Paul and his Rivals (eBook)

Apostleship and Antagonism in the Corinthian Correspondence

Clair Mesick (Autor)

eBook Download: PDF

2024 | 1. Auflage
314 Seiten
Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co.KG (Verlag)
978-3-11-144544-1 (ISBN)

Infos

At the heart of Paul's Corinthian correspondence is a historical puzzle. How did the relative calm of 1 Corinthians deteriorate into the chaos of 2 Corinthians, and what role did the so-called Jewish 'super-apostles' play in that conflict? This book proposes a new solution: it was Paul, not his rivals, who shot the first volley in the Corinthian conflict.

Paul's claims of unique authority-for instance, as the architect atop whose foundation all others must build (1 Cor 3:10) and the Corinthians' father while others are mere pedagogues (4:15)-would relegate other leaders to lesser positions. His contention that accepting financial support put an obstacle before the gospel (9:12) would jeopardize the livelihood of apostles who relied on such support. Finally, Paul's claim that he becomes 'lawless to the lawless' (9:21) or that 'circumcision is nothing' (7:19) could throw into question Paul's own Jewishness (cf. 2 Cor 11:22). By reading the Corinthian correspondence against the grain-imagining how Paul's letter might have backfired for an audience who did not yet take him as scripture-this book explores how misunderstandings and misinterpretations can fracture church communities and cause a ripple effect of conflict and accusation.

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 19.8.2024
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Geisteswissenschaften ► Religion / Theologie ► Christentum
• ISBN-10: 3-11-144544-5 / 3111445445
• ISBN-13: 978-3-11-144544-1 / 9783111445441