Paul and His Rivals - (Beihefte Zur Zeitschrift Für die Neutestamentliche Wissensch) by Clair Mesick (Hardcover)
About this item
Highlights
- At the heart of Paul's Corinthian correspondence is a historical puzzle.
- Author(s): Clair Mesick
- 314 Pages
- Religion + Beliefs, Biblical Criticism & Interpretation
- Series Name: Beihefte Zur Zeitschrift Für die Neutestamentliche Wissensch
Description
About the Book
This book offers a nuanced analysis of the "super-apostles" of 2 Corinthians, arguing that rival apostles who valued their Judaism and relied on community financial support would find in Paul's first letter to the Corinthians ample reason to tBook Synopsis
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.
