Suffering in Ancient Worldview: A Comparative Study of Acts, Fourth Maccabees, and Seneca A Thesis Submitted for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy by Brian Jordan Tabb Middlesex University Supervised at London School of Theology September 2013 Abstract Brian J. Tabb, “Suffering in Ancient Worldview: A Comparative Study of Acts, Fourth Maccabees, and Seneca.” PhD thesis, London School of Theology/ Middlesex University, July 2013. This thesis analyzes how suffering functions in the worldviews of the Roman Stoic Seneca, the Jewish author of 4 Maccabees, and the Christian historian Luke. Acts 17:17–18 invites such a comparison by presenting Paul’s Christian missionary activity in direct engagement with Hellenistic Judaism and popular Greco-Roman philosophy, including Stoicism. Chapters 1, 3, and 5 offer close readings of representative texts from Acts, 4 Maccabees, and Seneca’s essays and letters with a view to highlighting the authors’ treatments of suffering. Chapters 2, 4, and 6 utilize heuristic worldview questions to clarify and synthesize how each writer accounts for suffering, vis-à-vis their perspectives on God, humanity, the world’s problem and its solution, and the future. Chapter 7 presents an ancient conversation between these three authors modeled after Cicero’s De Natura Deorum. This thesis makes at least three significant contributions to scholarship. First, this is the only extended comparison of Seneca, Luke, and 4 Maccabees. The value and importance of studying early Christianity alongside Stoicism and Hellenistic Judaism is well known, but previous studies have focused on Paul, not Luke, who is typically compared with Josephus, not 4 Maccabees. Second, building on N. T. Wright’s work, this study demonstrates that worldview questions offer a fruitful method for comparing different authors and groups. This study does not attempt to prove literary or intellectual dependence but to compare these authors at the worldview level. Third, this thesis contributes to the important and often neglected theme of suffering in Luke-Acts, 4 Maccabees, and Seneca’s writings. This is the first systematic treatment of suffering in Seneca’s thought and in 4 Maccabees. This study builds on Cunningham’s and Mittelstadt’s recent monographs on suffering in Luke- Acts and advances the discussion by offering clear definitions of suffering and persecution, illustrated by first-century examples, and by an extended worldview comparison of Luke with other authors. In Luke-Acts, God is not “outside suffering” as Seneca argues but acts through the suffering of Jesus and his followers to set the world of sin and suffering right again, in fulfillment of his ancient promises. ii Acknowledgments “I stand to this day, having experienced help from God” (Acts 26:22). It is a tremendous privilege and a daunting task to complete a PhD thesis, which would not have been possible without the remarkable faithfulness of God and the constant support and prayers of many people. I am particularly grateful to my supervisor Prof. Steve Walton. He has been a wise, attentive, and encouraging supervisor, as well as a model of excellent Christian scholarship and godly character. Additionally, I acknowledge the excellent feedback offered by my PhD examiners, Prof. N. T. Wright and Dr. Conrad Gempf, as well as by Prof. Catharine Edwards, who generously read and commented on several chapters. I am very grateful for the tremendous support offered by my colleagues at Bethlehem College and Seminary, including Dr. Tim Tomlinson, Dr. John Piper, Rev. Tom Steller, Mr. Jason Abell, Dr. Jason DeRouchie, Mr. Ryan Griffith, Dr. Jason Meyer, Mr. Travis Myers, Dr. Andy Naselli, Mr. Joe Rigney, Dr. Rick Shenk, Dr. John Beckman, Mr. Johnathon Bowers, and Mr. Matt Crutchmer. I acknowledge my teaching assistants Mickey Sheu and Zach Howard, who helped with proofreading portions of the thesis and scanning articles, as well as Dr. Antoine Fritz, Neil Schindler, and Shalomie Lamphere, who assisted with French and Italian translation. Thanks are due to the excellent library staffs at Bethlehem College and Seminary (Greg Rosauer), London School of Theology (Alan Linfield), Luther Seminary (Karen Alexander, Bruce Eldevik, and Judy Stone), and North Central University (Melody Windingland). Thanks also to Simon Sykes and others at Tyndale House, Cambridge, which offered superb facilities and a wonderful community of scholarship. Many others have been supportive in various ways throughout my PhD studies. I thank my father, Professor Murray Tabb, for reading and commenting on the thesis. He and my mother, Diane Tabb, along with my parents-in-law, Hardi and Debbie Rosner, offered constant encouragement as well as prayer, financial, and practical support. Thanks also to Dr. Dan Gurtner, Alex Kirk, David McCollough, and many others from Bethlehem Baptist Church, Eden Baptist Church, London School of Theology, and Tyndale House for their advice, encouragement, and friendship at different times through my PhD studies. iii I dedicate this work to my wife, Kristin, and to my children, Jeremiah and Julia. They have offered me constant support, balance, and encouragement, and have sacrificed in many ways to make this PhD possible. Kristin remarkably made time as a busy mother to read and comment on my thesis and graciously endured many conversations about my research. “The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance” (Psalm 16:5–6). To God be all the glory! iv Abbreviations Abbreviations not listed below follow Alexander, Patrick H. et. al., The SBL Handbook of Style. Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson, 1999. 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