SPCK
Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes - 22 Old Covenant Sacraments and Idolatry
Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes - 22 Old Covenant Sacraments and Idolatry
by SPCK-Kenneth E. Bailey
Old Covenant Sacraments and Idolatry Partial Identification In the previous homily he affirmed the need for Christians to identify fully with the world around them. They were to be “all things to all people,” and through the use of metaphors from the world of sports Paul challeng…
Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes - 21 Freedom in Mission Full Identification
Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes - 21 Freedom in Mission Full Identification
by SPCK-Kenneth E. Bailey
Freedom in Mission Full Identification Paul has now come to the centre of his third essay, which is on the subject of how a Christian can live in a pagan society. “Freedom and responsibility” continue to be the overall focus… Taken from Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes by Kenneth …
Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes - 20 Paul’s Personal Freedom and Responsibility
Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes - 20 Paul’s Personal Freedom and Responsibility
by SPCK-Kenneth E. Bailey
Paul’s Personal Freedom and Responsibility In the previous section (8:1-13) Paul presses home two points in his discussion of food offered to idols: (1) You know idols do not exist. Therefore, you have the freedom and right to eat idol food. (2) Your responsibility to love other …
Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes - 19 Christian and Pagan
Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes - 19 Christian and Pagan
by SPCK-Kenneth E. Bailey
Christian and Pagan 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 Paul’s third essay covers 8:1–11:1. Its outline is as follows: 3.1. Food Offered to Idols: Freedom and Responsibility (8:1-13) 3.2. Paul’s Personal Freedom and Responsibility (9:1-18) 3.3. Freedom in Mission: Full Identification (9:19-27) …
Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes - 18 Sexual Practice in Harmony with the Gospel
Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes - 18 Sexual Practice in Harmony with the Gospel
by SPCK-Kenneth E. Bailey
Sexual Practice in Harmony with the Gospel By way of review, the bare bones of this second essay are: 2.1. Immorality and the Church (4:17–5:6a) 2.2. (Three Roadblocks: Leaven, Immorality and the Law Courts) (5:6b–6:8) 2.3. Theology of Sexual Practice: Kingdom Ethics (6:9-12) 2.4…
Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes - 17 Theology of Sexual Practice Joining the Body
Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes - 17 Theology of Sexual Practice Joining the Body
by SPCK-Kenneth E. Bailey
Theology of Sexual Practice Joining the Body This homily presents the second half of Paul’s theological foundation for sexual ethics (6:13-20). He offers his views in a marvellously structured apostolic homily with ten cameos. The text is displayed in figure 2.4(1)… Taken from Pa…
Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes - 16 Theology of Sexual Practice
Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes - 16 Theology of Sexual Practice
by SPCK-Kenneth E. Bailey
Essay 2 Sex Theology of Sexual Practice Chapter 6:9-20 has been described as “somewhat disjointed and obscure.” Reason for this has been found in “the unfinished spontaneous nature of these passages.”1 Yet it is possible to see this text as a finely constructed literary whole tha…
Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes - 15 Three Roadblocks
Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes - 15 Three Roadblocks
by SPCK-Kenneth E. Bailey
Essay 2 Sex Three Roadblocks In the previous section of the essay (2.1) Paul cut the Gordian knot. He told the Corinthians to remove the offender from the fellowship of the church. Here he discusses head-on three aspects of this case of incest that must be dealt with. These are n…
Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes - 14 Essay 2 Sex (cntd)
Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes - 14 Essay 2 Sex (cntd)
by SPCK-Kenneth E. Bailey
Essay 2 Sex The structure of this apostolic homily is similar to the homily that precedes it in 4:8-16. The one structural difference is that in the previous homily the stand-alone cameo is at the end. Here it is in the beginning. Otherwise the two homilies have the same structur…
Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes - 13 Essay 2 Sex
Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes - 13 Essay 2 Sex
by SPCK-Kenneth E. Bailey
Essay 2 Sex Paul is now ready to begin his second essay, which focuses on sexual practice and its theological foundation. The essay comprises four sections and one extended aside. The outline of the overall essay is as follows: 2.1. Immorality and the Church (4:17–6:8) 2.2. (Thre…
Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes - 12 Christian Unity (continued)
Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes - 12 Christian Unity (continued)
by SPCK-Kenneth E. Bailey
The Cross and Christian Unity Christian Unity (continued) The sweeping nature of what Paul is saying takes the reader’s breath away. In cameo 3 Paul includes the full list that appeared in 1:12. Paul, Apollos, Cephas and Christ are mentioned. But here in cameo 3 being “of Paul” o…
Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes - 11 Christian Unity Paul, Apollos and Cephas as One
Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes - 11 Christian Unity Paul, Apollos and Cephas as One
by SPCK-Kenneth E. Bailey
Christian Unity Paul, Apollos and Cephas as One Paul now describes himself as a “master builder.” A good master builder can exercise his or her authority by becoming a servant. In fact, that authority, when exercised through servanthood, is in a marvellous way profoundly attracti…
Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes - Christian Unity Paul, Apollos and Cephas as One (2) cntd.
Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes - Christian Unity Paul, Apollos and Cephas as One (2) cntd.
by SPCK-Kenneth E. Bailey
Christian Unity Paul, Apollos and Cephas as One Paul now describes himself as a “master builder.” A good master builder can exercise his or her authority by becoming a servant. In fact, that authority, when exercised through servanthood, is in a marvellous way profoundly attracti…
Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes - 10 Christian Unity Paul, Apollos and Cephas as One
Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes - 10 Christian Unity Paul, Apollos and Cephas as One
by SPCK-Kenneth E. Bailey
Christian Unity Paul is now ready to present the fourth section of the first essay. The outline of the whole is The Cross and Christian Unity (1:10–4:16) The Problem: Divisions, Baptism and the Cross (1:10-16) The Wisdom and Power of God: The Cross (1:17–2:2) The Wisdom of God: R…
Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes - 9 The Wisdom of God (cntd.)
Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes - 9 The Wisdom of God (cntd.)
by SPCK-Kenneth E. Bailey
The Wisdom of God Summary This homily touches on many themes. Six of them can be summarized as follows: 1. Here Paul continues to clarify and present his message. In Corinth he did not jettison his concern to build bridges for communicating the gospel to the Greeks and the Jews a…
Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes - 8 The Wisdom of God
Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes - 8 The Wisdom of God
by SPCK-Kenneth E. Bailey
The Wisdom of God In review, the overall structure of Paul’s first essay is as follows: 1.1 Divisions in the Church (1:10-16) 1.2 The Wisdom and Power of God: Revealed Through the Cross (1:17–2:2) 1.3 The Wisdom of God: Revealed Through the Spirit (2:3-16) 1.4 Christian Unity (3:…
Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes - 7 The Wisdom and Power of God
Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes - 7 The Wisdom and Power of God
by SPCK-Kenneth E. Bailey
The Wisdom and Power of God In the early centuries of the Christian church, as the Greek world became Christian, a group of scholars now called “the apologists” arose and took up the daunting task of relating the new Christian faith to their Greek intellectual heritage. Their tas…
Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes - 6 (1.1) The Problem