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RE: wild beasts

From: "Phillip J. Long" <plong AT gbcol.edu>
To: "Corpus-paul" <corpus-paul AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
Subject: RE: wild beasts
Date: 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

wild beasts, Ntsearcher, 06/21/2001
- <Possible follow-up(s)>
- Re: wild beasts, Jeffrey B. Gibson, 06/21/2001
- RE: wild beasts, Phillip J. Long, 06/21/2001
- RE: wild beasts, Rick S, 06/21/2001
- Re: wild beasts, Jürg Buchegger, 06/22/2001