Paul and Hellenistic Education: Assessing Early Literary and Rhetorical Influences

Abstract

<p>This thesis explores two bodies of evidence that are relevant to the question of Paul's Hellenistic education: historical and literary. Part One attempts to engage the historical dimension by exploring evidence that contributes to the reconstruction of the sociohistorical situation for Paul's upbringing and exposure to education in the Greco-Roman world. The literary evidence for Paul's Hellenistic education is taken up in Part Two. This portion of the thesis assesses Paul's use of Greek language, letter writing, literature, rhetoric and philosophy. The methodological relation of the two major parts of this thesis is framed by a 'hypothesis-verification' historical method. Historical data is gathered and explained by the formation of a hypothesis regarding Paul's relationship to Hellenistic education in Part One. Part Two then seeks verification for this hypothesis through a literary analysis of Pauline literature.</p>