Moyer Hubbard | Talbot School of Theology (original) (raw)

Papers by Moyer Hubbard

Journal for the Study of Paul and His Letters

This article summarizes and critically appraises the proposals by Troels Engberg-Pedersen and Run... more This article summarizes and critically appraises the proposals by Troels Engberg-Pedersen and Runar Thorsteinsson—in numerous publications—that Paul's love ethic was not universal in scope but was restricted to Christ-followers only. Specifically, these authors contend that, while Paul encouraged believers to be kind to everyone, he did not expect them to extend love to everyone, in particular not to their enemies. Paul's love-commands, they claim, constitute an “in-group” code of conduct, and stand in marked contrast to Stoic ethics, where love is universal in scope, extending to all humanity. This article argues that this sort of restriction of Paul's love ethic is not supported by a careful examination of the key Pauline texts, and runs against the grain of the apostle's theology, ethics, and practice. Finally, a close comparison of Paul and Musonius Rufus, one of Paul's Stoic contemporaries, on this topic will demonstrate the importance of correctly assessing...

The Expository Times, 2008

Journal of Spiritual Formation and Soul Care

New Creation in Paul's Letters and Thought, 2000

Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, Dec 1, 2003

As a biblical motif, "new creation" resonates throughout the pages of the Jewish and Christian Sc... more As a biblical motif, "new creation" resonates throughout the pages of the Jewish and Christian Scriptures, and occupies a central place in the apostle Paul's vision of the Christian life. Yet the biblical and extra-biblical occurrences of this theme vary widely in meaning, referring to either a new cosmos, a new community, or a new individual. Beginning with the Old Testament and working through the important texts of Second Temple Judaism, Moyer V. Hubbard focuses on how the motif functions in the argument, strategy, and literary structure of these documents, highlighting its role as the solution to the perceived plight. He then explores in detail which senses of the term Paul intends in Galatians 6.15 and 2 Corinthians 5.17, concluding that "new creation" in Paul's letters describes the Spirit-wrought newness of the person in Christ, and is fundamentally anthropological in orientation.

New Creation in Paul's Letters and Thought, 2002

An exploration of the pneumatology of 2 Corinthians, with particular attention to the conflict se... more An exploration of the pneumatology of 2 Corinthians, with particular attention to the conflict setting of this letter.

This paper looks at 2 Corinthians 5:13 and Paul's unusual use of έξιστάσθαι, "to be out of one's ... more This paper looks at 2 Corinthians 5:13 and Paul's unusual use of έξιστάσθαι, "to be out of one's mind." Scholars have struggled to find an appropriate meaning for this verb in its present context. Some have argued that it must refer to some kind of abnormal behavior by Paul, while others argue that Paul is referencing his ecstatic experience. This paper situates this verb in the context of the Corinthian criticism of Paul's oratory, concluding that the verb έξιστάσθαι in this context alludes to that well-known complaint by the Corinthians (1 Cor. 2:1-5; 2 Cor. 10:10; 11:6) of Paul's unpolished oratory.

This article summarizes and critically appraises the proposals by Troels Engberg-Pedersen and Run... more This article summarizes and critically appraises the proposals by Troels Engberg-Pedersen and Runar Thorsteinsson—in numerous publications—that Paul’s love ethic was not universal in scope but was restricted to Christ-followers only. Specifically, these authors contend that, while Paul encouraged believers to be kind to everyone, he did not expect them to extend love to everyone, in particular not to their enemies. Paul’s love-commands, they claim, constitute an “in-group” code of conduct, and stand in marked contrast to Stoic ethics, where love is universal in scope, extending to all humanity. This article argues that this sort of restriction of Paul’s love ethic is not supported by a careful examination of the key Pauline texts, and runs against the grain of the apostle’s theology, ethics, and practice. Finally, a close comparison of Paul and Musonius Rufus, one of Paul’s Stoic contemporaries, on this topic will demonstrate the importance of correctly assessing the relative priorities of each ethical system for a proper evaluation of the tradition as a whole.

This article argues that the curious image of the honeycomb in Aseneth's conversion is symbolic o... more This article argues that the curious image of the honeycomb in Aseneth's conversion is symbolic of new birth. This link is established through both ancient sources and the evocative symbolism in the story of Aseneth.

The unresolved difficulty of Acts 18.12–17 involves finding an adequate explanation for the (seem... more The unresolved difficulty of Acts 18.12–17 involves finding an adequate explanation for the (seemingly) unprovoked hostile reaction of the crowd toward Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue in Corinth. This investigation places this incident within the larger social context of urban uprisings and mob violence in the Roman world in order to highlight the socioeconomic factors (poverty, overcrowding, etc.) that inevitably gave rise to such frequent outbursts of urban aggression during this period. As such, this study illumines not only Acts 18, but other passages in Acts where mob violence plays a leading role. Whenever a blast of turbulence falls upon the assembly. .. we find jibes and brawling and laughter. Dio Chrysostom Luke's brief account of the mobbing of Sosthenes in Acts 18.12–17 presents historians and exegetes with a fascinating set of questions, not least of which is accounting for the sudden rush of the crowd on Sosthenes, the unsuspecting and unprepared ruler of the synagogue in Corinth. Surprisingly, this issue receives scant discussion in commentaries and secondary literature, with most appealing without argument to an anti-Jewish bias on the part of the assembly and the pro-consul Gallio, who turned a blind eye to the disturbance. 1 While xenophobic 1 E.g. H.

This article situates 1 Tim. 2:15 and Paul's words regarding safety during childbearing in the co... more This article situates 1 Tim. 2:15 and Paul's words regarding safety during childbearing in the context of high maternal mortality in the first century. Using a technique drawn from modern social demographers, "demographic borrowing," this article establishes the background to this verse as grinding poverty, limited health care, and child marriage as the primary factors leading to the high incidents of maternal mortality in the ancient world. This article also offers fresh lexical evidence from Paul's letters for translating the key word σῴζω as "kept safe," as opposed to "saved."

Journal for the Study of Paul and His Letters

The Expository Times, 2008

Journal of Spiritual Formation and Soul Care

New Creation in Paul's Letters and Thought, 2000

Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, Dec 1, 2003

New Creation in Paul's Letters and Thought, 2002

This article summarizes and critically appraises the proposals by Troels Engberg-Pedersen and Run... more This article summarizes and critically appraises the proposals by Troels Engberg-Pedersen and Runar Thorsteinsson—in numerous publications—that Paul’s love ethic was not universal in scope but was restricted to Christ-followers only. Specifically, these authors contend that, while Paul encouraged believers to be kind to everyone, he did not expect them to extend love to everyone, in particular not to their enemies. Paul’s love-commands, they claim, constitute an “in-group” code of conduct, and stand in marked contrast to Stoic ethics, where love is universal in scope, extending to all humanity. This article argues that this sort of restriction of Paul’s love ethic is not supported by a careful examination of the key Pauline texts, and runs against the grain of the apostle’s theology, ethics, and practice. Finally, a close comparison of Paul and Musonius Rufus, one of Paul’s Stoic contemporaries, on this topic will demonstrate the importance of correctly assessing the relative priorities of each ethical system for a proper evaluation of the tradition as a whole.