Bogoslovska smotra, Vol. 91 No. 2, 2021.
Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.53745/bs.91.2.6
Paul, a »Wise Builder« of the Corinthian Christian Community (1 Cor 3:10)
Tomislav Zečević
orcid.org/0000-0002-4068-1184
; Theology in Rijeka, Dislocated Studies of Catholic Faculty of Theology, University of Zagreb, Rijeka, Croatia
Abstract
This article attempts to shed light on the role of Apostle Paul as a wise builder of the Corinthian Christian community (see 1 Cor 3:10) and to emphasize the importance of accompanying metaphorical »construction work« discourse that Paul uses (see 1 Cor 3:10-17). This topic is usually dealt with within Paul's wider discourse on the discernment of salvific wisdom of God as opposed to empty human wisdom that leads to ruin (see 1 Cor 1 -3). However, it is important to emphasize that this article does not attempt a detailed analysis of the discourse on true wisdom, i.e., the wisdom of the cross, on which a lot has been said and written already, but instead aims at encouraging exegetes and biblical theologians in the Croatian -speaking region to deepen and analyze more thoroughly the discourse on Paul as a wise builder. Therefore, the article ought to be considered as an introductory study that should be followed by a more detailed analysis of Paul's »construction work« discourse that ought not avoid the context of discourse on the wisdom of the cross within which this topic is situated. In terms of the structure, the article begins with introductory notes, followed by the first part that discusses circumstances of Paul's work: the inner situation of the Christian community, the social-economic environment of the city of Corinth, the influence of worldly wisdom, as well as consequences of the worldly manner of behavior on the life of the community. The second part deals, in broad strokes, with the literary context and thematic background of the discourse on Paul as a wise builder (see 1 Cor 3:10) in the light of the discourse on the wisdom of God and worldly wisdom (see 1 Cor 1 -3). Apart from a short comment on the wider and immediate context, this part of the article emphasizes Paul's fundamental apostolic criterion of work in accordance with the will and wisdom of God that, at the same time, reveals the true role of a Christian preacher. The third part of the article offers a commentary on 1 Cor 3:10, followed by a review of important Greek terms that cast light on Paul's foundational role, and an emphasis on the act of laying out the unique foundations of the Church, i.e., the Gospel and the very person of Jesus Christ Crucified in whom the wisdom of God has been manifested from the cross as the only true wisdom that leads to salvation. The conclusion draws attention to the fact that without the unique foundations in Jesus Christ that have been laid out by God in eternity and by Paul in temporality, there cannot be any unitary building of God, nor God's temple in Corinth, i.e., there cannot be Church.
Keywords
First Epistle to Corinthians; Paul; Apostle; wise builder; foundations; Jesus Christ; Corinthians; wise and unwise preachers; God; God's wisdom; worldly wisdom; Church.
Hrčak ID:
266291
URI
Publication date:
29.7.2021.
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