Behaving as a convert : moral teaching in Ephesians against its traditional and social backgrounds
The study examines Eph 4:1-5:20. Consisting of five chapters, it probes the following five passages: 4:1-16; 4:17-24; 4:25-5:2; 5:3-14; and 5:15-20. Each chapter investigates the relevant verses exegetically, focussing on behavioural aspects. This overview is then compared with issues raised in chapters 1-3, with similar notions of morality from antecedent Pauline writings and with selected Jewish and Graeco Roman writings. The final section of each chapter builds and then applies a social science or social history model. Though exhibiting differences from Paul's undisputed writings, the basic moral view of these verses is Pauline. Various Jewish writings (LXX, Greek versions of OT Pseudepigrapha and relevant passages from Josephus, Philo and Qumran) are brought to bear on these verses. Certain Graeco-Roman writings, (Plato's Laws, Aristotle's Nicornachean Ethics and discourses from Dio Chrysostom and Epictetus) are also examined. Though a remarkable number of affinities exist between Ephesians and these other writings, no evidence of direct influence is detected. Rather, Ephesians appears to be a product of its age, expressing similar ideas because it shares elements of a common world view. Ephesians differs
Gosnell, Peter William
Behaving as a convert : moral teaching in Ephesians against its traditional and social backgrounds. The study examines Eph 4:1-5:20. Consisting of five chapters, it probes the following five passages: 4:1-16; 4:17-24; 4:25-5:2; 5:3-14; and 5:15-20. Each chapter investigates the relevant verses exegetically, focussing on behavioural aspects. This overview is then compared with issues raised in chapters 1-3, with similar notions of morality from antecedent Pauline writings and with selected Jewish and Graeco Roman writings. The final section of each chapter builds and then applies a social science or social history model. Though exhibiting differences from Paul's undisputed writings, the basic moral view of these verses is Pauline. Various Jewish writings (LXX, Greek versions of OT Pseudepigrapha and relevant passages from Josephus, Philo and Qumran) are brought to bear on these verses. Certain Graeco-Roman writings, (Plato's Laws, Aristotle's Nicornachean Ethics and discourses from Dio Chrysostom and Epictetus) are also examined. Though a remarkable number of affinities exist between Ephesians and these other writings, no evidence of direct influence is detected. Rather, Ephesians appears to be a product of its age, expressing similar ideas because it shares elements of a common world view. Ephesians differs
convert moral teaching ephesians traditional social_background study_examines eph probe follow_five passage investigates relevant verse focus behavioural aspect overview compare issue_raise similar notion morality antecedent pauline writing select jewish graeco_roman writing final_section build apply social_science social_history model though difference paul writing basic moral view verse pauline various jewish writing greek version relevant passage josephus philo qumran bring_bear verse certain graeco_roman writing plato laws aristotle ethics discourse also_examine though remarkable number affinity exist ephesians writing evidence direct_influence detect rather ephesians appear product age express similar idea share element common world_view ephesians differs