A linguistic and historical analysis of the epithets used for Paul reveals the staging of the Apostle as an ideal ascetic. Andreas Heiser shows how Chrysostom kept ascetic standards alive by putting Paul in the limelight of the Christian communities of Antioch during the struggle with the Syrian-Antiochene ascetics.

John Chrysostom, born in Antioch around 350 AD, was a keen exegete of Paul the Apostle and his scriptures, and prior researchers used the terms "love" or "kindred spirit" to describe his relationship to Paul. A linguistic and historical analysis of the epithets used for Paul reveals the staging of the Apostle as an ideal ascetic. In his study, the author shows how Chrysostom kept ascetic standards alive by putting Paul in the limelight of the Christian communities of Antioch during the struggle with the Syrian-Antiochene ascetics. The analysis of epithets used for Paul in previous ancient Christian literature and in the works of Chrysostom sheds light on the consistencies and innovations of this staging.

Autorentext
Geboren 1971; Studium der evangelischen Theologie in Göttingen, Ewersbach, Bochum und Marburg; 2009 Promotion; seit 2010 Dozent für Kirchengeschichte an der Theologischen Hochschule Ewersbach.