Persecution, Persuasion and Power: Readiness to Withstand Hardship as a Corroboration of Legitimacy in the New Testament (WUNT, 270)

Cloth hardcover, xxii+443 pages, NOT ex-library. Pencil underlining/notations/marginalia on 300 pages; notes inside the rear board. Faint green offset marks on pages 70-71. A minor nick to the lower spine edge. -- Contents: 1: Introduction to the Problem, Terminology and Conceptual Framework; 2: The Pauline Letters: Faithfulness in Withstanding Persecution as Corroboration of Believers' Standing in Christ and of Paul's Apostleship A. Withstanding Persecution as an Integral Component of the Christian Life in the Undisputed Pauline Letters B. Paul as Instigator and Recipient of Persecution: Implications for Paul's Apostolic Authority C. The Suffering of Paul and Other Believers in the Deutero-Pauline Letters D. Conclusion: Persecution as a Source of Corroboration in the Pauline Letters; 3: The Audacity of Hope in First Peter That Faithfulness Amidst Persecution Will "Win" One's Oppressors and Thereby Further the Christian Mission A. Prolegomena to Examining Persecution in First Peter B-C. Withstanding Hardships as Hope for the Success of the Christian Mission (1 Pet 2:11-4:1a) & Eschatological Vindication and Confidence at the Final Judgment (1 Pet 4:1b-5:10) D. Conclusion: Valuations and Possible Difficulties; 4: Persecution, Perseverance and Perfection in the Book of Hebrews A. The Danger of Apostasy B. References to Suffering Past and Present C. Conclusion: Possible Difficulties and an Unanswered Question; 5: The Offer of Authentication by Withstanding the Coming Great Tribulation in the Revelation of John A. The Suffering of John and His Addressees B. Visions of Imminent Tribulation and John's Contingent Offer of Corroboration C. Conclusion: Summation and Possible Responses to John; 6: Readiness to Suffer as a Confirmation of Standing as Jesus' Follower in the Gospel of Mark A. Overview: Mark's Date and Depictions of "the Disciples" B. Negative Portrayals of the Twelve and Positive Portrayals of Jesus' Unnamed Followers C. Markan Characterization and Constructions of Legitimacy D. The Reception of Mark 16:8 and Depictions of Suffering in Alternate Endings; 7: The Persecuted Matthean Disciples and the Transference of Guilt from Scribes and Pharisees to Additional Jews A. Markan Depictions of Suffering and Discipleship in Matthean Interpretation B. Depictions of Suffering and Discipleship in Matthew Not Derived from Mark C. Conclusion: Matthew's Progressive Revelation of the Persecutors' Identity; 8: The Exclusion and Anticipated Killing of Jesus' Followers as Critique of the Persecutors' Concept of "Worship" in the Fourth Gospel A. Hatred and Persecution of Jesus and His Followers B. Exclusion from the Synagogue C. Critiquing the "Worship" of Those Who Will Kill Jesus' Followers D. Conclusion: The Necessity of Readiness to Confess Jesus and to Face Exclusion and Other Hardships in John; 9: Precedents in Luke for the Persecutions of Acts: The Question of Continuity and Lukan Constructions of Legitimacy A. Markan Depictions of Suffering and Discipleship in Lukan Interpretation B. Depictions of Suffering and Discipleship in Luke Not Derived from Mark C. Summation: Congruities and Incongruities Between the Depictions of Suffering in Luke and Acts; 10: Persecution as a Basis of Legitimation and Critique of the Oppressors' Standing in the Acts of the Apostles A. Prolegomena on "the Jews" in Luke-Acts and Luke's Overarching Literary Enterprise B. Opposition to the Earliest Jesus Movement in Syro-Palestine (Acts 3-12) C. The Persecution of the Pauline Mission to the Jewish Diaspora (Acts 13-19) D. Opposition to Paul from Jerusalem to Rome (Acts 20-28) E. Conclusion: Persecution as a Basis for Questioning, Confirming, and Deriving Legitimacy in Acts; Epilogue: Withstanding Persecution as a Marker of Legitimacy in Ancient and Modern Contexts: Questions of Hermeneutics, Ethics and Theological Method; Bibliography; Index of References & Modern Authors and Persons & Subjects.…