Dahl, Nils A.  Studies in Ephesians. Introduction Questions, Text- and Edition-Critical Issues, Interpretation of Texts and Themes. Ed. by David Hellholm, Vemund Blomkvist and Tord Fornberg
2000. XII, 548 pages. WUNT I 131

ISBN 978-3-16-147197-1
cloth € 99.00

Nils A. Dahl

Studies in Ephesians

Introduction Questions, Text- and Edition-Critical Issues, Interpretation of Texts and Themes
Ed. by David Hellholm, Vemund Blomkvist and Tord Fornberg

This volume of collected essays on Ephesians is divided into three sections. The first part deals thoroughly with introductory questions such as composition and style, the relationship to other Early Christian literature and Qumran, authorship (with a new suggestion), addressees and social setting. In the second part the extensive history of Early Christian texts and editions (in the Muratorian canon, the Marcionite prologues and the Euthalian apparatus) with special regard to Ephesians is investigated. The third part is dedicated to the interpretation of texts and themes of special importance for the understanding of this pseudo-pauline letter by one of Paul’s younger disciples and co-workers. Here the theological and liturgical setting is reflected upon. Through all the detailed scrutiny of the history and the semantics of the epistle to the Ephesians, the question of its illocutionary function remains in focus. Not only what the auctor of Ephesians says in his letter but what he does by saying it is the central issue in Nils Alstrup Dahl’s life-long interest in this intriguing letter.
More than half of these essays have never been published before, and one essay is translated from Norwegian into English for the first time.

 

Survey of contents:

Preface
I. Introductory Questions
Einleitungsfragen zum Epheserbrief - Ephesians and Qumran
II. Ephesians in Texts and Editions of the Corpus Paulinum
Welche Ordnung der Paulusbriefe wird vom Muratorischen Kanon vorausgesetzt? - The Particularity of the Pauline Epistles as a Problem in the Ancient Church - The Origin of the Earliest Prologues to the Pauline Letters - 0230 (= PSI 1306) and the Fourth-Century Greek-Latin Edition of the Letters of Paul - The 'Euthalian Apparatus' and Affiliated 'Argumenta'
III. Interpretation of Texts and Themes
Benediction and Congratulation - Das Proömium des Epheserbriefes - Der Epheserbrief und der verlorene, erste Brief des Paulus an die Korinther - Das Geheimnis der Kirche nach Epheser 3,8-10 - Cosmic Dimensions and Religious Knowledge (Eph 3:18) - Kleidungsmetaphern: der alte und der neue Mensch - The Concept of Baptism in Ephesians - Gentiles, Christians, and Israelites in the Epistle to the Ephesians - Interpreting Ephesians: Then and Now

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