This article offers a coherent reading of a complex and difficult passage (1 Cor. 8.1- 11.1). It is argued that Paul accepts as legitimate the 'right' of the strong to eat idol- meat and does not rule out participating in activities at the temples, but offers his own example (in chapter 9) as a Christ-like pattern of the giving up of legitimate rights in the interests of others. He calls the strong Corinthians to imitate him in imitation of Christ (11.1). Paul agrees with the theological principles cited by the strong in sup port of their right (8.1-6), but argues that Christian ethical conduct is founded not upon such principles, but upon a Christological praxis—a pattern of action shaped by the self-giving of Christ.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Barrett, C.K.1971The First Epistle to the Corinthians (BNTC; London: A. & C. Black).
2.
1982'Things Sacrificed to Idols', in Essays on Paul (London: SPCK): 40-59.
3.
Barton, S.C.1996' "All Things to All People": Paul and the Law in the Light of 1 Corinthians 9.19-23', in J.D.G. Dunn (ed.), Paul and the Mosaic Law (WUNT, 89; Tübingen: J.C.B. Mohr): 271-85.
4.
Borgen, P.1994' "Yes", "No", "How Far?": The Participation of Jews and Christians in Pagan Cults', in T. Engberg-Pedersen (ed.), Paul in his Hellenistic Context (SNTW; Edinburgh : T. & T. Clark): 30-59.
5.
Brunt, J.C.1981'Love, Freedom, and Moral Responsibility: The Contribution of 1 Cor. 8-10 to an Understanding of Paul's Ethical Thinking', SBLSP20: 19-33.
6.
1985'Rejected, Ignored or Misunderstood? The Fate of Paul's Approach to the Problem of Food Offered to Idols in Early Christianity', NTS31: 113-24.
7.
Castelli, E.A.1991Imitating Paul: A Discourse of Power ( Louisville, KY: Westminster/John Knox Press).
8.
Collier, G.D.1994' "That we Might not Crave Evil": The Structure and Argument of 1 Corinthians 10.1-13', JSNT55: 55-75.
9.
Conzelmann, H.1975A Commentary on the First Epistle to the Corinthians (Hermeneia; Philadelphia: Fortress Press ).
10.
Corley, K.1994'1 Peter', in E. Schüssler Fiorenza (ed.), Searching the Scriptures. II. A Feminist Commentary (London: SCM Press): 349-60.
11.
Dautzenberg, G.1969 'Der Verzicht auf das apostolische Unterhaltsrecht: eine exegetische Untersuchung zu 1 Kor 9', Bib50: 212-32.
12.
Fee, G.D.1980'Eίδωλόθυτα Once Again: An Interpretation of 1 Corinthians 8-10', Bib61: 172-97.
13.
1987The First Epistle to the Corinthians (NICNT; Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmanns).
14.
Fisk, B.N.1989'Eating Meat Offered to Idols: Corinthian Behaviour and Pauline Response in 1 Corinthians 8-10 (A Response to Gordon Fee)', Trinity Journal10: 49-70.
15.
Furnish, V.P.1968Theology and Ethics in Paul ( Nashville : Abingdon Press).
16.
1990 'Belonging to Christ: A Paradigm for Ethics in First Corinthians' , Int44: 145-57.
17.
Gardner, P.D.1994The Gifts of God and the Authentication of a Christian: An Exegetical Study of 1 Corinthians 8-11.1 (Lanham, MD : University Press of America).
18.
Garrison, R.1997'Paul's Use of the Athlete Metaphor in 1 Corinthians 9', in The Graeco-Roman Context of Early Christian Literature (JSNTSup, 137; Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press ): 95-104.
19.
Giblin, C.H.1975 'Three Monotheistic Texts in Paul', CBQ37: 527-47.
20.
Gooch, P.D.1993Dangerous Food: I Corinthians 8-10 in Its Context (Studies in Christianity and Judaism, 5; Waterloo, Ont.: Wilfred Laurier University Press).
21.
Hays, R.B.1987 'Christology and Ethics in Galatians: The Law of Christ' , CBQ49: 268-90.
22.
1989Echoes of Scripture in the Letters of Paul ( New Haven: Yale University Press).
23.
1994'Ecclesiology and Ethics in 1 Corinthians', Ex Auditu10: 31-43.
24.
1997The Moral Vision of the New Testament: A Contemporary Introduction to New TestamentEthics (Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark).
25.
Héring, J.1962The First Epistle of Saint Paul to the Corinthians (London: Epworth Press).
26.
Hooker, M.D.1990From Adam to Christ: Essays on Paul ( Cambridge: Cambridge University Press).
27.
Horrell, D.G.1995a Review of Dangerous Food: I Corinthians 8-10 in its Context by Peter D. Gooch, JTS46: 279-82.
28.
1995b 'Paul's Collection: Resources for a Materialist Theology' , Epworth Review22.2: 74-83.
29.
1996 a The Social Ethos of the Corinthian Correspondence: Interests and Ideology from I Corinthians to I Clement (SNTW; Edinburgh : T. & T. Clark).
30.
1996b Review of The Corinthian Body by Dale B. Martin, JTS47: 624-29.
31.
1997' "The Lord commanded... But I have not used": Exegetical and Hermeneutical Reflections on 1 Cor. 9.14-15', NTS (forthcoming).
32.
Horsley, R.A.1978'Consciousness and Freedom among the Corinthians: 1 Corinthians 8-10', CBQ40: 574-89.
33.
Hurd, J.C.1965The Origin of 1 Corinthians ( London : SPCK).
34.
Hurtado, L.1984'Jesus as Lordly Example in Philippians 2.5-11' , in J.C. Hurd and P. Richardson (eds.), From Jesus to Paul: Studies in Honour of Francis Wright Beare (Waterloo, Ont.: Wilfrid Laurier University Press): 113-26.
35.
Instone Brewer, D.1992'1 Corinthians 9.9-11: A Literal Interpretation of "Do not muzzle the ox"', NTS38: 554-65.
36.
Kurz, W.S.1985'Kenotic Imitation of Paul and of Christ in Philippians 2 and 3', in F.F. Segovia (ed.), Discipleship in the New Testament (Philadelphia : Fortress Press): 103-26.
37.
Malherbe, A.J.1994'Determinism and Free Will in Paul: The Argument of 1 Corinthians 8 and 9', in T. Engberg-Pedersen (ed.), Paul in His Hellenistic Context (SNTW; Edinburgh : T. & T. Clark): 231-55.
38.
Martin, D.B.1990Slavery as Salvation: The Metaphor of Slavery in Pauline Christianity (New Haven: Yale University Press).
39.
1995The Corinthian Body (New Haven: Yale University Press).
40.
Martin, R.P.1983Carmen Christi: Philippians ii.5-11 in Recent Interpretation and in the Setting of Early Christian Worship (Grand Rapids : Eerdmans).
41.
Matera, F.J.1996New Testament Ethics: The Legacies of Jesus and Paul ( Louisville, KY: Westminster/John Knox Press).
42.
Maurer, C.'σὐνoιδα, συνειδησις' , TDNT7: 898-919.
43.
Meeks, W.A.1982' "And rose up to play": Midrash and Paraenesis in 1 Corinthians 10.1-22', JSNT16: 64-78.
44.
Merklein, H.1984 'Die Einheitlichkeit des ersten Korintherbriefes' , ZNW75: 153-83.
Mitchell, M.M.1989'Concerning περί δέ in 1 Corinthians' , NovT31: 229-56.
47.
1991Paul and the Rhetoric of Reconciliation: An Exegetical Investigation of the Language and Composition of I Corinthians (HUT, 28; Tübingen: J.C.B. Mohr).
Robbins, V.K.1996The Tapestry of Early Christian Discourse: Rhetoric. Society and Ideology(London: Routledge ).
52.
Sanders, E.P.1990Jewish Law from Jesus to the Mishnah: Five Studies (London: SCM Press).
53.
Sanders, J.T.1997 'Paul between Jews and Gentiles in Corinth', JSNT65: 67-83.
54.
Schrage, W.1995Der erste Brief an die Korinther (1 Kor 6,12-11, 16) (EKKNT, 7.2; Zürich: Benziger Verlag: Neukirchen-Vluyn: Neukirchener Verlag).
55.
Sellin, G.1987 'Hauptprobleme des ersten Korintherbriefes', ANRW, II.25.4: 2940-3044.
56.
Smith, D.E.1977 'The Egyptian Cults at Corinth', HTR70: 201-31.
57.
Stambaugh, J.E.1978 'The Functions of Roman Temples', ANRW , II.16.1: 554-608.
58.
Stanley, D.1984 'Imitation in Paul's Letters: Its Significance for His Relationship to Jesus and to his Own Christian Foundations', in J.C. Hurd and P. Richardson (eds.), From Jesus to Paul: Studies in Honour of Francis Wright Beare (Waterloo, Ont.: Wilfrid Laurier University Press): 127-41.
59.
Theissen, G.1982The Social Setting of Pauline Christianity (ed. and trans. J. Schütz; Edinburgh : T. & T. Clark).
60.
Tomson, P.J.1990Paul and the Jewish Law: Halakha in the Letters of the Apostle to the Gentiles (Assen: Van Gorcum; Minneapolis: Fortress Press).
61.
Watson, D.F.1989'1 Corinthians 10:23-11:1 in the Light of Greco-Roman Rhetoric: The Role of Rhetorical Questions', JBL108: 301-18.
62.
Weiss, J.1910Der erste Korintherbrief (Göttingen : Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht).
63.
Willis, W.L.1985a Idol Meat in Corinth: The Paulirre Argument in 1 Corinthians 8 and 10 (SBLDS, 68; Chico, CA: Scholars Press).
64.
1985b 'An Apostolic Apologia? The Form and Function of 1 Corinthians 9', JSNT24: 33-48.
65.
Winter, B.W.1990'Theological and Ethical Responses to Religious Pluralism—1 Corinthians 8-10', TynBul41: 209-26.
66.
1994Seek the Welfare of the City: Christians as Benefactors and Citizens (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans ).
67.
Witherington, B.1993 'Not so Idle Thoughts about EIDOLOTHUTON', TynBul44: 237-54.
68.
1994'Why not Idol Meat? Is it what you Eat or where you Eat it?', Bible Review10.3: 38-43, 54-55.
69.
1995Conflict and Community in Corinth: A Socio-rhetorical Commentary on 1 and 2 Corinthians (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans).
70.
Wolff, C.1989'Humility and Self-Denial in Jesus' Life and Message and in the Apostolic Existence of Paul', in A.J.M. Wedderburn (ed.), Paul and Jesus: Collected Essays (JSNTSup, 37; Sheffield: JSOT Press ): 145-60.
71.
Wright, N.T.1991'Monotheism, Christology and Ethics: 1 Corinthians 8', in The Climax of the Covenant: Christ and the Law in Pauline Theology (Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark): 120-36.
72.
Yeo, Khiok-Khng1994 'The Rhetorical Hermeneutic of 1 Corinthians 8 and Chinese Ancestor Worship', Biblnt2: 294-311.
73.
1995Rhetorical Interaction in 1 Corinthians 8 and 10: A Formal Analysis with Preliminary Suggestions for a Chinese, Cross-cultural Hermeneutic (Leiden: E.J. Brill).
74.
Zuntz, G.1953The Text of the Epistles: A Disquisition upon the Corpus Paulinum (London: Oxford University Press).
