Early Christianity and Greek Philosophy: The Argument of Acts 17:16-34 in Light of the Philosophical and Religious Debates of Early Post-Hellenistic Times

The speech in Athens (Acts 17:16–34) is a key text to assess the relationship between the early Christian movement and the Graeco-Roman world in Acts, but its interpretation has led to diametrically opposed conclusions, some seeing it as a rapprochement with Graeco-Roman wisdom, and others as incompatible with, and condemnatory of, Gentile religiosity and philosophy. For both sides, however, the Christological conclusion of the speech has remained a puzzle, both in terms of its connection with the rest of the argument, and its accessibility to the Greek audience of Acts’ narrative. This dissertation suggests that the speech must be interpreted in the context of the religious grammar and the philosophical debates between Hellenistic schools in early post-Hellenistic times. It argues that this approach sheds light on the argument of the speech and its Christological conclusion, and leads to a new evaluation of the relationship between the Christian message and Hellenistic philosophy, and the way Acts pictures the kerygmatic proclamation in a Gentile context.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

Doctoral

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

University of Cambridge

Year dc:date.issued

2019

Author dc:creator

• Cuany, Monique

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Gathercole, Simon

• Acts 17
• Paul in Athens
• Speeches in Acts
• Paul in Acts

Licence

• https://apollo8-f-pro.lib.cam.ac.uk/bitstreams/aa83e7ac-f145-4d2c-bbe0-1931ad6e6749/download
• https://www.rioxx.net/licenses/all-rights-reserved/

Language dc:language

en

DOI dc:identifier.doi

https://doi.org/10.17863/CAM.38346

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.repository.cam.ac.uk:1810/291165