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An Exegesis of First Corinthians 7: 10–16 and Matthew 18: 15–20 in Light of Remarriage in the Contemporary Christian Community of Faith

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An Exegesis of First Corinthians 7: 10–16 and Matthew 18: 15–20 in Light of Remarriage in the Contemporary Christian Community of Faith AN EXEGESIS OF FIRST CORINTHIANS 7: 10–16 AND MATTHEW 18: 15–20 IN LIGHT OF REMARRIAGE IN THE CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY OF FAITH By ELKANAH KUZAHYET–BUKI SHEKARI April 22, 2013 B.A., ECWA Theological Seminary, Jos Plateau State, Nigeria, 2004 Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Theology, Acadia Divinity College, in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts Acadia Divinity College, Acadia University Spring Convocation 2013 © Copyright Elkanah Kuzahyet–Buki Shekari, 2013 ii This thesis by ELKANAH KUZAHYET-BUKI SHEKARI was defended successfully in an oral examination on 9 April 2013. The examining committee for the thesis was: Dr. Anna Robbins, Chair Dr. Timothy Gombis, External Examiner Dr. Christopher Killacky, Internal Examiner Dr. Craig Evans, Supervisor & MA Director This thesis is accepted in its present form by Acadia Divinity College, the Faculty of Theology of Acadia University, as satisfying the thesis requirements for the degree of Master of Arts (Theology). iii I, ELKANAH KUZAHYET–BUKI SHEKARI, hereby grant permission to the University Librarian at Acadia University to provide copies of my thesis, upon request, on a non-profit basis. Elkanah Kuzahyet–Buki Shekari Author Dr. Craig Evans Supervisor 9 April 2013 Date iv DEDICATION To my mother Amina Hannatu Shekari; My sisters: Grace Ashia Gwar and Tammar Kassang Peter; And my beloved Wife: Laitu (Leah) Shekari I dedicate this work to the preceding women in my life who taught me so much about our shared life of faith and marriage commitment. v ABSTRACT Both Paul and Matthew responded to the spiritual needs of their different faith communities in the first century. In regards to the marriage, divorce and remarriage Paul states in 1 Corinthians 7 that a Christian couple should neither divorce nor separate; however if it happens they should remain unmarried or else reconciled (vv. 10–11). To a mixed couple he said the believing spouse should not divorce the unbelieving spouse (vv. 12–13). He mentions the rationale why the believing spouse should remain with the unbelieving one if he or she agrees to remain also (vv. 14, 15c–16). Nonetheless if the unbelieving spouse decides to separate or divorce the believing one, the believer is not under bondage to the marriage covenant anymore (v. 15a–b). The Pauline treatment of the subject asks the questions: what does it mean not to be under bondage? Who is an unbeliever? Or even what does it mean to be an unbeliever? While in regards to relationship, Matthew provides steps for solving relationships in crisis to a troubled faith community that is either Jewish or predominantly so. In response he outlines a three level solution to solving the problem: the offended should confront the offender in love in order to solve their crisis; if it fails the offended should invite witnesses and with him meet with the offender; and finally, the faith community or Church should be involved in solving the problem. The three levels are put in place in order to restore to fellowship the sinning member of the community. However if he or she persists on his or her sinful state by refusing reconciliation and restoration, then the community of faith is mandated to cast him or her out of its fellowship. The Matthean text asks the questions: would a brother or sister in the faith community behave that way? Does his or her character or attitude portray that of a ‗true‘ disciple of Christ? vi There are several commentaries and studies on the above texts, which show that scholars hardly associate the Matthean pericope with marriage, divorce and remarriage while they also disagree over how the 1 Corinthians‘ text is understood particularly in respect to what it means that the believing spouse is not under bondage. Nevertheless Paul and Matthew leave us with important questions to answer; the ones of which interest this research is: does Paul‘s advice on marriage, divorce and remarriage in 1 Corinthians 7:10–16 and Jesus‘ teaching on discipline, reconciliation and restoration when someone offends or wrongs another in a faith community or Church in Matthew 18:15–20 relate in some way? And if yes, how might they relate? And if we do relate them, what insight might come out of it for some contemporary faith communities in respect to marriage, divorce and remarriage? vii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ABC African Bible Commentary ACCS Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture JBQ Jewish Bible Quarterly AJSR Association for Jewish Studies Review AMR Africa Media Review NETS A New English Translation of the Septuagint APOT Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha of the Old Testament BECNT Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament BN–NF BiblischeNotizen–NeueFolge BNTC Black‘s New Testament Commentaries BSac Bibliotheca Sacra BST Bible Speaks Today CBQ Catholic Biblical Quarterly CECCEECIEC Conference of European Churches and Council of European Episcopal Conferences Islam in Europe Committee CEJL Commentaries on Early Jewish Literature CJ Classical Journal CTR Criswell Theological Review ECWA Evangelical Church Winning All (formerly, Evangelical Church of West Africa) EDNT Exegetical Dictionary of the New Testament Grk Greek GTJ Grace Theological Journal HALOT A Concise Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament viii HAR Hebrew Annual Review HTR Harvard Theological Review Heb Hebrew HEEBT Hebrew–English Edition of the Babylonian Talmud IBCTP Interpretation Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching ITC International Theological Commentary JANES Journal of the Ancient Near Eastern Society JETS Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society JPS Jewish Publication Society (Torah Commentary series) JRS Journal of Roman Studies JSJ Journal for the Study of Judaism JSOTSup Journal for the Study of the Old Testament Supplement Series JSNTSup Journal for the Study of the New Testament, Supplement Series JTS Journal of Theological Studies LCB Local Church Branch LXX Septuagint MT Masoretic Text NCBC1 New Century Bible Commentary NCBC2 New Cambridge Bible Commentary NEB New English Bible NIBC New International Bible Commentary NICNT New International Commentary on the New Testament NIDB New Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible NIDNTT New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology NIDOTTE New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology and Exegesis ix NIGTC New International Greek Testament Commentary NIV New International Version NRSV New Revised Standard Version NT New Testament OT Old Testament OTG Old Testament Guides OTP Old Testament Pseudepigrapha SBL Society of Biblical Literature TynBul Tyndale Bulletin TDNT Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (abridged in one volume) TJ Trinity Journal TNTC Tyndale New Testament Commentaries TOTC Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries TWOT Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament VT Vetus Testamentum WBC1 Word Biblical Commentary WBC2 Westminster Bible Companion x TABLE OF CONTENTS Title Page Signature Page…………………………………………………………………………...ii Permission Page…………………………………………………………………………iii Dedication…………………………………………………………………………..........iv Abstract……………………………………………………………………………..........v List of Abbreviations…………………………………………………………………...vii Table of Contents.............................................................................................................x Acknowledgements…………………………………………………………………….xiii General Introduction…………………………………………………………….….......1 0.1. Introduction………………………………………………………………….……....1 0.2. Difficulties…..…………………………………………………………….………….2 0.3. Need……………………………………………………………….…………………4 0.4. Previous Works…………………………………………………….…………..........5 0.5. Delimitations of Study…………………………………………………….…………9 0.6. Intended Outcome……………………………………………………………............9 0.7. Summary of Study………………………………………………………...………..10 0.8. Conclusion………………………………………………………….………………12 Chapter 1: Interfaith Marriage in the Old Testament and Jewish Literature…………………………………………………..…………………...13 1.1. Introduction………………………………………………….....……………..........13 1.2. Interfaith Marriage in the OT……………………………………….……...….........13 1.2.1. A Survey of Interfaith Marriage in the OT………………………………….........13 1.2.2. An Exploration of Ezra 10:1–17…………………………………………..………36 1.3. Interfaith Marriage in Jewish Literature…………………………………………….57 1.4. Conclusion………………………………………………………………..…………67 xi Chapter 2: Interfaith Marriage in the New Testament and Greco–Roman World…………………………………………………………………..69 2.1. Introduction…………………………………………………………………………69 2.2. Interfaith Marriage in the NT………………………………………………….........69 2.2.1. A Survey of Interfaith Marriage in the NT…………………………………..........69 2.2.2. An Exploration of 2 Corinthians 6:14–7:1.……………………………………….82 2.3. Interfaith Marriage in the Greco Roman World…………………………………….98 2.4. Conclusion……………………………………………………………………........102 Chapter 3: An Exegesis of 1 Corinthians 7:10–16…………………………………..104 3.1. Introduction………………………………………………………………………...104 3.2. Textual Variant and Literary Context……………………………………………...104 3.3. A Word Study and Review of the Use of ἄπηζηνο………………………………....106 3.3.1. Old Testament Study and Review....……………………………………………..106 3.3.2. Septuagint Study and Review………………………………………………........109 3.3.3. Extra–Biblical Literature Study and Review…………………………………….110 3.3.4. New Testament Study and Review…………………………………………........111 3.4. The Analysis and Interpretation of 1 Corinthians 7: 10–16……..…………………113 3.5. Conclusion……………………………………………………………………........125 Chapter 4: An Exegesis of Matthew 18:15–20…………………………………........128 4.1. Introduction………………………………………………………………………...128 4.2. Historical Background………………………………………………………..........129
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