Chained in Christ: The Experience and Rhetoric of Paul's Imprisonment

247 Pages·12.995 MB·English

by  Craig S. Wansink

JOURNAL FOR THE STUDY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT
SUPPLEMENT SERIES
130
Executive Editor
Stanley E. Porter
Editorial Board
Richard Bauckham, David Catchpole, R. Alan Culpepper,
Margaret Davies, James D.G. Dunn, Craig A. Evans, Stephen Fowl,
Robert Fowler, Robert Jewett, Elizabeth Struthers Malbon
Sheffield Academic Press

Chained in Christ
The Experience and Rhetoric
of Paul's Imprisonments
Craig S. Wansink
Journal for the Study of the New Testament
Supplement Series 130
Copyright © 1996 Sheffield Academic Press
Published by Sheffield Academic Press Ltd
Mansion House
19 Kingfield Road
Sheffield SI 19AS
England
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available
from the British Library
EISBN 9781850756057
CONTENTS
Preface 7
Abbreviations 9
INTRODUCTION 11
1. The Problem 11
2. Ancient Prisons and the Modern Scholarly World 13
3. Methodological Considerations 19
4. Caveats and Goals 22
Chapter 1
PRISONS IN THE ANCIENT ROMAN WORLD 27
1. Introduction 27
2. The Role of Ancient Roman Prisons 28
3. The Physical Conditions of Prison 33
4. The Status of Prisoners and Differential Treatment 41
5. Daily Life in Prison 44
6. Conclusion 95
Chapter 2
PAUL'S CHOICE AND THE RHETORIC OF VOLUNTARY DEATH 96
1. Introduction 96
2. Philippians 1.22b: Choice versus Preference 97
3. The Literary Context of Philippians 1.18b-26 102
4. Paul's Rhetorical Strategy in Philippians 104
5. Imprisonment and Voluntary Death 119
6. Conclusion 124
Chapter 3
THE PHILIPPIANS' GIFT TO THE IMPRISONED APOSTLE:
THE FUNCTION OF PHILIPPIANS 4.10-20 126
1. Introduction 126
2. Cicero's QFr. 1.3 and the Belated Thanks 129
6 Chained in Christ
3. Abandonment of the Imprisoned 133
4. The Philippian Partnership in Paul's Imprisonment 138
5. Conclusion 145
Chapter 4
PAUL AS 'A PRISONER OF CHRIST JESUS':
MILITARY IMAGERY AND THE LETTER TO PHILEMON 147
1. Introduction 147
2. Being'Of Christ Jesus' 151
3. Pauline Appellations in Philemon 157
4. Self-Appellations within the Rhetoric of Philemon 171
5. Conclusion 173
Chapter 5
ONESIMUS, EPAPTHRODITUS AND BURRHUS:
MINISTERS TO THE IMPRISONED IN EARLY CHRISTIANITY 175
1. Introduction 175
2. Paul's Relationship with Onesimus 177
3. Arguments against the 'Runaway' Hypothesis 179
4. Messenger and Minister to Paul's Needs 188
5. Conclusion 198
Epilogue
'SEVEN TIMES HE WAS IN BONDS' :
MEMORIES OF THE IMPRISONED APOSTLE 200
1. Introduction 200
2. The Imprisoned Paul as Author 201
3. The Imprisoned Paul as Dramatic Exemplary Character 205
4. The Imprisoned Paul as Source 208
5. Conclusion 211
Bibliography 212
Index of Biblical References 224
Index of Authors 237
PREFACE
In The Passing of Peregrinus 12-13, Lucian mocks the intensity with
which early Christians served their imprisoned brothers and sisters.
When I encountered this work for the first time, Lucian's enthusiasm
and incredulity raised a variety of questions for me: Could visitors
actually enter prisons in the Roman world? What did the imprisoned
eat? Was ministering to the imprisoned distinctively Christian? This work
seeks not only to enter into Roman prisons and begin to answer those
questions, but also—and primarily—to see how imprisonment shaped
Paul's letters to the Philippians and to Philemon. The epilogue, then,
briefly examines how Paul's imprisonment shaped early Christianity.
I am grateful to L.L. Welborn, formerly of McCormick Theological
Seminary, who not only introduced me to the writings of Lucian, but
also showed me how exciting the New Testament can be. At Yale
University, the influence of Wayne A. Meeks—my dissertation advisor—
and Abraham J. Malherbe shaped how I see the New Testament world
and showed me how to begin to answer those questions which are
important to me. The dissertation form of this monograph was also
strengthened by comments and suggestions from Susan R. Garrett and
Ramsay MacMullen, and from fellow graduate students Fred Weidmann,
Ken Cukrowski, Allen Hilton, Allen Hunt, Jay Smith and Greg Snyder.
Others have helped me in a variety of way. Students from my
seminar on 'Persecution and Martyrdom in Earliest Christianity', both at
Yale and at Virginia Wesleyan College, have shaped many of the
discussions here. During the years of writing, the Charlotte Newcombe
Foundation, the Claude Lambe Foundation, and Virginia Wesleyan
College have supported me financially. And Robert Jewett, Stanley
Porter, Eric Christianson and an unnamed reviewer have offered much
helpful advice and many illuminating comments.
Few persons have been blessed with the support, understanding and
happiness which my parents, John and Naomi Wansink, and my brother,
Brian, have given me. To them, and to my wife, Susan, who reminds me
8 Chained in Christ
of the most important things in life, whose love and laughter empower
me and whose friendship strengthens me in so many ways, this book is
dedicated.
ABBREVIATIONS
AB Anchor Bible
ANRW Aufstieg und Niedergang der rbmischen Welt
ATR Anglican Theological Review
BAGD W. Bauer, W.F. Arndt, F.W. Gingrich and F.W. Danker,
Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament
BeO Bibbia e oriente
Bib Biblica
BibRev Bible Review
BJRL Bulletin of the John Rylands Library
CBQ Catholic Biblical Quarterly
EKKNT Evangelisch-Katholischer Kommentar zum Neuen Testament
ExpTim Expository Times
EvQ Evangelical Quarterly
FN Filologia Neotestamentaria
HBT Horizons in Biblical Theology
HTR Harvard Theological Review
Int Interpretation
JBL Journal of Biblical Literature
JHS Journal of Hellenic Studies
JRS Journal of Roman Studies
JSNT Journal for the Study of the New Testament
JSNTSup Journal for the Study of the New Testament, Supplement Series
LEC Library of Early Christianity
LSJ Liddell-Scott-Jones, Greek-English Lexicon
NCB New Century Bible
NovT Novum Testamentum
NTM New Testament Message
NTS New Testament Studies
PG J. Migne (ed.), Patrologia graeca
RevExp Review and Expositor
SBL Society of Biblical Literature
SBLDS SBL Dissertation Series
SBLMS SBL Monograph Series
SBLSBS SBL Sources for Biblical Study
SecCent Second Century
SNTSMS Society for New Testament Studies Monograph Series
StudBib Studia Biblica