Saint Paul and Philosophy : The Consonance of Ancient and Modern Thought

The much-acclaimed present-day philosophical turn to the letters of Saint Paul points to a profound consonance between ancient and modern thought. Such is the bold claim of this study in which scholars from contemporary continental philosophy, new testamentary studies and ancient philosophy discuss with each other the meaning Paul's terms pistis, faith. In this volume, this theme discusses in detail the threefold relation between Paul and (1) continental thought, (2) the Graeco-Roman world, and (3) political theology. It is shown that pistis does not only concern a mode of knowing, but rather concerns the human ethos or mode of existence as a whole. Moreover, it is shown that the present-day political theological interest in Paul can be seen as an attempt to recuperate Paul’s pistis in this comprehensive sense. Finally, an important discussion concerning the specific ontological implications and background of this reinterpretation of pistis is examined by comparing the ancient ontological commitments to those of the present-day philosophers. Thus, the volume offers an insight in a crucial consonance of ancient and modern thought concerning the question of pistis in Paul while not forgetting to stipulate important differences. Acknowledgments Table of Contents List of Abbreviations Introduction: On the Philosophical Affiliations of Paul and Πίστις Part I. Philosophical Portraits of Paul and Πίστις Reading, Seeing and the Logic of Abandonment: Rembrandt’s Self-Portrait as the Apostle Paul The Invention of Christianity: Preambles to a Philosophical Reading of Paul Heidegger’s Hermeneutics of Paul The Philosophers’ Paul: A Radically Subversive Thinker Disillusioning Reason—Rethinking Faith: Paul, Performative Speech Acts and the Political History of the Occident in Agamben and Foucault On What Remains: Paul’s Proclamation of Contingency Part II. Paul and Πίστις in the Greco-Roman World Paul’s Stoic Onto-Theology and Ethics of Good, Evil and “Indifferents”: A Response to Anti-Metaphysical and Nihilistic Readings of Paul in Modern Philosophy Narratives of Πίστις in Paul and Deutero-Paul Returning to “Religious” Πίστις: Platonism and Piety in Plutarch and Neoplatonism The Metahistory of Δίκη and Πίστις: A Greco-Roman Reading of Paul’s “Justification by Faith” Axiom Paul’s Use of Πίστις/Πιστεύειν as Epitome of Axial Age Religion Part III. The Political Theologies of Paul The Management of Distinctions: Jacob Taubes on Paul’s Political Theology Paul as Political Theologian: How the “New Perspective” Is Reshaping Philosophical and Theological Discourse Church, Commonwealth, and Toleration: John Locke as a Reader of Paul Europe and Paul of Tarsus: Giorgio Agamben on the Overcoming of Europe’s Crisis The Invisible Committee as a Pauline Gesture: Anarchic Politics from Tiqqun to Tarnac Epilogue: Saint Paul and Philosophy—The Consonance of Ancient and Modern Thought Index of Ancient Sources Index of Names and Subjects Reading, Seeing And The Logic Of Abandonment : Rembrandt's Self-portrait As The Apostle Paul -- The Invention Of Christianity : Preamble To A Philosophical Reading Of Paul -- Heidegger's Hermeneutics Of Paul -- The Philosophers' Paul : A Radically Subversive Thinker -- Disillusioning Reason - Rethinking Faith : Paul, Per Formative Speech Acts And The Political History Of The Occident In Agamben And Foucault -- On What Remains : Paul's Proclamation Of Contingency -- Paul's Stoic Onto-theology And Ethics Of Good, Evil, And Indifferents : A Response To Anti-metaphysical And Nihilistic Readings Of Paul In Modern Philosophy -- Narratives Of Niotic In Paul And Deutero-paul -- Returning To Religious Niotic, Platonism, And Piety In Plutarch And Neoplatonism -- The Metahistory Of Aikn And Niotic : A Greco-roman Reading Of Paul's Justification By Faith Axiom -- Paul's Use Of Niotic/nioteueiv As Epitome Of Axial Age Religion -- The Management Of Distinctions : Jacob Taubes On Paul's Political Theology -- Paul As Political Theologian : How The New Perspective Is Reshaping Philosophical And Theological Discourse -- Church, Commonwealth, And Toleration : John Locke As A Reader Of Paul -- Europe And Paul Of Tarsus : Giorgio Agamben On The Overcoming Of Europe's Crisis -- The Invisible Committee As A Pauline Gesture : Anarchic Politics From Tiqqun To Tarnac -- Epilogue : Saint Paul And Philosophy - The Consequence Of Ancient And Modern Thought. Edited By Gert-jan Van Der Heiden, George Van Kooten, And Antonio Cimino. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. The present-day philosophical turn to Saint Paul's letters points to a profound consonance between ancient and modern thought. Such is the bold claim of this study in which scholars from contemporary continental philosophy, new testamentary studies and ancient philosophy discuss with each other the impact and meaning of Paul's pistis or faith in relation to present-day continental thought, the Graeco-Roman world, and political theology.