Corpus-Paul

["John C. Hurd" <John.Hurd AT Squam.org>]

A comment evoked by John Dickson's references to 1 Cor. 9:19-23 --
In my "Origin of 1 Corinthians" (pp. 126-128) I argue that the passage
arises out of the discussion that Paul is having with the Corinthians.
1) During his founding visit to Corinth he was indifferent to matters of
diet;
2) In the Previous Letter (mentioned in 1 Cor. 5:9-11) he said, "Don't
eat idol meat";
3) In their Reply Letter (mentioned in 1 Cor. 7:1) the Corinthians
called attention to this disparity.
4) Now in 1 Cor. 9 Paul defends himself against this charge of
inconsistency and says, in effect, "It is my consistent policy to be
inconsistent."
    But the "policy" is not one which was one with which he began his
missionary work or which governed it.  This famous formulation (note the
beautiful chiastic structure) arises as a defense against a perceived
inconsistency.  And, I think, the apparent change of position on the
subject of diet was not due to a change in Paul's thinking, but was the
result of pressure from the Jerusalem church (Acts 15:20, 29; 2125).

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::  John C. Hurd                Internet: John.Hurd AT Squam.org
::  Professor Emeritus of New Testament
::  Trinity College in the University of Toronto