Prodigality, Liberality and Meanness The Prodigal Son in Graeco-Roman Perspective

by Holgate, David

• ISBN13: 9781841270258
• ISBN10: 1841270253
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1999-08-01
• Publisher: Bloomsbury T&T Clark

Summary

This monograph interprets the parable of the Prodigal Son (Lk. 15.11-32) in the light of Graeco-Roman popular moral philosophy. Luke's special parables are rarely studied in this way, but the results of this study are very fruitful. The unity of the parable is supported, and it is shown to be deeply concerned with a major Lukan theme: the right use of possessions. The whole parable is read in terms of the moral topos 'on covetousness', and shown to be an endorsement of the Graeco-Roman virtue of liberality, modified by the Christian virtue of compassion.

Table of Contents

Abbreviations	9	(4)
Preface	13
Part I THE PARABLE	1	(252)
Prior Greco-Roman Perspectives on Luke 15.11-32: An Overview	16	(23)
Introduction	16	(2)
The Origins and Antecedents of Greco-Roman Perspectives	18	(8)
Prior Readings of Luke 15.11-32 from a Greco-Roman Perspective	26	(5)
From Parallel Plots to Related Patterns of Moral Thought	31	(8)
The Composition and Message of Luke 15.11-32	39	(30)
The Text of Luke 15.11-32	41	(3)
Major Divisions	44	(2)
Colon Divisions	46	(4)
Analysis of the Composition of Luke 15.11-32	50	(15)
Results	65	(4)
Co-Texts: Luke 15.11-32 and the Other L Parables	69	(21)
Luke's Teaching on Possessions and Luke 15.11-32	69	(4)
A Wider Co-Text for Luke 15.11-32: The L Parables	73	(14)
Results of Adopting the L Parables as the Co-Text	87	(3)
Part II THE TOPOS
The Topos `On Covetousness' in Moral Philosophy	90	(42)
Topoi: Definitions and Uses	92	(7)
The Topos On Covetousness	99	(2)
Moral-Philosophical Texts Reflecting the Influence of the Topos On Covetousness	101	(27)
Characteristic Features of the Topos On Covetousness	128	(4)
Part III THE PARABLE AND THE TOPOS
The Prodigal Younger Son	132	(36)
The Rejection of the Ideal of Common Ownership	133	(6)
Gathering and Scattering	139	(3)
Prodigal Living	142	(6)
Famine, Hunger and Want	148	(5)
Desire and Degradation	153	(5)
Moral Death and Ruin	158	(10)
The Liberal Father	168	(24)
The Ideal of Liberality	168	(1)
Indicators of the Father's Liberality	169	(5)
Liberality Shown by Example and Word	174	(18)
The Younger Son Learns Liberality	192	(35)
Desperation	192	(6)
Turning and Returning	198	(8)
Acknowledgment of Culpability and Confession	206	(5)
Moral Choice	211	(3)
Restoration	214	(4)
Harmony	218	(3)
Good Health	221	(6)
The Mean Elder Son	227	(20)
The Meanness of the Elder Son	228	(2)
Philosophical Views of Meanness	230	(6)
The Consequences of Meanness	236	(11)
Conclusion	247	(6)
Similarities and Differences between the Parable and the Topos	247	(2)
Luke's Philosophical Affiliation	249	(1)
Gains from Recognizing the Relationship between the Parable and the Topos	250	(1)
Further Research	251	(2)
Bibliography	253	(25)
Index of References	278	(18)
Index of Authors	296