Papers by David E . Fredrickson
When Enough Is Never Enough
Corinthians
The Letters and Legacy of Paul, 2016
Paul In The Greco-Roman World : A Handbook Volume II
I N A RECENT ESSAY CONCERNING THE DEARTH OF TRINITARIAN INFLUENCE ON THE theology of creation, Co... more I N A RECENT ESSAY CONCERNING THE DEARTH OF TRINITARIAN INFLUENCE ON THE theology of creation, Colin Gunton argues that the only way of adequately articulating the relation of Creator and creation is to speak about Trinity and creation. Since in the west the doctrine of creation has generally been formulated without the notion of personal relation on which the doctrine of the Trinity rests, the relation between God and cosmos has inevitably been misconstrued in one of two forms, both of which have unacceptable consequences. The first form, under Aristotelian influence, has God and world related as cause is to effect. In this way of thinking, the world's dependence on God is upheld, but this obvious truth is secured by the sacrifice of creaturely autonomy. In fact, this "God as cause" model, when pushed to its logical limit, results in pantheism. The second way of 254
they who exchanged the truth of God for a lie and reverenced and worshiped the creation rather th... more they who exchanged the truth of God for a lie and reverenced and worshiped the creation rather than the creator, who is blessed for ever, amen. Because of this, God delivered them to dishonoring pas sions. Their females exchanged natural use for that which is beyond nature. Likewise, the males left off the natural use of the female and were inflamed for one another in their appetite, males among males producing disgrace and receiving back in themselves the punishment which was necessary from their error.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS ESSAY IS TO EXAMINE THE PAULINE UNDERSTANDING OF leadership in 1 and 2 Corint... more THE PURPOSE OF THIS ESSAY IS TO EXAMINE THE PAULINE UNDERSTANDING OF leadership in 1 and 2 Corinthians—both the character of leadership and its theological legitimization. This is a huge task, and so there must be a perspective chosen to limit the material under consideration while still providing easy access to the topic. That perspective here is to examine the way Paul opposes images of leadership commonly associated with Cynicism. Why the Cynics as a point of comparison? Aside from the fact that Paul alludes to Cynic themes in his letters with some frequency, it is also the case that outside of the Pauline epistles Cynics figured prominently in ancient discussions
My) seven wonders of the New Testament
Passionless Sex in 1 Thessalonians 4:4-5
Paul’s argument in 1 Thess 4:4-5 accepts the philosophical notions of Paul’s day that sex in marr... more Paul’s argument in 1 Thess 4:4-5 accepts the philosophical notions of Paul’s day that sex in marriage should be without passion. Therefore central values for a modern discussion of marriage will have to be reinforced from other sources
In 2 Cor 2:4 Paul refens to a letter that has been appropriately nam ed "the letter of tears": "F... more In 2 Cor 2:4 Paul refens to a letter that has been appropriately nam ed "the letter of tears": "For out of much affliction and contraction of heart I wrote to you through many tears." Although scholars have recognized the importance of this tearful letter in Paul's relationship with the church at Corinth, no attention has been given to the function of his grieving self presentation against the background of ancient epistolary conventions.1 As a result, the letter's role in determining the occasion of 2 Corinthians has not been determ ined with the degree of precision possible. Thus, two related questions will be addressed in this essay. What can we know about the rhetorical character of the letter? How does this knowledge help us reconstruct the occasion and argumentative aims of 2 Cor 1-7? The letter of tears was a critical moment in the series of events betw een the writing of 1 and 2 Corinthians. This history can be summarized as fol lows.2 Paul's travel plans in 1 Cor 16:5-9 ruled out an immediate visit to the congregation at Corinth. Instead, Paul recom m ended Timothy to the church, presumably with the expectation that Timothy, as his representa tive, would deal effectively with the factionalism and immorality addressed in 1 Corinthians. Yet Timothy's visit was a failure, and Paul m ade an em er gency visit to Corinth to deal with the troubles in the church.3 4 During this intermediate visit, an individual injured or insulted Paul/* 1 M an s W in d is c h n o t e s th e p a r a lle l w ith P s e u d o -L ib a n iu s , C h a r a c t . E p . 4 3 b u t d o e s n o t p u r s u e its r e le v a n f [9 th e d .; G o ttin g e n : V a n d e n h o e c k & R u p re c h t, 1924], 8 4 ). S ta n le y K. S to w e r s c o m m e n ts o n t h e s e v e r e r e b u k e c o n v e y e d b y t h e le tte r b u t d o e s n o t c la ss ify it in te r m s o f t h e g r ie v in g s ty le ( L e tte r W r itin g in G r e c o -R o m a n A n t i q u i t y [LKC 5; P h ila d e lp h ia : W e s tm in s te r, 1986], 134). 2 F o r th is h is to r y , s e e d i a r i e s K in g s le y B a rre tt, '" 'O 'A A I K H 2 A 2 ' (2. C O R 7 ,1 2 ) ," in V e r b o n t m V e rita s: F e s ts c h r if t f u r G u s t a v S tc lh lin ( e d . O . B o c h e r a n d K. H a a c k e r ; W u p p e r ta l: R o lf B r o c k h a u s , 1 9 7 0 ), 1 4 9 -5 7 . 3 V ic to r P. F u r n is h , II C o r i n t h i a n s ( A l l 32A ; G a r d e n C ity , N .Y .: D o u b l e d a y , 1 9 8 4 ), 5 4 -5 5 , 143.
S BODY A HIERARCHICAL CONCEPT? IN EPHESIANS, ONE TYPE OF ANALYSIS AFfirms that it is by pointing ... more S BODY A HIERARCHICAL CONCEPT? IN EPHESIANS, ONE TYPE OF ANALYSIS AFfirms that it is by pointing to the social function of the head/body motif in the letter. Then it assembles parallels from Greco-Roman philosophy and literature that speak either of spatial arrangements (head/up and body/down) or social organizations in which the head represents leadership and the body followers. Often at this point, the analysis ends and interpreters make their peace with hierarchy. They say that it is softened by the love (ajgavph) the ruler has for the ruled, and that makes hierarchy all right. The problem with this analysis is twofold. First, body in Ephesians is treated as if it were a metaphor. It is, in fact, other than that. The church in Ephesians is not like a body, it is body. This leads to the second problem: interpreters acknowledge hierarchy as a sociological fact only. There is little critique of the hierarchical relation between God and the church or world in Ephesians. To the extent...
Might Mark's torn curtain, darkened sun, and descending dove have a significance different from t... more Might Mark's torn curtain, darkened sun, and descending dove have a significance different from that offered by most interpreters? In the light of Greek art and poetry, they can be seen to portray nature's lament for Jesus in a kind of grave-relief that opens new doors of meaning.
N THE LAST THIRTY YEARS SCHOLARS HAVE REDISCOVERED THAT PAUL DID HIS thinking about God, the chur... more N THE LAST THIRTY YEARS SCHOLARS HAVE REDISCOVERED THAT PAUL DID HIS thinking about God, the church, ministry, and mission with the help of metaphors of social relation. The honor/shame dimension in the Greco-Roman social worlds has been brought to bear on Romans with good effect. The philosopher offering encouragement and exhortation to his students is the model of ministry in 1 Thessalonians and 2 Corinthians. Philippians has been read as a letter of friendship, and knowledge of the common motifs concerning friendship is indispensable for the interpretation of 2 Corinthians. Finally, patron/client and master/slave relations have figured prominently in the study of the Corinthian correspondence. One social relation receiving less attention in Pauline studies than it deserves is that of the lover and the beloved. Interpreters of Paul have largely ignored the erotic literature of the ancient world, possibly because of the assumption that when Paul talks about love he certainly could ...
Eros and the Christ
Eros and the Christ, 2013
2 Corinthians
Brill Encyclopedia of Early Christianity Online
Пapphσia in the Pauline Epistles
Friendship, Flattery, and Frankness of Speech, 1996
A study of Paul's παρρσία promises to relate his letters to a key concept shared by ancient p... more A study of Paul's παρρσία promises to relate his letters to a key concept shared by ancient politics, rhetoric, and philosophy. By the time of the Pauline epistles, the nature of free speech was a controversial matter. Philosophers took the position that the basis of free speech was moral, not civic, freedom. Epictetus and Dio Chrysostom rejected the Cynic view that self-confidence is sufficient authority for bold speech. Friendship was a presupposition for the administration of παρρσία in Epicurean groups. Philodemus exhorted the older members to teach the duties of friendship to recent converts. The second proof of Paul's confidence consists of two examples, one negative (3:13-15) and the other positive. Apologies customarily employed both positive and negative examples as proofs. After Paul's defense of his ministry in 2: 17-4:6, there is decreasing emphasis on legitimation and greater attention given to friendship and reconciliation. Keywords: Dio Chrysostom; Epictetus; friendship; Pauline epistles; Philodemus
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Papers by David E . Fredrickson