The notion of faith experienced a remarkable surge in popularity among early Christians, with Paul as its pioneer. Yet what was the wider cultural significance of the pistis word group? This comprehensive work contextualizes Paul’s faith language within Graeco-Roman cultural discourses, highlighting its semantic multifariousness and philosophical potential. Based on an innovative combination of cognitive linguistics and discourse analysis, it explores ‘faith’ within social, political, religious, ethical, and cognitive contexts. While challenging modern individualist and irrational conceptualizations, this book shows how Paul uses pistis to creatively configure philosophical narratives of his age and propose Christ as its ultimate embodiment.
Author(s): Suzan Sierksma-Agteres
Series: Ancient Philosophy & Religion, 12
Publisher: Brill
Year: 2023
Language: English
Pages: 907
City: Leiden-Boston
Front Cover
Half Title
Series Information
Title Page
Copyright Page
Contents
Preface
Figures
Bibliographical Abbreviations
Text Editions and Translations of Ancient and Modern Texts
Inclusion of Previously Published Work by the Same Author
Chapter 1. Introduction: Tracing the Semantics and Discourses of Faith in Paul's World
Part 1: A Pistis Cosmology
Chapter 2. Pistis, Theos, and Logos: Faith as the Standard of Philosophical Religion
Chapter 3. Pistis, Dikaiosyne, and Nomos: Faith as Unwritten Law of the Golden Age
Part 2: A Pistis Mentality
Chapter 4. Pistis, Doxa, and Episteme: Faith as Firm, Human Conviction Anticipating Divine Knowledge
Chapter 5. Pistis, Peitho, and Sophia: Faith as Transformative Persuasion of the Wise
Chapter 6. Pistis, Ethos, and Mimesis: Faith as Attitude and Virtue Imitating the Divine
Part 3: A Pistis Society
Chapter 7. Pistis, Charis, and Dynamis: Faith as Transjuridical and Transethnic Bond of Trust
Chapter 8. Pistoi, Hagioi, and Apistoi: Faith as Philosophical-Religious Group Identity
Chapter 9. Concluding Reflections: Paul beyond the Philosophers' Faith
Bibliography
Index of Ancient Texts
Index of Selected Modern Authors
Index of Selected Names and Subjects
Back Cover
