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St Paul and his contemporaries - so runs a commonly accepted scholarly opinion - inhabited a world believed to be dominated by hostile superhuman powers, of whom Jews and Gentiles alike liked in fear. Dr Carr challenges this widespread assumption by means of a detailed examination of various kinds of evidence. First there is the New Testament itself. The general Mediterranean cultural background of the first century is also important, and the author looks at evidence from the early Church Fathers and gnostic material. He concludes that the notion of mighty forces of evil ranged against man was not part of the earliest Christian understanding of the world and the gospel. His argument has special significance in the light of the belief that a present-day interpretation may be given to the idea of hostile powers and their conquest by Christ, thus supporting political, social and ethical thinking within the Christian Church.

Powers (Christian theology) --- Biblical teaching --- History of doctrines --- Bible. --- Theology --- 227.08 --- Paulinische theologie --- 227.08 Paulinische theologie --- Invisible world --- Supernatural (Theology) --- Epistles of Paul --- Paul, Epistles of --- Paul Sŏsin --- Pauline epistles --- Risālat al-Qiddīs Būlus al-rasūl al-thāniyah ilá Tīmūthīʼūs --- Theology. --- Arts and Humanities --- Religion --- Powers (Christian theology) - Biblical teaching --- Powers (Christian theology) - History of doctrines - Early church, ca 30-600 --- Biblical teaching.