Paul and the Giants of Philosophy : Reading the Apostle in Greco-Roman Context

Biblical Foundations Award Finalist What forces shaped the intellectual world of the apostle Paul? How familiar was he with the great philosophers of his age, and to what extent was he influenced by them? When he quoted Greco-Roman sources, what was his aim? Pauline scholars wrestle with such questions in journal articles and technical monographs, but now Paul and the Giants of Philosophy brings the conversation into the college classroom and the church. Each essay addresses Paul's interaction with Greco-Roman philosophical thinking on a particular topic, such as faith, slavery, gift-giving, and the afterlife. And each chapter includes discussion questions and reading lists to help readers engage the material further. Dodson and Briones have gathered contributors with diverse views from various traditions who are united in the desire to make Paul's engagement with ancient philosophy accessible to many readers. How Was The Apostle Paul Influenced By The Great Philosophers Of His Age? Dodson And Briones Have Gathered Contributors With Diverse Views Who Aim To Make Paul's Engagement With Ancient Philosophy Accessible. These Essays Address Paul's Interaction With Greco-roman Philosophical Thinking On A Particular Topic, Including Discussion Questions And Reading Lists To Help Readers Engage The Material Further-- Foreword / John M. G. Barclay -- Introduction / David E. Briones -- What Does Not Kill Me Makes Me Stronger : Paul And Epictetus On Suffering / Dorothea H. Bertschmann -- Therapy Session : Paul And Philodemus On Therapy For The Weak / Justin Reid Allison -- Why Can't We Be Friends? : Paul And Aristotle On Friendship / David E. Briones -- Slaves To The Culture? : Attitudes On Slavery In Paul And Seneca / Timothy A. Brookins -- All For One And One For All : Individual And Community In Paul And Epictetus / Ben C. Dunson -- Don't Stop Believing : Paul And Plutarch On Faith / Jeanette Hagen Pifer -- When Is A Letter Not A Letter? : Paul, Cicero, And Seneca As Letter Writers / E. Randolph Richards -- Fighting The Good Fight : The Good Life In Paul And The Giants Of Philosophy / Nijay K. Gupta -- Strings Attached : Paul And Seneca On The Modern Myth Of The Pure Gift / David E. Briones -- What No Other God Could Do : Life And Afterlife Among Paul And The Philosophers / James P. Ware -- Somewhere Over The Rainbow : Heavenly Visions In Plato, Cicero, And Paul / Joseph R. Dodson -- It's A Hard Knock Life : Paul And Seneca On Suffering / Brian J. Tabb -- Surprised By Paul : The Apostle Among The Philosophers And The Poets / R. Dean Anderson -- Universe To Universe : The Challenge Of Comparing Paul With The Giants / Christopher L. Redmon. Edited By Joseph R. Dodson And David E. Briones ; Foreword By John M. G. Barclay. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Foreword by John M. G. Barclay Preface Abbreviations Paul and the Giants of Philosophy: An Introduction (David E. Briones) 1. "What Does Not Kill Me Makes Me Stronger": Paul and Epictetus on Suffering (Dorothea H. Bertschmann) 2. Therapy Session: Paul and Philodemus on Therapy for the Weak (Justin Reid Allison) 3. Why Can't We Be Friends? Paul and Aristotle on Friendship (David E. Briones) 4. Slaves to the Culture? Attitudes on Slavery in Paul and Seneca (Timothy A. Brookins) 5. All for One and One for All: Individual and Community in Paul and Epictetus (Ben C. Dunson) 6. Don't Stop Believing: Paul and Plutarch on Faith (Jeanette Hagen Pifer) 7. When Is a Letter Not a Letter? Paul, Cicero, and Seneca as Letter Writers (E. Randolph Richards) 8. Fighting the Good Fight: The Good Life in Paul and the Giants of Philosophy (Nijay K. Gupta) 9. Strings Attached: Paul and Seneca on the Modern Myth of the Pure Gift (David E. Briones) 10. What No Other God Could Do: Life and Afterlife Among Paul and the Philosophers (James P. Ware) 11. Somewhere over the Rainbow: Heavenly Visions in Plato, Cicero, and Paul (Joseph R. Dodson) 12. It's a Hard Knock Life: Paul and Seneca on Suffering (Brian J. Tabb) 13. Surprised by Paul: The Apostle Among the Philosophers and the Poets (R. Dean Anderson) 14. Universe to Universe: The Challenge of Comparing Paul with the Giants (Christopher L. Redmon) List of Contributors Scripture Index Ancient Writings Index Ancient Figures Index "What forces shaped the intellectual world of the apostle Paul? How familiar was he with the great philosophers of his age, and to what extent was he influenced by them? When he quoted Greco-Roman sources, what was his aim? Pauline scholars wrestle with such questions in journal articles and technical monographs, but now Paul and the Giants of Philosophy brings the conversation into the college classroom and the church. Each essay addresses Paul's interaction with Greco-Roman philosophical thinking on a particular topic, such as faith, slavery, gift-giving, and the afterlife. And each chapter includes discussion questions and reading lists to help readers engage the material further. Dodson and Briones have gathered contributors with diverse views from various traditions who are united in the desire to make Paul's engagement with ancient philosophy accessible to many readers." -- Provided by publisher