The Apologists and Paul (Pauline and Patristic Scholars in Debate)

This volume examines the use of Paul's writing within the work of ante-Nicene apologetic writers. It takes apologetics as a broad genre in which many early Christian writers participated, offering rhetorical defenses for emerging aspects of doctrine, rooted in understanding of the scriptures, and often specifically the writings of Paul. The volume interacts with the writings of many significant 'apologetic' writers, including: Melito of Sardis, Clement of Alexandria, Tatian, Tertullian, Hippolytus and Cyprian. The chapters examine how these early Christian writers used the letters of Paul to develop their own philosophical ideas and defenses of aspects of the emerging Christian faith. The internationally renowned contributors have all been specially commissioned for this volume, and an afterword by Todd D. Still considers the question of whether or not Paul was an 'apologist' himself. Cover Half Title Series Page Copyright Page Contents Contributors Abbreviations Preface The Apologists and Paul: An Introduction Chapter 1: The Pauline Writings and the Apology of Aristides Chapter 2: Reading the Story of Abraham with Paul and Justin Chapter 3: Reconsidering Pauline Influence in Tatian Chapter 4: The Apostle Invisibly Present in Both Athenagoras and Pseudo-Athenagoras Chapter 5: Paul and the Jewish-Christian Apologists: Melito, Aristo of Pella, and Hegesippus Chapter 6: Pauline Writings and Theophilus’s Ad Autolycum Chapter 7: Clement of Alexandria and Paul: Reception of the Apostle’s Legacy in Clement’s Works Chapter 8: Tertullian the Apologist and Paul Chapter 9: The Critique of Rhetorical Eloquence in 1 Corinthians 1–2 and Minucius Felix, Octavius 14–15 Chapter 10: The Use of Paul in Hippolytus’s De Antichristo Chapter 11: Paul in Novatian: The Christ Hymn of Philippians 2 Chapter 12: The Pauline Writings in Dionysius of Alexandria Chapter 13: Cyprian’s Reception of Paul Chapter 14: Pauline Reception in Arnobius of Sicca and Lactantius Chapter 15: Pauline Influence on Methodius Afterword: Was Paul an Apologist? Bibliography Subject Index Index of Ancient Sources Scriptures Index