The Rhetorical Role of Scripture in 1 Corinthians (Society of Biblical Literature Monograph Series)

324 Pages·2005·3.19 MB·English

by  John Paul Heil

STUDIES IN BIBLICAL LITERATURE STUDIES IN BIBLICAL LITERATURE
O T
The Rhetorical Role of Scripture in 1 Corinthians,an F H
E
exegetical analysis of all the explicit quotations and S
references to the Old Testament in Paul’s First Letter C R
R H
to the Corinthians, examines the various authoritative
I
P E
roles that not only scriptural quotations but also other
T T
explicitreferences and allusions to scripture play in U O
Paul’s rhetorical strategy in the letter. Through this R R
careful examination Heil shows how each scriptural E IC
quote or reference speaks with the divine authority I A
N THE RHETORICAL
of the scripturesin general and affects the audience L
11
with its authority and rhetorical power. The end result R
ROLE OF SCRIPTURE
C O
is an enlightening portrait of the powerful impact that
O
L
the Jewish scriptures exerted on Paul’s implied audience IN 1 CORINTHIANS
R E
at Corinth.
I
N
T
John Paul Heilis Professor of New Testament at
H
Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in St. Louis. His books
I
A
include The Transfiguration of Jesus: Narrative Meaning
N
and Function of Mark 9:2–8, Matt 17:1–8 and Luke
S
9:28–36(Editrice Pontificio Istituto Biblico); The Meal
Scenes in Luke-Acts: An Audience-Oriented Approach
(Society of Biblical Literature); The Gospel of Mark as
Model for Action: A Reader-Response Commentary
(Paulist); and The Death and Resurrection of Jesus: A
Narrative-Critical Reading of Matthew 26–28 (Fortress).
H
e
i
l
John Paul Heil
THE RHETORICAL ROLE OF SCRIPTURE
IN 1 CORINTHIANS
Society of Biblical Literature
Studies in Biblical Literature
Edited by
Sharon H. Ringe
Number 15
The Rhetorical Role of Scripture
in 1 Corinthians
THE RHETORICAL ROLE OF SCRIPTURE
IN 1 CORINTHIANS
John Paul Heil
Society of Biblical Literature
Atlanta
THE RHETORICAL ROLE OF SCRIPTURE
IN 1 CORINTHIANS
Copyright © 2005 by the Society of Biblical Literature
All rights reserved.No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any
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Permissions Office,Society of Biblical Literature,825 Houston Mill Road,Atlanta,
GA 30333-0399,USA.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Heil,John Paul.
The rhetorical role of Scripture in 1 Corinthians / by John Paul Heil.
p. cm.— (Society of Biblical Literature monograph series ; 15)
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN-13: 978-1-58983-167-4 (paper binding : alk.paper)
ISBN-10: 1-58983-167-5 (paper binding : alk.paper)
1. Bible. N.T. Corinthians, 1st—Socio-rhetorical criticism. 2. Bible. N.T.
Corinthians,1st—Relation to the Old Testament.3.Bible.O.T.—Relation to
Corinthians,1st.I.Title.II.Series.
BS2675.52.H45 2005
227'.2066—dc22 2005016465
12 11 10 09 08 07 06 05 5 4 3 2 1
Printed in the United States of America on acid-free,recycled paper
conforming to ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992 (R1997) and ISO 9706:1994
standards for paper permanence.
Contents
Abbreviations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xi
1. Scripture in 1 Corinthians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
State of the Research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Methodology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Paul’s Rhetorical Strategy 3
Audience Response 5
Preliminary Analysis and Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
First Rhetorical Demonstration: 1 Cor 1:18–4:21 10
Second Rhetorical Demonstration: 1 Cor 5:1–7:40 11
Third Rhetorical Demonstration: 1 Cor 8:1–11:1 12
Fourth Rhetorical Demonstration: 1 Cor 11:2–34 12
Fifth Rhetorical Demonstration: 1 Cor 12:1–14:40 13
Sixth Rhetorical Demonstration: 1 Cor 15:1–58 13
Outline of Scriptural References in 1 Corinthians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
2. 1 Corinthians 1:19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Old Testament Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Literary-Rhetorical Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Relation to the Antecedent Context in 1 Corinthians 1:1–18 . . . . . . . .22
Opening Address in 1 Corinthians 1:1–3 22
Thanksgiving in 1 Corinthians 1:4–9 24
Theme and Occasion of the Letter in 1 Corinthians 1:10–18 25
Relation to the Subsequent Context in 1 Corinthians 1:20–4:21 . . . . .30
Summary on 1 Corinthians 1:19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
3. 1 Corinthians 1:31 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
Old Testament Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
Literary-Rhetorical Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
Relation to the Antecedent Context in 1 Corinthians 1:1–30 . . . . . . . .41
v
vi TABLE OF CONTENTS
Relation to the Subsequent Context in 1 Corinthians 2:1–4:21 . . . . . .45
Summary on 1 Corinthians 1:31 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50
4. 1 Corinthians 2:9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
Old Testament Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
Literary-Rhetorical Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58
Relation to the Antecedent Context in 1 Corinthians 2:1–8 . . . . . . . . .60
Relation to the Subsequent Context in 1 Corinthians 2:10–15 . . . . . . .62
Summary on 1 Corinthians 2:9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66
5. 1 Corinthians 2:16a . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69
Literary-Rhetorical Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70
Relation to the Antecedent Context in 1 Corinthians 1:21–2:15 . . . . . .71
Relation to the Subsequent Context in 1 Corinthians 2:16b . . . . . . . . .73
Summary on 1 Corinthians 2:16a . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74
6. 1 Corinthians 3:19b–20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77
Old Testament Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77
Literary-Rhetorical Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80
Relation to the Antecedent Context in 1 Corinthians 1:17–3:19a . . . . .81
Relation to the Subsequent Context in 1 Corinthians 3:21–4:21 . . . . .84
Summary on 1 Corinthians 3:19b–20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86
7. 1 Corinthians 5:13b . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89
Old Testament Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89
Literary-Rhetorical Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .92
Relation to the Antecedent Context in 1 Corinthians 5:1–13a . . . . . . .92
Relation to the Subsequent Context in 1 Corinthians 6:1–7:2 . . . . . . .99
Summary on 1 Corinthians 5:13b . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100
8. 1 Corinthians 6:16b . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .103
Old Testament Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .103
Literary-Rhetorical Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104
The Chiastic Structure in 1 Corinthians 6:12–20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .105
Superscription: 6:12 106
Chiasm: 6:13–20 106
Relation to the Antecedent Context in 1 Corinthians 6:12–16a . . . . .111
Relation to the Subsequent Context in 1 Corinthians 6:17–20 . . . . . .117
Summary on 1 Corinthians 6:16b . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .122
9. 1 Corinthians 9:9–10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .125
Old Testament Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .125
TABLE OF CONTENTS vii
Literary-Rhetorical Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .130
Relation to the Antecedent Context in 1 Corinthians 8:1–9:8 . . . . . . .133
Relation to the Subsequent Context in 1 Corinthians 9:11–18 . . . . . .140
Summary on 1 Corinthians 9:9–10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .142
10. 1 Corinthians 10:7b . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .145
Old Testament Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .145
Literary-Rhetorical Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .146
Relation to the Antecedent Context in 1 Corinthians 8:1–10:7a . . . . .147
1 Corinthians 8:1–10:5 147
The Chiastic Structure of 10:6–11 149
Relation to the Subsequent Context in 1 Corinthians 10:8–11 . . . . . .153
Summary on 1 Corinthians 10:7b . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .158
11. 1 Corinthians 10:26 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .161
Old Testament Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .161
Literary-Rhetorical Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .162
Relation to the Antecedent Context in 1 Corinthians 10:23–25 . . . . .163
Relation to the Subsequent Context in 1 Corinthians 10:27–11:1 . . .167
Summary on 1 Corinthians 10:26 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .170
12. 1 Corinthians 11:7–12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .173
Old Testament Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .173
The Role of 1 Corinthians 11:7–12
in the Argument of 1 Corinthians 11:2–16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .175
The Structure of 1 Corinthians 11:2–16 176
The First Unit: 1 Corinthians 11:3–7 179
The Second Unit: 1 Corinthians 11:8–12 182
The Third Unit: 1 Corinthians 11:13–15 185
The Conclusion in 1 Corinthians 11:16 187
Summary on 1 Corinthians 11:7–12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .188
13. 1 Corinthians 14:21,25 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .191
Old Testament Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .191
1 Corinthians 14:21 191
1 Corinthians 14:25 194
Literary-Rhetorical Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .196
1 Corinthians 14:21 196
1 Corinthians 14:25 197
Relation to the Antecedent Context in 1 Corinthians14:1–20 . . . . . .197
Relation to the Subsequent Context in 1 Corinthians 14:22–25 . . . . .200
Summary on 1 Corinthians 14:21,25 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .202
viii TABLE OF CONTENTS
14. 1 Corinthians 15:25,27 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .205
Old Testament Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .205
1 Corinthians 15:25 and LXXPsalm 109:1 207
1 Corinthians 15:27a and LXXPsalm 8:7b 208
Literary-Rhetorical Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .210
Relation to the Context in 1 Corinthians 15:20–28 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .212
1 Corinthians 15:20–23 212
The Chiasm in 1 Corinthians 15:24–28 212
The Role of the Scriptural Quotations in the Chiasm 215
Summary on 1 Corinthians 15:25,27 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .218
15. 1 Corinthians 15:32b . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .221
Old Testament Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .221
Literary-Rhetorical Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .222
Relation to the Antecedent Context in 1 Corinthians 15:29–32a . . . .223
Relation to the Subsequent Context in 1 Corinthians 15:33–34 . . . .226
Summary on 1 Corinthians 15:32b . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .228
16. 1 Corinthians 15:45a . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .231
Old Testament Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .231
Literary-Rhetorical Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .234
Relation to the Antecedent Context in
1 Corinthians 15:21–22,35–44 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .236
1 Corinthians 15:21–22 236
1 Corinthians 15:35–44 237
Relation to the Subsequent Context in 1 Corinthians 15:46–49 . . . . .241
Summary on 1 Corinthians 15:45a . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .244
17. 1 Corinthians 15:54b–55 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .247
Old Testament Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .247
1 Corinthians 15:54b and Isaiah 25:8a 248
1 Corinthians 15:55 and Hosea 13:14b 249
Literary-Rhetorical Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .251
Relation to the Antecedent Context in
1 Corinthians 15:21–26,50–54a . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .253
1 Corinthians 15:21–26 253
1 Corinthians 15:50–54a 254
Relation to the Subsequent Context in 1 Corinthians 15:56–58 . . . . .257
Summary on 1 Corinthians 15:54b–55 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .259
TABLE OF CONTENTS ix
18. Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .261
Bibliography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .263
Author Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .287
Scripture Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .295