Stephan Witetschek, «Sankt Paul in Ketten. Zur Paulus-Ikonographie in der Apostelgeschichte und im Corpus Paulinum.», Vol. 96 (2015) 245-272
Chains or bonds are a standard feature of representations of Paul in early Christianity. In the narrative of Acts 21–28 they appear to be an element of literary iconography employed by 'Luke the painter'. This iconography begins with Paul himself, who interpreted his bonds as worn 'in Christ' (Phil 1,13) and himself as 'prisoner of Christ Jesus' (Phlm 1.9). The Deutero-Pauline Epistles follow suit: In Colossians and Ephesians the bonds appear as the iconographical attribute, while in 2 Timothy they are perceived and tackled as a problem. In any event, Paul is remembered as the Apostle in fetters.
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meistens in Grenzen, aber auf keinen Fall dürfen sie im Paulusbild
fehlen. Mit seiner Entscheidung, seine Fesseln im Philipper- und
Philemonbrief offensiv zu thematisieren, hat Paulus eine Tradition
angestoßen, die in der frühchristlichen Literatur und darüber hinaus
enorm wirkmächtig wurde: Die Deuteropaulinen entfalten sie weiter,
die Apostelgeschichte kann sie als Deutungskontext bzw. Interpretant
ihres Paulusbildes voraussetzen ― und auch im Logo des Anno
Paolino gehört die Kette zu Paulus.
Theologische Fakultät Stephan WITETSCHEK
der Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg
Arbeitsbereich Neutestamentliche Literatur und Exegese
D–79085 Freiburg im Breisgau
SUMMARY
Chains or bonds are a standard feature of representations of Paul in
early Christianity. In the narrative of Acts 21–28 they appear to be an element
of literary iconography employed by “Luke the painter”. This iconogra-
phy begins with Paul himself, who interpreted his bonds as worn “in
Christ” (Phil 1,13) and himself as “prisoner of Christ Jesus” (Phlm 1.9).
The Deutero-Pauline Epistles follow suit: In Colossians and Ephesians
the bonds appear as the iconographical attribute, while in 2 Timothy they
are perceived and tackled as a problem. In any event, Paul is remembered
as the Apostle in fetters.