"God Has Called Us to Peace" (1 Cor 7:15). Socio-Rhetorical Reading of the “Pauline Privilege” in 1 Cor 7:12-16

Marcin Kowalski

Instytut Nauk Biblijnych KUL , Poland


Abstract

In the present article, the author employs the elements of socio-rhetorical analysis to interpret 1 Cor 7:12-16. First, the rhetorical texture of 1 Cor 7 is explored. The author individuates the thesis in vv. 1-2 and the two argumentative blocks: vv. 3-16, and vv. 25-40, separated by the rhetorical digressio in vv. 17-25. Next, the argumentation of Paul on “mixed marriages” in 1 Cor 7:12-16 is analyzed. Special attention is paid to the issues of addressees, Paul’s idea of sanctification, and the possibility of divorce announced in vv. 15-16. The final step consists in illumining the meaning of the “peace” to which all Christians are called in 1 Cor 7:15c. According to the author, it must be understood as a synonym of salvation.

Keywords:

1 Cor 7, celibacy, divorce, marriage

Aletti J.N., „La dispositio rhétorique dans les épîtres pauliniennes. Propositions de méthode”, New Testament Studies 38/3 (1992) 385-401. (Crossref)

Balch D.L., „Backgrounds of I Cor. VII. Sayings of the Lord in Q. Moses as an Ascetic θεῖος ἀνήρ in II Cor. III”, New Testament Studies 18 (1972) 351-364. (Crossref)

Balch D.L., Let Wives Be Submissive. The Domestic Code in I Peter (Chico, CA: Scholars Press 1981).

Baltensweiler H., Die Ehe im Neuen Testament. Exegetische Untersuchung über Ehe, Ehelosigkeit und Ehescheidung (Zurich: Zwingli 1967).

Barbaglio G., La teologia di Paolo. Abbozzi in forma epistolare (Collana La Bibbia nella Storia 9; Bologna: EDB 1999).

Barrett C.K., The First Epistle to the Corinthians (London: A. & C. Black 1968).

Baumert N., Ehelosigkeit und Ehe im Herrn. Eine Neuinterpretation von 1 Kor 7 (Würzburg: Echter 1984).

Brown P., The Body and Society. Men, Women, and Sexual Renunciation in Early Christianity (Lectures on the History of Religions 13; New York: Columbia University Press 1988).

Byron B., „The Brother or Sister is Not Bound”, New Blackfriars 52/618 (1971) 514-521. (Crossref)

Caragounis C.C., „«Fornicaion» or «Concession»? Interpreting 1 Cor 7:1-7”, The Corinthian Correspondence (red. R. Bieringer) (BETL 125; Leuven: Leuven University Press – Peeters 1996) 543-559.

Carlon J.M., Pliny's Women. Constructing Virtue and Creating Identity in the Roman World (Cambridge – New York: Cambridge University Press 2009). (Crossref)

Ciampa R.E., „Revisiting the Euphemism in 1 Corinthians 7.1”, Journal for the Study of the New Testament 31/3 (2009) 325–338. (Crossref)

Collins R.F., First Corinthians (Sacra Pagina Series 7; Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press 1999).

Considine T.P., „The Pauline Privilege. Further Examination of 1 Cor 7,12-17”, Australasian Catholic Record 40 (1963) 113-119.

Conzelmann H., 1 Corinthians. A Commentary on the First Epistle to the Corinthians (Philadelphia: Fortress 1975).

Deming W., Paul on Marriage and Celibacy. The Hellenistic Background of 1 Corinthians 7 (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans 22004).

Dulau P., „Pauline Privilege. Is It Promulgated in the First Epistle to the Corinthians”, The Catholic Biblical Quarterly 13/2 (1951) 146-152.

Elliott J.K., „Paul's Teaching on Marriage in I Corinthians. Some Problems Considered”, New Testament Studies 19/02 (1973) 219-225. (Crossref)

Fee G.D., The First Epistle to the Corinthians (The New international Commentary on the New Testament; Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans 1987).

Fitzmyer J.A., First Corinthians. A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary (New Haven – London: Yale University Press 2008).

Gager J.G., Kingdom and Community. The Social World of Early Christianity (Prentice-Hall Studies in Religion Series; Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall 1975).

Garland D.E., 1 Corinthians (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament; Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic 2003).

Gillihan Y.M., „Jewish Laws on Illicit Marriage, the Defilement of Offspring, and the Holiness of the Temple. A New Halakic Interpretation of 1 Corinthians 7:14”, Journal of Biblical Literature 121/4 (2002) 711-744. (Crossref)

Horsley R.A., 1 Corinthians (Abingdon New Testament Commentaries; Nashville: Abingdon Press 1998).

Hurd J.C., The Origin of I Corinthians (London: SPCK 1965).

Instone-Brewer D., „1 Corinthians 7 in the Light of the Jewish Greek and Aramaic Marriage and Divorce Papyri”, Tyndale Bulletin 52/2 (2001) 225-243. (Crossref)

Jeremias J., Infant Baptism in the First Four Centuries (The Library of History and Doctrine; Philadelphia: Westminster Press 1960).

Johnson Hodge C., „Married to an Unbeliever: Households, Hierarchies, and Holiness in 1 Corinthians 7:12-16”, Harvard Theological Review 103/1 (2010) 1-25. (Crossref)

Keener C.S., 1-2 Corinthians (New Cambridge Bible Commentary; Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 2005).

Kennedy G.A., Classical Rhetoric and Its Christian and Secular Tradition from Ancient to Modern Times (Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press 21999).

Kistemaker S., Exposition of the First Epistle to the Corinthians (New Testament Commentary; Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books 1993).

Kowalski M., „Sługa słowa i chluba Koryntu. Analiza literacko-retoryczna argumentacji Pawła w 2 Kor 1-7”, Biblical Annals 3/2 (2013) 309-338.

Kowalski M., „Sobór i Paweł o wspólnocie małżeńskiej. Biblijne korzenie sakramentu małżeństwa w 1 Kor 7”, Kieleckie Studia Teologiczne 14 (2015) 65-82.

Kowalski M., „Retoryka i socjoretoryka w lekturze tekstów Nowego Testamentu. Cz. 2: Socjoretoryka – projekt holistycznej lektury tekstu”, Biblical Annals 7/1 (2017).

Kubo S., „I Corinthians vii. 16. Optimistic or Pessimistic?”, New Testament Studies 24/04 (1978) 539-544. (Crossref)

Laney J.C., „Paul and the Permanence of Marriage in 1 Corinthians 7”, Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 25/3 (1982) 283-294.

MacDonald M.Y., „Early Christian Women Married to Unbelievers”, Studies in Religion 19 (1990) 221-234. (Crossref)

MacDonald M.Y., Early Christian Women and Pagan Opinion. The Power of the Hysterical Woman (Cambridge – New York: Cambridge University Press 1996). (Crossref)

May A.S., The Body for the Lord. Sex and Identity in 1 Corinthians 5-7 (JSNTSup 278; London: T&T Clark 2004).

Meeks W.A., The First Urban Christians. The Social World of the Apostle Paul (New Haven: Yale University Press 1983). (Crossref)

Mitchell M.M., Paul and the Rhetoric of Reconciliation. An Exegetical Investigation of the Language and Composition of 1 Corinthians (Louisville, KY: Westminster/John Knox Press 1993). (Crossref)

Murphy-O'Connor J., „Works without Faith in 1 Cor 7:14”, Revue Biblique 84/3 (1977) 349-361.

Muszytowska D., „Żona zbawiająca męża (1 Kor 7,16)?”, Verbum Vitae 19 (2011) 164-173.

Myszor W., „Chrześcijanie wobec świata. Małżeństwo i rozwód”, Śląskie Studia Historyczno-Teologiczne 27-28 (1994-1995) 181-202.

Niederwimmer K., Askese und Mysterium. Über Ehe, Ehescheidungnd Eheverzicht in den Anfängen des christlichen Glaubens (FRLANT 113; Göttingen: Vandenhoeck und Ruprecht 1975).

O'Neil J.C., „1 Corinthians 7,14 and Infant Baptism”, L'Apôtre Paul. Personnalité, style et conception du ministère (red. A. Vanhoye) (BETL 73; Leuven: Leuven University Press – Uitgeverij Peeters 1986) 357-361.

Orr W.F. – Walther J.A., I Corinthians. A New Translation (Anchor Bible Commentaries; New Haven, Conn. – London: Yale University Press 2007).

Osiek C.A. – Balch D.L., Families in the New Testament World. Households and House Churches (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox 1997).

Phipps W.E., „Is Paul's Attitude toward Sexual Relations Contained in 1 Cor. 7. 1?”, New Testament Studies 28/01 (1982) 125-131. (Crossref)

Ramsaran R.A., „More Than an Opinion: Paul's Rhetorical Maxim in First Corinthians 7:25-26”, Catholic Biblical Quarterly 57/3 (1995) 531-541.

Robbins V.K., Exploring the Texture of Texts. A Guide to Socio-Rhetorical Interpretation (Valley Forge, PA: Trinity Press 1996).

Robbins V.K., The Tapestry of Early Christian Discourse. Rhetoric, Society, and Ideology (London: Routledge 1996).

Robbins V.K., The Invention of Christian Discourse (Rhetoric of Religious Antiquity Series 1; Blandford Forum: Deo Pub 2009).

Roberts R.L., „The Meaning of Chorizo and Douloo in I Corinthians 7:10-17”, Restoration Quarterly 8/3 (1965) 179-184.

Robertson A. – Plummer A., A Critical and Exegetical Commentary. The First Epistle of St Paul to the Corinthians (ICC; Edinburgh: Clark 21975).

Rosik M., Pierwszy list do Koryntian (Częstochowa: Edycja Świętego Pawła 2009).

Rosner B.S., Paul, Scripture and Ethics. A Study of 1 Corinthians 5-7 (AGJU 22; Leiden: Brill 1994). (Crossref)

Schrage W., Der erste Brief an die Korinther. II. 1 Kor 6,12–11,16 (EKKNT 7/2; Dusseldorf: Benziger 1995).

Theissen G., The social setting of Pauline Christianity. Essays on Corinth (Philadelphia: Fortress Press 1982).

Thiselton A.C., The First Epistle to the Corinthians. A Commentary on the Greek Text (The New International Greek Testament Commentary; Grand Rapids, MI. – Carlisle: Eerdmans – Paternoster Press 2000).

Tomson P.J., Paul and the Jewish Law. Halakha in the Letters of the Apostle to the Gentiles (Assen: Van Gorcum 1990).

Tomson P.J., „Paul's Jewish Background in View of His Law Teaching in 1 Cor 7”, Paul and the Mosaic Law. The Third Durham-Tübingen Research Symposium on Earliest Christianity and Judaism (Durham, September, 1994) (red. J.D.G. Dunn) (WUNT 2/89; Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck 1996) 251-270.

Witherington B., Conflict and Community in Corinth. A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary on 1 and 2 Corinthians (Grand Rapids MI – Carlisle: Eerdmans – Paternoster Press 1995).

Załęski J., „Najnowsze próby wyjaśnienia przywileju Pawłowego [1 Kor 7,15]”, Studia Theologica Varsaviensia 19/1 (1981) 21-34.

Załęski J., „Problem «wyjątku» w 1 Kor 7,15-16”, Collectanea Theologica 53/3 (1983) 43-63.

Załęski J., Nierozerwalność małżeństwa według św. Pawła. O tzw. przywileju Pawłowym: 1 Kor 7,10-16 (Attende Lectioni 16; Katowice: Księgarnia św. Jacka 1992).


Published
2016-12-01


Kowalski, M. (2016). Powołani do życia w pokoju (1 Kor 7,15). Lektura socjoretoryczna „przywileju Pawłowego” w 1 Kor 7,12-16. Verbum Vitae, 30, 121–152. https://doi.org/10.31743/vv.1725

Marcin Kowalski  xmkowal@gmail.com
Instytut Nauk Biblijnych KUL



License

The author(s) grant (s) to the Licensee a non-exclusive and royalty-free license in accordance with the provisions of the Appendix: LICENSE TO USE THE WORK