Urgency and Severity: Pauline Rationale for Expulsion in 1 Corinthians 5:1-13

Erscheinungsjahr 2024
ISBN: 978-90-04-69311-1
Verlag: Brill

Buch, Englisch, Band 221, 312 Seiten, Format (B × H): 159 mm x 238 mm, Gewicht: 750 g

Reihe: Biblical Interpretation Series

When Paul heard that a Christ-follower in Corinth was in an incestuous relationship with his stepmother, the apostle insisted the man be removed immediately from the congregation. This dramatic response is surprising, as Paul responds to other serious situations with much less vehemence. Why did Paul react to the immoral man with such urgency and severity? Using socio-cultural tools, this study explains the importance of group identity and witness for Paul’s ecclesiology. The argument lays a foundation for contemporary readers to appraise contexts where an expulsive response to sin might be appropriate.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Bosworth, David E

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Religionswissenschaft Religionswissenschaft Allgemein

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Acknowledgements

Abbreviations

1 A Vexing Situation in Corinth

1 An Imbroglio

2 Social Scientific Criticism: Heuristic Tool

3 Psychological Models: Social Identity

4 Sociological Models: Ethics, Honor and Ritual

5 Critical Suppositions

6 Conclusion

2 The Ecclesia as Bounded Entity

1 Lexical Choices Indicating Group Boundedness

2 Group Boundedness in Corinth

3 Examples of Identity-Forming Constructs

4 Conclusion

3 Pauline Emphasis of Ethics and Ethos

1 Liminality in Corinth

2 Moral Ethos of Pagan Corinth

3 Ethical Distinction and Sensitivity to Outsiders

4 Conclusion

4 Roman Perceptions of Incest

1 Paul’s Reason for Referencing Gentiles

2 Establishing a Roman View of Incest

3 Extant Evidence for a Roman View of Incest

4 Other Sources

5 Conclusion

5 Derogation as Means of Witness

1 Mediterranean Values of Honor and Shame

2 Honor, Shame and Derogation in 1 Corinthians 5:1–13

3 Conclusion

6 Eucharist and the Immoral Man

1 Commensality as a Social Phenomenon

2 Commensal Ritual and Social Identity

3 Sympotic Exclusion in 1 Corinthians 5:6–8

4 Conclusion

7 Reputation as Criteria for Expulsion

1 The Argument, in Short

2 Benefits of This Study

3 Conclusion

Bibliography

Index

Über Autor(innen)

David E. Bosworth, Ph.D. (2022), Evangelische Theologische Faculteit Leuven, is Professor of New Testament Studies and Mission at Colorado Christian University in Lakewood, Colorado and a Research Associate in the Department of New Testament and Related Literature at the University of Pretoria. He also serves as U.S. Director for the Zodhiates International New Testament Study Center in Athens, Greece.