Bibliography
| Title: Conversion to the living God in Diaspora Judaism and Paul's Letters Type: Thesis Year: 1992 Abstract: "The thesis of this dissertation is that Paul used the living God epithet with a significance that derived from his missionary preaching, and which informed his handling of the epithet in Rom 9:26; 2 Cor 3:3; 6:16. Paul's use of the epithet reflected its traditional background in Diaspora Jewish missionary language, where it carried a significance associated with Jewish and biblical monotheism. When read in light of this traditional background, Paul's handling of the epithet in Rom 9:26; 2 Cor 3:3; 6:16 can be better understood, and specific exegetical questions surrounding the epithet' s use can be addressed. The primary goal of this dissertation is to illuminate the living God's significance in Rom 9:26; 2 Cor 3:3; 6:16, attempting to draw out exegetical problems related to the epithet's use which will later be resolved in light of the background study. The preliminary analysis also situates the epithet in its immediate context in order to highlight its thematic associations which are suggestive of its significance: conversion; God as creator; and the new covenant. According to these three thematic associations, the dissertation next explores the living God's traditional background in Diaspora Jewish, early Christian, and biblical sources. This background study will first attempt to establish the living God's role in Pauline missionary preaching and Jewish missionary language. It then explores the epithet's significance in connection with the Creator and covenant themes in biblical and Jewish sources. The dissertation concludes by reexamining Rom 9:26; 2 Cor 3:3; 6:16 in the light of the background study and attempting to answer the exegetical questions unvovered in the preliminary analysis". Keywords: New Testament / Early Christianity |