Transforming Mortality: Paul’s Linguistic Expressions and Thought Development from 1 Cor 12:13 to 2 Cor 4:7–12
This article re-thinks the development of Paul’s thought between 1 and 2 Corinthians. Instead of the traditional developmental interpretation of Paul that emphasizes the differences between 1 Cor 15:35-57 and 2 Cor 5:1-5, I argue that a discernable development is to be found between 1 Cor 12:13 and...
| 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: |
2025
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| In: |
Harvard theological review
Year: 2025, Volume: 118, Issue: 2, Pages: 222-241 |
| Further subjects: | B
conceptual structure
B Resurrection B 2 Corinthians B Mortality B 1 Corinthians B Paul B Body B Transformation (motif) |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | This article re-thinks the development of Paul’s thought between 1 and 2 Corinthians. Instead of the traditional developmental interpretation of Paul that emphasizes the differences between 1 Cor 15:35-57 and 2 Cor 5:1-5, I argue that a discernable development is to be found between 1 Cor 12:13 and 2 Cor 4:7-12. I demonstrate significant parallels between the two latter texts in terms of topic, argumentation, and the conceptual structure on which Paul’s argumentation is built. Based on the parallels, I argue that 1 Cor 12:13 conceptually allows for the innovative idea of "ongoing transformation," which is formulated in 2 Cor 3:18, and provides the conceptual structure of "double body-containers" in 2 Cor 4:7-12 to expound this new idea. In the context of 2 Corinthians, responding to opponents’ challenge against the apostle’s physical weakness in sufferings, Paul goes on to develop the idea of ongoing transformation further by transforming mortality. Mortality becomes a form of human participation in God’s cosmic war and is considered constructive to the ongoing transformation of the inner person and the complete transformation in the future. |
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| ISSN: | 1475-4517 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Harvard theological review
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1017/S0017816025100679 |
