Paul and Philodemus: Adaptability in Epicurean and Early Christian Psychagogy »

Clarence E. Glad, Ph.D. (1992) in History of Religions: Early Christianity, Brown University, is Research Fellow at the Institute of Theology at the University of Iceland and the Icelandic Council of Science, Division of Humanities and Social Sciences.

As Paul guides and educates his converts he functions as a psychagogue (“leader of souls”), adapting his leadership style as required in each individual case. Pauline psychagogy resembles Epicurean psychagogy in the way persons enjoying a superior moral status and spiritual aptitude help to nurture and correct others, guiding their souls in moral and religious (re)formation.
This study relates Epicurean psychagogy of late Republican times to early Christian psychagogy on the basis of an investigation which places the practice in the wider socio-cultural perspective, contextualising it in Greco-Roman literature treating friendship and flattery and the importance of adaptability in moral guidance.
Pauline studies are advanced by the introduction of new material into the discussion of the Corinthian correspondence which throws light on Paul's debate with his recalcitrant critics.