Conversion at Corinth : An Exploration of the Understandings of Conversion Held by the Apostle Paul and the Corinthian Christians

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ISBN: 9780567089083 | 0567089088
Cover: Hardcover
Copyright: 10/1/2003

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This book explores Paul's understanding of conversion and compares it with the understanding of conversion held by his Corinthian converts. The book takes account of recent developments in the study of conversion in other disciplines and makes use of a specific social-scientific theory (Anthony Giddens' theory of structuration).The book has several unique features: no other work by a New Testament scholar assesses recent developments in the study of conversion in other disciplines. Further, while Paul's conversion and its impact on his theology has been extensively studied, there is little material exploring his attitude towards the conversion of others. In particular, his soteriology is often considered in isolation from the practical questions of how he expected conversion to take place and what he expected its consequences to be. This study attempts to fill these gaps.Finally, this book offers some new perspectives in the debates concerning cultural influences upon the Corinthian Christians.

Preface

xiii

Abbreviations

xvi

Part 1 Studying Conversion and Converts

(42)

1 Developing a Balanced Approach to Conversion

(40)

1.1 Understanding Conversion

(12)

1.1.1 Conversion: A Universal or Particular Phenomenon?

(2)

1.1.2 Conversion: An Individual or Social Phenomenon?

(6)

1.1.3 Balancing the Elements of Conversion

(3)

1.2 Understanding the Convert

(10)

1.2.1 The Active Convert

(3)

1.2.2 Conversion Accounts and Conversion Experiences

(6)

1.2.3 Summary

(1)

1.3 Conversion in Recent New Testament Study

(6)

1.3.1 Beverly Gaventa

(2)

1.3.2 Alan Segal

(3)

1.3.3 Summary

(1)

1.4 Questions and Resources

(14)

1.4.1 Selection of Subjects and Questions

(2)

1.4.2 Selection of a Theoretical Resource

(30)

1.4.2.1 Alternatives to Structuration Theory

(2)

1.4.2.2 Structuration Theory: Reproduction and Transformation

(2)

1.4.2.3 Structuration Theory: Practical Consciousness

(2)

1.4.2.4 The Potential Benefits of Structuration Theory

(3)

Part 2 Paul's Understanding of Conversion

(168)

2 Conversion and Soteriology

(14)

2.1 Dominant Trends in the Analysis of Paul's Soteriology

(6)

2.2 Critical Issues and Questions

(8)

3 God's Converting Call: Paul's use of kappaαλepsilonω

(54)

3.1 Introduction

(4)

3.2 Calling in Paul's World

(14)

3.2.1 Calling in the Septuagint

(6)

3.2.2 Calling and Graeco-Roman Philosophy

(5)

3.2.2.1 Calling and Conversion to Philosophy

(1)

3.2.2.2 Calling in Epictetus

(4)

3.2.3 Summary

(2)

3.3 Calling in Paul

(29)

3.3.1 The God Who Calls

(4)

3.3.2 The Human Response

(5)

3.3.3 Calling to a Role/Task

(1)

3.3.4 Calling and Identity

(3)

3.3.5 Who is Called - Individuals or Groups?

(3)

3.3.6 Calling and Ethnic Status

(2)

3.3.7 Calling and Social Status

(10)

3.3.8 Summary

105

(1)

3.4 Conclusions

106

(7)

3.4.1 Paul and Calling: Distinctive Use of a Concept

106

(5)

3.4.2 Calling and Practical Consciousness

111

(2)

4 Gentile Conversion

113

(36)

4.1 Introduction

113

(1)

4.2 The Secrets o f the Heart Laid Bare - 1 Cor. 14:20-25

114

(11)

4.2.1 Prophecy as an Agent of Conversion

117

(4)

4.2.2 Social and Communal Aspects of Conversion

121

(3)

4.2.3 Summary

124

(1)

4.3 Transforming Identity -1 Cor. 6:9-11

125

(22)

4.3.1 1 Cor. 6:9-11 in Recent Scholarship

125

(5)

4.3.2 Tradition in 1 Cor. 6:9-11

130

(4)

4.3.3 Reconstructing Moral Identity

134

(4)

4.3.4 Effecting the Transformation

138

(8)

4.3.5 Summary

146

(1)

4.4 Conclusions

147

(2)

5 A Jewish Convert

149

(56)

5.1 Introduction

149

(4)

5.1.1 Questions and Selection of Evidence

149

(2)

5.1.2 The Status of the Selected Evidence

151

(2)

5.2 Paul's Conversion and His Attitude Towards Judaism-Gal. 1:11-17

153

(11)

5.2.1 Call as Conversion

153

(6)

5.2.2 A Jew Set Apart

159

(4)

5.2.3 Summary

163

(1)

5.3 Recognising and Breaking the Power of Sin - Phil. 3:4-12

164

(19)

5.3.1 A Blameless Jew

164

(8)

5.3.2 Two Types of Righteousness

172

(9)

5.3.3 Summary

181

(2)

5.4 The Law and Sin - Rom. 7:7--25

183

(12)

5.4.1 The Past in Present Perspective

183

(2)

5.4.2 The Deceiving Power of Sin

185

(5)

5.4.3 The Captive Self

190

(5)

5.4.4 Summary

195

(1)

5.5 The Necessity and Limits of Self-Knowledge - 1 Cor. 4:1-5

195

(7)

5.5.1 Examining the Self

195

(7)

5.5.2 Summary

202

(1)

5.6 Conclusions

202

(3)

6 Conclusions to Part 2

205

(6)

Part 3 The Corinthians' Understanding of Conversion

211

(112)

7 Corinthian Conversion and Graeco-Roman Culture

213

(14)

7.1 Indigenisation and Practical Consciousness

213

(2)

7.2 Dominant Features of the Corinthians' Understanding of Conversion

215

(4)

7.3 Influences upon the Corinthians' Understanding of Conversion

219

(1)

7.4 Compatible and Incompatible Alternative Proposals

220

(7)

8 Corinthian Conversion and Voluntary Associations

227

(40)

8.1 Introduction

227

(9)

8.1.1 Understanding Voluntary Associations

227

(4)

8.1.2 Voluntary Associations and the Corinthian Church

231

(5)

8.2 The Role of Patronage Patronage

236

(9)

8.2.1 Patronage in the Voluntary Associations

236

(4)

8.2.2 Patronage and the Corinthian Church

240

(5)

8.3 The Common Meal

245

(7)

8.3.1 Common Meals in the Voluntary Associations

245

(1)

8.3.2 The Lord's Supper in 1 Cor. 11:17-22

246

(6)

8.3.2.1 A Neglected Problem of Interpretation

246

(3)

8.3.2.2 Competition for Honour at the Lord's Supper

249

(3)

8.4 The Courts

252

(5)

8.4.1 The Courts and the Voluntary Associations

252

(2)

8.4.2 Litigation Between Believers in 1 Cor. 6:1-8

254

(3)

8.5 Money

257

(6)

8.5.1 Translocal Relationships Among the Voluntary Associations

257

(2)

8.5.2 The Jerusalem Collection and Translocal Relationships

259

(4)

8.6 Conclusions

263

(4)

9 Corinthian Conversion and Mystery Initiation

267

(50)

9.1 Introduction

267

(13)

9.1.1 Understanding the Mysteries

267

(8)

9.1.2 The Corinthians and the Mystery Cults

275

(5)

9.2 The Spirit

280

(10)

9.2.1 Baptism anc1 the Spirit - 1 Cor. 12:13

280

(3)

9.2.2 A New Status in the Spirit -1 Cor. 2:6-16

283

(7)

9.2.2.1 The Language of 1 Cor. 2:6-16

284

(4)

9.2.2.2 The Function of the π nu epsilon upsilon μ α τ ι kappa omicron ζ-ψ upsilon x ι kappa omicron ζ Terminology

288

(2)

9.3 Baptism: The Tie that Binds

290

(12)

9.3.1 Baptism and the Creation of 'Parties' - 1 Cor. 1:10-17

290

(4)

9.3.1.1 Accounting for Paul's Rhetoric

291

(2)

9.3.1.2 'Party' Leaders as Baptisers

293

(1)

9.3.2 Baptism for the Dead -1 Cor. 15:29

294

(9)

9.3.2.1 Alternatives to Vicarious Baptism

295

(2)

9.3.2.2 Baptism for the Dead and Resurrection

297

(2)

9.3.2.3 Vicarious Baptism

299

(3)

9.4 Conclusions

302

(1)

9.5 Excursus - The Mystery Cults in First-Century Corinth

303

(14)

9.5.1 The Sanctuary of Demeter and Kore

305

(3)

9.5.2 The Cult of Palaimon/Melikertes

308

(3)

9.5.3 The Cult of Isis at Kenchreai

311

(6)

10 Conclusions

317

(6)

10.1 Paul and the Corinthians

317

(2)

10.2 Conversion and Future Research

319

(4)

Appendices

323

(20)

Appendix 1 A Classification of Paul's Use of kappaαλepsilonω kappa τ λ

325

(4)

Appendix 2 Meaning and Righteousness in Rom. 6:7

329

(8)

Appendix 3 1 Cor. 10:1-22 and the Myth of Magical Sacramentalism

337

(6)

Bibliography

343

(32)

Index of Modern Authors

375

(5)

Index of Ancient References

380

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Conversion at Corinth : An Exploration of the Understandings of Conversion Held by the Apostle Paul and the Corinthian Christians

Summary

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials