Belly and Body in the Pauline Epistles [Paperback]

An exploration of the 'belly' motif offering a new insight into the writings of St Paul.The belly is today a matter of much concern. It serves as a source of shame as well as pride; it is a part of the human body that is often made fun of. Modern cultures, particularly in the West, have developed means to cultivate this part of the body: corsets, exercises, revealing fashions. Does St Paul in any way address a culture in which the stomach is similarly high on the agenda? To answer this question is the aim of this investigation, and its results are perhaps surprising.The belly is today a matter of much concern. It serves as a source of shame as well as pride; it is a part of the human body that is often made fun of. Modern cultures, particularly in the West, have developed means to cultivate this part of the body: corsets, exercises, revealing fashions. Does St Paul in any way address a culture in which the stomach is similarly high on the agenda? To answer this question is the aim of this investigation, and its results are perhaps surprising.Throughout history, the human belly has been regarded as both a source of shame and pride. Modern cultures, particularly in the West, have developed means to cultivate this part of the body through corsets, exercises, and revealing fashions. Does St. Paul address a culture in which the stomach ranks high? This study aims to answer the question and the results may be surprising.Abbreviations; Part I. Prolegomena: 1. Introduction, previous solutions, method and Pauline context; Part II. The Graeco-Roman Belly: 2. The belly as a sign - ancient physiognomics; 3. The belly in ancient moral philosophy; 4. Ancient critique of Epicureanism; 5. Banquets - opportunities for the belly; Part III. The Appropriated Belly: 6. The belly-topos in Jewish-Hellenistic sources; 7. The belly in Philo's writings; Part IV. Belly-Worship and Body According to Paul: 8. The lifestyle of citizens of the heavenly Politeuma - Phil 3:1721; 9. 'Serving the belÃ!