Texts in Conversation
Paul in 1 Corinthians uses the Greek Septuagint translation of Proverbs 21, where the lawless are described as a ransom for the righteous. The reference to being treated poorly by the world echoes this reversal, as Paul tries to find meaning in his suffering, describing it as substitutionary.
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LXX Proverbs 21:18
Septuagint
14 A covert gift overturns anger, and one who is sparing with gifts awakens fierce wrath. 15 The gladness of the righteous does judgment, but that which is pure is unclean to evildoers. 16 A man who is misled from the way of righteousness will sleep in the congregation of the giants. 17 A poor man loves gladness, being fond of wine and olive oil in abundance; 18 but the lawless is the ransom of the righteous. 19 It is better to live in the desert than with a talkative, quarrelsome, wrathful woman. 20 A desirable storehouse will rest upon the mouth of the wise, but foolish men will swallow it up. 21 The way of righteousness and mercy will find life and glory.
Date: 1st Century B.C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
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1 Corinthians 4:13
New Testament
12 We do hard work, toiling with our own hands. When we are verbally abused, we respond with a blessing, when persecuted, we endure, 13 when people lie about us, we answer in a friendly manner. We are the world’s dirt and scum, even now. 14 I am not writing these things to shame you, but to correct you as my dear children. 15 For though you may have 10,000 guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, because I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
Date: 55-57 C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
"... There are a number of Intertexture references and influences underpinning elements of 1 Corinthians 4:6-13: (1) the ‘royal’ power of 1 Corinthians 4:8 alludes to the ‘royal’ power of Daniel 7:18, 21 and 27; the mention of scapegoat or ransom in 1 Corinthians 4:13 refers to similar themes in Proverbs 21:18, Tobit 5:19, Leviticus 16; and there are numerous allusions to Isaiah, especially Isaiah 52:13—53:12. It is also important to discuss Paul’s use of familial language. These will be investigated for their relevance to Paul’s argument in 1 Corinthians 4:9-13 (There may also be allusions to some pseudepigraphal books in 1 Corinthians 4:9-13, especially to Bel and the Dragon 31 (“sentenced/doomed to death”) and to 4 Maccabees 17:14 (“The tyrant was the opponent and the world and the human race were the spectators”). (‘Sentenced/doomed to death’) in 1 Corinthians 4:9 is the only time that word is used in the New Testament: it is also used in the LXX version of Bel and the Dragon 31 where it is given the same meaning, namely, that ‘condemnation to death’ signifies that it is a public or cosmic spectacle. This interpretation is supported in 1 Corinthians 4:9) ..."
Mortell, Philip B.
A Socio-rhetorical Interpretation of Paul’s Theology of Christian Suffering in 1 Corinthians
(pp. 115-117) University of Limerick, 2020
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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