Sharers in Divine Nature : 2 Peter 1:4 in Its Hellenistic Context
(2000) In Coniectanea Biblica, New Testament Series 33.- Abstract
- This book offers a theological study of an expression unique in biblical literature concerning the purpose of life: “that you might become sharers in divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4). Following an analysis of the text-immanent features in 2 Peter 1:1—11, the study delineates comparable notions of “sharers in divine nature” in selected writings that were current in the first century and contrasts these with 2 Peter. The comparative material includes the writings of the Old Testament, Josephus, Philo, Plutarch, Stoicism, Pauline Christianity, and other New Testament letters.
A constellation of ideas is identified in 2 Peter 1:1—11 that informs the meaning of “sharers in divine nature.” By faith a person gains knowledge of... (More) - This book offers a theological study of an expression unique in biblical literature concerning the purpose of life: “that you might become sharers in divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4). Following an analysis of the text-immanent features in 2 Peter 1:1—11, the study delineates comparable notions of “sharers in divine nature” in selected writings that were current in the first century and contrasts these with 2 Peter. The comparative material includes the writings of the Old Testament, Josephus, Philo, Plutarch, Stoicism, Pauline Christianity, and other New Testament letters.
A constellation of ideas is identified in 2 Peter 1:1—11 that informs the meaning of “sharers in divine nature.” By faith a person gains knowledge of Christ, which grants to the Christ believer two distinct but inseparable divine attributes: the moral excellence of Christ, exhibited with progressive clarity by the Christian, and, attendant upon the first, the immortality of Christ, with an escape from the decay caused by desire. The parousia consummates the Christ believer’s share in both aspects of divine nature. This idea cluster—knowledge of the divine enabling acquisition of divine virtue ensued by divine incorruption—is found to pervade the Jewish and non-Jewish writings here considered. Similarities of structure are observed particularly in Philo and Plutarch. Structural resemblances are detected again in Paul along with the additional presence of several formal parallels. These observations allow the conclusions that 2 Peter 1:4 alludes to a widely-held nexus of ideas, that Middle Platonic thought exerts some influence on 2 Peter 1:4, but that a more direct and tangible affinity exists with Paul. (Less) - Abstract (Swedish)
- Popular Abstract in Swedish
Avhandlingen är ett teologiskt studium av ett i biblisk litteratur säreget uttryck som angår livets mening: ”att ni skall bli delaktiga av gudomlig natur” (2 Petrus 1:4). Efter en analys av 2 Petrus 1:1-11 undersöks några utvalda texter tillgängliga vid första århundradet som behandlar temat ”att bli delaktiga av gudomlig natur”. Jämförande material utgörs av Gamla testamentet, Josefus, Filon, Plutarkos, Stoikerna, paulinska brev, och andra nya testamentliga brev. Dessa jämförs genomgående med 2 Petrus.
En rad idéer identifieras i 2 Petrus 1:1-11, vilka förtydligar betydelsen av ”att bli delaktiga av gudomlig natur.” Genom tro erhåller människan en förståelse av Kristus, vilket... (More) - Popular Abstract in Swedish
Avhandlingen är ett teologiskt studium av ett i biblisk litteratur säreget uttryck som angår livets mening: ”att ni skall bli delaktiga av gudomlig natur” (2 Petrus 1:4). Efter en analys av 2 Petrus 1:1-11 undersöks några utvalda texter tillgängliga vid första århundradet som behandlar temat ”att bli delaktiga av gudomlig natur”. Jämförande material utgörs av Gamla testamentet, Josefus, Filon, Plutarkos, Stoikerna, paulinska brev, och andra nya testamentliga brev. Dessa jämförs genomgående med 2 Petrus.
En rad idéer identifieras i 2 Petrus 1:1-11, vilka förtydligar betydelsen av ”att bli delaktiga av gudomlig natur.” Genom tro erhåller människan en förståelse av Kristus, vilket ger henne två egenskaper: den moraliska godheten som tillhör Kristus och Kristi odödlighet där man undkommer begärans förgänglighet. Kristi återkomst fullbordar den kristnes delaktighet i de båda gudomliga egenskaperna. Dessa idéer (det vill säga gudomlig kunskap som möjliggör förvärvande av gudomlig dygd följd av gudomlig oförgänglighet) genomsyrar de judiska och icke-judiska skrifter som analyseras. Likheter iakttas i synnerhet hos Paulus, men också hos Filon och Plutarkos. Analysen leder till slutsatserna att 2 Petrus 1:4 är del utav en allmän antik uppfattning, att platonskt tänkande har influerat 2 Petrus 1:4, samt att det finns en tydlig släktskap med Paulus. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/19848
- author
- Starr, James M LU
- supervisor
- opponent
-
- Docent Holmberg, Bengt, Lund University
- organization
- publishing date
- 2000
- type
- Thesis
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Hellenistic philosophy, incorruption, virtue, ethics, participation, knowledge, koinônos, divine nature, Epictetus, Seneca, Stoicism, Plutarch, Philo, Josephus, Old Testament, Paul, 2 Peter, General Epistles, Bible, New Testament, Corpus Hellenisticum, Bibelvetenskap
- in
- Coniectanea Biblica, New Testament Series
- volume
- 33
- pages
- 304 pages
- publisher
- Almqvist & Wiksell International
- defense location
- Department of Art History and Musicology, room 314
- defense date
- 2000-04-27 13:15:00
- external identifiers
-
- other:ISRN: LUREDN/RENE-2000/1009-SE+317
- ISSN
- 0069-8946
- ISBN
- 91-22-01871-9
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- additional info
- The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: Old Testament Studies (015017051)
- id
- 1e0b268b-e67f-4773-b50b-5d83875cc8e2 (old id 19848)
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-01 17:07:51
- date last changed
- 2019-05-21 11:51:51
@phdthesis{1e0b268b-e67f-4773-b50b-5d83875cc8e2,
abstract = {{This book offers a theological study of an expression unique in biblical literature concerning the purpose of life: “that you might become sharers in divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4). Following an analysis of the text-immanent features in 2 Peter 1:1—11, the study delineates comparable notions of “sharers in divine nature” in selected writings that were current in the first century and contrasts these with 2 Peter. The comparative material includes the writings of the Old Testament, Josephus, Philo, Plutarch, Stoicism, Pauline Christianity, and other New Testament letters.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
A constellation of ideas is identified in 2 Peter 1:1—11 that informs the meaning of “sharers in divine nature.” By faith a person gains knowledge of Christ, which grants to the Christ believer two distinct but inseparable divine attributes: the moral excellence of Christ, exhibited with progressive clarity by the Christian, and, attendant upon the first, the immortality of Christ, with an escape from the decay caused by desire. The parousia consummates the Christ believer’s share in both aspects of divine nature. This idea cluster—knowledge of the divine enabling acquisition of divine virtue ensued by divine incorruption—is found to pervade the Jewish and non-Jewish writings here considered. Similarities of structure are observed particularly in Philo and Plutarch. Structural resemblances are detected again in Paul along with the additional presence of several formal parallels. These observations allow the conclusions that 2 Peter 1:4 alludes to a widely-held nexus of ideas, that Middle Platonic thought exerts some influence on 2 Peter 1:4, but that a more direct and tangible affinity exists with Paul.}},
author = {{Starr, James M}},
isbn = {{91-22-01871-9}},
issn = {{0069-8946}},
keywords = {{Hellenistic philosophy; incorruption; virtue; ethics; participation; knowledge; koinônos; divine nature; Epictetus; Seneca; Stoicism; Plutarch; Philo; Josephus; Old Testament; Paul; 2 Peter; General Epistles; Bible; New Testament; Corpus Hellenisticum; Bibelvetenskap}},
language = {{eng}},
publisher = {{Almqvist & Wiksell International}},
school = {{Lund University}},
series = {{Coniectanea Biblica, New Testament Series}},
title = {{Sharers in Divine Nature : 2 Peter 1:4 in Its Hellenistic Context}},
volume = {{33}},
year = {{2000}},
}