Godly Fear
The Epistle to the Hebrews and Greco-Roman Critiques of Superstition
Published on 25. February 2004
Book
Leather / fine binding
278 pages
978-90-04-13075-3 (ISBN)
Description
To what extent was early Christianity viewed as superstition by its contemporaries? Superstition was the standard category in Greco-Roman antiquity for defaming "debased" religion, and to situate early Christianity in its Mediterranean milieu it is necessary to understand what this label meant to those who used it. Fear is the defining element of superstition according to writers like Plutarch, who regard the emotion as a fundamental human problem. Fear is likewise a recurring motif in the Epistle to the Hebrews, whose author holds up "confidence" as a Christian ideal yet also employs language which evokes fear in the starkest of terms. This work examines the articulation of Christian faith in Hebrews in the context of ancient debates about the propriety of fear.
Paperback edition is available from the Society of Biblical Literature (www.sbl-site.org)
Paperback edition is available from the Society of Biblical Literature (www.sbl-site.org)
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04/2004
Brill
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Person
Patrick Gray, Ph.D. (2002), Emory University, is Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee, USA.
Content
Acknowledgements
Note on Texts and Translations
Chapter One
Introduction
The Question: "Superstition" or "Godly Fear"?
Self-Definition in the Early Church: Christianity as Superstition
Plutarch and the Epistle to the Hebrews: A Common Milieu
New Testament Studies and the History-of-Religions School
Contextualization, Comparison, and"Parallelomania"
Plutarch and the New Testament
The Greco-Roman Background of Hebrews: The State of the Question
Approach
Chapter Two
Plutarch and Superstition
Introduction
Terminology
Latin
Greek
Plutarch on Superstition in the Moralia and the Lives: Typical or Atypical?
The Role of Fear in Plutarch's Religious Thought
Hellenistic Analyses of the Emotions
Platonic Antecedents
Aristotle
Stoicism
Epicureanism
Summary
Plutarch on Superstition as Inappropriate Fear
The Question of Authenticity
Plutarch's Argument: Summary and Analysis
Superstition and the Emotions
Positive and Negative Fear
Fear of Death
Atheism and Superstition Compared: Theological and Practical Aspects
Piety as a Mean
Conclusion
Chapter Three
Freedom from Fear as a Christian Ideal in Hebrews
Introduction
Fear of Death (Heb 2:15)
Sources of Fear of Death
Subjective Quality of Fear of Death
Scope: Whom Does Fear of Death Affect?
Assessment: Is Fear of Death Morally Culpable?
Prescription: How to Be Free From Fear of Death
"Help in Time of Need": Jesus the Great High Priest
Priesthood as Fraternity: Brotherly Love and "The Order of Melchizedek"
"Confidence" before God: ???????? in Hebrews
Confidence as Members of God's Household (Heb 3:6)
Confidence Before the Throne of Grace (Heb 4:16)
Confidence in the Heavenly Sanctuary (Heb 10:19-31)
The Clean Conscience (Heb 10:19-25)
Apostasy and the Forfeiture of Confidence (Heb 10:26-31)
The Reward of Confidence (Heb 10:35)
Fearlessness in the Face of Earthly Dangers
Withstanding Persecution
Heb 10:32-39
Heb 11:32-38
Heb 13:6
Defiance of Human Authorities: Moses' Fearlessness (Heb 11:23-28)
Reinterpreting Adversity as God's Education (Heb 12:5-11)
Conclusion
Chapter Four
Reverence and Awe: Fear as an Appropriate Response to God in Hebrews
Introduction
Jesus' "Godly Fear" (Heb 5:7)
What Does Jesus Pray For and How Is He "Heard"?
The Exemplary Function of Jesus' Submission
Fear as a Concomitant of Revelation and Worship (Heb 12:18-29)
Moses' "Fear and Trembling" at Sinai (Heb 12:21)
Worship in the Last Days: "Reverence and Awe" (Heb 12:28-29)
Conclusion
Chapter Five
Conclusions
Bibliography
Index of Modern Authors
Index of Ancient Authors
Index of Biblical Texts
Note on Texts and Translations
Chapter One
Introduction
The Question: "Superstition" or "Godly Fear"?
Self-Definition in the Early Church: Christianity as Superstition
Plutarch and the Epistle to the Hebrews: A Common Milieu
New Testament Studies and the History-of-Religions School
Contextualization, Comparison, and"Parallelomania"
Plutarch and the New Testament
The Greco-Roman Background of Hebrews: The State of the Question
Approach
Chapter Two
Plutarch and Superstition
Introduction
Terminology
Latin
Greek
Plutarch on Superstition in the Moralia and the Lives: Typical or Atypical?
The Role of Fear in Plutarch's Religious Thought
Hellenistic Analyses of the Emotions
Platonic Antecedents
Aristotle
Stoicism
Epicureanism
Summary
Plutarch on Superstition as Inappropriate Fear
The Question of Authenticity
Plutarch's Argument: Summary and Analysis
Superstition and the Emotions
Positive and Negative Fear
Fear of Death
Atheism and Superstition Compared: Theological and Practical Aspects
Piety as a Mean
Conclusion
Chapter Three
Freedom from Fear as a Christian Ideal in Hebrews
Introduction
Fear of Death (Heb 2:15)
Sources of Fear of Death
Subjective Quality of Fear of Death
Scope: Whom Does Fear of Death Affect?
Assessment: Is Fear of Death Morally Culpable?
Prescription: How to Be Free From Fear of Death
"Help in Time of Need": Jesus the Great High Priest
Priesthood as Fraternity: Brotherly Love and "The Order of Melchizedek"
"Confidence" before God: ???????? in Hebrews
Confidence as Members of God's Household (Heb 3:6)
Confidence Before the Throne of Grace (Heb 4:16)
Confidence in the Heavenly Sanctuary (Heb 10:19-31)
The Clean Conscience (Heb 10:19-25)
Apostasy and the Forfeiture of Confidence (Heb 10:26-31)
The Reward of Confidence (Heb 10:35)
Fearlessness in the Face of Earthly Dangers
Withstanding Persecution
Heb 10:32-39
Heb 11:32-38
Heb 13:6
Defiance of Human Authorities: Moses' Fearlessness (Heb 11:23-28)
Reinterpreting Adversity as God's Education (Heb 12:5-11)
Conclusion
Chapter Four
Reverence and Awe: Fear as an Appropriate Response to God in Hebrews
Introduction
Jesus' "Godly Fear" (Heb 5:7)
What Does Jesus Pray For and How Is He "Heard"?
The Exemplary Function of Jesus' Submission
Fear as a Concomitant of Revelation and Worship (Heb 12:18-29)
Moses' "Fear and Trembling" at Sinai (Heb 12:21)
Worship in the Last Days: "Reverence and Awe" (Heb 12:28-29)
Conclusion
Chapter Five
Conclusions
Bibliography
Index of Modern Authors
Index of Ancient Authors
Index of Biblical Texts