FransJVermeiren wrote: ↑Wed May 16, 2018 12:38 am
I have a superb theological library in my backyard containing more than one million volumes. One of them is Teeple’s book.
I congratulate you on your good fortune!
For the farewell speech, would it help if we could discern a passage in one of the early Christian writings that possibly refers to a farewell speech pronounced by Paul?
...
This translation suggests that Paul had to give account before Roman authorities. In my opinion this is not the case.
1 Corinthians 1: 13 - 17 (RSV):
[13] Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
[14] I am thankful that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Ga'ius;
[15] lest any one should say that you were baptized in my name.
[16] (I did baptize also the household of Steph'anas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized any one else.)
[17] For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
Here is as much of a speech as you might find. It is from Tacitus,
Histories, Book 4:
"While things were in this state, while there was division in the Senate, resentment among the conquered, no real authority in the conquerors, and in the country at large no laws and no Emperor [[
Verse 13]], Mucianus entered the capital, and at once drew all power into his own hands. The influence of Primus Antonius and Varus Arrius was destroyed; for the irritation of Mucianus against them, though not revealed in his looks, was but ill-concealed, and the country, keen to discover such dislikes, had changed its tone and transferred its homage. He alone was canvassed and courted, and he, surrounding himself with armed men, and bargaining for palaces and gardens, ceased not, what with his magnificence, his proud bearing, and his guards, to grasp at the power, while he waived the titles of Empire.
The murder of Calpurnius Galerianus caused the utmost consternation. He was a son of Caius Piso [[
Verse 16. "The House of Stephanas" refers to "Stephen Martyr", Galerianus Piso above. He "had the face of an angel" in Acts. With the change of "Opened his veins" to "Stoned", this identification becomes hidden]], and had done nothing, but a noble name and his own youthful beauty made him the theme of common talk; and while the country was still unquiet and delighted in novel topics, there were persons who associated him with idle rumours of Imperial honours. By order of Mucianus he was surrounded with a guard of soldiers. Lest his execution in the capital should excite too much notice, they conducted him to the fortieth milestone from Rome on the Appian Road, and there put him to death by opening his veins. Julius
Priscus, who had been prefect of the Praetorian Guard under Vitellius, killed himself rather out of shame than by compulsion.
Verse 16 is nonsense on its face. "Paul" can't remember if he baptized anyone else?
Verse 17 is an "Inside Joke". What we have now is nonsense. What does "...lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power" mean? You THINK you know but if you step back a bit, I believe that you will realize that you are supplying your own meanings (See also: "He was referring to the temple of his body...").
"Paul" was a Construction based on Mucianus. He held Imperial Power in his hands and gave it up to Vespasian. He is listed as Consul (Suffect) until around 75 when he disappears from the records.
If true, then this Fragment from 1 Corinthians must have occurred after the return to Rome at the beginning of Vespasian's rule. Thus, this may be his farewell speech. It appears more as a confession from a proud...person* and is probably from 72-ish to 75-ish.
CW
* Suetonius,
12 Caesars, Vespasian:
"He [Vespasian] bore the frank language of his friends, the quips of pleaders, and the impudence of the philosophers with the greatest patience. Though Licinius
Mucianus, a man of notorious unchastity, presumed upon his services to treat Vespasian with scant respect, he never had the heart to criticize him except privately and then only to the extent of adding to a complaint made to a common friend, the significant words:
"I at least am a man."