Paul Explains His Status
Excerpt
In v. 8 we have another newly-coined term which means literally “leaster” (elaxistoterĊ), that is “less than the least.” Paul’s sense of unworthiness was profound, because, even while he was persecuting Jesus’ followers of Jesus, Jesus’ grace was extended to him. This is not false modesty but rather profound gratitude, indicating how Paul really felt about the matter, as a text like 1 Cor. 15:9 shows. This sort of language falls under the ancient rhetorical rules for inoffensive self-praise. The rhetorical aim of such statements is to create a deep emotional response (pathos) in the audience, but it also makes it difficult to reject for if Paul is giving all the credit to God, to object to what he says is to object to what God has done. Humility, while not considered a virtue in the larger Greco-Roman world, was seen as a virtue in the Christian community and so could be referred to in a persuasive manner. The remarks also have a leveling effect, placing Paul in the same situation as the Gentile converts. Paul then very aptly says that the riches of Christ are fathomless, inscrutable, incomprehensible, untraceable. They can be announced but never fully explained. But whatever and whenever true revelation is announced, it comes into effective operation.
Witherington, Ben, III. The Letters to Philemon, the Colossians, and the Ephesians : A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary on the Captivity Epistles. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2007. Print.
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