Driven by Grief, Inspired by Christ: Paul "Beside Himself" in 2 Cor 5:13
Paul's enigmatic claim of being "beside himself" (ἐξίστηµι) in 2 Cor 5:13 has been interpreted as a reference to an episode of religious ecstasy, an incident of erratic behavior, or a criticism of Paul's poor rhetoric and leadership. Among its wide range of meanings, however, ἐξί...
Main Author: | |
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Format: | Electronic Article |
Language: | English |
Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
Journals Online & Print: | |
Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
Published: |
Brill
[2019]
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In: |
Novum Testamentum
Year: 2019, Volume: 61, Issue: 2, Pages: 137-155 |
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Bible. Corinthians 2. 5,13
/ Paul Apostle
/ Rhetoric
/ Grief
/ Inspiration
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IxTheo Classification: | HC New Testament |
Further subjects: | B
Bible. Corinthians 2. 5,13
B 2 Corinthians B literary reconstruction B Rhetoric B Emotion B Paul B Boasting |
Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
Summary: | Paul's enigmatic claim of being "beside himself" (ἐξίστηµι) in 2 Cor 5:13 has been interpreted as a reference to an episode of religious ecstasy, an incident of erratic behavior, or a criticism of Paul's poor rhetoric and leadership. Among its wide range of meanings, however, ἐξίστηµι denotes excessive emotion; it is used in classical texts to describe those swept away by immoderate anger or grief or even those moved or transported by the power of a rhetor's words. Drawing on these texts, and following a suggestion by James Kennedy in 1903, the author will argue that in 2 Cor 5:13 Paul is controlling for the legitimate possibility that his prior correspondence with the Corinthians, specifically 2 Corinthians 10-13, might have been seen as furious, emotional, or even violent, and reinterpreting any seemingly immoderate anger or foolish speech as done wholly in service of God and compelled by Christ. |
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ISSN: | 1568-5365 |
Contains: | Enthalten in: Novum Testamentum
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Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1163/15685365-12341627 |