The body of Christ and related concepts in I Corinthians

A. J. M. Wedderburn

doi:10.1017/S0036930600027411

The body of Christ and related concepts in I Corinthians

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 02 February 2009

A. J. M. Wedderburn

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This article takes as its starting-point certain questions raised by Ernst Käsemann's recently-published essay ‘Das theologische Problem des Motivs vom Leibe Christi’; it is, however, principally concerned with Paul's earlier letters and, more specifically, with I Corinthians, but this is done in the conviction that these writings provide the key to the later ones, and not vice versa.

Type: Research Article
Information: Scottish Journal of Theology , Volume 24 , Issue 1 , February 1971 , pp. 74 - 96

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0036930600027411 [Opens in a new window]
Copyright: Copyright © Scottish Journal of Theology Ltd 1971

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^{page 74 note 1} In Paulinische Perspekliven (Tübingen, 1969), pp. 178–210. The present article is based on a paper read at Professor C. F. D. Moule's Seminar in Cambridge University as a sequel to a discussion of Käsemann's views.

^{page 74 note 2} op. cit., p. 191f.

^{page 74 note 3} cf. ‘Die Kirche als Leib Christi in den paulinischen Homologumena’ in Neotestamentica: English and German Essays, 1951–1963 (Zürich, 1963), p. 286Google Scholar, and T.W.N.T., vol. vii (Stuttgart, 1964), p. 1066.

^{page 74 note 4} So Cerfaux, L., The Church in the Theology of St. Paul (E.T. of la Théologie de I'Église suivant S. Paul, Paris, 1947) (New York, 1959), pp. 279–281Google Scholar; Robinson, J. A. T., The Body, S.B.T., v (London, 1952), p. 50Google Scholar; Best, E., One Body in Christ: a Study in the Relationship of the Church to Christ in the Epistles of the Apostle Paul (London, 1955). P. 76f.Google Scholar

^{page 75 note 1} So Robinson, ibid., and Rawlinson, A. E. J., ‘Corpus Christi’ in Mysterium Christi: Christological Studies by British and German Theologians, ed. Bell, G. K. A. and Deissmann, A. (London, 1930), p. 226.Google Scholar

^{page 75 note 2} cf. Rom. 4.1, 16.

^{page 75 note 3} Pace Bornkamm, G. who, in ‘Herrenmahl und Kirche bei Paulus’ (Studien zu Antike und Christentum: Gesammelte Aufätze, Bd. II, B.Ev.T., xxviii, München, 1963), p. 164Google Scholar (E.T. in Early Christian Experience, London, 1969, p. 145), follows H. v. Soden in taking the reference of the as being to the worship of the golden calf rather than the regular Jewish worship.

^{page 75 note 4} So Percy, E., Der Leib Christi () in den paulinischen Homologumena und Antilegomena, Lunds Universitets Årsskrift, N.F. Avd. I, Bd. xxxviii (Lund, 1942), p. 15f Cerfaux, op. cit., p. 271.Google Scholar

^{page 76 note 1} op. cit., p. 157 (E.T. p. 139).

^{page 76 note 2} cf. Herodotus, viii.132.2.

^{page 76 note 3} Cerfaux, op. cit., p. 264, argues from the evidence of Didache 12.3f that it is the bread which is the basis of the idea of their unity, but it is hard to find Jewish parallels to the idea of the food of the Messianic banquet symbolising, let alone constituting, the unity of the Messianic community.

^{page 77 note 1} cf. Bornkamm, op. cit., p. 154 (E.T. p. 136); Jeremias, J., The Eucharistic Words of Jesus (E.T. of Die Abendmahlsworte Jesu, 3rd ed., Göttingen, 1960, revised to 1964) (London, 1966), p. 87Google Scholar. Further, Paul asymmetrically identifies the cup, not with Jesus' blood, but with the new covenant.

^{page 77 note 2} e.g. by Percy, op. cit., p. 42f; Bouttier, M., En Christe: Étude d'Exégèse et de Théologie Pauliniennes, Études d'Histoire et de Philosophic Religieuses, liv (Paris, 1962), pp. 45, 64.Google Scholar

^{page 77 note 3} Käsemann, op. cit., p. 194.f: his statement that the crucified body of Christ is just an individual one into which no one can be incorporated is hard to reconcile with passages like Rom. 7.4 and 2 Cor. 5.14.

^{page 78 note 1} loc. cit., e.g. pp. 227f, 231; cf. Conzelmann, H., An Outline of the Theology of the New Testament (E.T. of Grundriss der Theologie des Neuen Testaments, 2nd ed., München, 1968) (London, 1969), p. 262.Google Scholar

^{page 78 note 2} op. cit., p. 110; yet he wants to deny any particular formative influence by the Eucharist on either verbal form or concept.

^{page 78 note 3} I Cor. 12.13f.

^{page 78 note 4} So E.-B. Allo, Saint Paul: Première Épître aux Corinthiens, Études Bibliques, 2nd ed. (Paris, 1956), p. 329.

^{page 79 note 1} cf. Rawlinson, loc. cit., pp. 225f 230f.

^{page 79 note 2} I Cor. 15.3, 2 Cor. 5.14, etc.

^{page 79 note 3} Rom. 6.3 (n.b. the introductory ;), cf. I Cor. 10.16f.

^{page 80 note 1} Beiträge zur historischen Theologie, ix (Tübingen, 1933), pp. 184, 186.

^{page 80 note 2} op. cit., pp. 185, 188f.

^{page 80 note 3} Schweizer would grant that it was found in the material which Paul had adapted in Col. 1.15–18 (in ‘Die Kirche als Leib Christi in den paulinischen Antilegomena’, Neotestamtntica, pp. 293–300).

^{page 81 note 1} op. cit., p. 7.

^{page 81 note 2} ‘The Church as the Missionary Body of Christ’, Neoteslamentica, p. 322f; cf. Käsemann, Paulinische Perspektiven, pp. 201–8.

^{page 81 note 3} Neotestamenlica, p. 292.

^{page 81 note 4} ibid., e.g. p. 314.

^{page 81 note 5} ibid., p. 291f.

^{page 82 note 1} op. cit., p. 17; cf. Best, op. cit., p. 113.

^{page 82 note 2} I Cor. 12.28; cf. Eph. 4.11.

^{page 82 note 3} I Cor. 12.26.

^{page 83 note 1} Paulinische Perspektiven, p. 2O2f.

^{page 83 note 2} Leib, p. 138.

^{page 83 note 3} e.g. Exod. 34.15; Num. 20.18–20, 21.22; Deut. 4.If, 7.25, 8.19, 14.21; Joshua 7.25; Ps. 44.6, 16, 18 (5, 15, 17); Jub. 2.20.

^{page 83 note 4} e.g. Num. 11.12; Deut. 8.2–20, 30.3–5; Joshua 7.5; 2 Sam. 19.14 (15); Hos. 11.1; Zech. 9.5.

^{page 83 note 5} e.g. Lev. 25.42; Deut. 5.3, 6, 6.12; Joshua 24.6–8; Amos 3.1; Josephus, Ant. iv.212; S. Bar. 75.7f; M. Pes. x.5 (note the omission of the quotation of Exod. 13.8 in older sources; cf. Danby, H., The Mishnah, Oxford, 1933, p. 151, n.I)Google Scholar.

^{page 84 note 1} e.g. Gen. 26.10; Num. 16.22; Joshua 7.11f; b. Kid. 40b.

^{page 84 note 2} e.g. Gen. 27.37 with Mal. 1.2–4 (also Jer. 49.8–10); Gen. 49.5–7; I Sam. 15.2f; 2 Kings 22.13; 2 Chron. 29.6, 8; Jer. 14.20; Lam. 5.7; Hos. 12.2–6.

^{page 84 note 3} cf. the promises made to Abram in Gen. 12.2f., 13.15–17; also Num. 27.4, 7; I Sam. 24.21f; Isa. 66.22.

^{page 84 note 4} Of the king: e.g. 2 Sam. 21.17; 2 Kings 23.26; 2 Chron. 21.3; Ps. 28.8; Lam. 4.20; Hab. 3.13 (also Jub. 12. 2–3); of Moses: Exod. 18.19; of the priest: Lev. 16.11, 15, 24, 33; of a tribe: Num. 3.41, 45; of a prophet: Jer. 8.21.

^{page 84 note 5} e.g. Gen. 6.8, 7.1, 18.24–32, 19.29; Num. 25.8, 11–13 (Ps. 106.30); 1 Kings 11.11–13, 15–4; Ps. 37.25f.

^{page 84 note 6} Adam and the Family of Man (E.T. of Adam et son Lignage: Études sur la Notion de Personnalité Corporative dans la Bible, Bruges, 1959) (New York, 1965), pp. 33, 144, following MowinckelGoogle Scholar.

^{page 85 note 1} ‘Zur Leib-Christi-Vorstellung im Epheserbrief’ in Judentum, Urchristentum, Kirche, Festschr. for Jeremias, J., ed. Eltester, W., B.Z.N.W., xxvi (Berlin, 1960), p. 175Google Scholar.

^{page 85 note 2} Clement of Alexandria, Exc. Theod. xlii.2 (ed. Stählin vol. III, p. 120.4f).

^{page 86 note 1} Neotestamentica, pp. 272f, 283, 290: he cites Ps.-Philo, Biblical Antiquities xii.8f, which depicts Israel as a cosmic vineyard, an idea which may be a combination of the imagery of Isa. 5.1–6 and Ezek. 17.3–10 with that of Ezek. 31.3–14 and Dan. 4.10–12 (cf. also I QH vi.15–17). Hellenistic Judaism also applied the figure of a body to Israel (Philo, Spec. Leg. iii. 131; Josephus, Bell. iii. 54) or to states or cities in more general terms (Josephus, Bell, i.507, ii.264, iv.406, v.27, Ant. vii.66, xiv.312) or to a group of some sort (Bell. iii.1O4f, 270, v.279).

^{page 86 note 2} Acts 9.5, 22.8, 26.14.

^{page 86 note 3} So Käsemann, Leib, pp. 138f, 162, 168.

^{page 86 note 4} So Murmelstein, B., ‘Adam, eine Beitrag zur Messiaslehre’ in W.Z.K.M., xxxv, 1928, pp. 261–268Google Scholar; Staerk, W., Die Erlösercrwartung in den östlichen Religionen: Untersuchungen zu den Ausdrucksformen der biblischen Christologie (Soter II) (Stuttgart, 1938). PP- 127–130, etc.Google Scholar

^{page 86 note 5} So Käsemann, , Leib, p. 183Google Scholar, Schlier, H., ‘Die Einheit der Kirche im Denken des Apostels Paulus’ in Die Zeit der Kirche: exegetischc Aufsätze und Vorträge (Freiburg, 1956), pp. 287–299Google Scholar.

^{page 87 note 1} As in, e.g., Schmithals, W., D e Gnosis in Korinth: eine Untersuchung zu den Korintherbriefen, 2nd ed. (Göttingen, 1965), p. 70Google Scholar: the earlier texts (Eth. En. 49.3; Ape. Abr. 23; 1 QS iv.23; CD iii.20; Philo, Conf. Ling. 41) scarcely prove this point.

^{page 87 note 2} The Last Adam: a Study in Pauline Anthropology (Oxford, 1966), p. 57fGoogle Scholar.

^{page 87 note 3} This is certainly true of Christian Gnostic examples like Act. Thom. 10, 15; Hippolytus, Ref. V.vii.32; Irenaeus, adv. Haer. I.xiii.3, xxi.3 (ed. Harvey I.vii.2, xiv.2); Clement of Alexandria, Exc. Theod. lviii.I (ed. Stählin vol. III, p. 126.11).

^{page 87 note 4} In Christus: eine Untersuchung zum paulinischen Glaubensoerständnis (Göttingen, 1961). P. 37fGoogle Scholar.

^{page 88 note 1} op. cit., pp. 65–67.

^{page 89 note 1} cf. I Cor. 1.2, 4f (twice), 15.22; 2 Cor. 3.14 (5.21); Gal. 2.17 (cf. also Eph. 1.11,? 13, 2.10, 13; Acts 13.39).

^{page 89 note 2} 2 Cor. 2.14 (cf. 5.19; Eph. 1.6, 20, 2.6, 4.32; Col. 2.15).

^{page 90 note 1} Paulinische Perspektiven, p. 194f.

^{page 90 note 2} Leib, p. 163.

^{page 90 note 3} Adam und Christus: exegetisch-religionsgeschichtliche Untersuchung zu Römer 5.12–21 (I Kor. 15), W.M.A.N.T., vii (Neukirchen, 1962), p. 70.

^{page 91 note 1} An intelligible belief if one understood the resurrection simply as a restoration of the former physical state (cf. Volz, P., Die Eschatologie der jüdischen Gemeinde im neutestamentlichen Zeitalter, Tübingen, 1934, pp. 250–252)Google Scholar.

^{page 91 note 2} I Cor. 15.4–8.

^{page 91 note 3} Wisd. 10.1 is probably only speaking of Adam's restoration through his penitence and Eve's self-accusing cries in Vit. Ad. 18.1 arc to be set in the context of the whole work (cf. 8.If, 26.2).

^{page 92 note 1} Vit. Ad. 26.2; Apc. Mos. 11.2; 24.1; Slavonic Vit. Ad. 32.1.

^{page 92 note 2} In Wisd. 2.24 death comes by the devil's envy, but only to those of its party who court it by their actions (1.12, 16, 3.17–19).

^{page 92 note 3} S. Bar. 17.2–4, 19.8, 23.4, 54.15, 56.6; 4 Esdras 3.7, 7.IIf, 116–19; cf, Gn. r. xvi.6; Qoh. r. vii.13; Ps.-Philo, Biblical Antiquities xiii.8

^{page 93 note 1} cf. Rom. 8.23; 2 Cor. I.22; Eph. 4.14.

^{page 93 note 2} e.g. by Davies, W. D., Paul and Rabbinic Judaism: some Rabbinic Elements in Pauline Theology, 2nd ed. (London, 1955), p. 51fGoogle Scholar; Allo, op. cit., p. 427f; Barrett, C. K., A Commentary on the First Epistle to the Corinthians, Black's NT Comms. (London, 1968), p. 374fGoogle Scholar.

^{page 93 note 3} Brandenburger, op. cit., pp. 117–31.

^{page 93 note 4} Schmithals, op. cit., pp. 133, 159f.

^{page 94 note 1} As in the Apocryphon of John (Cod. Berol. 27.19f 29.10, 35.4f 48.2f), the Sophia Jesu Christi (94.9–11, 96.12, 98.16, 100.14, 108.9–11) and the doctrine of the Naassenes (Hippolytus, Ref. V.vii.4, 6).

^{page 94 note 2} op. cit., pp. 158–80.

^{page 94 note 3} cf. S. Bar. liv.15, 19 (xlviii.45–47) with xxiii.4, xlviii.42f, lvi.6; also 4 Esdras 7.118–26 with 127–30, and 1 QH xv.17–19.

^{page 95 note 1} cf., e.g., S. Bar. lvi.6; Jub. iii.28f (also Josephus, Ant. i.41; Philo, Quaest. in Gn. i.32); Gr. Bar. ix.7; Gn. r. v.g; j. Kil. 1.7 (ed. Schwab vol. II, p. 230).

^{page 95 note 2} Rom. 8.20.

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