First Corinthians 6.1–6: Roman Court or Private Arbitration?
First Corinthians 6.1-6 is consistently read as a Pauline criticism directed against members of the Pauline ekklēsia in Corinth, taking each other to Roman courts. I argue that this understanding of 1 Cor 6.1-6 is implausible in light of practices of Roman law in the provinces and in the colonies. W...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Interlibrary Loan: | Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany) |
| Published: |
2024
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| In: |
New Testament studies
Year: 2024, Volume: 70, Issue: 2, Pages: 160-173 |
| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Paul Apostle
/ Bible. Corinthians 1. 6,1-6
/ Church congregation
/ Roman law
/ Arbitration
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| IxTheo Classification: | HC New Testament |
| Further subjects: | B
Private Arbitration
B Provinces B Roman Law B Ekklēsia B Paul B Papyri B First Corinthians |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (kostenfrei) Volltext (kostenfrei) |
| Summary: | First Corinthians 6.1-6 is consistently read as a Pauline criticism directed against members of the Pauline ekklēsia in Corinth, taking each other to Roman courts. I argue that this understanding of 1 Cor 6.1-6 is implausible in light of practices of Roman law in the provinces and in the colonies. Within a formal court procedure, the Corinthians would not have had the freedom to appoint their own judges, as Paul's language implies. I suggest instead that it is private arbitration which Paul criticises. Papyri dealing with private arbitration and mediation support this reading. Much of Paul's legal terminology in the passage is found in these papyri, making private arbitration a highly plausible suggestion. The suggested reading points to the community's good social ties with the pagan population in the city. It also depicts Paul as working within the framework of Roman law rather than against it. The article exemplifies the benefits of integrating up-to-date studies of Roman law in New Testament Studies. |
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| ISSN: | 1469-8145 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: New Testament studies
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1017/S0028688523000280 |
