John T. Fitzgerald, ed. _Greco-Roman Perspectives on Friendship._ SBL
Resources for Biblical Study 34. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1997. ISBN
0-7885-0271-9 Cloth); 0-7885-0272-7 (paper)
John T. Fitzgerald, ed. _Friendship, Flattery, and Frankness of Speech:
Studies on Friendship in the New Testament World._ Supplements to Novum
Testamentukm 82. Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1996. ISBN 90-04-10454-2
David Konstan, _Friendship in the Classical World._ Key Themes in Ancient
Historyi.Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1977. ISBN 0-521-45998-2
(paper)
A careful reading of these three will make clear that "friend" (FILOS,
AMICUS) in the ancient world only minimally conincides with American ideas
of friendship. I am not going to say more than that, merely urge the
reading of the three. And read them in the order given above. They are NOT
inexpensive. The three together are about $200.00. But they are worth the
read. Konstan deals minimally with the NT, but does treat some of the
fathers.
I hope that others will similarly call attention to outstanding books that
impinge on the grammatical or lexicographical aspects of biblical Greek.
Peace. Ed Krentz
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*Edgar Krentz, Prof. of New Testament *
* Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago *
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