2 Corinthians: A Social Identity Commentary
2 Corinthians: A Social Identity Commentary
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Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
ISBN: 9780567668721
Number of Pages: 440
Published: 21/10/2021
Width: 13.8 cm
Height: 21.6 cm
Philip F. Esler provides a comprehensive coverage of the issues in 2 Corinthians from the perspective of social identity, with a focus on Paul’s leadership.
Esler enlists social identity theory—in critical dialogue with existing scholarship—to show how Paul sought to persuade the Corinthian Christ-followers to adopt certain views on four critical issues that had arisen in his relationship with them, with his discourse demonstrably reflecting the ancient Mediterranean culture they shared. Two introductory chapters set out those four issues, summarise the events reflected in 1 and 2 Corinthians, make an initial case for the integrity of the letter against partition theories, explain and defend the use of social identity theory in biblical interpretation, and describe the social identity approach to leadership. In the commentary, Esler explores how Paul re-establishes his leadership role by reconnecting with the Corinthians, urges their participation in the collection for Jerusalem, and defends his position against recently arrived opponents, all the while reinforcing his addressees’ social identity as Christ-followers. Prominent features of the commentary fostered by its social identity perspective include its cumulative case for the letter’s unity, for Paul’s opponents being similar to those in Galatia, and for the interweaving of social and theological dimensions in the text.
Series Editors' Preface
Preface and Acknowledgments
List of Abbreviations
Introduction
1. Setting the Scene
2. The Social Identity Approach to Leadership
Commentary Part A: 2 CORINTHIANS 1-7: PAUL RE-ESTABLISHES HIS LEADERSHIP
3. Reconnecting with the Corinthians (1.1-22)
4. Paul Explains Himself to the Corinthians (1.23-2.13)
5. Pauline Leadership and the New Covenant (2.14-3.18)
6. The Signs, Trials and Triumph of Leadership (4.1-15)
7. The Future Destiny of Christ-followers (4.16-5.10)
8. The Foundation and Exercise of Pauline Leadership (5.11-6.2)
9. Leadership and Ingroup Identity(6.3-7.4)
10. Paul, Titus and the Corinthians (7.5-16)
Commentary: Part B: 2: Corinthians 8-9: The Collection
11. The Collection (2 Corinthians 8-9): Introductory Issues
12. The Collection (2 Corinthians 8-9)
Commentary: Part C: 2 Corinthians 10-13: Paul Defends His Leadership Against His Opponents And Stiffens The Corinthians’ Identity In Christ
13. Paul’s Opponents and His Response in a Social Identity Perspective
14. Paul’s Assertion of His Leadership Against the Claims of His Opponents (2 Corinthians 10)
15. Claiming Honour as a Fool (2 Corinthians 11)
16. Paul’s Vision and His Impending Visit to Corinth (2 Corinthians 12)
17.Confrontation in Corinth and Conclusion (2 Corinthians 13)
References
Index of Authors
Index of Ancient and Biblical References
While "social identity" is the underlying guiding focus, Esler's commentary provides a well-informed and illuminating analysis of the letter as a whole and the rich Pauline theology it expresses. * The Bible Today * Philip Esler's 2 Corinthians: A Social Identity Commentary is not only a careful and sensitive reading of a very difficult and complex Pauline letter, but is effectively a primer for Social Identity Theory, illustrating what new insights SIT has to contribute to understanding the interactions between the Corinthian Christ group and its prototypical values on the one hand, and Paul's role as an exemplar and entrepreneur on the other. Esler engages an impressive array of exegetical and theoretical issues, and yet produces a clear and readable commentary. * John S. Kloppenborg, University of Toronto, Canada *
