Full Description
Christopher Armitage considers previous theological perception of 1 John as a text advocating that God abhors violence, contrasted with biblical scholarship analysis that focuses upon the text's birth from hostile theological conflict between 'insiders' and 'outsiders', with immensely hostile rhetoric directed towards 'antichrists' and those who have left the community. Armitage argues that a peace-oriented reading of 1 John is still viable, but questions if the commandment that the community loves each other is intended to include their opponents, and whether the text can be of hermeneutic use to advocate non-violence and love of one's neighbour.
This book examines five key words from 1 John, hilasmos, sfazo, anthropoktonos, agape and adelphos, looking at their background and use in the Old Testament in both Hebrew and the LXX, arguing that these central themes presuppose a God whose engagement with the world is not assuaging divine anger, nor ferocious defence of truth at the expense of love, but rather peace and avoidance of hatred that inevitably leads to violence and death. Armitage concludes that a peacemaking hermeneutic is not only viable, but integral to reading the epistle.
Contents
Preface
Acknowledgements
Abbreviations
Introduction - Some Peacemaking Hermeneutical Approaches to 1 John 1
Chapter 1 - The Background, Purpose, Literary Structure and Reception of 1 John
Chapter 2 - Hilasmos and its Cognates in the Septuagint, the Intertestamental Literature and the Dead Sea Scrolls
Chapter 3 - Hilasmos in 1 John
Chapter 4 - Sfazo and anthropoktonos in 1 John
Chapter 5 - Agape and adelphos in 1 John
Chapter 6 - Peacemaking in 1 John
Conclusion: A Peacemaking Hermeneutic of 1 John
Bibliography
