cross, and a Plurality of Preparations (1 Cor. 1–2, 15, and Rom. 8:29–30) (a) Paul’s First Presentation of the Before: Mediator, Means, and Goal of Glory (1 Cor. 1:24, 30, and 2:7, 9) (b) Paul’s Second Presentation of the Before: Method and Members from Image to Glory (1 Cor. 15:49 and Rom. 8:29–30) 1.4 Comparisons and Conclusions: Philo and Paul on Before the Beginning Chapter 2: The Beginning of the World 2.1 Genesis 1, God’s Desire, the World’s Goodness 2.2 Philo and Paul on Genesis 1:2–5: The God Who Spoke Light 2.2.1 Philo’s Reading of Genesis 1:2–5: A Special Light and its Bodily Dimming (Op. 30–35) 2.2.2 Paul’s Reading of Genesis 1:2–5: A Special Light and its Facial Glory (2 Cor. 4:6) 2.3 Philo and Paul on Genesis 1:6–31: Six Days of Ontic Order and Divine Design 2.3.1 Philo’s Reading of Genesis 1:6–31 (Op. 36–68) (a) The Second Day: Philo on Genesis 1:6–8 (Op. 36–37) (b) The Third Day: Philo on Genesis 1:9–13 (Op. 38–44) (i) On vv. 9–10: Primordial Ooze, Good Land (Op. 38–39) (ii) On vv. 11–13: Illustration of the Seed (Op. 40–44) (c) The Fourth Day: Philo on Genesis 1:14–19 (Op. 45–61) (i) The Theological Delay of the Luminaries (Op.45–46) (ii) The Teleological Ends of the Luminaries (Op. 53–61) (d) The Fifth Day: Philo on Genesis 1:20–23 (Op. 62–63) (e) The Sixth Day: Philo on Genesis 1:24–26 (Op. 64–68) (f) Summary: Philo’s Beginning of the World 2.3.2 Paul’s Reading of Genesis 1:6–31 (1 Cor. 15:35–41) (a) “Sowing the Seed” of God’s Creative Power (1 Cor. 15:36–38a) (b) Days 2–6: Paul’s Cosmology and Genesis 1 (1 Cor. 15:38b–41) (i) The Third Day (Gen. 1:11–13): Two Themes of Genesis 1 (v. 38bc) (ii) The Other Days: the Language of Genesis 1 (vv. 39–41) 1. The Fifth and Sixth Days: Paul’s Zoology and Gen. 1:20–27 (v. 39) 2. The Second Day: Paul’s Cosmology and Gen. 1:6–8, 9–10 (v. 40) 3. The Fourth Day: Paul’s Astronomy and Gen. 1:14–19 (v. 41) (c) Summary: Paul’s Beginning of the World 2.4 Comparisons and Conclusions: Philo and Paul on the Beginning of the World Chapter 3: The Beginning of Humanity 3.1 The Image of God: Genesis 1:27 3.1.1 Philo’s Reading of Genesis 1:27 (a) Philo’s First Reading of Genesis 1:27 (Op. 69–88) (i) Gen. 1:27ab: “Imaging” and “Resembling” God (Op. 69–71) (ii) God’s Foresight in Humanity’s Tardiness (Op. 77–78 and 82) (b) Philo’s Second Reading of Genesis 1:27 (Op. 134–35) (i) Philo’s Re-Reading of the Beginning of the World (Op. 131–33) (ii) Philo’s Re-Reading of the Beginning of Humanity (Op. 134) (c) Summary: Philo’s Reading of Genesis 1:27 3.1.2 Paul’s Reading of Genesis 1:27 (a) Paul’s First Application of Genesis 1:27: Man, the Image and Glory of God (1 Cor. 11:7–12) (i) Paul’s Application of the Beginning of Humanity (1 Cor. 11:7–12b) (ii) Paul’s Cosmogonic Perspective (1 Cor. 11:12c) (b) Paul’s Second Application of Genesis 1:27: Christ, the Image of God (2 Cor. 4:4–6) (i) Paul’s Re-Application of the Beginning of Humanity (2 Cor. 4:4) (ii) Paul’s Cosmogonic Perspectives (2 Cor. 4:6) (c) Summary: Paul’s Reading of Genesis 1:27, in Comparison with Philo’s Readings 3.2 The Man of Dust: Genesis 2:7 3.2.1 Philo’s Reading of Genesis 2:7 (a) Philo’s Negative Reading: “Earthly” Man in Comparison (Op. 134–35) (b) Philo’s Positive Reading: “First Man” per se (Op. 136–50) (c) Summary: Philo’s Reading of Genesis 2:7 3.2.2 Paul’s Reading of Genesis 2:7 (a) Paul’s Positive Reading: A Glorious Adam per se (1 Cor. 11:7–9, 12:12–30, 15:39–40) (i) Adam as God’s Original “Image and Glory” (1 Cor. 11:7–9) (ii) Adam’s “Flesh” and Earthly “Body” as having “Glory” (1 Cor. 15:39–40) (iii) God’s “Desired” Construction of the Original Human Body and the World: Comparing 1 Cor. 11:7–12 and 15:37–42 with 12:12–30 (b) Paul’s Negative Reading: The Inglorious Adam in Comparison (1 Cor. 15:44b-47) (c) Summary: Paul’s Reading of Genesis 2:7, in Comparison with Philo’s Reading 3.3 The Image of Adam: Genesis 5:3 3.3.1 Philo’s Reading of Genesis 5:3 (a) Ontological Adam-like Nobility (Op. 145) (b) Ethical Adam-like Nobility (QG 1.81) (c) Summary: Philo’s Reading of Genesis 5:3 3.3.2 Paul’s Reading of Genesis 5:3 (a) The “Image” of Adamic Ontology (1 Cor. 15:48–49) (b) The Glory of the New Adamic “Image” (2 Cor. 3:18) (c) The New Adamic “Image,” the Cosmos, and the Before (Rom. 8:29) (d) Summary: Paul’s Reading of Genesis 5:3, in Comparison with Philo’s Readings 3.4 Comparisons and Conclusions Philo and Paul on the Beginning of Humanity Conclusion Bibliography Primary Literature: Translations, Reference Works Secondary Literature Index of Ancient Sources 1. Old Testament 2. Philo 3. New Testament 4. Other Ancient Literature Index of Modern Authors Index of Subjects HauptbeschreibungGod's creative activity "in the beginning" is important to many aspects of Paul's theology. Jonathan Worthington explores Paul's protology by analyzing his interpretation of scripture concerning creation, mainly the beginning of Genesis. By examining Paul's exegetical manoeuvres within 1-2 Corinthians and Romans, and by comparing these with the contemporary but more detailed treatments of the same texts by Philo of Alexandria in his formal commentary on Genesis 1-2, De Opificio Mundi, the author uncovers an approach to creation that is fundamental to both ancient interpreters