Did Paul Refuse an Offer of Support from the Corinthians?

It is generally agreed that one key factor in the deterioration of Paul's relationship with the Corinthian assembly was his refusal to accept an offer of material support. In fact, however, there is no solid textual basis for this putative datum. None of the three passages taken as evidence (1...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Schellenberg, Ryan S. (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Sage [2018]
In: Journal for the study of the New Testament
Year: 2018, Volume: 40, Issue: 3, Pages: 312-336
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Bible. Corinthians 1. 9,1-18 / Bible. Corinthians 2. 11,5-15 / Bible. Corinthians 2. 12,11-18 / Paul Apostle / Corinth / Church congregation / Financial aid
IxTheo Classification:HC New Testament
Further subjects:B Decision Making
B Money
B Bible. Corinthians
B 1 Corinthians 9
B 2 Corinthians 10-13
B Methodist Church
B Theological seminaries
B rhetorical questions
B Paul
Online Access: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
Description
Summary:It is generally agreed that one key factor in the deterioration of Paul's relationship with the Corinthian assembly was his refusal to accept an offer of material support. In fact, however, there is no solid textual basis for this putative datum. None of the three passages taken as evidence (1 Cor. 9.1-18; 2 Cor. 11.5-15; 12.11-18) makes explicit reference to such an offer. In each case, interpreters have inferred from Paul's heated rhetorical questions that he is defending his decision to reject Corinthian support. But a closer look at both the syntax and the context of these questions, and at the logic of rhetorical questions more generally, shows this inference to be unlikely. When Paul boasts that he has not burdened the Corinthians, what he means is not that he has refused to accept their support, but that he has refrained from demanding it. Reconstructions of his relationship with the Corinthian assembly must be modified accordingly.
ISSN:1745-5294
Contains:Enthalten in: Journal for the study of the New Testament
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1177/0142064X17753331