FROM SELF-PRAISE TO SELF-BOASTING : PAUL’S UNMASKING OF THE CONFLICTING RHETORICO-LINGUISTIC PHENOMENA IN 1 CORINTHIANS Kate C. Donahoe A Thesis Submitted for the Degree of PhD at the University of St. Andrews 2008 Full metadata for this item is available in the St Andrews Digital Research Repository at: https://research-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk/ Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/10023/493 This item is protected by original copyright This item is licensed under a Creative Commons License FROM SELF-PRAISE TO SELF-BOASTING: PAUL’S UNMASKING OF THE CONFLICTING RHETORICO-LINGUISTIC PHENOMENA IN 1 CORINTHIANS A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF DIVINITY ST MARY’S COLLEGE UNIVERSITY OF ST ANDREWS ST ANDREWS, SCOTLAND IN CANDIDACY FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY BY KATE C. DONAHOE OCTOBER 9, 2007 ABSTRACT The thesis, entitled “From Self-Praise to Self-Boasting: Paul’s Unmasking of the Conflicting Rhetorico-Linguistic Phenomena in 1 Corinthians,” examines the rhetorical conventions of “boasting” and self-praise among those vying for social status and honor within the Greco-Roman world. While the terminological options for “boasting” and self-praise frequently overlap, a survey of these conventions demonstrates that the ancients possessed a categorical distinction between “boasting” and self-praise, which oftentimes conflicted with Paul’s distinction. Clear examples of this conflict appear in 1 Cor 1:10-4:21; 5:1-13; 9:1-27; 13:1-13; and 15:30-32, where Paul addresses the Corinthians’ overestimation of wisdom and eloquence, redirects the Corinthians’ attention away from loyalties to specific leaders to loyalty to Christ, redefines the standards by which the Corinthians should view themselves and their leaders, counters the Corinthians’ tendency to engage in anthropocentric “boasting,” and affirms his own apostolic ministry. It is the Corinthian community’s inability to grasp the application of theocentric “boasting” which leads Paul to address certain aspects and values of secular Corinth that have penetrated the Corinthian community. Thus, operating from an eschatological perspective, Paul critiques both the Corinthians’ attitudes and the Greco-Roman cultural values upon which their attitudes are based. Through irony, self- presentation, imitation, differentiating between theocentric and anthropocentric “boasting,” and distinguishing between personality and gospel rhetoric, Paul challenges the secular notions of social status, power, wisdom, leadership, and patronage and exhorts the Corinthians to focus their attention on their relationship with the Lord rather than on improving their social status or on increasing their honor. DECLARATIONS (i) I, Kate C. Donahoe, hereby certify that this thesis, which is approximately 103,000 words in length, has been written by me, that it is the record of work carried out by me and that it has not been submitted in any previous application for a higher degree. Date 11/3/2008 Signature of Candidate Kate C. Donahoe (electronic) (ii) I was admitted as a research student in September, 2003 and as a candidate for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in May, 2005; the higher study for which this is a record was carried out in the University of St Andrews between 2003 and 2007. Date 11/3/2008 Signature of Candidate Kate C. Donahoe (electronic) (iii) I hereby certify that the candidate has fulfilled the conditions of the Resolution and Regulations appropriate for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the University of St Andrews and that the candidate is qualified to submit this thesis in application for that degree. Date ___________ Signature of Supervisor _________________________ (iv) In submitting this thesis to the University of St Andrews I understand that I am giving permission for it to be made available for use in accordance with the regulations of the University Library for the time being in force, subject to any copyright vested in the work not being affected thereby. I also understand that the title and abstract will be published, and that a copy of the work may be made and supplied to any bona fide library or research worker, that my thesis will be electronically accessible for personal or research use, and that the library has the right to migrate my thesis into new electronic forms as required to ensure continued access to the thesis. I have obtained any third-party copyright permissions that may be required in order to allow such access and migration. Date 11/3/2008 Signature of Candidate Kate C. Donahoe (electronic) CONTENTS Acknowledgements vi Abbreviations vii INTRODUCTION xii The Corinthian Context Defined xv The Colonization of Corinth xv Civic and Individual Prominence xvii The Socio-Economic Location of the Corinthian Community xix Survey of Previous Research on the Topic of “Boasting” xxvii Personality Rhetoric Versus Gospel Rhetoric Defined xxxiv The Approach of This Study xxxvi PART ONE ANTHROPOCENTRIC “BOASTING”: THE GRECO-ROMAN BACKGROUND CHAPTER ONE GRECO-ROMAN RHETORICAL CONVENTIONS OF “BOASTING” AND SELF-PRAISE 2 Self-praise in Plutarch’s Treatise “On Praising Oneself Inoffensively” 4 Self-praise in Cicero, Rhetorica ad Herennium, and Quintilian 18 Related “Boasting” Terms 21 The - stem 36 Summary 45 CHAPTER TWO THE SOPHISTIC MOVEMENT 46 Sophism in the Fifth and Fourth Centuries BCE 48 The Second Sophistic 52 Education and Sophism 57 Sophistic Declamations and Sophistic Rivalry 60 The Special Privileges of Sophists 65 Summary 68 PART TWO THEOCENTRIC “BOASTING”: PAUL’S RESPONSE PART TWO INTRODUCTION 71 The Structure of 1 Corinthians 1:10-4:21 72 First Corinthians 1:10-4:21 as Deliberative Rhetoric 75 The Focus of the Remainder of the Study 77 iv CHAPTER THREE THE CORINTHIAN IDENTITY, WISDOM, AND PAUL’S PRESENTATION OF THE GOSPEL 78 “Boasting” and the Corinthian Identity 78 Excursus: Jeremiah 9:22-23 (LXX) 82 Paul’s Modus Operandi and Rejection of 86 Paul’s Response to the Corinthians’ Misunderstanding of the Gospel and Wisdom 91 “Boasting” Despite Sexual Immorality 97 Summary 103 CHAPTER FOUR “BOASTING” IN LEADERS: PAUL AND APOLLOS VERSUS THE SOPHISTS 105 The Arrival of Apollos in Corinth 106 Professional Orators and the Corinthian Community 108 The Corinthian Slogans 111 The Relationship between Paul and Apollos Defined 118 Paul’s Response to “Boastful” Allegiances 125 Summary 127 CHAPTER FIVE PAUL’S REAPPRAISAL OF LEADERSHIP 128 Paul’s Preliminary Response to the Corinthians’ Assessment of Him 129 The Catalogue of Suffering 136 Critical Note: The Referent of Proposals 144 Paul’s Fatherly Admonition 167 Summary 175 CHAPTER SIX PAUL’S PARADIGMATIC FORBEARANCE OF HIS APOSTOLIC RIGHTS AND CALL FOR LOVE 178 Paul’s Apostleship 180 Paul’s Establishment of Apostolic Rights 183 Paul’s Renunciation of His through Free Service 187 Paul’s Apostolic Freedom Defined as Everything for the Gospel 196 The Need for Self-Discipline 198 Love As the Embodiment of Self-Denial 201 Paul’s Suffering and the Resurrection 206 Summary 207 CONCLUSION 209 Paul’s Response to the Corinthians’ Anthropocentric “Boasting” 209 Implications for the Study of “Boasting” and Self-Praise and Areas of Further Study 213 Bibliography 217 v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Of all the pages of the thesis, this is perhaps the most frustrating to write simply because several short paragraphs cannot adequately express the depth of my gratitude for the various roles people have played in making this study possible. This thesis in many respects is the fruit of the teaching of my professors at Wheaton College and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. In particular, I must thank Dr. Gary Burge and Dr. Gene Green for first introducing me to critical scholarship of the New Testament, acquainting me with the Greco-Roman world, and inspiring me to pursue a career in academia. I owe an immense debt of gratitude to my supervisor, Dr. Bruce Longenecker, whose careful reading, long office appointments, and e-mail correspondence have never failed to challenge my assumptions, direct the focus of my research, and spur me on when needed. In every respect of a supervisor’s duties, he has exceeded my expectations. Every time I would read his editorial comments or converse with him, I would be amazed at the breadth of his knowledge and his facility with the English language. On several occasions, I struggled with phraseology and spent minutes trying to form a single sentence when he would come up with brilliant ideas and sentences within seconds that were far more eloquent than mine. Instead of the research and writing process being an isolated and lonely experience, my colleagues at the Roundel helped make the experience quite the opposite. Whether it was working until the wee hours of the morning with fellow office mates, conversing in the hallways, or discussing progress over a scone and hot chocolate at the North Pointe, the folks at the Roundel were instrumental in making the Ph.D. a pleasurable experience and in making St Mary’s a community of higher learning. The support of friends and family has been unstinting and too frequently unacknowledged. A special note of thanks are due to Maggie and Bobby Ross, Jolena Weisenfeld, Amy Long, Elissa Hyatt, LaVera Monroe, Lise Boulerice, Gina and Ria Droutsas, Stephanie Wooster, Gary and Marla Colledge, and Tracy Demmons for helping keep me grounded and for providing all the laughter. Thank you, especially, Mom and Dad for your loving support, the numerous care packages and envelopes of forwarded mail, offering financial assistance, providing the condominium so I could concentrate on writing, and dog-sitting Gwen. I know my being away has not been easy on you, so I especially have appreciated your patience and encouragement. Thank you for being such wonderful parents. Since I do not articulate it enough, let me go on record saying I love you. Finally, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Dr.