Theorizing Divine Generation: Reading James 1:16–18 with the Middle Platonists
James 1:16–18 presents a theory of divine generation, which has been interpreted variously. Most commonly, this passage is taken as a reference to Christian conversion, God’s creation of the cosmos, or the creation/election of Israel. While each of these readings is possible, none accounts for all t...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Brill
2024
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| In: |
Horizons in biblical theology
Year: 2024, Volume: 46, Issue: 2, Pages: 179-195 |
| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Bible. Jakobusbrief 1
/ Generation
/ Idea of God
/ Symbolics
/ Sexuality
/ Platonism
/ History 50-200
/ Plutarchus 45-120
/ Philo, Alexandrinus 25 BC-40
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| IxTheo Classification: | BE Greco-Roman religions HC New Testament HD Early Judaism KAB Church history 30-500; early Christianity VA Philosophy |
| Further subjects: | B
sexual imagery
B Middle Platonism B divine generation B Plutarch B Philo B Epistle of James |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | James 1:16–18 presents a theory of divine generation, which has been interpreted variously. Most commonly, this passage is taken as a reference to Christian conversion, God’s creation of the cosmos, or the creation/election of Israel. While each of these readings is possible, none accounts for all the evidence. By contrast, placing James’s theory of divine generation into conversation with Middle Platonists on the same topic yields some fruitful parallels, both in its theory and significance. This comparison suggests that interpreting James 1:16–18 should produce a synthesis of previous interpretation. James here emphasizes God’s on-going procreative act as the generation of new, divinely-originated creatures of virtue, oriented towards obedience of God’s law. |
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| ISSN: | 1871-2207 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Horizons in biblical theology
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1163/18712207-12341491 |