Status
Call number
Collection
Publication
Description
Paul was a Hebrew of the Hebrews, steeped in the learning of his people. But he was also a Roman citizen who widely traveled the Mediterranean basin, and was very knowledgeable of the dominant Greek and Roman culture of his day. These two mighty rivers of influence converge in Paul's first letter to the Corinthians. With razor-sharp attention to the text, Kenneth Bailey examines the cultural milieu and rhetorical strategies that shaped this pivotal epistle. He discovers the deep layers of the Hebraic prophetic tradition informing Paul's writing, linking the Apostle with the great prophets of the Old Testament. Throughout, Bailey employs his expert knowledge of Near Eastern and Mediterranean culture to deliver to listeners a new understanding of Paul and his world. Familiar passages take on a new hue as they are stripped of standard Western interpretations and rendered back into their ancient setting.… (more)
User reviews
When you read 1 Corinthians, it’s easy to get the impression that Paul’s frustration with this particular congregation produced a letter that’s intensely situational, jumping from issue to issue. Structure seems to take a back seat to passion. It turns out nothing could be further from the truth.
The best part of this commentary is the way that Bailey discerned the structure of 1 Corinthians. It’s a carefully crafted five essay letter that uses Old Testament prophetic styles and templates. At the start of each section Bailey lays out the text structurally which helps the reader to see what Paul’s emphasizing.
I read through this commentary as I taught an informal Bible study at my church. It provided insight into the text along with pastoral considerations and illustrations to bring each passage alive. If you want to go further in 1 Corinthians, pick up Thiselton: either his comprehensive entry in the NIGTC series or the digest version: 1 Corinthians: A Shorter Exegetical and Pastoral Commentary.
What is there is wonderful, however. The case the author makes for
Recommended.