Corpus-Paul

["Jeffrey B. Gibson" <jgibson000 AT comcast.net>]

John Brand wrote:

> Let's meet on more specific grounds and apart from terminology. I am
> open to correction. Why not consider the context of Romans 1-2 and
> look at similarities between what he is addressing in these chapters
> and what we find in Cicero's "Laws"

Admittedly, I only took a quick glance at your list of "similarities".
But it seems to me, even if you've assessed correctly what's in Rom 1-2,
there's nothing there that has to be drawn from Cicero.  It is all
thoroughly Jewish.

> All six of these criteria can be used to substantiate the parallel
> between the works of Cicero and the Epistle of Paul to the Romans.
> Should this not indicate our allowing the parallels to help us in our
> understanding of Romans, the Jew/Gentile issues Paul sought to
> address,  and how he sought to bridge the gap between these two
> cultures in conflict?
>

No.  Only if a genetic relationship between the parallels can be
established.  Otherwise, it's just an interesting coincidence.

Yours,

Jeffrey
--

Jeffrey B. Gibson, D.Phil. (Oxon.)

1500 W. Pratt Blvd. #1
Chicago, IL 60626

jgibson000 AT comcast.net