First 📜After a discussion of the validity of the methodology normally used to determine interpolations, i.e. additions to a text after it had left its author’s hands, the chapter passes in review thirteen passages in 1 Cor, which various authors have suggested were interpolations. Only 1 Cor 4: 6 and 1 Cor 14: 34–35 are…

Yes and he got it wrong. That certainly seems to be the case. It was a common Christian expectation that Jesus was coming back soon until the destruction of the temple in 70 CE (which was after Paul’s death). That’s also why some scholars believe that the gospels were written post-70 (starting with Mark around…

At the turn of the 20th century Paul Haupt wrote on Ecclesiastes: The genuine portions of Ecclesiastes are Sadducean and Epicurean; Stoic doctrines are found almost exclusively in the Pharisaic interpolation. The idea of Epicurean influence on it is also argued in Malkin, Epicurean Influence in the Books of Ecclesiastes and Job, Written in the…

According to the scholar Robyn Faith Walsh in this article (https://www.religiousstudiesproject.com/response/a-jesus-before-paul/):The ahistorical nature of our traditional social models is evident in scholarly discussion about Paul’s quoting of Jesus. While there are several examples, allow me to focus on what is traditionally called the Last Supper. In 1 Cor 11:23-25, Paul details the events “on the…

If you read this verse solely out of the context of the letter, it seems to suddenly run into contradiction with (presumably) Paul’s inhibition in 1 Timothy 2:12 that women ought to keep silent in church, because herein the covering is demanded explicitly as a predicate for proper worship, as Paul says (KJV), “Judge in…

The New Oxford Annotated Bible has this to say in its annotations for verses 33b-36:Many scholars regard this passage as a later non-Pauline addition, because it disrupts the flow of the argument from v. 33a to v. 37; it contradicts the assumption of 11.5 that women will prat and prophesy in the assembly; it resembles…

First Corinthians is one of the four letters of Paul known as the Hauptbriefe, which are universally accepted to be authentic. The letter is usually dated c. 54/55 CE. Werner Georg Kummel states (Introduction to the New Testament, p. 275): “The genuineness of I Cor is not disputed: the letter is already clearly known in…

Ancient Roman Slavery: The characterization of slaves as “useless” or “useful” Contracts including a statement that the slave is no truant and no fugitive

Investing Roman Legal Texts: Social and Historical Analysis and Reconstruction of Slavery: Holidays for Slaves: Slave Marriages and Slave Families: Manumission – Setting Slaves Free: Minority of scholars think that Paul did not actually challenge the system of slavery:

Onesimus (Ὀνήσιμος) was a common name for slaves (transl. “a useful man”). There are two O. related to Paul in NT writings, one in Phlm 15 and another in Col 4:9. We know of at least four bishops and theologians named Onesimus: of Ephesos, of Byzantion, of Borea and of Sicily (died in the 3rd…