First Corinthians (BN3031W)

Content

This unit explores Paul’s interaction with the Corinthian community, with a focus on First Corinthians and on the social and historical background to that interaction. Students will become more aware of the complexities of Paul’s relationship with the Corinthian house churches; the dialogical and rhetorical structure of the letters; the underlying social, political and cultural factors shaping the exchanges; and the christological, ethical, ecclesiological pneumatological, and eschatological themes that emerge. The unit will build on the skills of exegesis (historical-critical and socio-rhetorical methods) and encourage students in the task of applying their findings to the life and mission of the church today.

Learning outcomes

Unit sequence

45 points in Biblical Studies (including 30 points in BN)

Pedagogy

Lectures, seminars, tutorials

Indicative Bibliography

• Collins, Raymond F. First Corinthians (SP), Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 1999
• De Vos, Craig S. Church and Community Conflicts: The relationships of the Thessalonian, Corinthian and Philippian churches with their wider civic communities (SBLDS 168), Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1999.
• Elliott, Neil. Liberating Paul: The justice of God and the politics of the Apostle. Maryknoll: Orbis, 1994.
• Fee, Gordon D. The First Epistle to the Corinthians (NICNT), Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1987.
• Gorman, Michael J. Apostle of the crucified Lord: A theological introduction to Paul and his letters. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2004.
• Hays, Richard B. First Corinthians (Interpretation), Louisville: John Knox Press, 1997.
• Horsley, Richard A. Wisdom and Spiritual Transcendence at Corinth: Studies in First Corinthians. Eugene: Cascade, 2008.
• Horrell, David G. Solidarity and Difference: A contemporary reading of Paul’s ethics. London: T&T Clark, 2005.
• Kwon, Oh-Young Kwon, 1 Corinthians 1-4: Reconstructing its Social and Rhetorical Situation and Re-Reading It Cross-Culturally for Korean-Confucian Christians Today. Eugene: Wipe and Stock, 2010.
• Rosner, Brian S (ed.). Understanding Paul’s Ethics: Twentieth century approaches. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1995
• Thiselton, Anthony C. The First Epistle to the Corinthians: A commentary on the Greek text. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2000.
• White, Adam G. Where is the Wise Man: Greco–Roman Education as a Background to the Divisions in 1 Corinthians 1–4. London: Bloomsbury T & T Clark, 2015.

Assessment