Rediscovering Paul: Philemon and the Sociology of Paul's Narrative World

by Norman R. Petersen

Overview

In this groundbreaking work, Norman R. Petersen integrates contemporary literary-critical, sociological,and anthropological insights into the traditional arena of historical-critical methods. he demonstrates how these new approaches can be used to interpret biblical texts, especially Paul's letters. The Letter to Philemon serves as a case study. Yet Petersen focuses on the narrative world of Paul as well, for one cannot be truly understood without the other. This work articulates a "sociology of letters," explores the social structures which underlie the social relations of the actors in Paul's world, and deals with the systems of belief, knowledge, and value that define the identities of these actors and motivate their actions. Here is cutting-edge scholarship.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781725223080
Publisher:	Wipf & Stock Publishers
Publication date:	08/18/2008
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	320
File size:	120 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Norman R. Petersen is Washington Gladden Professor of Religion Emeritus at Williams College, and the author of The Gospel of John and the Sociology of Light, and Literary Criticism for New Testament Critics. Since his retirement in 2001, Norman spends much of his time painting. You can view some of his non-representational acrylics at www.seabreezearts.com
Norman R. Petersen is Washington Gladden Professor Emeritus at Williams College, Williamstown, Massachusetts. He is the author of

Table of Contents

Preface ix

Abbreviations xii

Introduction: Narrative Worlds, Symbolic Forms, and Social Arrangements 1

The Case in Point 2

Texts and Contexts 6

History as Story 10

Paul's Narrative World 14

The Sociology of Narrative Worlds 17

The Project 30

1 From Letter to Story-and Back: Toward a Narratology and Sociology of Letters 43

A Trial Run 44

On the Sociology of Letters 53

The Letter to Philemon: From Letter to Story-and Back 65

2 Social Structures and Social Relations in the Story of Philemon 89

Social Positions and Their Relations: A Preliminary Survey 90

Deepening the Survey 93

The Worldly Roles: Master, Slave, Debtee, Debtor, Prisoner 93

The Churchly Roles 102

Fellow Worker and Partner 103

Some Sociological Implications of Paul's "Work" Metaphors 109

Paul's Roles 124

Ambassador and Prisoner of Christ Jesus 125

Father and Debtee 128

Commanding and Appealing, Rhetoric and Reality 131

Structure, Anti-Structure, and Paul's Social Style 151

The Structures of the World and the Anti-Structures of the Church 153

Structure and Anti-Structure in the Anti-Structural Church 158

Mapping the Social Terrain of Paul's Narrative World 163

3 Symbolic Universe and Social Relations in the Story of Philemon 200

The Kinship and Master-Slave Systems: A Preliminary Survey 206

Kinship Relations in Paul's Symbolic Universe 215

Adam and Christ 217

Abraham and Christ 223

Jesus Christ and the Son of God 230

Master-Slave Relations in Paul's Symbolic Universe 240

Mediation, Internalization, Motivation, and Action 258

Conclusion: Some Reflections on Paul's Letter and Its Story 287

Index of Biblical Passages 304