Wealth in Ancient Ephesus and the First Letter to Timothy: Fresh Insights from Ephesiaca by Xenophon of Ephesus

by Gary G. Hoag

Scholars are divided in their views about the teachings on riches in 1 Timothy. Evidence that has been largely overlooked in NT scholarship appears in Ephesiaca by Xenophon of Ephesus and suggests that the topic be revisited. Recently dated to the mid-first century C.E., Ephesiaca brings to life what is known from ancient sources about the social setting and cultural rules of the wealthy in Ephesus and provides details that enhance our knowledge of life and society in that place and time. In this volume, Hoag introduces Ephesiaca and employs a socio-rhetorical methodology to explore it alongside other ancient evidence and five passages in 1 Timothy (2:9–15; 3:1–13; 6:1–2a; 6:2b–10; and 6:17–19). His findings augment our modern conception of the Sitz im Leben of the wealthy in Ephesus. Additionally, because Ephesiaca contains some rare terms and themes that are found in 1 Timothy, this groundbreaking research offers fresh insight for biblical reading and interpretation.

258 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2015

Reviews

[Jon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this scholarly volume immensely interesting. Hoag does a close reading for select passages from the first letter to Timothy alongside a review of Xenophon of Ephesus's Ephesiaca. By doing so, he provides a new way of interpreting many of the passages in the biblical letter. Some readings seem more convincing than others, but no matter, one comes away feeling as if one knows Timothy much better in its context.

Xenophon's work has historically been placed a century or two after Timothy, but as Hoag notes, more recent scholars now see it as being written at about the same time, which allows for the parallel reading. Hoag examples specifically attitudes toward wealth in Timothy and how those attitudes compare with those of the Ephesians and others who would have read Xenophon's tale.

The tale involves a young couple who meet at a festival for Artemis. Because they don't properly respect the goddess, the goddess banishes them to some hard times before they are allowed to return, more humbly, to Ephesus as the loving couple that they are.

In the most convincing of his arguments, Hoag examines how the work links up ideas about femininity in comparison to what the author of Timothy writes about women. Some odd statements are made in Timothy, but they fit very well when one reads them in light of the mythology surrounding Artemis. There seem to be very good reasons that the author of Timothy discusses childbirth and the creation, beyond just these being biblical stories.

Hoag's arguments regarding false teachers, benefactors, and wealth are a bit less convincing, but they are still intriguing ways to read the letter. I say they're less convincing not because they aren't good arguments but because the standard reading of the letter--that the author is dealing with some kind of proto-gnostic set of teachers--still makes sense. In other words, although Hoag makes a strong case that the enemies of the writer could be wealthy Ephesian worshipers of Artemis, he doesn't quite convince me that the other possibility doesn't make sense. So really, he simply adds to the way that one could read such passages. But this is by no means a bad thing.

[Daniel MacDonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, the BBRS series presents outstanding scholarship, and some of the finest anthropology I’ve ever read.

Hoag successfully demonstrates that the unique language in 1 Timothy is directed at the wealthy of Ephesus, where such language was frequently in use.

I found the study on 1 Tim 2:9-15 most enlightening. I was skeptical to read Hoag’s argument (since I’ve doubted Pauline authorship for some time), but I admit I was blown away. In light of Ephesiaca by Xenophon on Ephesus, the restrictions on women actually have a much different meaning than our western eyes would tell us. The teachings are also clearly directed towards specific cultic practices, evident by usage of rare terms frequently shared by Ephesiaca.

For those curious about scholarship on this controversial epistle, I suggest reading Hoag’s work.

[Geoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gary Hoag was one of my teachers at Denver Seminary who had a profound influence on my life. His course "Stewardship and Resource Raising" opened my eyes to the breadth and the depth of the biblical teaching and Christian tradition on material possessions. This book is the published version of his PhD thesis.

Gary's breakthrough was finding an ancient novel ("Ephesiaca") which illustrates many of the difficult texts in 1 Timothy - relating to women's role, leadership, false teachers and wealth. This novel, which had previously been dated much later, is set in Ephesus at about the same time Paul is writing to Timothy, so it provides valuable social and linguistic context. It uses many of the same difficult words used in 1 Timothy. The insights into the worship of the goddess Artemis were particularly interesting and helpful - for example, when it came to the meaning of "saved through childbirth" knowing that Artemis is the goddess of childbirth and that Ephesian women were expected to plead to Artemis for a safe birth, but women in Timothy's congregation were to be urged to trust God instead.

Gary's findings are consistent with the challenges I felt at seminary. We are not to depend on our material possessions for our security, but look to God who, as our divine benefactor, richly gives us all that we need to enjoy and share.

The book is clearly structured and laid out and follows the structure which makes it straight forward to read.

I highly commend this book to anyone interested in furthering their understanding of the pastoral epistles, the role of women as taught in 1 Timothy 2, or the responsibility of those with material possessions.

[Taylor M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book that explores cultural context of Ephesus by using the lens of Ephesiaca, a contemporary work of a Sinclair time period. Pretty interesting stuff.