THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA Paul’s Call to Imitation: The Rhetorical Function of the Theme of Imitation in its Epistolary Context. A DISSERTATION Submitted to the Faculty of the School of Theology and Religious Studies Of The Catholic University of America In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree Doctor of Philosophy © Copyright All Rights Reserved By Jason G. Weaver Washington, D.C. 2013 Paul’s Call to Imitation: The Rhetorical Function of the Theme of Imitation in Its Epistolary Context. Jason G. Weaver, Ph.D. Director: Frank J. Matera, Ph.D. The Pauline call to imitation is one of the most distinctive aspects of Pauline thought. The explicit call to imitation occurs five times in the non-disputed Pauline letters: 1 Thess 1:6; 2:14; 1 Cor 4:16; 11:1; and Phil 3:17. It is a call to imitate the example that Paul sets before the community to which he writes. Although these letters are the only ones in which Paul explicitly calls others to imitate him, the theme of imitation occurs throughout his writings. The monographs and articles that have addressed the theme of imitation in Pauline thought use either the historical-critical method or a rhetorical method to develop their thesis. This study examines the rhetorical function of the theme of imitation in its epistolary context. The rhetorical situation of the community to which Paul writes is an important element in the study of his letters. Therefore, examining each call to imitation within the rhetorical situation of the community to which Paul writes provides a clear understanding of his call to imitation. Although each call to imitation is found within a different rhetorical situation, this study argues that with each call to imitate him, Paul establishes a new set of community relationships to which each believing community must adhere. Within this new set of relationships there are four themes that are crucial to Paul’s call to imitation: humility, suffering, unity, and salvation. These four themes form the shape and structure of true community life. Paul’s call to imitation and his desire to create this new set of community relationships requires believers to live in humility and to be willing to endure suffering. The purpose of this imitation is to create unity within the community so that at the parousia all believers will share in salvation. Through his own example and the example of Christ, Paul demonstrates the example he calls others to imitate. This dissertation by Jason G. Weaver fulfills the dissertation requirements of the doctoral degree in Biblical Studies approved by Frank J. Matera, Ph.D., as Director, and by Francis T. Gignac, D.Phil, and John P. Heil, S.S.D. as Readers. ___________________________ Frank J. Matera, Ph.D., Director ___________________________ Francis T. Gignac, D.Phil, Reader ___________________________ John P. Heil, S.S.D., Reader ii To my wife, Amanda iii Paul saw some men who love to think; they gathered on the street. They love discussion and debates, would rather talk than eat. Their heads were in clouds, it seemed; they loved ideas so! They could not hear enough of them; to lectures they would go. --Donna Streufert, Preacher Paul Visits Athens iv Table of Contents List of Abbreviations viii Acknowledgements x Chapter One: Pauline Imitation: A History of Research 1 Usage of the Terms mi,mhsij and mime,omai Prior to the NT 2 Mi,mhsij and Fine Art 3 Instruction and Ethics 5 Mi,mhsij in the LXX and Pseudepigrapha 6 Mi,mhsij and Philo 8 Usage of the Term in the New Testament 10 Imitation in Light of Authority and Obedience 10 An Implicit Call to Imitate Christ 19 The Theme of Imitation and Pauline Ethics 29 Sharing in Paul’s Experience of God’s Grace 34 Imitation in Relation to Christian Goals: Humility and Self- Renunciation 36 Conclusion and Critique 41 Chapter Two: Suffering and Hope: Imitation in 1 Thessalonians 46 The First Letter to the Thessalonians 47 The Content of the Letter 47 The Purpose of the Letter 49 1 Thess 1:2-10: An Introduction to the Theme of Imitation 50 The Thessalonians’ Conduct (1:2-5) 50 The Effect of Election (1:6-8) 61 The Thessalonians’ Response to Conversion (1:9-10) 65 1 Thess 2:1-16: Implicit Paraenesis toward Proper Conduct through the Triad 67 “Work of Faith” (2:1-4) 68 “Labor of Love” (2:5-12) 73 “Endurance in Hope” (2:13-16) 79 v Conclusion 84 Chapter Three: Imitating Paul in Light of the Scandal of the Cross: Imitation in 1 Corinthians1–4 86 The First Letter to the Corinthians 87 The Purpose of 1 Corinthians 1–4 87 1 Cor 4:14-21: Call to Imitation 87 1 Cor 1:10-13: Statement of the Problem 90 1 Cor 1:14–4:13: Paradigm of the Scandal of the Cross 94 Paul’s Mission (1:14-17) 94 The Word of the Cross and Wisdom (1:18-25) 97 The Social Standing of the Corinthians (1:26-31) 103 Paul’s Presence among the Corinthians (2:1-5) 106 The Wisdom of the Mature (2:6-16) 109 The Spiritual Immaturity of the Corinthians and the Role of the Preacher (3:1-17) 113 Becoming Wise by Becoming a Fool (3:18-23) 116 The Attitude of the Cross (4:6-13) 117 Conclusion 124 Chapter Four: Seeking the Advantage of the Other: Imitation in 1 Cor 8:1–11:1 125 A Call to Imitation (1 Cor 11:1) 126 Food That Has Been Offered to Idols (1 Cor 8:1-13) 127 Love over Knowledge (1 Cor 8:1-3) 127 Food Sacrificed to Idols and the Conscience of the Weak (1 Cor 8:4-13) 130 Paul’s Rights and His Freedom Not to Exercise Them (1 Cor 9:1-27) 137 Paul’s Apostolic Freedom (1 Cor 9:1-3) 138 Paul’s Right to Economic Support (1 Cor 9:4-12a) 138 Paul’s Non-use of His Rights (1 Cor 9:12b-18) 140 Paul’s Purpose (1 Cor 9:19-23) 142 The Purpose of Rigorous Self-Control (1 Cor 9:24-27) 145 The Ethic of Responsibility toward Others (1 Cor 10:23-33) 147 vi Conclusion 154 Chapter Five: Living according to the Cruciform Pattern: Imitation in Philippians 156 Call to Imitation (3:17) 157 A Life That Is Worthy of the Gospel of Christ (1:27-30) 158 The Cruciform Pattern (2:1-4) 162 The Christ Hymn (2:5-11) 165 “Work Out Your Own Salvation” (2:12-18) 171 The Lifestyle of the Opponents (3:1-4) 174 Paul’s Example (3:4b-14) 176 Striving toward the Goal (3:12-16) 182 The Believers’ Vindication (3:17-21) 185 Conclusion 191 Chapter Six: Pauline Imitation 193 Summary of Previous Chapters 194 1 Thessalonians 194 1 Corinthians 1–4 195 1 Corinthians 8:1–11:1 195 Philippians 196 Pauline Imitation 197 Why Does Imitation Appear So Prominently in These Letters? 197 Community Relationships and Paul’s Call to Imitation 198 Conclusion 210 Bibliography 213 vii Abbreviations AB Anchor Bible AGAJU Arbeiten zur Geschichte des antiken Judentums und des Urchristentums AnBib Analecta Biblica BETL Bibliotheca ephemeridum theologicarum lovaniensium BHT Beiträge zur historischen Theologie Bib Biblica BibInt Biblical Interpretation BNTC Black’s NT Commentaries CBQ Catholic Biblical Quarterly CNT Commentaire du Nouveau Testament ConBNT Coniectanea neotestamentica EKKNT Evangelisch-katholischer Kommentar zum Neuen Testament HBT Horizons in Biblical Theology HTR Harvard Theological Review ICC International Critical Commentary Int Interpretation JBL Journal of Biblical Literature JSNT Journal for the Study of the New Testament JSNTSup Journal for the Study of the New Testament: Supplement Series LCL Loeb Classical Library LD Lectio divina NA27 Novum Testamentum Graece, Nestle-Aland, 27th ed. NCB New Century Bible NICNT New International Commentary on the New Testament NIGTC New International Greek Testament Commentary NovT Novum Testamentum NovTSup NovT, Supplements NTS New Testament Studies RNT Regensburger Neues Testament SacPag Sacra Pagina SANT Studien zum Alten und Neuen Testaments SBLDS Society of Biblical Literature Dissertation Series SBLSP SBL Seminar Papers SBS Stuttgarter Bibelstudien SNTSMS Society for New Testament Studies Monograph Series SR Studies in Religion/ Sciences religieuses TCGNT B. M. Metzger, A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament TDNT Theological Dictionary of the New Testament THKNT Theologischer Handkommentar zum Neuen Testament TynBul Tyndale Bulletin WBC Word Biblical Commentary viii WUNT Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament ZNW Zeitschrift für die neutestamentliche Wissenschaft und die Kunde der älteren Kirche ix Acknowledgments I am deeply grateful to Frank J. Matera, my dissertation advisor, for his guidance and patience during the many stages of this dissertation. His insightful critiques, his depth of scholarship, and his constant encouragement made the dissertation a less daunting task, and for that I will be forever grateful. I am likewise grateful to John Paul Heil and Francis T. Gignac, my dissertation readers, who, through the process of my dissertation, carefully critiqued my research and writing. I would also like to thank my wife, Amanda, for her loving patience, her thoughtful insight, and boundless faith. I am grateful for her willingness to endure the lows of this process, and for her excitement during the highs. She has been the steadying force throughout. Finally, I would like to thank my family and friends who have supported me through this process. x Chapter One Pauline Imitation: A History of Research Imitation is a crucial theme in Paul’s writings. Paul calls upon his communities to become imitators of him. This call to imitation is one of the most distinctive aspects of Pauline thought.