{"title":"Decline and Ascension. Paul’s Apostolic Self-Definition in 2Cor 12,1–10","authors":"Gudrun Nassauer","doi":"10.1515/znw-2019-0014","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"Abstract There is considerable scholarly uneasiness concerning the interpretation of Paul’s ecstatic journey to heaven (2Cor 12,1–10) as a genuine element of the “fool’s speech” (2Cor 11,16–12,13). Unlike the passages wherein Paul describes his weaknesses, little importance is attached to this heavenly ascent. The present study analyses both the argumentative function of the heavenly ascent within the context of the “fool’s speech” and its transformative function with regards to Paul’s addressees. They both culminate in a changing of perspective: It is this view from above, achieved by means of his heavenly ascent, which allows Paul (and his readers) to understand his earthly existence in weakness as the very space wherein he receives a relational experience and revelation of Christ.","PeriodicalId":44277,"journal":{"name":"ZEITSCHRIFT FUR DIE NEUTESTAMENTLICHE WISSENSCHAFT UND DIE KUNDE DER ALTEREN KIRCHE","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.3000,"publicationDate":"2019-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"ZEITSCHRIFT FUR DIE NEUTESTAMENTLICHE WISSENSCHAFT UND DIE KUNDE DER ALTEREN KIRCHE","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1515/znw-2019-0014","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"哲学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"Arts and Humanities","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Abstract There is considerable scholarly uneasiness concerning the interpretation of Paul’s ecstatic journey to heaven (2Cor 12,1–10) as a genuine element of the “fool’s speech” (2Cor 11,16–12,13). Unlike the passages wherein Paul describes his weaknesses, little importance is attached to this heavenly ascent. The present study analyses both the argumentative function of the heavenly ascent within the context of the “fool’s speech” and its transformative function with regards to Paul’s addressees. They both culminate in a changing of perspective: It is this view from above, achieved by means of his heavenly ascent, which allows Paul (and his readers) to understand his earthly existence in weakness as the very space wherein he receives a relational experience and revelation of Christ.
期刊介绍:
A highly reputed journal published since 1900, the ZEITSCHRIFT FÜR DIE NEUTESTAMENTLICHE WISSENSCHAFT is an international journal for the exegesis of the New Testament and knowledge of the early church (patristics). Appearing annually in two issues of 150 pages each plus supplements, it features original contributions in German, English, and French which have been written by well-known scholars worldwide. By accepting only high quality research papers which advance scholarship, the editors seek to retain the recognizably high niveau of the journal.