Heavenly Perspective A Study of the Apostle Paul's Response to a Jewish Mystical Movement at Colossae

Note: Supplemental materials are not guaranteed with Rental or Used book purchases.

ISBN: 9780567031075 | 0567031071
Cover: Hardcover
Copyright: 8/15/2006

Buy New

Print on Demand: 2-4 Weeks. This item cannot be cancelled or returned.

$216.71
eBook

Available Instantly

Online: 180 Days

Downloadable: 180 Days

$161.25

This book identifies the source of the Colossian error as from within Jewish mystical movements and shows how both the theology and practice which is taught in the epistle is to be understood from this context. The book gives a helpful overview of scholarship that has attempted to identify the nature and source of the Colossian error. The book, unlike many others on the topic, is exegetically driven, and will model thorough and careful exegetical practice. The book interacts with extra-Biblical texts which help the reader to understand the mystical contexts of first century Judaism.

List of Tables

Preface

xiii

Abbreviations

Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION

(18)

1. The Colossian Error

(2)

2. Jewish Settlement in the Lycus Valley

(3)

a. The Form of Judaism Practised in Colossae

(1)

b. The Composition of the Colossian Church

(1)

3. Authorship

(10)

a. Language and Style

(4)

i. Vocabulary

(2)

ii. Style

(2)

b. Theology

(2)

i. Christology

(1)

ii. Ecclesiology

(2)

iii. Eschatology

(1)

c. The Relationship of Colossians to Ephesians and Philemon

(2)

i. Colossians and Ephesians

(1)

ii. Colossians and Philemon

(1)

d. Conclusion on Authorship

(1)

4. Research Methods - The Primacy of the Text

(3)

Chapter 2 AN OVERVIEW OF SCHOLARSHIP

(20)

1. Was there a Colossian Heresy?

(2)

2. Essene Judaism and Gnosticism

(3)

a. J.B. Lightfoot

(1)

b. The Dead Sea Scrolls

(2)

c. An Evaluation of Lightfoot's Interpretation

(1)

3. Hellenism

(7)

a. M. Dibelius - A Hellenistic Mystery Cult

(2)

b. G. Bornkamm - Jewish Gnosticism and Paganism

(2)

c. R.E. DeMaris - Middle Platonism

(1)

d. T. Martin - Cynic Critique

(2)

4. Paganism

(2)

a. C. Arnold - Judaism and Phrygian Folk-Religion

(2)

5. Judaism

(4)

a. S. Lyonnet - A Call for Reappraisal

(1)

b. F.O. Francis - Jewish-Christian Mystical Asceticism

(1)

c. A. Bandstra - Access to Heaven without Mediation

(1)

d. F.F. Bruce - Merkabah Mysticism

(1)

6. Conclusion

(2)

Chapter 3 JEWISH MYSTICISM

(35)

1. The Development of Merkabah Mysticism

(9)

a. The Anthropomorphous Representation of God

(5)

b. Heavenly Ascent and Transformation

(1)

2. Survey of Jewish Mystical Texts

(16)

a. Ante-Pauline Texts

(8)

i. 1 Enoch (Ethiopic Enoch) (Book of Watchers)

(2)

ii. The Book of Jubilees

(1)

iii. 2 Enoch (Slavonic Enoch)

(1)

iv. Testament of Levi

(1)

v. Philo

(1)

vi. Qumran Literature

(1)

vii. Conclusions from Ante-Pauline Literature

(1)

b. Contemporary Texts

(4)

i. Enoch (Ethiopic Enoch) (The Book of Similitudes)

(1)

ii. Testament of Abraham

(1)

iii. Apocalypse of Abraham

(2)

iv. Revelation

(1)

v. Conclusions from Contemporary Literature

(1)

c. Post-Pauline Texts

(4)

i. 4 Ezra

(1)

ii. Apocalypse of Zephaniah

(1)

iii. 2 Baruch

(1)

iv. 3 Baruch

(1)

v. Ascension of Isaiah

(1)

vi. Conclusions from Post-Pauline Literature

(1)

3. Practices Associated with Heavenly Ascents

(6)

a. The Role of Angels

(2)

b. Dualism

(2)

c. Wisdom

(1)

d. Orthodoxy and Orthopraxis

(1)

4. Jewish Mysticism in Asia Minor

(3)

a. Paul's Understanding of Jewish Mysticism

(2)

5. Conclusion

(1)

Chapter 4 THE LORDSHIP OF CHRIST: COLOSSIANS 2.6-8

(14)

1. The Tradition Received from Epaphras: Colossians 2.6-23

(2)

2. The Threat of the Philosophy

(11)

a. φιλomicronσomicronφια

(2)

b. τα στomicronιχepsilonια kappaomicron&sigmaμomicronupsilon

(4)

i. Basic Principles

(2)

ii. The Elements of the Universe

(1)

ii. Astral Powers

(1)

c. Who/What are τα στomicronιχepsilonια kappaomicron&sigmaμomicronupsilon?

(5)

i. Angels and Basic Principles/Law

(1)

ii. Angels and the Elements of the Universe

(1)

iii. Angels and Astral Powers

(1)

3. Conclusion

(1)

Chapter 5 THE SUFFICIENCY OF CHRIST: COLOSSIANS 2.9-15

(27)

1. Poetic Structure

(1)

2. Christology: the Remedy to the Error

(5)

a. The 'Fullness' of Christ: Colossians 2.9

(3)

i. πληρωμα

(1)

ii. τηs Θepsilonomicronτητomicrons

(1)

iii. σωματιkappaωs

(1)

b. The 'Fullness' of Christians: Colossians 2.10

(1)

3. The Cross of Christ: Victory over the στomicronιχepsilonια τomicronupsilon kappaomicronσμomicronupsilon

(19)

a. Religious Ritual

(3)

i. Circumcision

(2)

ii. Baptism

(1)

b. The Bondage of the Law and the Forgiveness of Sins

(8)

c. Victory over the Powers and Authorities: Colossians 2.15

105

(10)

i. epsilonδepsilonιγματισepsilonν epsilonν παρρησια

105

(1)

ii. The Subject of the Verb

106

(2)

iii. Θριαμβepsilonupsilonσα τα αρχαs kappaαι τα epsilonξomicronupsilonσια

108

(5)

4. Conclusion

113

(2)

Chapter 6 THE SHADOW OF ASCETICISM: COLOSSIANS 2.16-19

115

(19)

1. Jewish Rituals: Colossians 2.16-17

115

(4)

a. Dietary Restrictions

116

(1)

b. Festivals and Celebrations

117

(1)

c. Shadows and Reality

118

(1)

2. Heavenly Visions and the Worship of Angels

119

(13)

a. θepsilonλων epsilonν ταπepsilonινomicronφρomicronσupsilonνη kappaαι θρησkappaepsilonι των αγγepsilon&lambdalω&nu

119

(8)

i. θepsilonλων epsilonν ταπepsilonι;νomicronφρomicronσupsilonνη

120

(2)

ii. θρη&sigmakappaepsilonια των αγγepsilonλων

122

(5)

b. α epsilonomicronραkappaepsilonν epsilonμβατepsilonupsilonων

127

(3)

c. epsilonιkappaη φupsilonσιomicronupsilonμepsilonνomicrons upsilonπomicron τomicronupsilon &tauηs σαρkappaomicrons αupsilonτomicronupsilon

130

(1)

d. omicronupsilon kappaρατων kappaepsilonφαλην

131

(1)

3. Conclusion

132

(2)

Chapter 7 THE IMPOTENCE OF THE ERRORISTS' MESSAGE: COLOSSIANS 2.20-23

134

(9)

1. The Basis of Liberation: the Death of Christ

134

(8)

a. Liberation from Evil Spirits

135

(1)

b. Liberation from Regulations

135

(12)

i. The Futility of Regulations

137

(1)

ii. The Futility of Asceticism

137

(5)

2. Conclusion

142

(1)

Chapter 8 WHAT WAS THE COLOSSIAN PHILOSOPHY?

143

(3)

Chapter 9 CHRISTOLOGY — THE ANTIDOTE TO ERROR: COLOSSIANS 1.15-20

146

(27)

1. Form and Prehistory of Colossians 1.15-20

147

(6)

a. A Pre-Christian Hymn

147

(3)

b. A Pauline Redaction

150

(2)

c. A Pauline Composition

152

(1)

d. Conclusion

152

(1)

2. The Structure of Colossians 1.15-20

153

(6)

3. Exegesis of Colossians 1.15-20

159

(7)

a. The Supremacy of Christ in Creation: Colossians 1.15-16

159

(7)

i. epsilonιkappaω&nu τomicronupsilon θepsilonomicronupsilon

159

(3)

ii. πρωτomicronτomicronkappaomicrons

162

(1)

iii. The Sphere of Christ's Supremacy

163

(3)

4. The Centrepiece

166

(3)

a. Christ's Work in Creation: Colossians 1.17

166

(1)

b. Christ's Work in Redemption: Colossians 1.18a

167

(2)

5. Christ's Supremacy in Redemption: Colossians 1.18b-20

169

(3)

6. Conclusion

172

(1)

Chapter 10 THE BRIDGE TO EXHORTATION: COLOSSIANS 3.1-4

173

(12)

1. The Relationship of Colossians 3.1-4 to Colossians 2.6-23

173

(1)

2. Spatial Eschatology as Motivation for Ethics: Colossians 3.1-2

174

(7)

3. Temporal Eschatology as Motivation for Ethics: Colossians 3.3-4

181

(3)

4. Conclusion

184

(1)

Chapter 11 EPISTOLARY PARAENESIS

185

(20)

1. Revelation

187

(5)

a. Colossians 1.9-14

187

(1)

b. Colossians 1.25-29

188

(2)

c. Colossians 2.2-3

190

(1)

d. Revelation - Conclusion

191

(1)

2. Victory

192

(6)

a. Colossians 1.12-14

192

(3)

b. Colossians 2.13-15

195

(1)

c. Colossians 3.5-17

195

(2)

d. Victory - Conclusion

197

(1)

3. Reconciliation

198

(5)

a. Colossians 1.15-23

198

(1)

b. Colossians 3.11-17

199

(2)

c. Colossians 3.18-4.1

201

(2)

d. Reconciliation - Conclusion

203

(1)

4. Conclusion

203

(2)

Chapter 12 CONCLUSION

205

(4)

Bibliography

209

(26)

Index of Authors

235

(6)

Index of References

241

Please wait while the item is added to your bag...

FREE SHIPPING

Amazon no longer offers textbook rentals. We do!

Heavenly Perspective A Study of the Apostle Paul's Response to a Jewish Mystical Movement at Colossae

Summary

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials