Moses in Corinth: The Apologetic Context of 2 Corinthians 3

251 Pages·2015·1.26 MB·English

by  Paul B. Duff

Moses in Corinth
Supplements
to
Novum Testamentum
Executive Editors
M.M. Mitchell (Chicago)
D.P. Moessner (Fort Worth)
Editorial Board
H.W. Attridge (New Haven) – C. Breytenbach (Berlin)
C. Gerber (Hamburg) – J.K. Elliott (Leeds)
C.R. Holladay (Atlanta) – D. Marguerat (Lausanne)
M.J.J. Menken (Tilburg) – J.C. Thom (Stellenbosch)
P. Trebilco (Dunedin) – C. Tuckett (Oxford)
VOLUME 159
The titles published in this series are listed at brill.com/nts
Moses in Corinth
The Apologetic Context of 2 Corinthians 3
By
Paul B. Duff
LEIDEN | BOSTON
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Duff, Paul Brooks, 1952–
 Moses in Corinth : the apologetic context of 2 Corinthians 3 / by Paul B. Duff.
  pages cm. — (Supplements to Novum Testamentum, ISSN 0167-9732 ; Volume 159)
 Includes bibliographical references and index.
 ISBN 978-90-04-28843-0 (hardback : alk. paper) — ISBN 978-90-04-28945-1 (e-book)
1. Bible. Corinthians, 2nd, III—Criticism, interpretation, etc. 2. Moses (Biblical leader)—Biblical
teaching. I. Title.
 BS2675.52.D84 2015
 227’.306—dc23
2014046609
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issn 0167-9732
isbn 978-90-04-28843-0 (hardback)
isbn 978-90-04-28945-1 (e-book)
Copyright 2015 by Koninklijke Brill nv, Leiden, The Netherlands.
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For Sally
∵

Contents
Acknowledgments  xi
Abbreviations and Citations  xii
1 Introduction: The Problematic Nature of 2 Corinthians 3  1
Introduction  1
The Apologetic Context of 2 Cor 2:14–7:4  2
Paul’s Use of Exod 34:29–35  3
The Integrity of 2 Corinthians  6
Paul’s Opponents  9
The Present Study  13
2 The Question of the Integrity of 2 Corinthians  18
Introduction  18
The Beginning of the Debate: Johann Salomo Semler  18
From Semler to the Present  20
An Intermediate Visit (Zwischenbesuch), a Lost Letter (Zwischenbrief),
and an Unaccounted for Event (Zwischenfall)  21
The Problematic Nature of 2 Cor 6:14–7:1  22
The Independence of Chapters 10–13 and the Question of
Chronology  26
The Collection Chapters (Chapters 8 and 9)  29
The Separation of 2:14–7:4 from 1:1–2:13 and 7:5–16  32
Verbal Links between 2 Cor 7:4 and 7:5–16  34
The Discontinuity between 2 Cor 2:13 and 2:14 Can Be
Explained  38
The Contrast in Tone between 2 Cor 2:14–7:4 and 2 Cor 1:1–2:13; 7:5–16
is Exaggerated  41
No Manuscript or Patristic Evidence Supports the Separation
of 2:14–7:4 from Its Surrounding Context  44
Conclusion  45
Current Hypotheses about the Division of 2 Corinthians  46
Critique of the Various Hypotheses  48
Conclusion  51
viii contents
3 The Origins of Paul’s First Apology  52
Introduction  52
Who Were Paul’s Detractors? Some Notable Attempts to Identify Paul’s
Opposition  52
Are There References to the “False Apostles” in 2 Cor 2:14–7:4?  60
2 Cor 5:12  61
2 Cor 2:17  62
2 Cor 3:1  64
Internal Opposition? 1 Corinthians: Its Cause and Likely Effect  65
Evidence for Issues of Concern in 2:14–7:4 That Likely Had Their Origin in
1 Corinthians  69
Questions about Paul’s “Fitness”  69
Allegations of Self-Commendation  72
Issues of Concern in 2:14–7:4 That Seem Unrelated to 1 Corinthians  76
Accusations of Furtive and Cunning Behavior  76
Charges of Fraud  78
The Collection Prior to 2 Cor 2:14–7:4  81
Paul’s Weakness  85
Summary  91
4 “Who is Fit for These Things?” (2 Cor 2:14–3:6)  93
Introduction  93
Paul, a Participant in God’s Triumphal Procession  93
Paul’s Fitness (Ἱκανότης) and That of Moses  98
Concerns about Paul’s Honesty: Letters of Recommendation  102
Types of Letters: Letters of Introduction  103
Types of Letters: Letters of Commission or Authorization  104
Types of Letters: Intercessory Letters  106
Letters of Recommendation and the Corinthian Community  110
Excursus: The Connection between the Issues of Self-Commendation and
Letters of Recommendation  113
“You Are Our Letter”  115
Paul’s “Letter” and the Metaphor of the Cultic Procession  117
The Letter of Christ and the Torah  120
Paul’s Use of Scripture  121
Scriptural Allusions in 2 Cor 3:3  123
The Torah and Paul’s “Letter” of Recommendation  131
An Envoy (Διάκονος) of a New Covenant  132
Summary and Conclusion  135
contents ix
5 The Ministries of Condemnation and Righteousness
(2 Cor 3:7–11)  137
Introduction  137
The Ministries of Paul and Moses: Comparison or Contrast in
2 Cor 3:7–11?  137
The Logic of an Argument a minore ad maius  139
Comparison and Contrast within 3:7–11?  141
The Expansions of Paul’s Comparative Argument:
2 Cor 3:7b and 3:10  144
The “Glory” of Moses in Other Jewish Texts  147
Contrasts within the Comparative Sentences of
2 Cor 3:7–11  150
Δόξα in the Ministry of Death?  151
A Possible Solution  153
Jewish Views about Gentiles and the Torah  155
Gentiles and the Torah in Paul’s Other Writings  159
The Connection between God’s Glory and Judgment/Punishment  162
Summary and Conclusion  170
6 Not Like Moses? (2 Cor 3:12–18)  172
Introduction  172
Moses the Veiled Envoy: 2 Cor 3:12–13  173
“Moses” (the Text) and Israel: 2 Cor 3:14–15  180
Israel and Her Clouded Thinking  181
“Those Who Are Perishing”: 2 Cor 4:3–4  187
Israel and “Those Who Are Perishing”: 2 Cor 3:14–15 and 4:3–4  191
Moses the Paradigmatic Believer: 2 C0r 3:16–18  193
Turning to the Κύριος  194
“The Lord is the Spirit”  198
Vision and Transformation  200
Summary: Believing is Seeing  208
7 Reading Paul Reading Moses  210
Bibliography  215
Index of Authors  224
Index of Passages Cited  227
Index of Subjects  236