Paul and the Person: Reframing Paul's Anthropology

by Susan Grove Eastman, John M. G. Barclay (Foreword by)

Overview

In this book Susan Grove Eastman presents a fresh and innovative exploration of Paul’s participatory theology in conversation with both ancient and contemporary conceptions of the self. Juxtaposing Paul, ancient philosophers, and modern theorists of the person, Eastman opens up a conversation that illuminates Paul’s thought in new ways and brings his voice into current debates about personhood.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781467448338
Publisher:	Eerdmans, William B. Publishing Company
Publication date:	10/23/2017
Sold by:	Bookwire
Format:	eBook
Pages:	223
File size:	530 KB

About the Author

Susan Eastman is associate professor of the practice ofBible and Christian formation at Duke University DivinitySchool, Durham, North Carolina, where she also directs theDoctor of Theology program.


 
John M. G. Barclay is Lightfoot Professor of Divinity at Durham University, England. His previous book Paul and the Gift was awarded Book of the Year by Jesus Creed in 2015. He was elected to the Fellowship of the British Academy in 2020.

Table of Contents

Foreword John M. G. Barclay ix

Preface xii

Introduction: The Puzzle of Pauline Anthropology 1

Part 1 A Three-Way Conversation

1 The Way to Freedom: Epictetus on the Person 29

2 "Who Are You?": Contemporary Perspectives on the Person 63

3 Embodied and Embedded: The Corporeal Reality of Pauline Participation 85

Part 2 Participation and the Self

4 Relationality Gone Bad: The Evacuation of the Self in Romans 7 109

5 Divine Participation: The New Christological Agent in Philippians 2 126

6 The Saving Relation: Union with Christ in Galatians 2 151

Conclusion: Pushing the Reset Button on Paul's Anthropology 176

Works Cited 186

Index of Names and Subjects 199

Index of Scripture and Other Ancient Sources 204

Editorial Reviews

— Michael J. Gorman
St. Mary’s Seminary & University
“Eastman’s interdisciplinary study of Paul’s anthropology, in conversation with voices ancient and modern, contends that participation, imitation, and relationality are at the heart of being a person. Elegantly written and persuasively argued, this groundbreaking book also invites further conversation. A remarkable achievement.”

— L. Ann Jervis
Wycliffe College, University of Toronto
“An erudite and energetic reframing of Paul’s understanding of human identity and personhood. Eastman’s penetrating and expansive interpretation is a bold, insightful, and important addition to biblical study.”

— John M. G. Barclay (from foreword)
Durham University
“Susan Eastman is an intellectual explorer. From the familiar terrain of Paul’s statements about humanity she has gone in search of concepts, frames of reference, and models of personhood that could help us make sense of Paul. She has traveled far, into philosophy (ancient and modern), neuroscience, and experimental psychology—mostly territory unknown to biblical scholars—and she has returned in triumph. . . . This book [gives] us rich new insight into Paul and well-conceived language with which to communicate his theology effectively today.

From the Publisher