Paulus als Ökumeniker
-
Christine Gerber
Abstract
The article discusses the question of how the so-called epistle to the Ephesians represents the Pauline tradition toward the end of the first century CE and also raises the methodological issue of how such a relationship is defined. It is argued that the theology of Ephesians is not to be reconstructed by a redaction-critical comparison with the older Pauline letters (above all, Colossians). Instead, Ephesians needs to be read on its own, as a “fictional letter.” Further, its interpretation has to focus on the “model reader” (Eco). This approach means, firstly, that the implied readers are not limited to the fictional addressees of the letter - namely, the newly-converted gentile Christians who identified themselves as the heirs of the Pauline gospel. And secondly, it means that the image of “Paul” emerges not only from the explicit expressions (esp. in 3:1-13) but also from the “voice” of the fictitious narrator who is presented as the epistle writer Paul. This “Paul” appears as an important bearer of God’s revelation but, rather, in a plurality of “apostles and prophets” (2:20; 3:5). Accordingly, Ephesians shows him as an ecumenical theologian and invites Christians of various backgrounds and traditions to identify themselves as parts of the one body of Christ.
Abstract
The article discusses the question of how the so-called epistle to the Ephesians represents the Pauline tradition toward the end of the first century CE and also raises the methodological issue of how such a relationship is defined. It is argued that the theology of Ephesians is not to be reconstructed by a redaction-critical comparison with the older Pauline letters (above all, Colossians). Instead, Ephesians needs to be read on its own, as a “fictional letter.” Further, its interpretation has to focus on the “model reader” (Eco). This approach means, firstly, that the implied readers are not limited to the fictional addressees of the letter - namely, the newly-converted gentile Christians who identified themselves as the heirs of the Pauline gospel. And secondly, it means that the image of “Paul” emerges not only from the explicit expressions (esp. in 3:1-13) but also from the “voice” of the fictitious narrator who is presented as the epistle writer Paul. This “Paul” appears as an important bearer of God’s revelation but, rather, in a plurality of “apostles and prophets” (2:20; 3:5). Accordingly, Ephesians shows him as an ecumenical theologian and invites Christians of various backgrounds and traditions to identify themselves as parts of the one body of Christ.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Frontmatter I
- Table of Contents V
- Preface IX
-
I Prolegomena
- Introduction 3
- Paulus im ältesten Christentum 23
-
II The Reception of the Pauline “Gospel” in EarlyChristianity
- Proclaimed Message or Proclamation of the Message? 61
- Lorsque Paul parle d’Evangile dans lapremière lettre aux Corinthiens 89
-
III (Auto-)Biographical Receptions of Paul
- Das Selbstverständnis des Paulus als Apostel 115
- Biographie und Rhetorik 143
- Die Akten des Paulus und der Thekla als biographische Paulusrezeption 175
- The Conversion of Paul: A New Perspective (Epistula Apostolorum 31–33) 195
-
IV Paul and his Work: Sociological and EconomicEffects
- Pauline Assemblies and Graeco-Roman Associations 215
- Zwischen Elend und Elite 249
-
V Theological Receptions of Paul
- Der Kolosserbrief als ethischer Text –zugleich ein Beitrag zur Frühgeschichte derPaulusrezeption 289
- Paulus als Ökumeniker 317
- „Dies ist die geistige Auferstehung“ 355
- The Ecclesiology of 2 Clement 14 377
-
VI Literary (Epistolary and Narrative) Receptionsof Paul
- Paul et la mémoire lucanienne des Origines 411
- Der 2. Thessalonicherbrief im Verhältnis zum 1. Thessalonicherbrief 443
- Hébreux et la tradition paulinienne 461
-
VII Pauline Reception as Pauline Tradition
- Paulustradition und Paulusrezeption in den Pastoralbriefen 487
- La tradition paulinienne dans les lettres d’Ignace 519
-
VIII Paul as an Authoritative Figure in EarlyChristianity
- Paul, Clement and the Corinthians 555
- Apocalipsis Pauli/Visio Pauli – Warum eigentlich Paulus? 579
- Apostolic Authority and Women in Second-Century Christianity 607
- Pauline Reception in Valentinian and Basilidian Gnosis 623
-
IX Anti-Paulinism and Conflicts about Paul in EarlyChristianity
- Kreuzfeuer 647
- Antipauliner oder Zeugen eines nichtpaulinischen Christentums? 675
- La construction de l’homme ennemi ou l’anti-paulinisme dans le corpus pseudo-clément 729
-
X Constructing the “Canonical” Paul
- Ungetrennt und Unvermischt? 751
- Marcion and the Canonical Paul 779
- Sammlungen der Paulusbriefe und die Entstehung des neutestamentlichen Kanons 799
-
XI Pauline Reception: Archeological and EpigraphicEvidence
- Epigraphic Evidence for the Impact of Paul in Central Asia Minor 825
- List of Contributors 839
- Index of Ancient Sources 841
- Index of Modern Authors 896
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Frontmatter I
- Table of Contents V
- Preface IX
-
I Prolegomena
- Introduction 3
- Paulus im ältesten Christentum 23
-
II The Reception of the Pauline “Gospel” in EarlyChristianity
- Proclaimed Message or Proclamation of the Message? 61
- Lorsque Paul parle d’Evangile dans lapremière lettre aux Corinthiens 89
-
III (Auto-)Biographical Receptions of Paul
- Das Selbstverständnis des Paulus als Apostel 115
- Biographie und Rhetorik 143
- Die Akten des Paulus und der Thekla als biographische Paulusrezeption 175
- The Conversion of Paul: A New Perspective (Epistula Apostolorum 31–33) 195
-
IV Paul and his Work: Sociological and EconomicEffects
- Pauline Assemblies and Graeco-Roman Associations 215
- Zwischen Elend und Elite 249
-
V Theological Receptions of Paul
- Der Kolosserbrief als ethischer Text –zugleich ein Beitrag zur Frühgeschichte derPaulusrezeption 289
- Paulus als Ökumeniker 317
- „Dies ist die geistige Auferstehung“ 355
- The Ecclesiology of 2 Clement 14 377
-
VI Literary (Epistolary and Narrative) Receptionsof Paul
- Paul et la mémoire lucanienne des Origines 411
- Der 2. Thessalonicherbrief im Verhältnis zum 1. Thessalonicherbrief 443
- Hébreux et la tradition paulinienne 461
-
VII Pauline Reception as Pauline Tradition
- Paulustradition und Paulusrezeption in den Pastoralbriefen 487
- La tradition paulinienne dans les lettres d’Ignace 519
-
VIII Paul as an Authoritative Figure in EarlyChristianity
- Paul, Clement and the Corinthians 555
- Apocalipsis Pauli/Visio Pauli – Warum eigentlich Paulus? 579
- Apostolic Authority and Women in Second-Century Christianity 607
- Pauline Reception in Valentinian and Basilidian Gnosis 623
-
IX Anti-Paulinism and Conflicts about Paul in EarlyChristianity
- Kreuzfeuer 647
- Antipauliner oder Zeugen eines nichtpaulinischen Christentums? 675
- La construction de l’homme ennemi ou l’anti-paulinisme dans le corpus pseudo-clément 729
-
X Constructing the “Canonical” Paul
- Ungetrennt und Unvermischt? 751
- Marcion and the Canonical Paul 779
- Sammlungen der Paulusbriefe und die Entstehung des neutestamentlichen Kanons 799
-
XI Pauline Reception: Archeological and EpigraphicEvidence
- Epigraphic Evidence for the Impact of Paul in Central Asia Minor 825
- List of Contributors 839
- Index of Ancient Sources 841
- Index of Modern Authors 896
