Corpus-Paul

["David C. Hindley" <dhindley AT compuserve.com>]

Loren Rosson says:

>>The upshot of [David] Seeley's findings is that Paul is closest to IV
Maccabees and the Greco-Roman philosophers in his treatment of the vicarious
nature of Jesus' death. All three share the five characteristics of the
"Noble Death": (1) vicariousness, or the quality of being beneficial to
others; (2) obedience; (3) a military setting or imagery; (4) the overcoming
of physical vulnerability; (5) sacrificial metaphors. Seeley implicitly
rates them in that order of importance, and he especially undercuts the
influence of the last (sacrificial metaphors). Let's consider each in turn
as applied to (a) IV Maccabees, (b) the Greco-Roman philosophers, and (c)
Paul.<<

With regard to Greco-Roman philosophers, how about Socrates? His death
doesn't seem to fit these criteria, except in the most peripheral way. I am
not aware of it being considered vicarious, or on account of obedience to a
higher authority (except, perhaps, to his own daimon/conscience/principals),
or occurred in a military setting (except that Socrates had a distinguished
military career under his belt), or that it somehow overcame a physical
vulnerability of his, or that it had any sacrificial overtones.

Does Seeley's book cover this death? If so, how does it treat it?

Respectfully,

Dave Hindley
Cleveland, Ohio, USA