Paul and the Popular Philosophers

by Abraham J. Malherbe

Publisher:

Fortress Press

, 1989

Overview

These studies continue a tradition of scholarship that flourished around the turn of the century when new editions of ancient philosophical sources were published. Professor Malherbe, however, widens the scope to include other philosophical traditions. He recognizes and identifies the influences of Platonists, Peripatetics, Cynics, Stoics, Epicureans, and Pythagoreans. These popular philosophers aimed at moral reform; they shared both in their substance and in the techniques employed. Yet, they need to be distinguished in order to discern their influence, if any, on Paul.

Key Features

• Bibliographical references
• Indexes

Contents

Top Highlights

“It is now recognized that Platonists, Peripatetics, Cynics, Stoics, Epicureans, and Pythagoreans must all come under consideration. They are all of interest to the topics pursued in this book, not for their different metaphysical systems, although these systems are not completely irrelevant, but because they all aimed at moral reformation.” (Page 5)

“ contrast, the true Cynic, the epitome of virtue, knows nature and imitates it” (Page 17)

“The rigoristic Cynics had an extremely pessimistic view of mankind, which earned them the charge of misanthropy.^{25” (Page 17)}

“We cannot determine from his description that he is making a personal apology” (Page 48)

“pseudo-Crates Epistles 26, 27; pseudo-Diogenes Epistle 10.2” (Page 20)

Praise for the Print Edition

Professor Abraham J. Malherbe has already given us fresh insights to the understanding of Paul's letters, ones which have been widely accepted. This volume presents the most important of them; Malherbe shows Paul interacting with the philosophical questions and solutions of his day. Indebted to international scholarship stretching back to the beginning of this century, Malherbe here presents his own coherent view of Paul.

—Dieter H. Lührmann, Marburg University

Product Details

• Title: Paul and the Popular Philosophers
• Author: Abraham J. Malherbe
• Publisher: Fortress Press
• Publication Date: 2006
• Pages: 212

About Abraham J. Malherbe

New Testament Criticism & Interpretation, Yale Divinity School, Yale University.