Download or read book Paul's Metaphors written by David John Williams and published by . This book was released on 1999 with total page 426 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Paul's writings are laced with vivid images from the bustling New Testament world. To understand these metaphors, David J. Williams delves into that Greco-Roman world and uses ancient sources to explore a wide variety of topics such as architecture, law, commerce, health care, and education. Paul's metaphors, set apart in bold type, are examined in the light of this background information and restored to their original vitality. Well-known metaphors--the Christian as a slave of Christ, the church as a body, Paul's two natures being at war within him, the Christian as an athlete striving toward the prize, Jesus' return as a theif in the night, Christians as adopted heirs of God--and lesser-known metaphors come to life for the modern reader through Williams's careful exposition. The main text is accessible to the general reader; scholars will appreciate footnotes that discuss the Greek text and provide resources for further study. Appendix 1 lists a select chronology of the Roman Empire and appendix 2 provides dates and descriptions of significant ancient authors and tests.