Throughout 5:18–21 Paul has, in all likelihood, adapted material from the confessional life of the church before him (Preview). The task at hand is to examine Paul’s argument as a whole to discover his understanding and use of the material for the situation at Corinth. Verses 18–19 set out the theme of reconciliation with God as chief actor throughout. Verse 18 spells out the terms of reference; verse 19 recapitulates the theme of 18 in an antiphonal stanza, with