Publisher 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.

Author Biography

Chris Armitage is adjunct sessional lecturer in NT at St Mark's National Theological Centre, Canberra, a research fellow at Sydney College of Divinity, and a member of the New Testament and Early Christianity Seminar at Macquarie University, Australia.

Table of Contents

PrefaceAcknowledgementsAbbreviationsIntroduction – Some Peacemaking Hermeneutical Approaches to 1 John 1Chapter 1 – The Background, Purpose, Literary Structure and Reception of 1 JohnChapter 2 – Hilasmos and its Cognates in the Septuagint, the Intertestamental Literature and the Dead Sea ScrollsChapter 3 – Hilasmos in 1 JohnChapter 4 - Sfazo and anthropoktonos in 1 JohnChapter 5 – Agape and adelphos in 1 JohnChapter 6 – Peacemaking in 1 JohnConclusion: A Peacemaking Hermeneutic of 1 JohnBibliography

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This volume explores whether texts in 1 John are compatible with their use in peacemaking theology.

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This volume explores whether texts in 1 John are compatible with their use in peacemaking theology.

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Explores the viability of John's use as a simplistic, peaceful way

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