First Corinthians

PHEME PERKINS

BakerAcademic

a division of Baker Publishing Group

Grand Rapids, Michigan

ΠΑΙΔΕΙΑ paideia

Commentaries on the New Testament

General Editors

Mikeal C. Parsons and Charles H. Talbert

Advisory Board

Paul J. Achtemeier

Loveday Alexander

C. Clifton Black

Susan R. Garrett

Francis J. Moloney

© 2012 by Pheme Perkins

Published by Baker Academic

a division of Baker Publishing Group

PO Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287

www.bakeracademic.com

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Perkins, Pheme.

First Corinthians / Pheme Perkins.

p. cm.—(Paideia: commentaries on the New Testament)

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-0-8010-3390-2 (pbk.)

1. Bible. N.T. Corinthians, 1st—Commentaries. I. Title.

BS2675.53.P44 2012

227′.207—dc23

2011043242

Unless otherwise noted, all quotations from 1 Corinthians are the author’s own translation. All other Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright ©1989, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Contents

List of Figures and Tables

Foreword

Preface

Abbreviations

Introduction

1 Corinthians 1:1–9 The Letter Opening

1 Corinthians 1:10–2:16 Against Divisions: God’s Wisdom

1 Corinthians 3:1–4:21 Against Divisions: Paul and Apollos as Exempla

1 Corinthians 5:1–6:20 Reports about Unholy Conduct among Believers

1 Corinthians 7:1–11:1 Questions in a Letter from Corinth

1 Corinthians 11:2–14:40 Problems in the Community Assembled for Worship

1 Corinthians 15:1–58 Reports That Some Deny the Resurrection

1 Corinthians 16:1–24 The Letter Closing

Bibliography

Index of Subjects

Index of Modern Authors

Index of Scripture and Ancient Sources

Figures and Tables

Figures

1. The Diolkos at Corinth

2. Erastus Inscription

3. Fountain of Peirene

4. The Acrocorinth

5. The Egyptian God Sarapis

6. The Rites of Isis

7. Animals for Sacrifice

8. Gallio Inscription

9. Map of Paul’s Journey East from Corinth

10. Theater Ruins

11. Persons Assembled at an Altar for a Sacrifice

12. Roman Woman’s Hairstyle

13. Woman with Head Covering

14. Map of the Mediterranean Region

Tables

1. Paul’s Rhetoric against Divisions at Corinth

2. Scripture Citations in 1 Corinthians

3. Thanksgiving Anticipates the Content of 1 Corinthians

4. Greeting Formulas in 1-2 Corinthians and Philippians

5. The Objects and Purposes of God’s Call

6. Paul’s Style of Preaching in Corinth

7. Mystery as God’s Plan of Salvation

8. Scripture Citations Related to 1 Corinthians 2:9

9. The Corinthians and the Apostles Compared

10. Vice Lists in 1 ...