This book provides a detailed commentary on Book 1 (epistulae 1-12) of Seneca's Ad Lucilium Epistulae Morales, written in the last years (62-65 AD) of the philosopher's life. The importance of the Epistulae Morales as an example, possibly the consummation, of Seneca's writings and a discussion of Roman (Stoic) moral philosophy, is universally acknowledged. The purpose in focusing upon these first twelve epistles, which establish the principle and intention of this large collection of twenty extant Books, is to interpret and annotate the letters and add insight to the understanding of the Epistulae Morales overall. Every letter in Book 1 is discussed in the form of a commentary. Areas of comment include vocabulary and style, personal allusions to Seneca, relevant issues of history and social environment and, inevitably, the moral and philosophical concepts which form the substance of Seneca's argument throughout the Epistulae Morales. Two further issues, the Structure and Style of Book 1, are discussed in separate chapters.

The Epistulae Morales ad Lucilium, also known as the Moral Epistles, is a collection of 124 letters which were written by Seneca the Younger at the end of his life, during his retirement, and written after he had worked for the Emperor Nero for fifteen years. They are addressed to Lucilius, the then procurator of Sicily, although he is known only through Seneca's writings. Although these letters deal with Seneca's eclectic form of Stoic philosophy, they also give us valuable insights into daily life in ancient Rome.

“An exceptionally accessible” new translation of “the lively and urgent writings of one of classical antiquity’s most important ethicists” (Choice). The Roman statesman and philosopher Seneca (4 BCE–65 CE) recorded his moral philosophy and reflections on life as a highly original kind of correspondence. Letters on Ethics includes vivid descriptions of town and country life in Nero’s Italy, discussions of poetry and oratory, and philosophical training for Seneca’s friend Lucilius. This volume, the first complete English translation in nearly a century, makes the Letters more accessible than ever before. Written as much for a general audience as for Lucilius, these engaging letters offer advice on how to deal with everything from nosy neighbors to sickness, pain, and death. Seneca uses the informal format of the letter to present the central ideas of Stoicism, for centuries the most influential philosophical system in the Mediterranean world. His lively and at times humorous expositions have made the Letters his most popular work and an enduring classic. Including an introduction and explanatory notes by Margaret Graver and A. A. Long, this authoritative edition will captivate a new generation of readers.

This study examines how Cyprian of Carthage, the most significant bishop in the early Latin tradition, appropriates the canonical Paul. Cyprian, like Paul, is a pastoral theologian, so his pastoral concerns provide a helpful lens through which to study his use of the apostle. These include divine truth and eternal glory; the church’s unity, ministry and sacraments; discipline and repentance; and wealth and welfare. Examining Cyprian’s use of Paul in these areas allows us to move beyond a simple literal/allegorical paradigm to appreciate the wide range of reading strategies used by Cyprian: model, image, maxim, title, contextual exegesis, direct application, prophetic fulfilment and qualification. It also provides a different perspective on Paul than the one arrived at by privileging a handful of texts. This study of Cyprian’s appropriation of Pauline texts therefore illuminates the interplay between text, context and theology in his exegesis. It also deepens our understanding of the early North African hermeneutical tradition and the early reception of Paul.