
Solidarity and Difference
A Contemporary Reading of Paul's Ethics
David G. Horrell(Author)
T.& T.Clark Ltd (Publisher)
2nd Edition
Published on 19. November 2015
Book
Paperback/Softback
440 pages
978-0-567-66282-8 (ISBN)
Description
David G. Horrell presents a study of Pauline ethics, examining how Paul's moral discourse envisages and constructs communities in which there is a strong sense of solidarity but also legitimate difference in various aspects of ethical practice. Horrell reads New Testament texts with an explicit awareness of contemporary ethical theory, and assesses Paul's contribution as a moral thinker in the context of modern debate.
Using a framework indebted to the social sciences, as well as to contemporary ethical theory, Horrell examines the construction of community in Paul's letters, the notions of purity, boundaries and identity, Paul's attempts to deal with diversity in his churches, the role of imitating Christ in Paul's ethics, and the ethic Paul develops for interaction with 'outsiders'. Finally, the pattern of Paul's moral thinking is considered in relation to the liberal-communitarian debate, with explicit consideration given to the central moral norms of Pauline thought, and the prospects for, and problems with, appropriating these in the contemporary world. This Cornerstones edition includes an extended reflective introduction and a substantial foreword from N.T. Wright.
Using a framework indebted to the social sciences, as well as to contemporary ethical theory, Horrell examines the construction of community in Paul's letters, the notions of purity, boundaries and identity, Paul's attempts to deal with diversity in his churches, the role of imitating Christ in Paul's ethics, and the ethic Paul develops for interaction with 'outsiders'. Finally, the pattern of Paul's moral thinking is considered in relation to the liberal-communitarian debate, with explicit consideration given to the central moral norms of Pauline thought, and the prospects for, and problems with, appropriating these in the contemporary world. This Cornerstones edition includes an extended reflective introduction and a substantial foreword from N.T. Wright.
Reviews / Votes
One of the most creative and innovative books about Paul I have ever read. * N. T. Wright, Paul and His Recent Interpreters, 2015 * In a global, pluralist, fractured world, may Christians hope to find a healing and hopeful word in - of all places - the letters of Paul, themselves centers of controversy and division from the beginning? Horrell answers with a resounding "Yes", After a penetrating analysis and critique of the polarized conversation among ethicists in recent decades, he proposes a new, "third way" to find a model in Paul for communities that embrace the other without losing their identity. * Wayne A. Meeks, Yale University, USA * This is a bold and highly stimulating intellectual experiment...Through close study of key texts and carefully reasoned debates across multiple disciplines, Horrell reconfigures the Pauline ethic and opens it up to dialogue with public morality as never before. Both New Testament scholars and ethicists will welcome this ground-breaking work. * John Barclay, Durham University, UK * There is much exegetical and moral wisdom in this lucidly written book, a wisdom which avoids simplifications and the peril of modernizing Paul. The Paul we encounter in this book is no eccentric, but a serious moral thinker of Early Christian wrestling with problems which are not out of date, but which recur again and again in this life. * Gerd Theissen, University of Heidelberg, Germany * David Horrell's nuanced study significantly advances the conversation about Pauline ethics...Horrell's reading of Paul offers a mediating voice that suggests a way beyond certain impasses in contemporary ethical debate...Anyone who reads Horrell's richly synthetic work, therefore, will be challenged to think more precisely about matters of central importance. * Richard B. Hays, Duke Divinity School, USA *More details
Series
Edition
2nd edition
Language
English
Place of publication
Edinburgh
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
Thickness: 23 mm
Weight
658 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-567-66282-8 (9780567662828)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
11/2015
1st Edition
T.& T.Clark Ltd
€39.99
Available for download

E-Book
11/2015
1st Edition
T.& T.Clark Ltd
€39.99
Available for download
Previous edition

Book
08/2005
T.& T.Clark Ltd
€73.31
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Persons
David G. Horrell is Professor of New Testament at the University of Exeter UK, and author of Becoming Christian (T&T Clark 2013).
Content
Preface
Abbreviations
Introduction
1.Approaches to Pauline Ethics: from Bultmann to Boyarin
2.Liberals and Communitarians: Contrasting Approaches in Contemporary Ethical Theory
3.Reading Paul: Myth, Ritual, Identity, and Ethics
4.The Construction of Community: Corporate Solidarity in Christ
5.Purity, Boundaries and Identity: the Rhetoric of Distinction
6.Solidarity, Difference, and Other-Regard: the Strong and the Weak (1 Cor 8-10, Rom 14-15)
7.Other-Regard and Christ as Moral Paradigm
8. Universal knowledge
9.Solidarity and Difference: Paul Among Liberals and Communitarians
Bibliography
Index of ancient references
Index of modern authors
Abbreviations
Introduction
1.Approaches to Pauline Ethics: from Bultmann to Boyarin
2.Liberals and Communitarians: Contrasting Approaches in Contemporary Ethical Theory
3.Reading Paul: Myth, Ritual, Identity, and Ethics
4.The Construction of Community: Corporate Solidarity in Christ
5.Purity, Boundaries and Identity: the Rhetoric of Distinction
6.Solidarity, Difference, and Other-Regard: the Strong and the Weak (1 Cor 8-10, Rom 14-15)
7.Other-Regard and Christ as Moral Paradigm
8. Universal knowledge
9.Solidarity and Difference: Paul Among Liberals and Communitarians
Bibliography
Index of ancient references
Index of modern authors