The Community, the Individual and the Common Good: 'To Idion' and 'To Sympheron' in the Greco-Roman World and Paul

by Kei Eun Chang

Overview

This book investigates Paul's effort to combat factionalism by his use of the Greco-Roman rhetoric of 'the common advantage' to overcome socio-ethical problems caused by the improper exercise of 'private advantage' in Corinth. Chang examines 'the common advantage', first, as a fundamental principle that defined human and societal relationships in the Greco-Roman world. He explores how the neglect and misunderstanding of this principle lay at the root of relational and societal breakdowns. The book further examines Paul's use of the term and demonstrates that, when properly understood and appropriated, the principle of 'the common advantage' is pivotal to keeping societies and relationships dynamic and healthy. Conversely, when common advantage is not functioning and, concomitantly, private advantage is wrongly emphasized at its expense, relational, societal and ecclesiastical breakdowns occur. The book culminates in demonstrating that, for Paul, 'the common advantage' carries missional and salvific implications that override and subvert socio-ethnic boundaries. In this way, otherwise hostile social groups will realize a healthy symbiosis.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780567662521
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	02/26/2015
Series:	The Library of New Testament Studies , #480
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Kei Eun Chang earned a Ph.D in New Testament and Christian Origins from Boston University, continues his scholarly research and is currently lead minister of New Hampshire Korean Christian Church, Bedford, NH, USA.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. The Part-Whole Argument and To Sympheron in Antiquity
3. The Part-Whole Body Politic and Functions of To Sympheron
4. To Sympheron and Cicero's De Officiis
5. Paul's Use of Part-Whole Argument of To Sympheron in 1 Corinthians
6. Conclusion - To Sympheron for the advantage of the Gospel to the Many