Abstract

This study proposes to examine the political Paul, arguing that to neglect this dimension of his thought decontextualizes Paul and falsifies our reading of his works. ;The first part focuses on Classical and Hellenistic politics. Chapter 1 sets forth the parameters of contextualization of Paul in relation to Classical and Hellenistic political theory. Chapters 2 and 3 present overviews of the politics of Plato and of Aristotle, with emphasis on those features bearing most directly on Hellenistic and Pauline political reflection. Chapter 4 examines the writings of the Hellenistic Pythagoreans, so-called, the tradition most fruitful for an appreciation of Pauline politics. This chapter divides into a consideration of a polis group, including ps-Archytas, Hippodamos, Callicratidas, Damippos, Ocellus, Euryphamos, ps-Zaleucus, and ps-Charondas, and a basileia group, comprising ps-Ecphantus, Diotogenes, and Sthenidas. Analysis of the polis group fragments issues in a summary of themes crucial to Paul: oikos and polis; sympheron in Paul's pneumatic politics; imitation; hierarchy and equality; distributive justice; and nomos and dikaiosyne. Analysis of the basileia group fragments issues in a discussion of Hellenistic monarchy and Paul. Christianity is deeply rooted in the politics of Hellenistic kingship. Chapter 5 considers Paul's theorization of Rome, an interpretive nexus of significance for understanding the relation of the radical and the conservative in Paul. ;The second part of the study turns to analysis of Paul. Chapter 6 reflects on the methodological questions generated by a search for the elements of Pauline politics. This is followed by an excursus on political terminology in the Epistle to the Philippians. Chapter 7 presents a cohesive reading of the Epistle to the Romans summarizing the Hellenistic Pythagorean evidence previously discussed. Chapter 8, the conclusion, considers the centrality of dikaiosyne in significant interpretations of Romans, putting into relief the political charge of the concept, and reiterates the methodology and insights of the study