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Chronological Thread  
  • From: Richard Fellows <rfellows AT intergate.ca>
  • To: "Corpus-paul" <corpus-paul AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
  • Subject: Re: Hurd's chronology
  • Date: Wed, 21 Feb 2001 22:21:55 -0800



John Hurd wrote:
>Passover 1 CORINTHIANS
>
> Written in answer to the Corinthians' Reply Letter and the oral news
from
> "Chloe's people". Sent via the same three messengers (1 Cor.
16:18).
> Contained Paul's first set of travel plans: Ephesus --> Macedonia
--> Corinth
> (for the winter) --> Jerusalem (1 Cor. 16:3-7).

No. The travel plan of 1 Cor. 16:3-7 was Paul's second and final travel
plan, for it was the plan that was actually carried out. We know that the
travel plan of 2 Cor 1.15-16 was cancelled so that plan was first. We have
no evidence that the plan of 1 Cor 16 was cancelled.

>Summer
> Heard of trouble in Corinth (perhaps concerning the "incestuous"
man, 1 Cor.
> 5:1-8, 13b).
> Made unplanned and unsuccessful ("painful", 2 Cor. 2:1) visit by
ship to
> Corinth and returned to Ephesus.

I do not believe that Paul made a trip to Achaia at this time. I have
suggested that his second visit to Achaia was before 1 Corinthians and may
have been to Athens only. (see my message of 15 Dec 00).

> "SEVERE" LETTER (to Corinth)
>
> This letter dealt with the trouble in acid terms (2 Cor. 2:3-4, 9;
7:8-12).
> Sent via Titus (2 Cor. 7:13-14).
> Contained the second set of travel plans: Ephesus --> Corinth (to
check on
> their obedience) --> Macedonia --> Corinth --> Jerusalem.

Interestingly, we agree that Paul had the travel plan of 2 Cor 1.15-16 in
mind when he wrote the severe letter. But, I would like to know when,
according to your reconstruction, the Corinthians learned of the
cancellation of the travel plan. Paul must have sent a communication to
them after sending the severe letter. That communication, I believe was 1
Corinthians.

>Fall "Affliction in Asia" (i.e., Ephesus; 2 Cor. 1:8).
> Arrested, put in prison, and faced with a death sentence (2 Cor.
1:8-9).
> News of his imprisonment reached Philippi and the church sent
Epaphroditus
> with money (Phil. 2:25).
> Epaphroditus found Paul and then fell very seriously ill (Phil.
2:27, 30).
> News of his illness reached Philippi, and Paul and Epaphroditus
received news
> of their concern (Phil. 2:26).
> Epaphroditus then recovered (Phil. 2:27).
>
> PHILIPPIANS
>
> Epaphroditus took this letter to Philippi (Phil. 2:28-29).
> Paul planned to send Timothy with news as soon as the verdict was
announced,
> and he hoped to be able to visit the Philippians himself if the
verdict were
> favourable (Phil. 2:19-24).
> He warned the Philippians against possible arrival of Judaizers
(Phil. 3:2-21).

We agree that Philippians belongs in Ephesus, but I place it before 1
Corinthians. I have argued that the affliction should not be placed after 1
Cor (see my message of 8th Jan 01).

Philippians has evidence of no fewer than five communications between
Philippi and Ephesus, and this strongly suggests that the imprisonment was
during the summer when travel was easiest. But, John, you are forced to
suppose that it was during the season that was closed for sailing, because
you believe that Paul did not hear any news from Corinth during this
period. This is a problem for your reconstruction, I think. It is hard to
explain how there could have been so much communication between Ephesus and
Philippi at the same time as so little communication between Ephesus and
Corinth.

>Spring Released from prison safely.
>49 Traveled to Troas and then to Macedonia in search of Titus to learn
the effect
> of the "Severe" Letter (2 Cor. 2:12, 14).

But why, according to your reconstruction, would Paul think he might find
Titus in Troas? And why does Paul give thanks in 2 Cor 2.14? For a simple
explanation of the data see my message of 1 July 99.

> Found Titus in Macedonia and learned of the obedience of the
Corinthians
> (2 Cor. 7:5-16).

I don't think Paul 'found Titus in Macedonia'. Rather, Paul was in
Macedonia when Titus arrived. It was Titus who arrived at the place where
Paul was, not the other way round. Paul refers to the coming (PAROUSIA) (2
Cor. 7:6-7) of Titus to him in Macedonia, just as he speaks of the coming
(PAROUSIA) of Stephanas to Ephesus (1 Cor 16.17). This is important because
it counts against the popular assumption that Paul was anxiously pressing
on through Macedonia to find Titus as soon as possible. Paul was anxious
about Titus when he (Paul) was in the Troad, but his anxiety was, I
believe, eased when he learned in Macedonia that Titus had passed through
that province safely earlier in the year.

>Pentecost 2 CORINTHIANS 1-9

I'm curious why you place 2 Cor 1-9 at Pentecost?

> Paul sent this letter via Titus (2 Cor. 8:17).
> Titus was accompanied by a representative of the Jerusalem church
("our
> brother", 2 Cor. 8:18-19) and another "brother" (2 Cor. 8:22).
> Received news of Judaizers working in Galatia.
>
> GALATIANS
> ROMANS
>
> Received news of Judaizers working in Corinth.
>
> 2 CORINTHIANS 10-13

On the question of the identity of the opponents in 2 Cor 10-13, I'm
persuaded by the work of Marshall (Enmity in Corinth) and Winter (Philo
and Paul among the Sophists). They show that the 'false apostles' in 2 Cor
10-13 have the very same characteristics as Paul opposes in 1 Corinthians.
As I myself have argued, no new issues arise in 2 Cor 10-13: the themes are
present in 1 Corinthians. I see no evidence that a new class of missionary
arrived between 1 Cor and 2 Cor 10-13.

Richard Fellows
rfellows AT intergate.ca






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