Paul, Dialectic and Gadamer: Conversation and Play in the Study of Paul in the Ancient World.

Stated simply, this thesis is an attempt to utilize aspects of the philosophical hermeneutics of Hans-Georg Gadamer in the interpretation of some ancient texts, and in the understanding of how interpreters of those ancient texts have acted hermeneutically toward both the texts and other interpreters. On one level, this thesis is relevant to those interested primarily in philosophical approaches to interpretation, and not necessarily expert in the interpretation of the New Testament. It can be seen as a test-case and development of Gadamer’s philosophy. On another level, this thesis is an example of technical interpretation of Paul and material relating to Paul in the New Testament. The work’s arguments in this vein are meant to stand up to the linguistic and historical rigour in which New Testament scholars pride themselves, and by which the discipline where it’s author has made his academic start will test this thesis. This group of concerns does not always obviously follow Gadamer’s interests and motivation, but it is hoped that the application of Gadamer’s philosophy to a different field will demonstrate its wider usefulness. Both aspects will need to be understood in tandem. As Gadamer in his philosophy relies on the interpretation of texts to both develop and demonstrate his philosophical hermeneutics, so too does this study’s interpretation of ancient texts form the basis for its implementation and development of - sometimes departure from— Gadamerian philosophical hermeneutics. Likewise, it is not possible to somehow separate the interpretation of Paul from the philosophical framework of this thesis