Desire in Paul’s Undisputed Epistles: Semantic Observations on the Use of epithymeo, ho epithymetes, and epithymia in Roman Imperial Texts

In this study, Andrew Bowden analyzes Paul’s use of desire (

,

, and

) in his undisputed epistles. After introducing critical research on these lexemes, the author applies John Lyons’s theory of semantic analysis to the use of

in Roman imperial texts. Based on these observations, he makes a hypothesis concerning the common co-occurrences of desire in Roman imperial texts, its antonyms, the objects it longs for, and its use within metaphorical discourse. This hypothesis is then tested by looking at the use of desire in Dio Chrysostom, Epictetus, Lucian of Samosata, the Cynic epistles, and Second Temple Jewish texts. Andrew Bowden illustrates how, contrary to the view of many scholars, these Roman imperial authors consistently mention positive objects of desire. He then applies these findings concerning desire to Paul, yielding important and sometimes unexpected discoveries.