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  • From: "George Lyons" <GLLyons AT NNU.Edu>
  • To: "<\"Corpus-paul\""<corpus-paul AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
  • Subject: Re: Behind the Corinthians' question about diet (was: Paul and meat sacrificed to idols)
  • Date: Mon, 11 Oct 1999 14:42:55 -0600


It seems unlikely (to me) that Paul is defending his apostolic credentials in
1 Corinthians 9. Certainly he asserts that he is an apostle. But he concedes
too much -- pointing out several respects in which he has not acted like an
apostle -- a strange defense, indeed!

What he seems to be defending is his argument in ch. 8 that those who have
rights can do less than their rights permit. The "strong" may eat meat
offered to idols, but should not, as a concession to the weak. He claims that
it has been his practice, not to insist on his rights as an apostle. He
implicitly invites the Corinthians to imitate his example (as he does
explicitly in 4:16 and 11:1).

Paul can argue in this way only because he presumes that his Corinthian
audience concedes the premise that he is an apostle. They may not have done
so; but he does not make a very strong case, if proving his authority was his
agenda.

George Lyons



George Lyons (208) 467-8450
Professor of Biblical Literature -- Northwest Nazarene University
gllyons AT nnu.edu -- http://wesley.nnu.edu




  • Re: Behind the Corinthians' question about diet (was: Paul and meat sacrificed to idols), George Lyons, 10/11/1999

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