Jouette Bassler
"What a boon to have this landmark study published in a new, updated edition! This guarantees that the debate over the nature and meaning of Christian asceticism and celibacy will continue to benefit from Will Deming's meticulous arguments and sound conclusions."
John T. Fitzgerald
"In this revised edition of his stimulating monograph on 1 Corinthians 7, Will Deming responds to his critics and continues to dismantle the traditional and widespread depiction of Paul as a founding father of Christian asceticism. Making a clear and convincing distinction between sexual asceticism and celibacy, Deming insists that neither Paul nor the Corinthians were ascetics and that the hermeneutical key to understanding their dialogue was the Stoic-Cynic debate about the advantages and disadvantages of marriage. Grounding his treatment in the philosophical texts of the Hellenistic world and using them to illumine Paul's assumptions and arguments, Deming demonstrates that Paul was intimately aware of the moralist traditions of his day and of the conflicting views on marriage held by philosophers. An indispensable contribution for anyone interested not only in Paul but also in Hellenistic discussions of the family and marriage."
Hans-Josef Klauck
"Will Deming has done a real service to scholarship by providing clear definitions of concepts such as ascetism and celibacy in the first century C.E. and by producing an extended overview of the debate on marriage and celibacy in ancient Stoicism and Cynicism. A fresh reading of 1 Corinthians 7 against this background (without overlooking the apocalyptic elements in 7:29-31) shows a surprising coherence and consistency in Paul's argument. Advanced students and scholars will also appreciate the book's appendixes, which present two important but barely accessible source texts both in Greek and, for the first time, in a reliable English translation. No serious student of 1 Corinthians, of Paul, or of the ethical discourse in early Christianity should ignore this important study. "
J. Paul Sampley
"Will Deming's carefully reasoned interpretation of all of 1 Corinthians 7 (rather than just selected verses) within the context of the contemporary Cynic and Stoic discussions of marriage and its responsibilities overturns a long-standing nostrum in the history of interpretation and should make his readers uneasy about using the terms
ascetic or
asceticism to describe Paul or this biblical text. Deming's book enhances our understanding of Paul and the world in which he and his original readers lived."
Bryn Mawr Classical Review
"Deming's fine work is a welcome corrective to much of 20th century scholarship on 1 Corinthians 7 and the book is a pleasure to read."
Paul on Marriage and Celibacy
Paperback
|English
|0802839894
|
9780802839893
Paul on Marriage and Celibacy
Paperback
|English
|0802839894
|
9780802839893
Overview
Paul is traditionally seen as one of the founders of Christian sexual asceticism. As early as the second century C.E. church leaders looked to him as a model for their lives of abstinence. But is this a correct reading of Paul? What exactly did Paul teach on the subjects of marriage and celibacy? Will Deming here answers these questions - often in provocative new ways. By placing Paul's statements on marriage and celibacy against the backdrop of ancient Hellenistic society, Deming constructs a coherent picture of Paul's views. He shows that the conceptual world in which Paul lived and wrote had substantially vanished by 100 C.E., and terms like "sin," "body," "sex," and "holiness" began to acquire moral implications quite unlike those Paul knew. Paul conceived of marriage as a social obligation that had the potential of distracting Christians from Christ. For him, celibacy was the single life, free from such distraction, not a life of saintly denial. Sex, in turn, was not sinful but natural, and sex within marriage was both proper and necessary.ISBN: 0802839894
ISBN13: 9780802839893
Author: Mr. Will Deming
Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans-Lightning Source
Format: Paperback
PublicationDate: 2004
Language: English
Edition: 2
PageCount: 294
Dimensions: 6.25 x 0.74 x 9.25
inches
Weight:
15.2 ounces
Description
Paul is traditionally seen as one of the founders of Christian sexual asceticism. As early as the second century C.E. church leaders looked to him as a model for their lives of abstinence. But is this a correct reading of Paul? What exactly did Paul teach on the subjects of marriage and celibacy? Will Deming here answers these questions - often in provocative new ways. By placing Paul's statements on marriage and celibacy against the backdrop of ancient Hellenistic society, Deming constructs a coherent picture of Paul's views. He shows that the conceptual world in which Paul lived and wrote had substantially vanished by 100 C.E., and terms like "sin," "body," "sex," and "holiness" began to acquire moral implications quite unlike those Paul knew. Paul conceived of marriage as a social obligation that had the potential of distracting Christians from Christ. For him, celibacy was the single life, free from such distraction, not a life of saintly denial. Sex, in turn, was not sinful but natural, and sex within marriage was both proper and necessary.
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Associate professor of theology at the University of Portland, Oregon.
Condition Guidelines
Books - New and Used
The following guidelines apply to books:
- New: A brand-new copy with cover and original protective wrapping intact. Books with markings of any kind on the cover or pages, books marked as "Bargain" or "Remainder," or with any other labels attached, may not be listed as New condition.
- Used - Good: All pages and cover are intact (including the dust cover, if applicable). Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May include "From the library of" labels. Shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Item may be missing bundled media.
- Used - Acceptable: All pages and the cover are intact, but shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Pages may include limited notes, highlighting, or minor water damage but the text is readable. Item may but the dust cover may be missing. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting, but the text cannot be obscured or unreadable.
Note: Some electronic material access codes are valid only for one user. For this reason, used books, including books listed in the Used – Like New condition, may not come with functional electronic material access codes.
Shipping & Delivery
Shipping Fees
- Stevens Books offers FREE SHIPPING everywhere in the United States for ALL non-book orders, and $3.99 for each book.
- Packages are shipped from Monday to Friday.
- No additional fees and charges.
Delivery Times
The usual time for processing an order is 24 hours (1 business day), but may vary depending on the availability of products ordered. This period excludes delivery times, which depend on your geographic location.
Estimated delivery times:
- Standard Shipping: 5-8 business days
- Expedited Shipping: 3-5 business days
Shipping method varies depending on what is being shipped.
Tracking
All orders are shipped with a tracking number. Once your order has left our warehouse, a confirmation e-mail with a tracking number will be sent to you. You will be able to track your package at all times.
Damaged Parcel
If your package has been delivered in a PO Box, please note that we are not responsible for any damage that may result (consequences of extreme temperatures, theft, etc.).
If you have any questions regarding shipping or want to know about the status of an order, please contact us or email to support@stevensbooks.com.
Returns & Refunds
You may return most items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund.
To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in the original packaging.
Several types of goods are exempt from being returned. Perishable goods such as food, flowers, newspapers or magazines cannot be returned. We also do not accept products that are intimate or sanitary goods, hazardous materials, or flammable liquids or gases.
Additional non-returnable items:
- Gift cards
- Downloadable software products
- Some health and personal care items
To complete your return, we require a tracking number, which shows the items which you already returned to us.
There are certain situations where only partial refunds are granted (if applicable)
- Book with obvious signs of use
- CD, DVD, VHS tape, software, video game, cassette tape, or vinyl record that has been opened
- Any item not in its original condition, is damaged or missing parts for reasons not due to our error
- Any item that is returned more than 30 days after delivery
Items returned to us as a result of our error will receive a full refund,some returns may be subject to a restocking fee of 7% of the total item price, please contact a customer care team member to see if your return is subject. Returns that arrived on time and were as described are subject to a restocking fee.
Items returned to us that were not the result of our error, including items returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address, will be refunded the original item price less our standard restocking fees.
If the item is returned to us for any of the following reasons, a 15% restocking fee will be applied to your refund total and you will be asked to pay for return shipping:
- Item(s) no longer needed or wanted.
- Item(s) returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address.
- Item(s) returned to us that were not a result of our error.
You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).
If you need to return an item, please Contact Us with your order number and details about the product you would like to return. We will respond quickly with instructions for how to return items from your order.
Shipping Cost
We'll pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.). In other cases, you will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. Shipping costs are non-refundable. If you receive a refund, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund.
Depending on where you live, the time it may take for your exchanged product to reach you, may vary.
If you are shipping an item over $75, you should consider using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance. We don’t guarantee that we will receive your returned item.
This product is not available in the selected currency.
In Stock
Backordered
Out of Stock
Overview
Paul is traditionally seen as one of the founders of Christian sexual asceticism. As early as the second century C.E. church leaders looked to him as a model for their lives of abstinence. But is this a correct reading of Paul? What exactly did Paul teach on the subjects of marriage and celibacy? Will Deming here answers these questions - often in provocative new ways. By placing Paul's statements on marriage and celibacy against the backdrop of ancient Hellenistic society, Deming constructs a coherent picture of Paul's views. He shows that the conceptual world in which Paul lived and wrote had substantially vanished by 100 C.E., and terms like "sin," "body," "sex," and "holiness" began to acquire moral implications quite unlike those Paul knew. Paul conceived of marriage as a social obligation that had the potential of distracting Christians from Christ. For him, celibacy was the single life, free from such distraction, not a life of saintly denial. Sex, in turn, was not sinful but natural, and sex within marriage was both proper and necessary.ISBN: 0802839894
ISBN13: 9780802839893
Author: Mr. Will Deming
Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans-Lightning Source
Format: Paperback
PublicationDate: 2004
Language: English
Edition: 2
PageCount: 294
Dimensions: 6.25 x 0.74 x 9.25
inches
Weight:
15.2 ounces
Description
Paul is traditionally seen as one of the founders of Christian sexual asceticism. As early as the second century C.E. church leaders looked to him as a model for their lives of abstinence. But is this a correct reading of Paul? What exactly did Paul teach on the subjects of marriage and celibacy? Will Deming here answers these questions - often in provocative new ways. By placing Paul's statements on marriage and celibacy against the backdrop of ancient Hellenistic society, Deming constructs a coherent picture of Paul's views. He shows that the conceptual world in which Paul lived and wrote had substantially vanished by 100 C.E., and terms like "sin," "body," "sex," and "holiness" began to acquire moral implications quite unlike those Paul knew. Paul conceived of marriage as a social obligation that had the potential of distracting Christians from Christ. For him, celibacy was the single life, free from such distraction, not a life of saintly denial. Sex, in turn, was not sinful but natural, and sex within marriage was both proper and necessary.
Editorial Reviews
Jouette Bassler
"What a boon to have this landmark study published in a new, updated edition! This guarantees that the debate over the nature and meaning of Christian asceticism and celibacy will continue to benefit from Will Deming's meticulous arguments and sound conclusions."
John T. Fitzgerald
"In this revised edition of his stimulating monograph on 1 Corinthians 7, Will Deming responds to his critics and continues to dismantle the traditional and widespread depiction of Paul as a founding father of Christian asceticism. Making a clear and convincing distinction between sexual asceticism and celibacy, Deming insists that neither Paul nor the Corinthians were ascetics and that the hermeneutical key to understanding their dialogue was the Stoic-Cynic debate about the advantages and disadvantages of marriage. Grounding his treatment in the philosophical texts of the Hellenistic world and using them to illumine Paul's assumptions and arguments, Deming demonstrates that Paul was intimately aware of the moralist traditions of his day and of the conflicting views on marriage held by philosophers. An indispensable contribution for anyone interested not only in Paul but also in Hellenistic discussions of the family and marriage."
Hans-Josef Klauck
"Will Deming has done a real service to scholarship by providing clear definitions of concepts such as ascetism and celibacy in the first century C.E. and by producing an extended overview of the debate on marriage and celibacy in ancient Stoicism and Cynicism. A fresh reading of 1 Corinthians 7 against this background (without overlooking the apocalyptic elements in 7:29-31) shows a surprising coherence and consistency in Paul's argument. Advanced students and scholars will also appreciate the book's appendixes, which present two important but barely accessible source texts both in Greek and, for the first time, in a reliable English translation. No serious student of 1 Corinthians, of Paul, or of the ethical discourse in early Christianity should ignore this important study. "
J. Paul Sampley
"Will Deming's carefully reasoned interpretation of all of 1 Corinthians 7 (rather than just selected verses) within the context of the contemporary Cynic and Stoic discussions of marriage and its responsibilities overturns a long-standing nostrum in the history of interpretation and should make his readers uneasy about using the terms
ascetic or
asceticism to describe Paul or this biblical text. Deming's book enhances our understanding of Paul and the world in which he and his original readers lived."
Bryn Mawr Classical Review
"Deming's fine work is a welcome corrective to much of 20th century scholarship on 1 Corinthians 7 and the book is a pleasure to read."
"What a boon to have this landmark study published in a new, updated edition! This guarantees that the debate over the nature and meaning of Christian asceticism and celibacy will continue to benefit from Will Deming's meticulous arguments and sound conclusions."
John T. Fitzgerald
"In this revised edition of his stimulating monograph on 1 Corinthians 7, Will Deming responds to his critics and continues to dismantle the traditional and widespread depiction of Paul as a founding father of Christian asceticism. Making a clear and convincing distinction between sexual asceticism and celibacy, Deming insists that neither Paul nor the Corinthians were ascetics and that the hermeneutical key to understanding their dialogue was the Stoic-Cynic debate about the advantages and disadvantages of marriage. Grounding his treatment in the philosophical texts of the Hellenistic world and using them to illumine Paul's assumptions and arguments, Deming demonstrates that Paul was intimately aware of the moralist traditions of his day and of the conflicting views on marriage held by philosophers. An indispensable contribution for anyone interested not only in Paul but also in Hellenistic discussions of the family and marriage."
Hans-Josef Klauck
"Will Deming has done a real service to scholarship by providing clear definitions of concepts such as ascetism and celibacy in the first century C.E. and by producing an extended overview of the debate on marriage and celibacy in ancient Stoicism and Cynicism. A fresh reading of 1 Corinthians 7 against this background (without overlooking the apocalyptic elements in 7:29-31) shows a surprising coherence and consistency in Paul's argument. Advanced students and scholars will also appreciate the book's appendixes, which present two important but barely accessible source texts both in Greek and, for the first time, in a reliable English translation. No serious student of 1 Corinthians, of Paul, or of the ethical discourse in early Christianity should ignore this important study. "
J. Paul Sampley
"Will Deming's carefully reasoned interpretation of all of 1 Corinthians 7 (rather than just selected verses) within the context of the contemporary Cynic and Stoic discussions of marriage and its responsibilities overturns a long-standing nostrum in the history of interpretation and should make his readers uneasy about using the terms
ascetic or
asceticism to describe Paul or this biblical text. Deming's book enhances our understanding of Paul and the world in which he and his original readers lived."
Bryn Mawr Classical Review
"Deming's fine work is a welcome corrective to much of 20th century scholarship on 1 Corinthians 7 and the book is a pleasure to read."
About the Author
Associate professor of theology at the University of Portland, Oregon.
Condition Guidelines
Books - New and Used
The following guidelines apply to books:
- New: A brand-new copy with cover and original protective wrapping intact. Books with markings of any kind on the cover or pages, books marked as "Bargain" or "Remainder," or with any other labels attached, may not be listed as New condition.
- Used - Good: All pages and cover are intact (including the dust cover, if applicable). Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May include "From the library of" labels. Shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Item may be missing bundled media.
- Used - Acceptable: All pages and the cover are intact, but shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Pages may include limited notes, highlighting, or minor water damage but the text is readable. Item may but the dust cover may be missing. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting, but the text cannot be obscured or unreadable.
Note: Some electronic material access codes are valid only for one user. For this reason, used books, including books listed in the Used – Like New condition, may not come with functional electronic material access codes.
Shipping & Delivery
Shipping Fees
- Stevens Books offers FREE SHIPPING everywhere in the United States for ALL non-book orders, and $3.99 for each book.
- Packages are shipped from Monday to Friday.
- No additional fees and charges.
Delivery Times
The usual time for processing an order is 24 hours (1 business day), but may vary depending on the availability of products ordered. This period excludes delivery times, which depend on your geographic location.
Estimated delivery times:
- Standard Shipping: 5-8 business days
- Expedited Shipping: 3-5 business days
Shipping method varies depending on what is being shipped.
Tracking
All orders are shipped with a tracking number. Once your order has left our warehouse, a confirmation e-mail with a tracking number will be sent to you. You will be able to track your package at all times.
Damaged Parcel
If your package has been delivered in a PO Box, please note that we are not responsible for any damage that may result (consequences of extreme temperatures, theft, etc.).
If you have any questions regarding shipping or want to know about the status of an order, please contact us or email to support@stevensbooks.com.
Returns & Refunds
You may return most items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund.
To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in the original packaging.
Several types of goods are exempt from being returned. Perishable goods such as food, flowers, newspapers or magazines cannot be returned. We also do not accept products that are intimate or sanitary goods, hazardous materials, or flammable liquids or gases.
Additional non-returnable items:
- Gift cards
- Downloadable software products
- Some health and personal care items
To complete your return, we require a tracking number, which shows the items which you already returned to us.
There are certain situations where only partial refunds are granted (if applicable)
- Book with obvious signs of use
- CD, DVD, VHS tape, software, video game, cassette tape, or vinyl record that has been opened
- Any item not in its original condition, is damaged or missing parts for reasons not due to our error
- Any item that is returned more than 30 days after delivery
Items returned to us as a result of our error will receive a full refund,some returns may be subject to a restocking fee of 7% of the total item price, please contact a customer care team member to see if your return is subject. Returns that arrived on time and were as described are subject to a restocking fee.
Items returned to us that were not the result of our error, including items returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address, will be refunded the original item price less our standard restocking fees.
If the item is returned to us for any of the following reasons, a 15% restocking fee will be applied to your refund total and you will be asked to pay for return shipping:
- Item(s) no longer needed or wanted.
- Item(s) returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address.
- Item(s) returned to us that were not a result of our error.
You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).
If you need to return an item, please Contact Us with your order number and details about the product you would like to return. We will respond quickly with instructions for how to return items from your order.
Shipping Cost
We'll pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.). In other cases, you will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. Shipping costs are non-refundable. If you receive a refund, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund.
Depending on where you live, the time it may take for your exchanged product to reach you, may vary.
If you are shipping an item over $75, you should consider using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance. We don’t guarantee that we will receive your returned item.
Oops!
Sorry, it looks like some products are not available in selected quantity.
