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An Exegetical Study of the Ground Motive of Paul's Tent-Making Implied in His Letters

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An Exegetical Study of the Ground Motive of Paul's Tent-Making Implied in His Letters An exegetical study of the ground motive of Paul's tent-making implied in his letters W Nam orcid.org 0000-0002-3833-3623 Thesis accepted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy in New Testament at the North- West University Promoter: Dr H Goede Graduation ceremony: May 2020 Student number: 27295702 PREFACE All honour and glory to God!! This study has been completed only through His inspiration and wisdom. I hope that the result of my study would be sincerely applied in my life. I am grateful to my study leader, Dr. Hennie Goede, who has guided and helped me in writing the thesis with encouragement. Also, I am thankful to my family. Through constant prayer and support of my parents and parents- in-law, I could overcome hardships of study. Especially, Sue, my dear wife, helped me to concentrate on studying. Her patience and sacrifice for years assisted me to complete this study. I send my thanks and love to Sue and Minha, my daughter. Lastly, I deeply thank to all who prayed for my study and life. i ABSTRACT What was the ground motive for Paul’s tent-making? In response to this question, some New Testament texts provide reasons for Paul’s tent-making based on the circumstances of individual churches. Also, social studies of Paul and his communities provide reasons for Paul’s tent-making based on the context in Greco-Roman society. In other words, most research on Paul’s tent- making point to contextual characteristics that are based on the context of the church or society at that time. Thus, because these characteristics are circumstantial in nature, it is difficult to deduce from them a ground motive for Paul’s tent-making. This study makes use of exegetical and literary analyses in order to identify the ground motive for Paul’s tent-making. Firstly, it is necessary to grasp the theological significance of Paul’s tent- making as indicated in the New Testament texts. The texts dealing with Paul’s tent-making show that his work was not merely a means of living but rather an embodiment of Christ’s suffering. Secondly, the factors were identified that influenced the theological significance of Paul’s tent- making. Paul’s tent-making represented self-sacrifice for others, and this concept is likely indirectly influenced by the theology of land in the Old Testament. Directly, the theological significance of Paul’s tent-making was greatly influenced by Paul’s encounter with the suffering Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus and his call for Paul to become a suffering apostle for the sake of the message of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Key words: Paul the apostle, tent-making, ground motive, Christ’s suffering, the theology of land, the Damascus event. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS PREFACE ..................................................................................................................................... I ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................................. II CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Background and problem statement ................................................................. 1 1.2.1 Insufficient scope of the traditional research ......................................................... 1 1.2.2 Problem statement ................................................................................................ 2 1.3 Preliminary literature study ................................................................................ 2 1.4 Aim and objectives ........................................................................................... 10 1.4.1 Aim ...................................................................................................................... 10 1.4.2 Objectives ........................................................................................................... 10 1.5 Central theoretical argument ........................................................................... 11 1.6 Methodology ...................................................................................................... 11 1.7 Contribution to the field of New Testament study ......................................... 12 1.8 Ethical considerations ...................................................................................... 13 1.9 Chapter layout ................................................................................................... 13 CHAPTER 2 TRADITIONAL RESEARCH ON PAUL’S TENT-MAKING ............................... 15 2.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................... 15 2.2 Contingency and coherence to fulfil the purpose of this thesis .................. 15 2.3 Reasons why Paul accepted support from others but not from the Corinthians ........................................................................................................ 16 2.4 Refusal of aid, and tent-making ....................................................................... 18 iii 2.5 Reasons for Paul’s tent-making ...................................................................... 20 2.5.1 To avoid laying financial burden on believers ..................................................... 20 2.5.2 Effective demonstration of the gospel’s distinction ............................................. 22 2.5.3 For the sake of independence ............................................................................. 23 2.5.4 To avoid suspicion on collection ......................................................................... 25 2.5.5 To avoid misunderstanding of the purpose of Paul’s missionary work ............... 26 2.5.6 To follow Jesus’ deeds ........................................................................................ 28 2.5.7 To convey a message through his own example ................................................ 29 2.5.8 To show his love ................................................................................................. 30 2.5.9 To resist false missionaries ................................................................................. 31 2.5.10 Economic aid from other churches ...................................................................... 32 2.6 Conclusion ......................................................................................................... 33 CHAPTER 3 RESEARCH ON PAUL’S TENT-MAKING IN A SOCIAL CONTEXT................ 35 3.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................... 35 3.2 Significance of research in social aspects ..................................................... 36 3.2.1 Characteristics of social studies .......................................................................... 37 3.2.2 Disadvantages of social studies .......................................................................... 38 3.3 The research in Paul’s tent-making based on a social aspect ..................... 39 3.3.1 The nature of Paul’s tent-making ........................................................................ 40 3.3.2 The origin of Paul’s tent-making skill ................................................................... 41 3.3.3 Paul’s life as an apostle and a tentmaker ........................................................... 42 3.3.4 Paul’s tent-making and apostleship .................................................................... 43 3.4 The reasons for Paul’s tent-making in a social aspect ................................. 44 iv 3.4.1 To satisfy the economic necessity ...................................................................... 44 3.4.2 To use a workshop for evangelism ..................................................................... 45 3.4.3 To relieve the economic burden of the community ............................................. 48 3.4.4 To distinguish from teachers for payment ........................................................... 50 3.4.5 To avoid influence of patronage .......................................................................... 51 3.4.6 To avoid identification with the case of Apuleius ................................................. 54 3.5 Conclusion ......................................................................................................... 55 CHAPTER 4 TEXT ANALYSIS 1: 1 CORINTHIANS .............................................................. 56 4.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................... 56 4.2 Analysis of 1 Corinthians ................................................................................. 57 4.2.1 Structural and thematic analysis of 1 Corinthians ............................................... 58 4.2.2 Thematic analysis based on the concept of cross .............................................. 62 4.2.2.1 The true Wisdom of God demonstrated in the cross ........................................... 63 4.2.2.2 Boundaries made by the cross between the believers and the world ................. 65 4.2.2.3 Building up the church by the renunciation of one’s own right, signifying the cross .................................................................................................................... 67
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