PAUL AND THE RHETORIC OF REVERSAL: KERYGMATIC ...

Terminology of Chapters 5–7
The terminology of chapters 5–7 seems to affirm this pattern. Of the 12 occurrences of the
word σώμα in this section (after no occurrences in chapters 1–4), all refer to personal bodies. 59
The words πορνεία/πόρνος occur 8 times in this section (including each chapter), and
nowhere else in 1 Corinthians. 60 The word πλεονέκτης occurs 3 times in chapters 5–6, and
nowhere else in 1 Corinthians. 61 The words related to purity/cleansing occur twice in these
chapters (once in chapter 5, once in chapter 7), and nowhere else in 1 Corinthians. 62
Chapters 8-14: Discern the Body
Themes of Chapters 8–14
The themes of chapters 8–14 also seem to fit the pattern, bearing a strong similarity to the
themes dealt with in Romans 12:9 to 15, Colossians 3 to 4, 1 Thessalonians 4 (from verse 9),
the relevant sections of Ephesians 4-6, the latter (relational) themes of many vice lists, and the
themes of many virtue lists. In 1 Corinthians 8–14, Paul consistently summons those in
Corinth to put away the proud and exploitative exercise of possessions, rights and abilities,
which have been resulting in community instability (8:10-11), division (11:18), and
jealousy/resignation (12:14-26). These divisive practices are to be replaced with a
commitment to unity and love within the one body.
On the unity of this section, Thiselton comments:
59 5:3, 6:13 (twice), 6:15, 6:16, 6:18 (twice), 6:19, 6:20, 7:4 (twice), 7:34.
60 5:1, 5:9, 5:10, 5:11, 6:9, 6:13, 6:18, 7:2. The cognate verb πορνεύω occurs in two verses of
1 Corinthians: in 6:18, in relation to bodily sin; and in 10:8, in which the sins of Israel are
rehearsed, moving notably from idolatry to sexual immorality to testing Christ to grumbling.
61 5:10, 5:11, 6:10.
62 5:7: ἐκκαθάρατε; 7:14: ἀκάθαρτά.
221