Alistair May explores the part played by sexual ethics and the rhetoric of sexual morality in the formation of Christian identity by focusing on the longest discussion of sex in the New Testament - 1Corinthians 5-7. Viewing this passage as a unified discourse, he considers how Paul's ethics serve to give his converts a distinct identity. Although tools from the social sciences are used, the major focus of the work is in careful exegesis of the text.
As the study progresses through the text of 1Corinthians 5-7, May argues that Paul strives to maintain an absolute distinction between insider and outsider in regard to morality. Immorality belongs exclusively to the outside and to the pre-conversion identity of the Corinthians. Hence those labelled immoral can no longer remain in the community.
1 Corinthians 6.12-20 reveals that, for Paul, sexual sin is unique in its destruction of Christian identity and that any sexual participation is a potential conflict with participation in Christ. Thus, chapter 6 is directly connected with the discussion of the legitimacy of marriage in 1Corinthians 7. Rejecting the scholarly consensus that Paul is reacting to ascetics, May controversially argues that chapter 7 should be read as Paul's commendation of singleness to a reluctant Corinthian audience.
This is volume 278 in the Journal for the Study of the New Testament Supplement series.
- 313 pages
- English
- PDF
- Available on iOS & Android
eBook - PDF
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Table of contents
- Cover
- Editorial Board
- Title
- Copyright
- CONTENTS
- Preface
- Abbreviations
- INTRODUCTION
- Chapter 1 IDENTITY IN THEORY
- Chapter 2 SEX AND SELF-DEFINITION AMONG THE ROMAN ELITE (A CASE STUDY)
- Chapter 3 SOCIAL DYNAMICS AND RHETORIC IN 1 CORINTHIANS
- Chapter 4 PUTTING THE πÓρνΟι IN THEIR PLACE (5.1-13)
- Chapter 5 LAWSUITS BEFORE THE άδιkΟι (6.1-11)
- Chapter 6 THE πÓρvη AND THE πoρvεíα (6.12-20)
- Chapter 7 READING 1 CORINTHIANS 7
- Chapter 8 MARRIAGE, RENUNCIATION AND SOCIAL CONTEXT
- Chapter 9 REREADING 1 CORINTHIANS 7
- CONCLUSION: THE BODY FOR THE LORD
- BIBLIOGRAPHY
- Index of References
- Index of Modern Authors
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Yes, you can access The Body for the Lord by Alistair May in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in Theology & Religion & Biblical Studies. We have over 1.5 million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.