Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes

Cultural Studies In 1 Corinthians

Kenneth Bailey

• Publisher: SPCK Publishing
• Year: 2011
• Print ISBN: 9780281064557
• eBook ISBN: 9780281067756
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Biblical Commentary

The result of over thirty years of research and lecturing, Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes is a ground-breaking study of Paul's first epistle to the Corinthians. Bailey examines this canonical letter through the lenses of Paul's Jewish socio-cultural and rhetorical background and the Mediterranean context of the Corinthian recipients. In a set of connected essays, he draws the reader's attention to the letter's rootedness in the Hebrew prophetic tradition, the intentional theological structure of Paul's epistolary organization and the Near Eastern cultural practices that inflect Paul's rhetorical performance. All of this is brought to bear in teasing out the nature of Paul's response to the critical situations facing the Corinthian community: racial, ethnic and theological divisions, sexual misconduct, intimate interaction with pagan practices and disputes about church practices.

“For we write to you nothing but what you can read and understand; I hope you will understand fully, as you have understood in part.”

2 COR 1:13-14

Contents

Abbreviations

Preface

Introduction

Prelude: The Prophetic Homily Rhetorical Style and Its Interpretation

Text and Commentary

0.1 Greeting and Prayer of Thanksgiving 1:1-9

1. THE CROSS and Christian Unity 1:10–4:16

1.1 The Problem: Divisions, Baptism and the Cross 1:10-16

1.2 The Wisdom and Power of God: The Cross 1:17–2:2

1.3 The Wisdom of God: Revealed Through the Spirit 2:3-16

1.4 Christian Unity: Paul, Apollos and Cephas as One 3:1–4:16

2. SEX: Men and Women in the Human Family 4:17–7:40

2.1 Immorality and the Church 4:17–5:6a

2.2 (Three Roadblocks: Leaven, Immorality and the Law Courts 5:6b–6:8)

2.3 Theology of Sexual Practice: Kingdom Ethics 6:9-12

2.4 Theology of Sexual Practice: Joining the Body 6:13-20

2.5 Sexual Practice in Harmony with the Gospel 7:1-40

3. CHRISTIAN AND PAGAN: Freedom and Responsibility 8:1–11:1

3.1 Food Offered to Idols: Freedom and Responsibility 8:1-13

3.2 Paul’s Personal Freedom and Responsibility 9:1-18

3.3 Freedom in Mission: Full Identification 9:19-27

3.4 Old Covenant Sacraments and Idolatry: Partial Identification 10:1-13

3.5 New Covenant Sacraments and Idolatry: No Identification 10:14-22

3.6 Food Offered to Idols: Freedom and Responsibility (A Final Word) 10:23–11:1

4. WORSHIP: Men and Women in the Church 11:2–14:40

4.1 Men and Women Leading in Worship: Prophets and How They Dress 11:2-16

4.2 Order in Worship: Sacrament —The Lord’s Supper 11:17-34

4.3 Gifts and the Nature of the Body 12:1-30

4.4 The Hymn to Love 12:31–14:1

4.5 Spiritual Gifts and the Upbuilding of the Body 14:1-25

4.6 Order in Worship: Word—Prophets and Speakers in Tongues 14:26-33

4.7 Women and Men Worshiping: No Chatting in Church 14:33b-40

5. RESURRECTION: Faith, Christ and Victory 15:1-58

5.1 Resurrection: The Message and the Validity of Faith 15:1-20

5.2 Resurrection: Adam and Christ —The End of All Things 15:21-28

...

Table of contents

• Testimonials
• Title page
• Imprint
• Dedication
• 2 Cor 1:13-14
• Table of contents
• Abbreviations
• Preface
• Introduction
• Prelude: The Prophetic Homily Rhetorical Style and Its Interpretation
• 0.1 Greeting and Prayer of Thanksgiving 1:1-9.
• 1. THE CROSS and Christian Unity 1:10–4:16
• 2. SEX: Men and Women in the Human Family 4:17–7:40
• 3. CHRISTIAN AND PAGAN: Freedom and Responsibility 8:1–11:1.
• 4. WORSHIP: Men and Women in the Church 11:2–14:40
• 5. RESURRECTION: Faith, Christ and Victory 15:1-58
• 6. CONCLUDING NOTES: Funding, Leadership, Greetings and Final Admonition 16:1-23
• Appendix I: Common Themes in 1 Corinthians and Amos
• Appendix II: Evidence from the Oriental Versions Used in This Study
• Glossary
• Bibliography
• Notations on the Oriental Versions Used in this Study
• Ancient Author Search items
• Modern Author Search items
• Ancient Text Search items
• Scripture Search items