Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Abbreviations
- General Introduction
- PART 1 The Background to Paul's Thought on the Powers
- PART 2 Exegesis of Pauline Texts
- PART 3 The post-Pauline development
- 6 Texts within the New Testament
- 7 Ignatius of Antioch
- 8 The angelomorphic Christology of early Jewish Christianity
- 9 The Greek apologists
- 10 Clement of Alexandria
- 11 The influence of gnosticism
- 12 Origen
- Conclusion to Part 3
- PART 4 Final Remarks
- Notes
- Select Bibliography
- Index
9 - The Greek apologists
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 06 January 2010
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Abbreviations
- General Introduction
- PART 1 The Background to Paul's Thought on the Powers
- PART 2 Exegesis of Pauline Texts
- PART 3 The post-Pauline development
- 6 Texts within the New Testament
- 7 Ignatius of Antioch
- 8 The angelomorphic Christology of early Jewish Christianity
- 9 The Greek apologists
- 10 Clement of Alexandria
- 11 The influence of gnosticism
- 12 Origen
- Conclusion to Part 3
- PART 4 Final Remarks
- Notes
- Select Bibliography
- Index
Summary
Concerning the powers as such there is little in the Greek apologists, although some passages in Justin require attention. On the demons, however, there is abundant material. Consciously writing for the pagan world, these apologists had to give careful thought to the religious assumptions of that world in order to present their own faith. They focused this difference primarily in the idolatry of the pagan, and it is this that makes the apologists fundamentally different from their Christian predecessors. They show every sign of being aware of the Judaeo-Christian explanation of idols in terms of demons. However, their apology is primarily aimed at the pagan world of which δειϭιδαιμονία was a general characteristic. In order to encounter this word, they take the Greek sense of δαίμων to themselves. This is part of their positive approach to the Greek world as a basis upon which they can develop their Christian argument. Justin's evaluation of Socrates (1 Apol. 5.3) is another example of this approach. They then, however, have to deal with idolatry and demons, and they are thus led to a position similar to that which they found in the Judaeo-Christian tradition. The fact that they reach the same end point, however, should not obscure the other fact that they reach it by arguing de novo about genuine Greek assumptions about demons. They do not simply impose a Judaeo-Christian solution.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Angels and PrincipalitiesThe Background, Meaning and Development of the Pauline Phrase hai archai kai hai exousiai, pp. 148 - 152Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1981