What does it mean to flourish? This is one of the bedrock questions of human existence. Gregory Lamb addresses this seminally important question from the ancient perspectives of living and dying well and through Paul's puzzling maxim in Philippians 1:21.
The contemporary bifurcation of living and dying and the aversion of death are largely absent in ancient conceptions of human flourishing. Gregory Lamb bridges this gap by combining living
and dying well as the twin facets of flourishing and by comparing the often-competing conceptions of flourishing within salient ancient sources (up to 100 CE). Beginning with Paul's concept of flourishing in Philippians, and then comparing/contrasting popular Greco-Roman, Egyptian, and Second Temple Jewish views, the volume advocates a »kaleidoscopic« reading of Paul that attunes to the complex diversity and
Sitze im Leben of the Philippians. The author argues that Philippians is central to Paul's presentation of flourishing as a Christocentric, cruciform life, and that despite the competing conceptions of living and dying well in the cultures around him, Paul, nonetheless, stands in stark contrast to them.
Table of contents:
Chapter 1: Human Flourishing as a Subject of Pauline Research
A. Kaleidoscopic Scope and Relevance for Biblical Studies
B. Review of Literature
C. Lacunae within the Current State of Research
D. Overview of the Study
Chapter 2: Comparative Methodology
A. Comparative Analysis and Philippians
B. Criteria for the Selection of Sources
Chapter 3: Living and Dying Well in Philippians
A. Flourishing as a Foundational Subtext
B. Exegetical Analysis
Chapter 4: Living and Dying Well in Greco-Roman, Egyptian, and Second Temple Jewish Sources
A. Variegated Voices on Living and Dying Well
B. Survey of Selected Sources
Chapter 5: Comparative Analysis of Flourishing between Philippians and Ancient Sources
A. Paul's Christocentric Reappropriation and »Answerability«
B. Synthesis of the Comparative Data
C. Areas for Further Research
D. Concluding Reflections
