Paul as an Administrator of God in 1 Corinthians

Elucidates the nature of Paul's authority by investigating the metaphorical portrayal of apostles in 1 Corinthians as divinely appointed administrators.

John Goodrich (Author)

9781107018624, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 10 May 2012

262 pages, 1 table
22.2 x 14.5 x 1.7 cm, 0.48 kg

'Goodrich provides a careful and balanced study of the administrator metaphor, which then provides deeper insight into two Pauline passages in 1 Corinthians … This is an interesting study with some helpful exegetical consequences.' The Expository Times

This book looks in detail at Paul's description of apostles in 1 Corinthians 4 and 9 as divinely appointed administrators (oikonomoi) and considers what this tells us about the nature of his own apostolic authority. John Goodrich investigates the origin of this metaphor in light of ancient regal, municipal and private administration, initially examining the numerous domains in which oikonomoi were appointed in the Graeco-Roman world, before situating the image in the private commercial context of Roman Corinth. Examining the social and structural connotations attached to private commercial administration, Goodrich contemplates what Paul's metaphor indicates about apostleship in general terms as well as how he uses the image to defend his apostolic rights. He also analyses the purpose and limits of Paul's authority - how it is constructed, asserted and contested - by examining when and how Paul uses and refuses to exercise the rights inherent in his position.

Acknowledgments
Abbreviations
1. Apostolic authority in 1 Corinthians
Part I. Oikonomoi as Administrators in Graeco-Roman Antiquity: 2. Oikonomoi as regal administrators
3. Oikonomoi as civic administrators
4. Oikonomoi as private administrators
Part II. Paul's Administrator Metaphor in 1 Corinthians: 5. Identifying Paul's metaphor in 1 Corinthians
6. Interpreting Paul's metaphor in 1 Corinthians 4.1-5
7. Interpreting Paul's metaphor in 1 Corinthians 9.16-23
8. Conclusion
Bibliography
Index of passages
Index of authors.

Subject Areas: Biblical studies & exegesis [HRCG], Ancient history: to c 500 CE [HBLA]