The First Epistle to the Corinthians

Description

Introduction. Roman Corinth in the time of Paul: geography, archaeology, socioeconomic status, prosperity, and culture of pragmatic pluralism -- The Christian community in Corinth: beginnings, nature, and relations with Paul -- The occasion of the Epistle: dates, reports, letters, and integrity -- Argument and rhetoric: does Paul the letter writer, theologian, and pastor use rhetorical forms and structures? -- Commentary. I. Address, greeting,and thanksgiving (1:1-9) -- II. Causes and cures of splits within the community: loyalty-groupings or status-groupings in conflict with the nature of the Cross, the Spirit, and the ministry (1:10-4:21) -- The four so-called groups (1:12) -- The posthistory, influence (Wirkungsgeschichte), and reception of Chapter 1 -- Paul's use of the term -- The meaning of "the rulers of this world order" -- The integrity of the text of 2:6-16 -- The posthistory, influence, and reception of 2:6-16 -- The posthistory, reception, and influence of Chapter 3, especially 3:5-17 -- Paul's "Catalogue of Afflictions" and its rhetoric (4:8-13) -- Mimesis and alleged paternal authoritarianism (4:15-16) -- III. Moral issues which demand a clear-cut verdict (5:1-6:20) -- Vice lists, catechesis, and the homosexuality debate (6:9-10) -- Justification by grace in 6:11 and in the Epistle -- Major themes from the posthistory, influence, and reception of Chapters 5 and 6 -- IV. Response to inquiries about marriage and related issues and about associations with idols (7:1-11:1) -- Preliminary note on divorce in relation to 7:10-11 -- The posthistory and reception of 7:14 -- Controversy about divorce and remarriage for Christians -- Slavery in the Graeco-Roman world of the first century -- The language of "eschatological imminence" (7:29-30) -- "Parthenos" and "Hyperakmos" -- Two themes in the posthistory and reception of Chapter 8 -- Some misleading factors in the history of interpretation of "apostle" -- Paul's use of the Old Testament in 9:8-9 -- Paul's allusion to "the Rock which went with them" -- The cup of blessing (10:16) -- The semantics of "one bread...one body" (10:17) -- V. Freedom, status, reciprocity, and respect for the other in the ordering of public worship and in attitudes toward "spiritual gifts" (11:2-14:40) -- Head covering (hoods), gender identity, and shame or respect (11:5-6) -- Image of God, glory, and gender differentiation (11:7-9) -- Was the Last Supper a Passover meal? Significance for exegesis -- "In remembrance of Me" -- "Prophecy": a first note in the context of Chapter 12 (12:10) -- "Spirit-baptism" in relation to 12:13 in Pentecostal theology -- Prophecy: a second note in the context of Chapter 14 -- The "interpretation" or "articulation" of glossolalia? -- "Tongues" and communicative language -- Hermeneutical method in these verses -- Which women? What kind of silence? What kind of interrogation? (14:33b-35) -- VI. The resurrection of the dead (15:1-58) -- "He was raised...He appeared...": Dawn of faith or also an event in the public domain? -- Multiple interpretations of "baptism for the dead" and our conclusion -- The nature of the resurrection "body" (15:44) -- The posthistory, impact, and actualization of Chapter 15 -- VII. Further matters of concern (16:1-24).