Since 1) most dissertations are little read, 2) my blog is little read, 3) I like jotting down exegetical thoughts, 4) I have views I want to promote, and 5) I value interaction, I’m going to share a few exegetical tidbits that occur to me while I write my dissertation. I’m currently past the proposal stage and on to the prospectus, the foundation-laying first chapter.
Here’s my working hypothesis / attack-plan:
- I am working on the topic of emotions in Paul (both in Paul the man and in his written corpus)…
- …because I want to find out what Paul (and, ultimately, God) views and what Paul models as the ideal emotional life for the believer…
- …so I can influence the way Bible teachers and those they shepherd view, experience, and promote emotions.
My thesis question, then, is this: How did Paul view and model the ideal emotional life of the believer?
By reading this post you agree to the terms and conditions: namely, you will not steal my topic!
Neat topic – I’d definitely like to read the abstract when you get done.
Just off the cuff, when I think of emotions and Paul, the first thing to mind is joy in Philippians (rather obvious, I know). Romans 9-11 conveys some pretty powerful emotion with reference to his desire to see Jews saved. The passage in II Cor. 4 speaks about not despairing under negative pressure. I Thess. 2 uses tender terms to talk about Paul’s relationship with those believers.
To me, Phil. 4 and its emphasis on contentment in all circumstances strikes me as the capstone of Pauline emotion.
What a great topic, Mark! Sounds very edifying. I look forward to your posts.