A Cosmopolitan Ideal: Paul's Declaration 'Neither Jew Nor Greek, Neither Slave Nor Free, Nor Male and Female' in the Context of First-Century ThoughtWhat did Paul mean when he declared that there is 'neither Jew nor Greek, neither slave nor free, nor male and female' (Galatians 3:28)? While many modern readers understand these words as a statement about human equality, this study shows that it in fact reflects ancient ideas about an ideal or utopian community. With this declaration, Paul contributed to the cultural conversation of his time about such a community. The three pairs that Paul brings together in this formula all played a role in first-century conceptions of what an ideal world would look like. Such conceptions were influenced by cosmopolitanism; the philosophical idea prevalent at the time, that all people were fundamentally connected and could all live in a unified society. Understanding Paul's thought in the context of these contemporary ideals helps to clarify his attitude towards each of the three pairs in his letters. Like other ancient utopian thinkers, Paul imagined the ideal community to be based on mutual dependence and egalitarian relationships. |
Contents
| 1 | |
One In Christ The Reality Of An Ideal Community | 17 |
Neither Jew Nor Greek Eschatological Gentiles And Jewish Cosmopolitanism | 72 |
Neither Slave Nor Free Brothers In The Lord | 144 |
Nor Male And Female Marriage At The End Of The World | 184 |
Conclusion | 234 |
Bibliography | 243 |
| 257 | |
| 263 | |
Other editions - View all
A Cosmopolitan Ideal: Paul's Declaration 'Neither Jew Nor Greek, Neither ... Karin B. Neutel No preview available - 2016 |
A Cosmopolitan Ideal: Paul's Declaration 'Neither Jew Nor Greek, Neither ... Karin B. Neutel No preview available - 2015 |
A Cosmopolitan Ideal: Paul's Declaration 'neither Jew Nor Greek, Neither ... Karin B. Neutel No preview available - 2015 |
Common terms and phrases
Abraham According ancient argues argument attitude baptismal barbarians believers Boyarin Buitenwerf chapter Christ circumcision connection contemporary context Corinthians cosmopolitan creation Damascus Document describes Dio Chrysostom Diogenes Diogenes of Oenoanda discussion divine Dunn Early Christianity Eisenbaum Epictetus equality eschatological Essenes ethnic faith first-century Galatians gender gentiles God's Golden Age Greek human Iambulus idea ideal communities interpretation Israel Jesus Jew nor Greek Jews Jews and gentiles Johnson Hodge Josephus Judaism Kloppenborg live Lord male and female manumission marriage marry messiah Mohr Siebeck Musonius Musonius Rufus nations non-Jews Onesimus passage Paul Paul’s Paul's Letter Paul's statement Paul's thought Pauline perspective Plato Plutarch procreation prophecy Pseudo-Phocylides reference resurrection righteousness Roman scholars seen sexual share Sibylline Oracles slave and free slavery slaves social society sources Stoic Therapeutae three pairs tradition understanding unity University Press utopian woman women γὰρ δὲ ἐν καὶ οὐ τὸ τοῦ τῷ τῶν ὡς