The Paul-Apollos relationship and Paul's stance toward Greco -Roman rhetoric: An exegetical and socio-historical study of 1 Corinthians 1--4

Chapter 1 explains some of the methodological and hermeneutical issues that are foundational to the study. Two in particular are discussed: word studies and background studies.;Chapter 2 presents a detailed exegesis of the text of 1 Corinthians 1-4. The purpose of the exegesis is to discern the literary and thematic unity of this rhetorical unit. It is shown that Paul constructed his argument against dissensions by first addressing the issue of wisdom.;Chapter 3 concludes that the background of wisdom is that of Greco-Roman rhetoric. It was the high estimation of it that led to the dissensions in the Corinthian church. Complementary to the sophistic background, the social background is proven to shed light on the partisan spirit. In this respect, the names that most likely were in danger of being perceived in competitive terms were those of Paul and Apollos. The Corinthians, it is argued, preferred one teacher against the other based on their rhetorical eloquence as well as the possibilities that these teachers offered them in regard to social status and honor enhancement.;Chapter 4 surveys the different views on Paul's stance toward rhetoric. It is concluded that Paul rejected the dynamic of sophistic rhetoric both in public speech as well as in writing. In this regard, the supposed apologetic character of 1 Corinthian 1-4 is questioned.;Chapter 5 draws some implications concerning the role of Apollos in the dissensions and concludes that Paul and Apollos fulfilled complementary rather than competing roles in the Corinthian congregation. Thus Apollos should be viewed as functioning in a positive and not polemical way in 1 Corinthians 1-4.