The Biblical Tour of Hell

214 Pages·2013·1.424 MB·English

by  Matthew Ryan Hauge

Library of New TesTameNT sTudies
485

Formerly the Journal for the Study of the New Testament Supplement Series

Editor
mark Goodacre

Editorial Board
John m. G. barclay, Craig blomberg,
r. alan Culpepper, James d. G. dunn, Craig a. evans, stephen fowl,
robert fowler, simon J. Gathercole, John s. Kloppenborg, michael Labahn, robert wall,
steve walton, robert L. webb, Catrin H. williams
THe bibLiCaL Tour of HeLL

maTTHew ryaN HauGe

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first published 2013
© matthew ryan Hauge, 2013

all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or
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matthew ryan Hauge has asserted his right under the Copyright, designs and Patents act, 1988,
to be identified as Author of this work.
No responsibility for loss caused to any individual or organization acting on or refraining from
action as a result of the material in this publication can be accepted by bloomsbury academic or
the author.

British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
a catalogue record for this books is available from the british Library.

isbN: ePdf: 978-0-56760-496-5

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

a catalog record for this book is available from the Library of Congress.

Typeset by free range book design & Production
For Olivia, Ryan, Mateo, and Cruz

B
Contents

acknowledgements ix
List of abbreviations xi

IntroduCtIon 1

1 the hypnosIs of hugo gressmann 3
introduction 3

modern Parable studies 7
The american shift 14
re-Casting the Comparative Net 22
Conclusion 32

2 mImesIs CrItICIsm and early ChrIstIan narratIve 35
introduction 35

The Literary Context of the Gospel of Luke 36
Graeco-roman education and the shadow of the bard 42
Literary mimesis and ancient Composition 47
mimesis Criticism and early Christian Narrative 51

Conclusion 56

3 the tours of hell tradItIon 60
introduction 60
The Homeric Tour of Hell 63
Post-Homeric Tours of Hell 78
Conclusion 94

4 the BIBlICal tour of hell 99

introduction 99
The Literary Context of the rich man and Lazarus 102

Luke 16.19-31 and Odyssey 11.1–640 117
Conclusion 154
viii Contents
ConClusIon 159

bibliography 161

index of biblical and other ancient sources 195
index of Names 203
aCknowledgements
Countless people have contributed in significant ways to the completion of
this project. It is not possible to measure their influence, whether direct or
indirect, or to repay the debt that is owed. Please receive these brief words as
a humble prayer of thankfulness.
This book is a revision of a doctoral dissertation completed in 2011 at
Claremont Graduate university (‘a biblical Tour of Hell: The Parable of
dives and Lazarus’). Let me begin with the members of my dissertation
committee. first and foremost, i would like to thank my adviser and mentor,
Dennis R. MacDonald. In a conversation in his office some years ago, he
described himself as a midwife, guiding his students through the painful yet
immeasurably rewarding process of the search for truth. in my case, he has
been an inspiration, transforming my understanding of the purpose of early
Christian literature and the ways in which the primitive church constructed
a vision of the Christian life in the Graeco-roman world. i am also grateful
for the generosity of university of southern California Professor ronald
f. Hock, who freely offered his time and expertise as an examiner and
committee member. His insistence on a close reading of the primary literature
was instrumental in the trajectory of the dissertation. And finally, Gregory
J. riley; his pedagogy broadened my interpretive horizon and deepened my
appreciation of the Graeco-roman landscape and its impact upon the emerging
Christian communities. Thank you all for showing me the playground.
For well over a decade, I have had the privilege of teaching at Azusa Pacific
university. my colleagues and students have shaped me in ways that are
difficult to describe. The contours of my growth as a Christian scholar are the
unfolding product of the invaluable dialogical journey that we share. i owe
a special debt of gratitude to bill yarchin, who inspired me as a student and
welcomed me as a peer; thank you for your wisdom and support these many
years. as a graduate student and inexperienced teacher, i would have been lost
without sheryl Lindsay, my administrative assistant and second mother. many
thanks to Kay smith and bobby duke; the former gently encouraged me
along the way and the latter sheltered a dispossessed vagabond and ensured
the timely completion of the dissertation. And finally, Dick Pritchard, whose
love was a light in a sometimes dark place.
In my life, I have been the beneficiary of true friendship. Throughout these
many years, Craig anderson, matt flentie, and sean davidson have been
my travelling companions on our lifelong wanderings together through the
wilderness; it would not have been the same without you. in addition, i cannot
x Acknowledgements
forget michael schufer and ruben dupertuis, fellow Claremont students who
served as my own personal tour guides through the treacherous waters of our
doctoral programme.
but most importantly, i thank my family; my parents-in-law, adeline and
Dan, who supported our young family in the most difficult of times; my
parents, Virginia and stephen, who have always loved me unconditionally
despite my shortcomings; my sister, Kristin, whom i have always admired as
a strong and genuine spirit; my girls, olivia and ryan, whose big brown eyes
make it all better for me; and my boys, mateo and Cruz, whose big bright
smiles make it all better for everyone. i love you all.
aBBrevIatIons
ab anchor bible
ABD Anchor Bible Dictionary. edited by d. N. freedman. 6 vols.
New york, 1992
ANRW Aufstieg und Nïedergang des römischen Welt: Geschichte
und Kultur Roms im Spiegel der neuren Forschung. edited
by H. Temporini and w. Haase. 1972–
aoaT alter orient und altes Testament
ASP American Studies in Papyrology
AugStud Augustinian Studies
BA Biblical Archaeologist
bbb bonner biblische beiträge
Bib Biblica
BibInt Biblical Interpretation
BICS Bulletin of the Institute of Classical Studies
BJRL Bulletin of the John Rylands University Library of
Manchester
BT The Bible Translator
CB Cultura bíblica
CBQ Catholic Biblical Quarterly
CBR Currents in Biblical Research
CJ Classical Journal
CP Classical Philology
CQ The Classical Quarterly
EgT Eglise et théologie
ePro etudes préliminaires aux religions orientales dans l’empire
romain
EvQ Evangelical Quarterly
ExpTim Expository Times
frLaNT forschungen zur religion und Literatur des alten und
Neuen Testaments
GRBS Greek, Roman, and Byzantine Studies
HSCP Harvard Studies in Classical Philology
HTR Harvard Theological Review
IB Interpreter’s Bible. edited by G. a. buttrick et al. 12 vols.
New york, 1951–57
iCC international Critical Commentary
Int Interpretation