The Holy Spirit, Inspiration, and the Cultures of Antiquity: Multidisciplinary Perspectives

by Jörg Frey (Editor), John Levison (Editor), Andrew Bowden (Contribution by)

Overview

Early Christian claims to the Holy Spirit arose in a vibrant cultural matrix that included Stoicism, Jewish mysticism, the Dead Sea Scrolls, Greco-Roman medicine, and the perspectives of Plutarch. In a range of articles, this multidisciplinary volume discovers in these texts rich cultural connections related to inspiration and the Holy Spirit. Essential reading for scholars of Judaism and the New Testament, as well as classicists and theologians.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9783110310177
Publisher:	De Gruyter
Publication date:	09/29/2014
Series:	Ekstasis: Religious Experience from Antiquity to the Middle Ages , #5
Pages:	429
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.06(h) x (d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Jörg Frey, Universität Zürich, Schweiz; John R. Levison, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas, USA.

Jörg Frey, University of Zurich, Switzerland; John R. Levison, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas, USA.

Table of Contents

Preface v

Abbreviations ix

The Origins of Early Christian Pneumatology: On the Rediscovery and Reshaping of the History of Religions Quest Jörg Frey John R. Levison 1

The Spirit of Stoicism Teun Tieleman 39

Plutarch and Pentecost: An Exploration in Interdisciplinary Collaboration Heidrun Gunkel Rainer Hirsch-Luipold John R. Levison 63

"Even before his birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit"-Luke 1:15 in the Spectrum of Theological and Medical Discourses of Early Christianity Soham Al-Suadi 95

The Infusion of the Spirit: The Meaning of εμφυσαω in John 20:22 - 23 Annette Weissenrieder 119

Ruah and the Beholding of God-From Ezekief's Vision of the Divine Chariot to Merkaba Mysticism Beate Ego 153

Historical Origins of the Early Christian Concept of the Holy Spirit: Perspectives from the Dead Sea Scrolls Eibert J. C. Tigchelaar 167

Speech and Spirit: Paul and the Maskil as inspired interpreters of Scripture Judith H. Newman 241

Philo of Alexandria's Understanding of πνευμα in Deus 33-50 Fulco Timmers 265

Pneuma and the Beholding of God: Reading Paul in the Context of Philonic Mystical Traditions Volker Rabens 293

Spirit in Relationship-Pneumatology in the Gospel of John Michael Becker 331

How did the Spirit become a Person? Jörg Frey 343

Index: Ancient Texts 373

Index: Modern Authors 395

Index of Subjects and Ancient Names 403

Editorial Reviews

"All too often scholars pursue their research in isolation, and the interdisciplinary study and collaboration portrayed in this volume can be an example for other projects."
Cornelis Bennema in: Theologische Literaturzeitung 5/2016

From the Publisher