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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               272                         STEPHAN WITETSCHEK                            272
               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.