Acknowledgements
The following study represents a revised version of my doctoral thesis submitted in June 2022. There was already a strong network of those who made the original submission possible—invariably offering a combination of consolation, comfort, and exhortation in the process!—and in the two years that have elapsed since then, other individuals and groups have greatly aided its journey to publication. Here, I would like to acknowledge some of these fine people who have helped at various stages.
The setting for much of this research was the University of Edinburgh at the beautiful New College atop the Mound. I thank the School of Divinity for sponsorship by way of a Postgraduate Research Scholarship, which facilitated the undertaking. Ultimately, the person who has provided the most guidance and tirelessly championed me and my work along the way has been Matthew Novenson. Anyone who has worked with Matt will know that not only is he a brilliant scholar, but one of the kindest and wisest people one could hope to meet. I could not have asked for a better Doktorvater and I count myself extremely fortunate to have been under his tutelage in Edinburgh, and to continue to benefit from his mentorship as he takes up a suitably distinguished post at Princeton Theological Seminary.
Other faculty members at New College greatly assisted and encouraged me along the way: namely, Helen Bond, Suzanna Millar, Timothy Lim, Paul Foster, and Paul Parvis. Given the importance of Seneca to this study, I made regular visits to the Edinburgh Classics department. I am especially grateful to Benjamin Harriman for his lectures on the Roman Stoics and his astute feedback on my Seneca chapters at a critical time in the project. Often the unsung heroes of universities are its support staff and I also wish to record my gratitude to Karoline McLean and Robert McKay in view of their sterling service and support to me and all postgraduate students at New College.
The aspect of the PhD programme at Edinburgh that most surpassed expectations was the environment fostered within the Novenson cohort—a group to which I am honoured to belong. Many members of this group were key collaborators for this project and remain outstanding colleagues. These individuals include: Sydney Tooth, Brian Bunnell, Patrick McMurray (who graciously read and commented on a full draft of the original thesis), Matthew Sharp, Ryan Collman, Sofanit Abebe, Charles Cisco, Manse Rim, Daniel Lam, Jared Hay, Daniel Mikkelsen, Zac McNeal, and Geon Kang. Not only did I benefit from a vibrant community of New Testament scholars, but I also had friends from other theological disciplines who taught me much: Patrick Brown, Esgrid Sikahall, James Thieke, Lucy Schouten-Thieke, Nuam Hatzaw, Nathan Hood, Calida Chu, and Dingjian Xie, to name but a few.
In more recent times, this project has benefited from the insights of a host of esteemed scholars. John Barclay and Alison Jack gave me a memorable viva experience filled with kindness and encouragement as well as highly searching questions. I have greatly appreciated their feedback and support which has resulted in a far sharper project. It is now an honour for the revised thesis to have been accepted into this prestigious series and I thank everyone involved at Supplements to Novum Testamentum—particularly the anonymous reviewers, as well as the associate editor, Marjolein van Zuylen, and the production editor, Marlou Meems, for their aid. My chief thanks, however, go to series editor Margaret Mitchell for her painstaking work on my manuscript which vastly improved its content and presentation. I can assuredly say that any deficiencies and errors which remain are my own!
I received the news of this book’s acceptance for publication shortly before my first week of teaching as a Departmental Lecturer at the University of Oxford, which helped to alleviate some of the imposter syndrome that I was feeling at the time. I wish to thank the Oxford New Testament community for their welcome over the past year. All the postholders, Markus Bockmuehl, David Downs, and Jennifer Strawbridge, have mentored me in different ways and given me opportunities along the way. It has been a stimulating and congenial environment in which to complete this project and I am grateful for collegiality from both faculty and students at all levels. Elizabeth Clayton deserves particular thanks for rendering valuable and timely aid with the compiling of the indices.
Ecclesial and running communities in Scotland, England, and even further afield have provided inspiration and offered encouragement to me in my academic endeavours. There are simply too many people to mention here, but I trust that they know who they are. Undoubtedly the people who have contributed most towards this book, though, have been my family. I am grateful for my mother’s family (the Royle’s), who have always taken a keen interest in this research. My grandmother in Scotland, Betty Muir, has been an unfailing supporter and offered wonderful hospitality, particularly when the border was closed in Christmas 2020. My sister and brother, Fiona and Nick, both wonderfully different from me, have always inspired me and cheered me on in my different pursuits. My mother is the epitome of a strong woman: her gentle and faithful encouragement not only persuaded me to pursue this research but also helped me to finish it.
Finally, on a personal note, it has now been nearly twelve years since my father died. Although I miss him often, I remain grateful for his life. I think he would have liked the idea of comparing Paul and Seneca on consolation and accounting for similarities and differences between them. The following work is accordingly dedicated to him. Both inspired by and slightly modifying Vergil’s famous words in the Aeneid, iuvat meminisse (‘it helps—or is a joy—to remember’).
Alex W. Muir
Oxford, June 2024