Paul and the Creation of a Counter-Cultural Community

A Rhetorical Analysis of 1 Cor. 5.1-11.1 in Light of the Social Lives of the Corinthians

Sin-pan Daniel Ho

• Publisher: T&T Clark
• Year: 2015
• Print ISBN:
  9780567672018
• eBook ISBN:
  9780567655899
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Biblical Studies

This study offers a new interpretation of 1 Corinthians 5-11:1. Taking a social identity approach, Ho investigates the inner logic of Paul from the ears of the Corinthian correspondence.

Ho argues that Paul consistently indoctrinates new values for the audience to uphold which are against the mainstream of social values in the surrounding society. It is shown that Paul does not engage in issues of internal schism per se, but rather in the question of the distinctive values insiders should uphold so as to be recognisable to outsiders. While church is neither a sectarian nor an accommodating community, it should maintain constant social contact with outsiders so as to bring the gospel of Christ to them. In addition, insiders should practice radical values that could challenge the existing shared social values prevalent in the urban city of Corinth. These new values are based mainly on Scripture, ancient Jewish literature and the new social identity of the church defined by Jesus Christ. This fresh interpretation renders the logical flow, unitary design and coherence of 1 Cor 5 -11.1 more apparent.

Table of contents

• CONTENTS
• Acknowlegments
• Abbreviations
• INTRODUCTION
• Chapter 1 -- UNIFYING THEME OF 1 CORINTHIANS 5.1–11.1: PAST CONTRIBUTIONS AND LIMITATIONS
• 1.1. Jewish Sin and Holiness
• 1.2. Condemning Sexual Immorality
• 1.3. Social Identity Formation
• 1.4. Condemning Eating Idol Food
• 1.5. The Approach and Program of This Study
• Chapter 2 -- THE LITERARY INTEGRITY OF 1 CORINTHIANS 5.1–11.1
• 2.1. Linguistic Parallels Between 1 Corinthians 5–7and 1 Corinthians 8.1–11.1
• 2.2. Thematic Parallels
• 2.3. Conclusion
• Excursus 1 -- Critical Comments on Smith’s Argumentsfor a Curse Reading in 1 Corinthians 5.5
• Chapter 3 -- THE FUNCTION OF SATAN LANGUAGE IN 1 CORINTHIANS 5.1–11.1 IN THE LIGHT OF THE DEAD SEA SCROLLS AND PSEUDEPIGRAPHA
• 3.1. Satan in the Dead Sea Scrolls
• 3.2. Satan in the Pseudepigrapha
• 3.3. Conclusion
• Chapter 4 -- ECHOES OF SCRIPTURE AND IDENTITY FORMATION IN 1 CORINTHIANS 5.1–11.1: PART 1, 5.1–7.1
• 4.1. Three Criteria for Identifying the Echoes
• 4.2. Old Testament Allusions in 1 Corinthians 5: Pentateuch and Sirach
• 4.3. The Social Context of 1 Corinthians 5: Stepmother–Stepson Union in the First Century
• 4.4. The Rhetorical Purposes of Old Testament Allusions in 1 Corinthians 5
• 4.5. A Common Theme of 1 Corinthians 5 and 1 Corinthians 6.1–7.1: Insiders Judging Insiders
• 4.6. Old Testament Allusions in 1 Corinthians 6: Pentateuch and Daniel
• 4.7. The Social Context of 1 Corinthians 6: Civil Justice and Various Sexual Relations
• 4.8. The Rhetorical Purposes of Old Testament Allusions in 1 Corinthians 6.1–7.1
• 4.9. 1 Corinthians 7.1 Summarizes 1 Corinthians 5–6
• Excursus 2 -- Are the Echoes of Old Testament Recognisable? Responses to William Harris’ Thesis of Low Literacy Rate
• Chapter 5 -- ECHOES OF SCRIPTURE AND IDENTITY FORMATION IN 1 CORINTHIANS 5.1–11.1: PART 2, 7.2–11.1
• 5.1. The Social Context of 1 Corinthians 7.2-16
• 5.2. The Rhetorical Purposes of Genesis 2.24 in 1 Corinthians 7.2-9
• 5.3. eidolothuta as Idol Meals
• 5.4. Old Testament Allusions in 1 Corinthians 8.1–11.1
• 5.5. The Social Context of 1 Corinthians 8.1–11.1: Eating Idol Meals
• 5.6. The Rhetorical Purposes of Old Testament Allusions in 1 Corinthians 8.1–11.1
• 5.7. Conclusion
• Chapter 6 -- CHRIST AND THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY: THE SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF CHRIST LANGUAGE IN 1 CORINTHIANS 5.1–11.1
• 6.1. Christ Language at the Beginning of 1 Corinthians
• 6.2. Christ Language in 1 Corinthians 5: A Milestone of New Lives
• 6.3. Christ Language in 1 Corinthians 6: A Wake-up call for Critical Changes
• 6.4. Christ Language in 1 Corinthians 7: New Social Lives
• 6.5. Christ Language in 1 Corinthians 8.1–11.1
• 6.6. Conclusion
• Excursus 3 -- Is Paul Anti-Imperial?
• Chapter 7 -- CONCLUSION
• Bibliography
• Index of References
• Index of Authors