Friendship, Flattery, and Frankness of Speech

This volume deals with the topics of friendship, flattery and frankness of speech in the Graeco-Roman world. The three topics were often related, with candour or frank criticism viewed as the trait that distinguished the true friend from the flatterer. The book's 11 essays are divided into three parts. The first introduces the volume and discusses the three topics in the thought of Philodemus and Plutarch. Part Two deals with Paul's use of friendship language in his correspondence with the Church at Philippi. Part Three examines the concept of frankness (parrhesia) in Paul, Luke-Acts, Hebrews and the Johannine corpus. The volume is intended to be of interest to New Testament scholars, classicists, and modern theologians and ethicists who are studying the theory and practice of friendship in antiquity.

Review:

'...no scholar interested in the letter to the Philippians dare overlook this book.' Edgar Krentz, Theology and Mission. 'These essays will interest not only Ntscholars, but also those in patristics, philology, philosophy, theology, and ethics...This is an excellent introduction to important ancient documents, the secondary literature that has developed, and interpretive method. Most of the essays are groundbreaking and incisive.' Thomas H. Olbricht, Religious Studies Review, 2000.