Ritröð Guðfræðistofnunar - 01.09.1994, Page 107

Lestur og ritskýring 1. Korintubréfs 8
The form of this pericope reveals its function within the larger literary
context. With his reference to the „weak” Paul imderlines his practice of
adaptation in psychagogic nurture and with his reference to the groups of
people, namely, „Jews”, „those under the law” and „the lawless ones“, his
flexible approach in the transient role of itinerant recruiter. This emphasis
on adaptation in light of human diversity and psychagogic adaptation in
light of the human disposition reflects a widespread leadership model and
has implication for Paul's own guidance of his converts and for his
recommendations to the wise in light of their inconsiderate guidance of the
weak. The above reading of 1 Corinthians 8 is supported by evidence in
both its immediate and its wider literary context. We thus find evidence in
the early sections of 1 Corinthians relating to Paul's debate with the wise
in Corinth on leadership qualification and style as well as retrospective
evidence throughout 2 Corinthians which shows the repercussions of Paul's
critique of the wise and the mounting tensions between Paul and his
recalcitrant critics due to their differing views on the use of harshness in
psychagogic guidance.
The paper concludes by reflecting on the larger implications of the
exegetical reading. Firstly, the occurrence of the words „salvation” and
„destruction” in apocalyptic hterature cannot be used as evidence for such
a meaning in this context since we are dealing with a totally different type
of literature, namely, an epistolary one addressing practical matters of
concem to members of the Corinthian community. Secondly, the subject
matter, namely, the concem for the negative impact someone's behavior
with a rebust conscience has on another with a weak consdence, indicates
that Paul focuses on cognitive matters of present practical consequence.
Finally, Paul's possible acquaintance with the literary techniques
associated with psychagogy, and the relevance and use of Graeco-Roman
higher literature for our imderstanding of the earliest Christian writings,
are considered.
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