Solidarity and Difference: A Contemporary Reading of Paul's Ethics

Abstract

Preface Abbreviations Introduction 1. Approaches to Pauline Ethics: from Bultmann to Boyarin 1.1 Theology and ethics: indicative and imperative 1.2 Pauline ethics as halakah 1.3 Pauline ethics and Greco-Roman moral philosophy 1.4 Pauline ethics and the teaching of Jesus 1.5 Morals and community: Pauline ethics in social context 1.6 Appropriating Pauline ethics 1.7 Paul beyond the church: political ethics and cultural criticism 1.8 Conclusion 2. Liberals and Communitarians: Contrasting Approaches in Contemporary Ethical Theory 2.1 The liberal-communitarian debate 2.2 Jurgen Habermas's discourse ethics 2.3 Stanley Hauerwas's ecclesial ethics 2.4 Critical reactions 2.5 Common ground? 3. Reading Paul: Myth, Ritual, Identity, and Ethics 3.1 Symbolic universe, story, and myth 3.2 Ritual and practice 3.3 Identity, world-view, and ethos 3.4 Ethics and morality 3.5 Conclusion 4. The Construction of Community: Corporate Solidarity in Christ 4.1 Baptism and Lord's supper 4.2 A community of adelphoi: identity and ethos 4.3 Appeals for unity in the face of division 4.4 The body: whole and parts 4.5 Solidarity in practice: what difference does it make? 4.6 Conclusion 5. Purity, Boundaries and Identity: the Rhetoric of Distinction 5.1 The language of distinction 5.2 Distinction and positive group identity 5.3 Boundaries and the body: sexual ethics and idolatry 5.4 Social interaction with outsiders 5.5 Ethical norms: distinctive or shared? 5.6 Conclusion: distinct identity, shared ethics 6. Solidarity, Difference, and Other-Regard: the Strong and the Weak (1 Cor 8-10, Rom 14-15) 6.1 Idol food at Corinth: 1 Cor 8.1-11.1 6.2 The Strong and the Weak in Rome: Rom 14.1-15.13 6.3 Significant themes 6.3.1 Conscience, faith, and stumbling 6.3.2 Freedom 6.3.3 Tolerance and intolerance 6.3.4 Identity and difference 6.4 Conclusion 7. Other-Regard and Christ as Moral Paradigm 7.1 Philippians 2.5-11 and Christ as examplar 7.2 1 Corinthians 9.14-15 and Paul's imitation of Christ 7.3 The law of Christ (Gal 6.2 1 Cor 9.21) 7.4 The Collection (2 Cor 8.9-15): self-giving and equality 7.5 Conclusion 8. Ethics and Outsiders 8.1 Universal knowledge (Romans 1-2) 8.2 Universal obligations (Rom 13.1-7) 8.3 Concern for the reaction of outsiders 8.4 Doing good to all 8.5 Conclusion 9. Solidarity and Difference: Paul Among Liberals and Communitarians 9.1 The character of Pauline ethics 9.2 Paul among liberals and communitarians 9.3 Models for the appropriation of Pauline ethics Bibliography Indexes Index of ancient references Index of modern authors