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Aristotle's Pursuit Of Honor

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Honor is the ultimate good thing. Aristotle writes in regard to honor, it is that “which people of position most aim at, and which is the prize appointed for the noblest deeds; and this is honour; this is surely the greatest of all good.” The society in which Paul lived was an honor shame society. The goal in social relations in the first century was to gain honor and avoid shame. It is a contest of honor. He writes, “In first-century Mediterranean world, every social interaction that takes place outside one’s family or outside one’s circle of friends is a perceived challenge of honor.” Witherington explains, “Everyone was seeking not merely to get what was coming to them but to rise in status and gain a larger share of the limited good known as honor.” A person gained honor either through people or persons ascribing it to them or they achieved it on their own. …show more content…
This apparent antagonism existed among Paul’s opponents. The super apostles that invaded the Corinthian church, in an attempt to gain honor operated from an agonistic framework. These super apostles legitimized themselves and their ministry by delegitimizing the man and the ministry of Paul. Paul Barnett writes, “One thing is clear. For their part, these newcomers legitimated their ‘ministry’ in Corinth – over and against Paul – by ‘commending themselves’, by boasting’. . . of their achievements, and by classifying (and) contrasting (10:12) their strengths with his perceived

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