wild beasts

Phillip J. Long plong@gbcol.edu
Sun, 21 Jun 2020 15:35:57 -0400



> I've yet to read a satisfying interpretation of Paul's word: "I
> fought with  wild beasts in Ephesus."  Anyone have an
> insight into that?

Bruce Winter, in What Happened After Paul Left Corinth (GR:Eerdmans, 2001),
pages 101-102, citing Malherbe "The Beasts at Ephesus" JBL 87 (1968) 71-80,
suggests that "fighting the wild beasts" is euphemistic for struggling with
human passions.  Human passions are described as "wild beasts" as early as
Plato.  I don't have the Mahlerbe article handy, but Winter considers the
evidence weighty.

Phillip J. Long
Associate Professor of Bible
Grace Bible College
Grand Rapids, MI