… and Debbie Does Damascus
Why did Paul brag to the skeptical Corinthians that he had been repeatedly and publicly punished as a criminal --- as if it was a good thing?
Such punishments were meted-out to those convicted of breaking a law, that is, of committing a crime.
It is important to note that Paul never claimed that his several public floggings by both Jewish and Roman authorities were a result of his teaching about a JC figure, nor that those punishments even occurred during the period of his evangelizing work. I think it is quite possible that Paul’s previous public punishments resulted in his loss of reputation and livelihood in his home district, thus forcing him to go on the road around the fringe of the Aegean Sea with his entrepreneurial evangelism.
I think it’s often wise to be skeptical of Paul’s veracity. But in this case, there is supporting evidence in another letter that Paul actually had been flogged, as opposed to just a contrived story for the benefit of the Corinthians.
In a reference to Paul's reading of Isaiah 53:5 in the LXX, Paul may have shown his scars from being flogged to the Galatians, or perhaps more likely some among the group had seen the scars when he was sick and they cared for him (Galatians 4:13-15).
Paul himself warned his groups, including the Corinthians, against a wide range of bad behaviors, (Galatians 5:19-21, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10) ---
But Paul found it necessary to push-back against accusations from the Corinthians of trying to take them by deceit (2 Corinthians 12:16-18).
So, why would Paul brag to the very same group about having been publicly punished as a criminal by both Jewish and Roman authorities in an effort to GAIN credibility as a reliable spiritual authority?
Roman essayist Juvenal wrote from the perspective of the privileged classes in his satirical commentaries on city life around 100 CE. In his essay, The Ways of Women, Juvenal engages in a sustained expose on the perfidy of wealthy Roman women.
I think this passage from Juvenal reveals the ‘bad boy is good’ attitude in relation to spiritual providers ---
In his desperation with the skeptical Corinthians, Paul played yet another card in his last appeal to this group. Evidently, at least some mystics were seen as being more credible as a result of having been punished by civil authorities. I think it was in this light that Paul bragged to the Corinthians about his punishments for several unspecified Jewish and Roman crimes.
And for the more prurient minded …
Debbie Does Damascus
Earlier in the essay The Ways of Women, Juvenal reveals a lurid story about Messalina, the third wife of the Emperor Claudius, in a no-holes-barred expose about that royal wife sneaking out at night to the brothel to take her position in a dank odoriferous cell, graciously receiving all comers, deep into the night ---
robert j
Why did Paul brag to the skeptical Corinthians that he had been repeatedly and publicly punished as a criminal --- as if it was a good thing?
I too above measure: more abundantly in labors, more abundantly in imprisonments, in beatings above measure ... Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned … (2 Corinthians 11:23-25)
Such punishments were meted-out to those convicted of breaking a law, that is, of committing a crime.
It is important to note that Paul never claimed that his several public floggings by both Jewish and Roman authorities were a result of his teaching about a JC figure, nor that those punishments even occurred during the period of his evangelizing work. I think it is quite possible that Paul’s previous public punishments resulted in his loss of reputation and livelihood in his home district, thus forcing him to go on the road around the fringe of the Aegean Sea with his entrepreneurial evangelism.
I think it’s often wise to be skeptical of Paul’s veracity. But in this case, there is supporting evidence in another letter that Paul actually had been flogged, as opposed to just a contrived story for the benefit of the Corinthians.
Henceforth, let no one give to me troubles, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. (Galatians 6:17)
In a reference to Paul's reading of Isaiah 53:5 in the LXX, Paul may have shown his scars from being flogged to the Galatians, or perhaps more likely some among the group had seen the scars when he was sick and they cared for him (Galatians 4:13-15).
Paul himself warned his groups, including the Corinthians, against a wide range of bad behaviors, (Galatians 5:19-21, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10) ---
… neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor coveters, not drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)
But Paul found it necessary to push-back against accusations from the Corinthians of trying to take them by deceit (2 Corinthians 12:16-18).
So, why would Paul brag to the very same group about having been publicly punished as a criminal by both Jewish and Roman authorities in an effort to GAIN credibility as a reliable spiritual authority?
Roman essayist Juvenal wrote from the perspective of the privileged classes in his satirical commentaries on city life around 100 CE. In his essay, The Ways of Women, Juvenal engages in a sustained expose on the perfidy of wealthy Roman women.
I think this passage from Juvenal reveals the ‘bad boy is good’ attitude in relation to spiritual providers ---
Still more trusted are the Chaldaeans; every word uttered by the astrologer they will believe has come from Hammon's fountain, for now that the Delphian oracles are dumb, man is condemned to darkness as to his future. Chief among these was one who was oft in exile … For nowadays no astrologer has credit unless he has been imprisoned in some distant camp, with chains clanking on either arm; none believe in his powers unless he has been condemned and all but put to death, having just contrived to get deported to a Cyclad, or to escape at last from the diminutive Seriphos. (Juvenal, Satire 6, The Ways of Women)
In his desperation with the skeptical Corinthians, Paul played yet another card in his last appeal to this group. Evidently, at least some mystics were seen as being more credible as a result of having been punished by civil authorities. I think it was in this light that Paul bragged to the Corinthians about his punishments for several unspecified Jewish and Roman crimes.
And for the more prurient minded …
Debbie Does Damascus
Earlier in the essay The Ways of Women, Juvenal reveals a lurid story about Messalina, the third wife of the Emperor Claudius, in a no-holes-barred expose about that royal wife sneaking out at night to the brothel to take her position in a dank odoriferous cell, graciously receiving all comers, deep into the night ---
… look at those who rival the Gods, and hear what Claudius endured. As soon as his wife perceived that her husband was asleep, this august harlot was shameless enough to prefer a common mat to the imperial couch. … she took her place in a brothel reeking with long-used coverlets. Entering an empty cell reserved for herself, she there took her stand, under the feigned name of Lycisca, her nipples bare and gilded, and exposed to view the womb that bore thee, O nobly-born Britannicus! Here she graciously received all comers, asking from each his fee; and when at length the keeper dismissed the rest, she remained to the very last before closing her cell, and with passion still raging hot within her went sorrowfully away. Then exhausted but unsatisfied, with soiled cheeks, and begrimed with the smoke of lamps, she took back to the imperial pillow all the odours of the stews. (Juvenal, Satire 6, The Ways of Women)
robert j
Statistics: Posted by robert j — Tue Nov 05, 2024 12:27 pm