Reconstructing the Historical Background of Paul’s Rhetoric in the Letter to the Colossians (The Library of New Testament Studies, 585)

Copenhaver approaches the debate surrounding the opponents in Colossians from a methodological standpoint and contends that Paul was not actually confronting active opponents when he wrote the letter. Developing this argument Copenhaver demonstrates that the challenge of reconstructing a singular opponent arises not only from the limitations of textual and historical evidence but also from the assumptions and methodologies inherent to historical approaches to the text. By modifying these assumptions and adjusting the methodology Copenhaver is able to show how Paul’s letter takes on a new relationship to its historical context. Book abstract: Copenhaver approaches the debate surrounding the opponents in Colossians from a methodological standpoint and contends that Paul was not actually confronting active opponents when he wrote the letter. Developing this argument Copenhaver demonstrates that the challenge of reconstructing a singular opponent arises not only from the limitations of textual and historical evidence but also from the assumptions and methodologies inherent to historical approaches to the text. By modifying these assumptions and adjusting the methodology Copenhaver is able to show how Paul’s letter takes on a new relationship to its historical context. Cover Title Copyright Contents Acknowledgements Abbreviations Introduction Chapter 1: History of Scholarship 1. Gnosticism A. Review B. Critical Summary 2. Pagan Religions A. Review B. Critical Summary 3. Hellenistic Philosophies A. Review B. Critical Summary 4. Judaism A. Review B. Critical Summary 5. Summary 6. Alternative Approaches 7. Conclusion Chapter 2: Epistolary Analysis of Audience in Colossians 1. Audience in Ancient Letter-Writing A. Private Letters B. Private Letters Copied and Sent to a Second Audience C. Letters with Multiple Recipients D. Letters to a Defined Group E. Circular Letters F. Private Letters Written in Anticipation of a Public Reading G. Letters Written in Anticipation of Collection and Publication H. Letter-Essays I. Official Letters J. Pseudepigrapal Letters K. Literary Works with an Epistolary Framework L. Summary 2. Defining the Audience in Colossians A. Colossians 1:1-2 B. Colossians 2:1 C. Colossians 4:7-17 i. Recommendation of Letter-Carriers (Colossians 4:7-9) ii. Greetings from Paul’s Associates (Colossians 4:10-14) iii. Paul’s Greetings and Instructions (Colossians 4:15-17) iv. Summary of Colossians 4:7-17 D. Summary of Audience in Colossians 3. Conclusion Chapter 3: Rhetorical Analysis of Colossians and the Rhetorical Situation 1. Rhetorical Criticism and the New Testament A. Historical Survey of Rhetorical Criticism B. Exigence and the Rhetorical Situation C. Rhetorical Situation and Historical Reconstruction D. Summary 2. Rhetorical Analysis of Colossians A. Epistolary Greeting (1:1-2) B. Exordium (1:3–2:5) B.i. Prayers (1:3-23) B.i.a. Prayer of Thanksgiving (1:3-8) B.i.b. Prayer of Intercession (1:9-20) 94 First Proof: Christ Hymn (1:15-20) B.i.c. Application to Colossians (1:21-23) [Summary of the Rhetorical Function of 1:3-23] B.ii. Paul’s Suffering and Ministry (1:24–2:5) B.ii.a. Paul’s Universal Mission (1:24-29) B.ii.b. Paul’s Particular Mission to the Colossians (2:1-5) [Summary of the Rhetorical Function of 1:4–2:5] [Summary of the Rhetorical Function of them Exordium in 1:3–2:5] B/C. Major Transition (2:6-7) C. Paraenesis (2:8–4:6) C.i. Negative: Polemic (2:8-19) C.i.a. First warning (2:8-15) C.i.b. Second warning (2:16-17) C.i.c. Third warning (2:18-19) C.i.d. Summary of warnings and transitio (2:20-23) [Summary of the Rhetorical Function of the Polemic in 2:16-23] C.ii. Positive: Paraenesis (3:1–4:1) C.ii.a. Introduction to paraenesis and transitio (3:1-4) C.ii.b. Put to death the old lifestyle of the world (3:5-11) C.ii.c. Put on the new lifestyle of the body (3:12–4:1) [Summary of the Rhetorical Function of the Paraenesis in 3:1–4:1] D. Peroratio: Summary and Final Instructions (4:2-6) E. Epistolary Closing (4:7-18) 3. Conclusion: Exigence and Rhetorical Situation in Colossians Chapter 4: Historical Analysis of the Religious AtmosphereM in the Lycus Valley 1. Literary Evidence A. Greco-Roman Literature B. Josephus C. Christian Literature D. Magical Papyri E. Summary of Literary Evidence 2. Non-Literary Evidence A. Buildings and Structures B. Epigraphy C. Numismatics D. Artefacts E. Summary of Non-Literary Evidence 3. Conclusion Chapter 5: Reconstruction of Two Threads of Opposition 1. Introducing the Two Threads (Colossians 2:8) 2. Christ’s Work Regarding the Two Threads (Colossians 2:14-15) 3. Separating the Two Threads into Detailed Warnings (Colossians 2:16-19) A. Warnings against Jewish Practices (Colossians 2:16-17) B. Warnings against Apollo and Pagan Practices (Colossians 2:18-19) C. Summary of Detailed Warnings (2:16-19) 4. Intertwining the Two Threads (Colossians 2:20-23) 5. Conclusion Conclusion Bibliography Index of References Index of Authors In approaching the debate surrounding the opponents in Colossians from a methodological standpoint, Copenhaver contends that Paul was not actually confronting active opponents when he wrote the letter. Rather, Copenhaver takes the view that Paul's letter was written to the churches in the Lycus Valley, in a desire to develop their identity as a new people in Christ and to appeal to them to live a new kind of life. His warnings in Colossians 2 function as oppositional rhetoric, contrasting the religious practices of the Lycus Valley with this new belief. Paul's warnings are therefore broadly representative of the ancient world, while at the same time focused especially on two threads of historical referents, Judaism and pagan religions. Development of the above argument demonstrates that the challenge of reconstructing a singular opponent arises not only from the limitations of textual and historical evidence, but also from the assumptions and methodologies inherent in historical approaches to the text. By modifying these assumptions and adjusting the methodology, Copenhaver can show how Paul's letter takes on a new relationship to its historical context. --! From publisher's description La 4e de couverture indique : "In approaching the debate surrounding the opponents in Colossians from a methodological standpoint, Copenhaver contends that Paul was not actually confronting active opponents when he wrote the letter. Rather, Copenhaver takes the view that Paul's letter was written to the churches in the Lycus Valley, in a desire to develop their identity as a new people in Christ and to appeal to them to live a new kind of life. His warnings in Colossians 2 function as oppositional rhetoric, contrasting the religious practices of the Lycus Valley with this new belief. Paul's warnings are therefore broadly representative of the ancient world, while at the same time focused especially on two threads of historical referents, Judaism and pagan religions. Development of the above argument demonstrates that the challenge of reconstructing a singular opponent arises not only from the limitations of textual and historical evidence, but also from the assumptions and methodologies inherent in historical approaches to the text. By modifying these assumptions and adjusting the methodology, Copenhaver can show how Paul's letter takes on a new relationship to its historical context."