1 Corinthians: A Shorter Exegetical and Pastoral Commentary

Preface
INTRODUCTION
B. Corinth Inherited a Large income from Tourism, Business, and Manufacturing
C. Corinth as a Roman Colony and the New Settlers S
D. Corinth as a Hub of Manufacturing, Patronage, and Business 6
II. The Ethos That Permeated the Church, Largely Derived from the Social, Political, and Economic Cu
B. Self-Sufficiency; Local Autonomy and Freedom IT
C. Wisdom, Knowledge, and Freedom: Further Comments 12
III. Other "Corinthian" Traits Relevant Today: The Rhetoric of Audience Approval and Resonances with
B. Rhetoric, Social Construction, and a "Postmodern" Ethos: Corinth versus Paul
C. Does Paul Use Rhetoric? What Kind of Rhetoric? i8
IV. Some Remaining Issues of Introduction That Shed Further Light upon the Text r9
B. Pluralism, Benefaction, and Self-Promotion: Archaeological Corroboration
C. Paul's Arrival in Corinth, His Ministry, and Its Date
D. The Writing of the Epistle: Its Occasion, Date, and Unity
TEXT AND COMMENTARY
B. Thanksgiving (1:4-9) 34
II. Causes and Cures of Splits in the Church (1:10-2:5) 38
B. The Criterion of the Cross: Power and Wisdom, Weakness and Folly (1:18-25)
C. The Criterion of the Cross Applied to the Readers' Social Status (1:26-31) 46
D. The Criterion of the Cross Applied to Paul's Mode of Preaching (2:1-5) 50
III. The Holy Spirit and "Spirituality": The Mind of Christ (2:6-16 and 3:1-4) 53
A. True and False Wisdom: The Cross and "Maturity" (2:6-9)
B. The Criterion of the Spirit's Action and Presence (2:10-16) 56
C. Christians Who Cannot Be Called "Spiritual" (3:1-4) 59
IV. Applying These Criteria (Cross and Holy Spirit) to Church and Ministry (3:5-4:21)
B. The Church as God's Field, God's Building, and God's Holy Temple (3:9b-i7) 64
C. The Fallibility of Human Wisdom: Self-Deception and the Verdict of God (3:18-4:5)
D. All from Grace Alone, Freely Given; but the Struggle Is Not Yet Over (4:6-13) 73
E. Pastoral Care in Action: The Heart of Paul's Concern (4:14-21) 77
V. Moral Issues That Require Clear-Cut Challenge and Change (5:1-6:20) 81
A. An Extreme Case of Conduct "beyond the Boundaries" (5:1-13) 82
B. A Warning against Manipulative and Grasping Behavior (6:1-u) 88
C. Union with Christ Lived Out in the Body or "Public World" (6:12-20) 92
VI. Paul's Replies to Questions from Corinth about a Series of Practical Issues (7:r-11:1) 99
A. Marriage, Singleness, and Those Who Have Been Widowed (7:1-40) 100
2. A Case for Getting Married? A Case for Separating? (7:8-11) 104
3. What about Those Married to Unbelievers? (7:12-16) 107
4. God's Call Is More Fundamental Than Seeking "Better" Circumstances (7:17-24) 11o
5. To Marry - or to Remain Single, Separated, or Widowed? Pour More Case Studies (7:25-40) 114
a. Those Who Are Not Married (7:25-26) 115
b. Considering Ending a Committed Relationship? (7:27) 116
c. Again, to Marry or Not to Marry? Freedom from Anxiety (7.'28-38)
d. Widows: To Marry Again? (7:39-40)
B. Love for the Other or "My Rights"? Meat Associated with Idols (8:1-11:1) 122
a. Those Who "Possess Knowledge" (8:1) and the Insecure or "Weak" (8:10) 123
b. Meat Associated with Offerings to Pagan Deities? (8:1) 124
c. The Viewpoint and Arguments of "the Strong"
e. Paul's Pastoral Strategy in This Section 126
f The Creedal Formulation (8:6; cf. 8:5) 127