1-2 Corinthians

by Craig S. Keener

• ISBN13: 9780521542432
• ISBN10: 052154243X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-06-13
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

This commentary explains 1 and 2 Corinthians passage by passage, following Paul's argument. It uses a variety of ancient sources to show how Paul's argument would have made sense to first-century readers, drawing from ancient letter-writing, speaking, and social conventions. The commentary will be of interest to pastors, teachers, and others who read Paul's letters because of its readability, firm grasp of the background and scholarship on the Corinthian correspondence, and its sensitivity to the sorts of questions asked by those wishing to apply Paul's letters today. It will also be of interest to scholars because of its exploration of ancient sources, often providing sources not previously cited in commentaries.

Author Biography

Craig S. Keener is a professor of New Testament at Eastern Seminary, a division of Eastern University

Table of Contents

List of Abbreviations	p. xi
Introduction to Corinth and 1 Corinthians	p. 1
Proposed Backgrounds	p. 2
Ancient Letters	p. 5
Corinth	p. 6
The Particular Situation and Paul's Response in 1 Corinthians	p. 8
Suggested Reading for Corinth and 1 Corinthians	p. 11
Paul and Philosophy	p. 11
Rhetoric and 1 Corinthians	p. 11
Politics and 1 Corinthians	p. 12
Social Setting of 1 Corinthians	p. 12
Primary Sources for Corinth	p. 13
Studies of the Local Situation in Corinth or Its Church	p. 13
Ancient Letters	p. 13
Paul and Jewish Tradition	p. 14
Theology	p. 14
Commentaries	p. 14
Sample Articles and Monographs	p. 16
Commentary on 1 Corinthians	p. 20
1:1-3: Paul's Greeting	p. 20
1:4-9: Paul Thanks God for the Corinthian Christians	p. 22
1:10-12: Demand for Unity	p. 23
1:13-17: Not a Gospel about Preachers	p. 26
1:18-25: God's Foolishness and Human Wisdom	p. 27
A Closer Look: Paul's Use of Rhetoric	p. 29
1:26-31: Boast in Christ, Not in Status	p. 31
Bridging the Horizons	p. 32
2:1-5: Converted by "Weak" Speech	p. 34
A Closer Look: Paul's Critique of Rhetoric	p. 35
2:6-13: Human Wisdom versus Wisdom from the Spirit	p. 37
2:14-3:4: Spirit-People versus Mortals	p. 39
3:5-4:5: Eschatological Evaluation	p. 41
4:6-21: Personal Appeal to Humble Themselves	p. 44
Bridging the Horizons	p. 47
5:1-13: Disciplining the Sexual Offender	p. 47
6:1-8: Christian versus Secular Courts	p. 51
6:9-11: Leaving the Former Life	p. 53
A Closer Look: Arsenokoites and malakos	p. 54
6:12-21: The Sanctity of the Body, or, Why Christians Should Not Sleep with Prostitutes	p. 56
A Closer Look: Sex in the Cities	p. 58
Bridging Horizons	p. 59
7:1-9: Sex within Marriage	p. 61
A Closer Look: Marriage, Celibacy, and Paul	p. 63
7:10-16: Staying Married	p. 64
7:17-24: Remaining Content with One's Situation	p. 65
7:25-35: Unmarried Life Simpler	p. 67
Bridging the Horizons	p. 69
7:36-40: Betrothed Virgins and Widows	p. 70
8:1-13: Knowledge and Idol Food	p. 72
A Closer Look: Idol Food	p. 75
9:1-27: Paul Relinquishes the Right of Support	p. 76
A Closer Look: Teachers' Support	p. 79
10:1-22: Eating Idol Food Supports Idolatry	p. 83
10:23-11:1: Concluding Summary and Arguments on Idol Food	p. 88
11:2-16: Sexual Modesty in Church	p. 90
A Closer Look: The Need for Head Coverings	p. 91
11:17-34: Abusing a Sacred Fellowship Meal	p. 95
A Closer Look: Symposia and the Lord's Supper	p. 96
12:1-11: Gifts from the Spirit	p. 99
12:12-30: One Body, Many Members	p. 102
Bridging the Horizons	p. 105
12:31-13:13: The Criterion for Employing Gifts	p. 106
14:1-25: Prophecy More Useful than Tongues	p. 111
14:26-40: Instructions for Order in Worship	p. 115
Bridging the Horizons	p. 120
15:1-11: Jesus Rose	p. 121
A Closer Look: Ancient Views on Resurrection	p. 122
15:12-34: Eschatological Resurrection of Believers	p. 125
15:35-58: Nature of the Resurrection	p. 129
Bridging the Horizons	p. 135
16:1-12: Plans and Instructions	p. 135
A Closer Look: Paul's Collection	p. 138
Bridging the Horizons	p. 138
16:13-24: Conclusion	p. 139
Introduction to 2 Corinthians	p. 143
Genre	p. 143
The Situation in 2 Corinthians	p. 143
Opponents	p. 144
Unity?	p. 146
Suggested Reading for 2 Corinthians	p. 152
Situation	p. 152
Theology	p. 152
Other Questions	p. 153
Commentaries	p. 153
Articles and Monographs	p. 154
Commentary on 2 Corinthians	p. 156
1:1-11: Epistolary Introduction	p. 156
1:12-22: Paul's Reliability	p. 158
A Closer Look: Fickleness	p. 159
1:23-2:11: Discipline and Forgiveness	p. 160
2:12-13: Paul's Concern for Titus	p. 162
2:14-17: God Sent Paul	p. 163
3:1-18: Revealing the Greater Covenant's Glory	p. 165
A Closer Look: Letters of Recommendation	p. 166
A Closer Look: Divine Transformation through an Image	p. 170
Bridging the Horizons	p. 171
4:1-15: God's Glory in Weak Vessels	p. 172
4:16-5:10: The Inner Person's Future Hope	p. 176
A Closer Look: Souls and Heavens	p. 177
5:11-6:10: Persevering Ambassadors of Reconciliation	p. 181
6:11-7:4: Plea to Join God's and His Ambassadors' Side	p. 190
A Closer Look: An Interpolation in 6:14-7:1?	p. 192
A Closer Look: Belial	p. 194
7:5-16: Repentant Response to Paul's Letter	p. 197
8:1-15: Examples of Sacrificial Giving	p. 200
A Closer Look: Equality	p. 205
Bridging the Horizons	p. 206
8:16-9:5: The Delegations	p. 208
A Closer Look: Chapter 9 a Separate Letter?	p. 210
9:6-15: Sowing God's Gifts, Reaping God's Praise	p. 212
10:1-18: The Meek Letter-Writer versus His Challengers	p. 215
A Closer Look: Rhetorical Expectations	p. 218
A Closer Look: Self-Boasting	p. 221
11:1-21a: Forced to Folly	p. 223
A Closer Look: Corrupting Eve (11:2-3)	p. 225
Bridging the Horizons	p. 230
11:21b-33: The Fool's Boast in Sufferings	p. 232
12:1-10: The Fool's Boast in Visions	p. 236
A Closer Look: Paradise and the Third Heaven	p. 239
12:11-18: Concluding Appeal and Summary	p. 241
12:19-13:10: Paul's Visit	p. 244
13:11-13: Closing Greetings	p. 246
Author Index	p. 249
Scripture and Apocrypha Index	p. 253
Index of Extrabiblical Jewish and Christian Sources	p. 269
Other Greco-Roman Sources	p. 279
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