The Expository Times

Scholarly evaluations of how Paul interpreted the ‘Christ event’ within his arguments routinely compartmentalize the crucifixion and the resurrection, placing the weight of emphasis on the former. Whilst never explicitly denying the critical significance of the resurrection, the appraisals of certain commentators often seem to limit the import of the event to a vindication of Jesus’ ministry, in view of its seemingly ignominious climax. The Pauline lexicon of revivification, however, makes the validity of such a stance questionable and opens the possibility that both elements of the Christ event influenced Pauline thought in ways obscured by the tendency to undervalue the implications of Jesus’ resurrection. A consideration of the distribution and functionality of the ‘death and life’ language in the Pauline corpus, illustrates the weightiness which the apostle attaches to the concept of death reversed by life. By applying such an understanding to 2 Corinthians, this paper will consider how readings of Paul might be enhanced by reassessing the impact of death and new life operating in tandem.

The central argument presented here is that 1 Corinthians 4–6 reflects a single eschatological vision of the identity of the Corinthians. This single vision works itself out in two separate references as Paul addresses them as both ‘kings’ and ‘judges’. This conclusion is based on a fresh reading of Paul’s identification of the Corinthians as ‘kings’ in 1 Cor. 4 and ‘judges’ in 1 Cor. 6. This study proposes that these labels actually reflect a single reality based on Paul’s inaugurated eschatology.

This article is a reflection on the ways in which scripture was approached by participants within one of the Church of England’s Shared Conversations on Human Sexuality. It notes the significance of historical-critical hermeneutical concepts within the conversation and concludes that the hermeneutical aspect of the debate on scripture and sexuality, as carried out within the context of the shared conversations, is far removed from the scholarly discussion of theological hermeneutics for which the issue of human sexuality has been a great stimulant.