Copyright holder: Tyndale University, 3377 Bayview Ave., Toronto, Ontario, Canada M2M 3S4 Att.: Library Director, J. William Horsey Library Copyright: This Work has been made available by the authority of the copyright owner solely for the purpose of private study and research and may not be copied or reproduced except as permitted by the copyright laws of Canada without the written authority from the copyright owner. Copyright license: Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License Citation: Webb, William J. Returning Home: New Covenant and Second Exodus as the Context for 2 Corinthians 6.14-7.1. Sheffield: JSOT Press, 1993. (Journal for the Study of the New Testament. Supplement series; 85) ***** Begin Content ****** TYNDALE UNIVERSITY 3377 Bayview Avenue Toronto, ON M2M 3S4 TEL: 416.226.6620 www.tyndale.ca Note: This Work has been made available by the authority of the copyright owner solely for the purpose of private study and research and may not be copied or reproduced except as permitted by the copyright laws of Canada without the written authority from the copyright owner. Webb, William J. Returning Home: New Covenant and Second Exodus as the Context for 2 Corinthians 6.14-7.1. Sheffield: JSOT Press, 1993. (Journal for the Study of the New Testament. Supplement series; 85) [ Citation Page ] Returning Home New Covenant and Second Exodus as the Context for 2 Corinthians 6.14-7.1 William J. Webb Journal for the Study of the New Testament Supplement Series 85 [ Title Page ] Copyright © 1993 Sheffield Academic Press Published by JSOT Press JSOT Press is an imprint of Sheffield Academic Press Ltd The University of Sheffield 343 Fulwood Road Sheffields S10 3BP England Typeset by Sheffield Academic Press British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data Webb, W.J. Returning Home: New Covenant and Second Exodus as the Context for 2 Corinthians 6.14-7.1. —(JSNT Supplement Series, ISSN 0143-5108; No. 85) I. Title n. Series 227 EISBN 9781850754183 [ Title Page Verso ] [ Page 5 ] Contents Abbreviations .... 7 Preface .... 10 Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION .... 13 Chapter 2 THE HISTORY OF INTERPRETATION: FROM REFORMATION TO THE TWENTIETH CENTURY .... 16 Chapter 3 THE CONTENT OF THE FRAGMENT: NEW COVENANT AND SECOND EXODUS TRADITIONS IN 2 CORINTHIANS 6.14-7.1 .... 31 Chapter 4 The Remote Context of the Fragment: New Covenant and Second Exodus Traditions in 2 Corinthians 2.14-5.10 .... 72 Chapter 5 The Immediate Context of the Fragment: New Covenant and Second Exodus TRADITIONS IN 2 CORINTHIANS 5.11-7.4 .... 112 Chapter 6 A CRITIQUE OF ALTERNATIVE CONTEXTUAL THEORIES .... 159 Chapter 7 CONCLUSION .... 176 [ Page ] 6 Appendix A The Crux Interpretive Issue (Part I); Who are the ‘Unbelievers’ (apistoi)? .... 184 Appendix B The Crux Interpretive Issue (Part II): What is the ‘Unequal Yoke’ (heterozugountes)? .... 200 Bibliography .... 216 Index of References .... 229 Index of Authors .... 245 [ Page 7 ] Abbreviations AB Anchor Bible AGJU Arbeiten zur Geschichte des antiken Judentums und des Urchristentums AnBib Analecta Biblica ATANT Abhandlungen zur Theologie des Alten und Neuen Testaments AusBR Australian Biblical Review BAGD W. Bauer, W.F. Arndt, F.W. Gingrich and F.W. Danker, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christians Literature BDF F. Blass, A. Debrunner and R.W. Funk, A Greek Grammar of the New Testament and Other Early Christians Literature BETL Bibliotheca ephemeridum theologicarum lovaniensium BEvT Beiträge zur evangelischen Theologie BFCT Beiträge zur Förderung christlicher Theologie BGBE Beiträge zur Geschichte der biblischen Exegese BHT Beiträge zur Historischen Theologie Bib Biblica BSac Bibliotheca Sacra BTB Biblical Theology Bulletin BTH Bibliothèque de Théologie Historique CBC Cambridge Bible Commentary CBQ Catholic Biblical Quarterly CGT Cambridge Greek Testament CNieT Commentaar op het Nieuwe Testament CNT Commentaire du Nouveau Testament CR Classical Review CurTM Currents in Theology and Mission EB Expositors Bible EBib Études Bibliques EchBib Echter-Bibel ENT Erläuterungen zum Neuen Testament ETL Ephemerides theologicae lovaniensis EvQ Evangelical Quarterly ExpTim Expository Times GCS Geneva Series Commentaries GNS Good News Studies GTB Van Gorcum’s Theologische Bibliotheek [ Page ] 8 GTW Grundriss der Theologischen Wissenschaften HAR Hebrew Annual Review HKNT Handkommentar zum Neuen Testament HNT Handbuch zum Neuen Testament HNTC Harper's NT Commentaries HSNT Die heilge Schrift Neuen Testaments ICC International Critical Commentary Int Interpretation JAARSup Journal of the American Academy of Religion Supplements JBL Journal of Biblical Literature JSNT Journal for the Study of the New Testament JSNTSup Journal for the Study of the New Testament Supplement Series JSOT Journal for the Study of the Old Testament JSOTSup Journal for the Study of the Old Testament Supplement Series JTS Journal of Theological Studies KAT Kommentar zum Alten Testament KKHSNT Kurzgesaszter Kommentar zu den heiligen Schriften Neuen Testament KNT Kommentar zum Neuen Testament LCRL Limited Classical Reprint Library LNT Literature of the New Testament LTP Laval Théologique et Philosophique MeyerK H.A.W. Meyer, Kritisch-exegetischer Kommentar über das Neue Testament MNTC Moffat NT Commentary NCB New Century Bible NEBNT Neue Echter Bibel Neues Testament NFTL New Foundations Theological Library NICNT New International Commentary on the New Testament NovT Novum Testamentum NovTSup Novum Testamentum Supplements NTD Das Neue Testament Deutsch NTG Neue Theologische Grundrisse NTS New Testament Studies OIL Old Testament Library OTM Oxford Theological Monographs OTWSA Die Ou-Testamentiese Werkgemeenskap in Suid-Africa RB Revue Biblique SANT Studien zum Alten und Neuen Testament SBLDS SBL Dissertation Series SCath Studia Catholica SJLA Studies in Judaism in Late Antiquity SMB Serie Monografica di Benedictina SNTSMS Society of New Testament Studies Monograph Series StBibTh Studia Biblica et Theologica [ Page ] 9 STR Stadia Travaux de Recherche SUNT Stadien zur Umwelt des Neuen Testaments TC Theological Collections TD Theologischen Dissertationen TNTC Tyndale New Testament Commentaries TS Theological Studies TSK Theologische Studien und Kritiken TynBul Tyndale Bulletin TOTC Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries USQR Union Seminary Quarterly Review VEv Vox Evangelica VSpir Vie Spirituelle WBC Word Biblical Commentary WC Westminster Commentaries WUNT Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament ZNW Zeitschrift für die neutestamentliche Wissenschaft All secondary sources are cited in the footnotes by the author’s last name and a convenient short title. Full titles and other bibliographic information are provided in the Bibliography. [ Page 10 ] PREFACE This work has been enhanced through the assistance of many individuals. It was originally submitted as a ThD dissertation at Dallas Theological Seminary in 1990. I am grateful to my supervisors, David Lowery, Darrell Bock and Robert Chisholm, who gave thorough and gracious guidance throughout each stage of the research and writing process. I must give special credit to Darrell Bock, for it was his lec- tures on the use of the Old Testament in Luke-Acts that sparked the idea of investigating the traditions in the fragment and its present context. At that juncture, I abandoned the initial direction of my research and pursued what developed into a traditions study. In its current form as a monograph, it is a work reborn. David Hill interacted with my thesis in its original state, causing me to rework my arguments at a number of crucial points. My own brother, Robert Webb, patiently and meticulously assisted in two revisions beyond the original work. I owe a great deal to both these men for strengthening this book, and I would like to thank them for expanding my horizons. Likewise, Andrew Kirk has been of great assistance in seeing the editorial stage of this work to a successfill completion. In the revision process, my colleagues Jerry Colwell and David Barker read and critically commented on extensive portions of the drafts. They have not only helped shape the content of this book, but added immeasurably to its clarity and style. I thank them along with the rest of the faculty, staff, administration, and board of Heritage Theological Seminary who have provided a warm and caring atmosphere for our family. Their Christian fellowship and encourage- ment in the writing of this book has meant a great deal to Marilyn and myself. To my family I owe the greatest debt of gratitude. My parents, Dr Bud Webb and Mrs Doreen Webb, and my wife’s parents, Major Barry McFadyen and Mrs June McFadyen, have continually offered us strength and encouragement in the task. Of more profound signifi- cance, they instilled in us a love for the Scriptures. My wife, Marilyn, and our three children, Jonathan, Christine and Joel, are my constant [ Page ] 11 joy. This book is dedicated to the four of them, most especially to Marilyn, who holds my deepest affection and has become my dearest friend. Without her support and love, this work could never have been completed. William J. Webb London, Ontario, Canada May 12, 1993 [ Page 12 ] [ Page 13 ] Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION This initial Chapter provides a brief and uncomplicated orientation to the book. Without getting bogged down in too many details, I wish to introduce the problem which this book seeks to address, its corre- sponding hypothesis, and the contribution each Chapter makes towards that hypothesis. This introductory ‘roadmap’ should make the journey through the rest of the book a more enjoyable experience. 1. The Problem The text of 2 Cor. 6.14-7.1, commonly called ‘the fragment’, has been the focus of much debate. Due in particular to its contextual problem, 2 Cor. 6.14-7.1 has been referred to as ‘the enigmatic para- graph’,1 ‘the notoriously difficult text’,2 or ‘an enigma within 2 Corinthians, neither its origin nor its place in the context being entirely clear’.3 The words of W.G. Kümmel are indicative of many New Testament scholars: ‘2 Cor. 6.14-7.1 forms a difficulty probably not to be solved, for this section is without thematic connection to its context and interrupts the good connection between 6.13 and 7.2.’4 __________________________ 1. Barrett, ‘Things Sacrificed to Idols’, p. 140. 2. Hafemann, Suffering and the Spirit, p. 85. 3. Furnish, II Corinthians, p. 383. 4. Kümmel, Introduction to the New Testament, p. 214. Cf. Young and Ford (2 Corinthians, p. 32) who comment on the fragment: ‘It is generally agreed that a satisfactory explanation of their position here [6.147.1] in 2 Corinthians has not been so far advanced. They are usually treated as an insertion.’ Likewise, Collange (Énigmes, p. 319) writes, ‘Au chapitre 6, enfin, la difficulté réside dans l’explication de la présence à cet endroit précis de l’épître du fragment 6.14-7.1’. Moffat (Introduction, p. 225) refers to 6.14-7.1 as ‘an erratic boulder’ standing out of place from its context. Fee (‘Food Offered to Idols’, p. 142) similarly states, ‘What strikes one as he reads the vast array of literature on this passage is the general unwillingness ... to deal with the contextual question.’ A list of similar comments [ Page ] 14 Returning Home Even the casual reader of 2 Corinthians would acknowledge that the removal 6.14-7.1 smooths the contextual flow, while its presence adds a certain abruptness and its subject matter is not easily explainable within the context. 2. Statement of the Hypothesis It is the problem of contextual integration, then, which this book seeks to address. My hypothesis is that the fragment is related to its present context through the use of new covenant and exilic return traditions, particularly in light of Paul’s identification with the ’ebed Yahweh (an identification which allows him to formulate his proclamation-message in second exodus language, ‘Come out... ’). The book’s short-form title, Returning Home, represents a convenient reduction of the longer title, Coming Out of Babylon and Returning Home. Along with the return motif, this reflects the imperative: ‘Come out of Babylon!’ I have chosen this title in view of its crucial role in the contextual theory, echoing the cry for a new exodus. Its wording derives from a piece of the fragment’s tradition (‘Come out from among them’) which has been heavily redacted in order to reiterate the opening exhortation in 6.14a. In this respect, the book’s title epitomizes the call of the fragment from a traditions perspective: ‘Come out of Babylon and return home’. 3. Contribution of Chapters towards the Hypothesis Each Chapter contributes towards the hypothesis. Chapter 2 traces the history of the interpretation of 2 Cor. 6.14-7.1 from the Reformation to the present day. This historical survey not only provides the ‘broader picture’ of how larger trends in New Testament studies have influenced different interpretations of the passage, but grants the interpreter the all-too-rare opportunity of seeing one’s own position in light of the ebb and flow of these historical trends. In the process, this Chapter introduces the reader to the legacy of scholarship upon which my own book builds and articulates how this study represents a new direction in research on the fragment. __________________________ on the fragment’s lack of contextual continuity could be reproduced to fill several pages. These should be a sufficient sample. [ Page ] 15 The third, fourth and fifth Chapters develop the core of my pro- posed traditions hypothesis. Chapter 3 examines the fragment itself as an isolated unit apart from its present context in an attempt to under- stand its traditions—their sources, redactional modifications, and theological contributions. Chapters 4 and 5 study the fragment’s remote (2.14-5.10) and immediate (5.11-7.4) context for traces of Old Testament traditions similar to those found in the fragment. A detailed correlation between the fragment and its context is then proposed on the basis of this investigation. The sixth Chapter offers a critique of alternative contextual theories both on their own merits and in light of the traditions investigation just completed. A critical evaluation is made of alternative attempts to explain the relationship between the fragment and its present context. The seventh Chapter concludes with a brief summary of the book’s contextual hypothesis and a review of areas where this study contributes to existing research on the fragment. The two essays in Appendixes A and B apply the contextual findings to the crux interpretive issue in 6.14a. Beyond offering a solution to the contextual problem, the traditions hypothesis contributes towards the understanding of who the ‘unbelievers’ are and what the ‘unequal yoke’ refers to. ***** This is the end of the e-text. This e-text was brought to you by Tyndale University, J. William Horsey Library - Tyndale Digital Collections *****