This study seeks to base Paul's language of sin in the socio-cultural context of his original letters. T.L. Carter draws on the work of social anthropologist Mary Douglas to conduct a cross-cultural analysis of the symbolism of the power of sin in the letters, examining thoroughly Douglas' "Grid and Group" model and defending its use as a heuristic tool for New Testament scholars. He also offers fresh insight into key passages from 1 Corinthians, Galatians and Romans.
Author(s): T. L. Carter
Edition: 1
Year: 2002
Language: English
Pages: 256
Cover......Page 1
Half-title......Page 3
Series-title......Page 5
Title......Page 7
Copyright......Page 8
Dedication......Page 9
CONTENTS......Page 11
FIGURES......Page 12
PREFACE......Page 13
ABBREVIATIONS......Page 15
The context of the power of sin......Page 17
The legacy of Augustine......Page 20
Conclusion......Page 30
Introduction......Page 35
Natural Symbols (1st edition, 1970, 3rd USA edition, 1982)......Page 39
Natural Symbols (2nd edition, 1973, 3rd UK edition, 1996)......Page 44
Isenberg and Owen, Malina, Neyrey......Page 47
Cultural Bias (1978)......Page 51
Applying the matrix to Paul......Page 56
Introduction......Page 61
Applying ‘Grid and Group’ to 1 Corinthians......Page 62
Locating Corinth on the matrix......Page 70
Locating Paul on the matrix......Page 79
Conclusion......Page 92
Introduction......Page 94
Applying ‘Grid and Group’ to Galatians......Page 98
Redrawing the boundaries......Page 102
Jerusalem and Antioch......Page 107
Gentile sinners justified in Christ (Gal. 2:15–16)......Page 113
Paul’s answer (Gal. 2:18f.)......Page 121
The curse of the law......Page 127
The power of sin......Page 130
Works of the flesh......Page 134
Conclusion......Page 137
Introduction......Page 140
The purpose of Romans......Page 141
The weak and the strong......Page 144
The theme of the letter......Page 153
Locating Paul on the matrix......Page 159
Insiders and outsiders......Page 162
Romans 3:13a......Page 171
Psalm 9:27–28 LXX......Page 172
Isaiah 59:7–8 MT......Page 173
Psalm 36:2–3 MT......Page 174
Hope for a low grid community......Page 180
New boundaries for old......Page 184
Believing Gentiles as righteous insiders......Page 190
Release from the law......Page 198
A Torah-observant Jew as a sinful outsider......Page 199
Forbidden desire (7:7–12)......Page 201
The conflict between willing and doing......Page 204
The eschatological Spirit......Page 213
Conclusion......Page 218
7 CONCLUSION......Page 220
BIBLIOGRAPHY......Page 226
INDEX OF SELECTED SUBJECTS......Page 243
INDEX TO ANCIENT REFERENCES......Page 247
