Corinth In Context

In this book, archaeologists, classicists, and specialists in Christian origins examine the social and religious life of ancient Corinth. The interdisciplinary contributions present new materials and findings on the themes of Greek and Roman identities, social stratification, and local religion.

In Corinth in Contrast, archaeologists, historians, art historians, classicists, and New Testament scholars examine the stratified nature of socio-economic, political, and religious interactions in the city from the Hellenistic period to Late Antiquity. The volume challenges standard social histories of Corinth by focusing on the unequal distribution of material, cultural, and spiritual resources. Specialists investigate specific aspects of cultural and material stratification such as commerce, slavery, religion, marriage and family, gender, and art, analyzing both the ruling elite of Corinth and the non-elite Corinthians who made up the majority of the population. This approach provides insight into the complex networks that characterized every ancient urban center and sets an agenda for future studies of Corinth and other cities rule by Rome.

From 1 Corinthians we know that the church at Corinth was beset by all sorts of problems. Some of these problems resulted from contacts with the pagan world - one member of the church cohabited with his stepmother, one brought a suit against another brother before the pagan magistrate, some ate idolatrous feasts at the pagan temple, and others underwent baptism for the dead. This refreshing and stimulating book seeks to understand the significance of these problems from the perspective of the social structures and conditions of this Graeco-Roman city, and places Paul's response to them in the same context.

This unprecedented commentary applies an exegetical method informed by both sociological insight and rhetorical analysis to the study of 1 and 2 Corinthians. In addition to using traditional exegetical and historical methods, this unique study also analyzes the two letters of Paul in terms of Greco-Roman rhetoric and ancient social conditions and customs to shed fresh light on the context and content of Paul's message. Includes 21 black-and-white photos and illustrations.

Essential reading for students and scholars of First Corinthians, this volume brings together 16 influential journal articles on the Pauline epistle from a leading expert in the field. Professor O'Connor provides postscripts to each article, engaging with the continuing debates on issues raised.

Investigate the challenges, threats, and opportunities experienced by the early church Volume two of The First Urban Churches focuses on the urban context of Christian churches in first-century Roman Corinth. An investigation of the material evidence of Corinth helps readers today understand properly the challenges, threats, and opportunities that the early Corinthian believers faced in the city. The essays demonstrate decisively the difference that such an approach makes in grappling with the meaning and context of the Corinthian epistles in the New Testament. Features: Analysis of urban evidence of the inscriptions, papyri, archaeological remains, coins, and iconography Proposed reeconstructions of the past and its social, religious, and political significance A nuanced, informed portrait of ancient urban life in Corinth

Andrew B. Spurgeon works directly from the Greek text of 1 Corinthians in a study of reverse-contextualisation, highlighting the commonalities between the contexts of Corinthian and Indian cultures and applying the epistle’s principles to Indian Christians today. In this unique commentary, Spurgeon first presents Indian similarities to those in Corinth, moves on to biblical principles the Apostle Paul raises for the Corinthian church’s attention–especially where culture was in conflict with biblical standards–and finally reapplies these principles to the context of life in twenty-first century India. This is an excellent resource for anyone wishing to study 1 Corinthians, showing that God’s Word is not only true, but is just as relevant centuries later as when it was written.

"Did Paul instigate Christianity's separation from Judaism, if one considers the stark polemical contrasts of 'new' and 'old' covenant in 2 Cor 3? Emmanuel Nathan argues that Paul reconfigured traditions and memories shaping the identity of his community at Corinth." --back cover

In this work of historical fiction, Ben Witherington III provides a one of kind window into the social and cultural context of Paul's ministry.

An interdisciplinary study of 1 Corinthians 8 and 10 in terms of rhetorical and sociological approaches gives fascinating insight into Paul's rhetoric and theology. Also, the preliminary attempt to use rhetorical hermeneutic in cross-cultural reading of the biblical text is innovative and provocative.