Moses in Corinth: The Apologetic Context of 2 Corinthians 3 (Novum Testamentum, Supplements)

Scholars have long puzzled over the imagery focused on Moses in 2 Corinthians 3; it is unclear how that imagery fits into the larger context of the letter. Many have explained the imagery as the apostle’s reaction to the “super-apostles,” Jewish missionaries mentioned later in the letter. These preachers, it has been argued, promoted either a θεῖος ἀνήρ or a Judaizing agenda. In Moses in Corinth, Paul B. Duff contends that the Moses imagery has nothing to do with the super-apostles but functions instead as an integral part of Paul’s first apologia sent to Corinth. This apologia, found in 2 Cor 2:14-7:4, represents an independent letter sent to dispel suspicions about the apostle’s honesty, integrity, and poor physical appearance. Moses in Corinth: The Apologetic Context of 2 Corinthians 3 4 Contents 8 Acknowledgments 12 Abbreviations and Citations 13 1 Introduction: The Problematic Nature of 2 Corinthians 3 14 Introduction 14 The Apologetic Context of 2 Cor 2:14–7:4 15 Paul’s Use of Exod 34:29–35 16 The Integrity of 2 Corinthians 19 Paul’s Opponents 22 The Present Study 26 2 The Question of the Integrity of 2 Corinthians 31 Introduction 31 The Beginning of the Debate: Johann Salomo Semler 31 From Semler to the Present 33 An Intermediate Visit (Zwischenbesuch), a Lost Letter (Zwischenbrief ), and an Unaccounted for Event (Zwischenfall) 34 The Problematic Nature of 2 Cor 6:14–7:1 35 The Independence of Chapters 10–13 and the Question of Chronology 39 The Collection Chapters (Chapters 8 and 9) 42 The Separation of 2:14–7:4 from 1:1–2:13 and 7:5–16 45 Verbal Links between 2 Cor 7:4 and 7:5–16 47 The Discontinuity between 2 Cor 2:13 and 2:14 Can Be Explained 51 The Contrast in Tone between 2 Cor 2:14–7:4 and 2 Cor 1:1–2:13; 7:5–16 is Exaggerated 54 No Manuscript or Patristic Evidence Supports the Separation of 2:14–7:4 from Its Surrounding Context 57 Conclusion 58 Current Hypotheses about the Division of 2 Corinthians 59 Critique of the Various Hypotheses 61 Conclusion 64 3 The Origins of Paul’s First Apology 65 Introduction 65 Who Were Paul’s Detractors? Some Notable Attempts to Identify Paul’s Opposition 65 Are There References to the “False Apostles” in 2 Cor 2:14–7:4? 73 2 Cor 5:12 74 2 Cor 2:17 75 2 Cor 3:1 77 Internal Opposition? 1 Corinthians: Its Cause and Likely Effect 78 Evidence for Issues of Concern in 2:14–7:4 That Likely Had Their Origin in 1 Corinthians 82 Questions about Paul’s “Fitness” 82 Allegations of Self-Commendation 85 Issues of Concern in 2:14–7:4 That Seem Unrelated to 1 Corinthians 89 Accusations of Furtive and Cunning Behavior 89 Charges of Fraud 91 The Collection Prior to 2 Cor 2:14–7:4 94 Paul’s Weakness 98 Summary 104 4 “Who is Fit for These Things?” (2 Cor 2:14–3:6) 106 Introduction 106 Paul, a Participant in God’s Triumphal Procession 106 Paul’s Fitness (Ἱκανότης) and That of Moses 111 Concerns about Paul’s Honesty: Letters of Recommendation 115 Types of Letters: Letters of Introduction 116 Types of Letters: Letters of Commission or Authorization 117 Types of Letters: Intercessory Letters 119 Letters of Recommendation and the Corinthian Community 123 Excursus: The Connection between the Issues of Self-Commendation and Letters of Recommendation 126 “You Are Our Letter” 128 Paul’s “Letter” and the Metaphor of the Cultic Procession 130 The Letter of Christ and the Torah 133 Paul’s Use of Scripture 134 Scriptural Allusions in 2 Cor 3:3 136 The Torah and Paul’s “Letter” of Recommendation 144 An Envoy (Διάκονος) of a New Covenant 145 Summary and Conclusion 148 5 The Ministries of Condemnation and Righteousness (2 Cor 3:7–11) 150 Introduction 150 The Ministries of Paul and Moses: Comparison or Contrast in 2 Cor 3:7–11? 150 The Logic of an Argument a minore ad maius 152 Comparison and Contrast within 3:7–11? 154 The Expansions of Paul’s Comparative Argument: 2 Cor 3:7b and 3:10 157 The “Glory” of Moses in Other Jewish Texts 160 Contrasts within the Comparative Sentences of 2 Cor 3:7–11 163 Δόξα in the Ministry of Death? 164 A Possible Solution 166 Jewish Views about Gentiles and the Torah 168 Gentiles and the Torah in Paul’s Other Writings 172 The Connection between God’s Glory and Judgment/Punishment 175 Summary and Conclusion 183 6 Not Like Moses? (2 Cor 3:12–18) 185 Introduction 185 Moses the Veiled Envoy: 2 Cor 3:12–13 186 “Moses” (the Text) and Israel: 2 Cor 3:14–15 193 Israel and Her Clouded Thinking 194 “Those Who Are Perishing”: 2 Cor 4:3–4 200 Israel and “Those Who Are Perishing”: 2 Cor 3:14–15 and 4:3–4 204 Moses the Paradigmatic Believer: 2 C0r 3:16–18 206 Turning to the Κύριος 207 “The Lord is the Spirit” 211 Vision and Transformation 213 Summary: Believing is Seeing 221 7 Reading Paul Reading Moses 223 Bibliography 228 Index of Authors 237 Index of Passages Cited 240 Index of Subjects 249 Scholars have long puzzled over the imagery focused on Moses in 2 Corinthians 3; it is unclear how that imagery fits into the larger context of the letter. Many have explained the imagery as the apostle's reaction to the "super-apostles", Jewish missionaries mentioned later in the letter. These preachers, it has been argued, promoted either a "divine-man" or a Judaizing agenda. In Moses in Corinth, Paul B. Duff contends that the Moses imagery has nothing to do with the super-apostles but functions instead as an integral part of Paul's first apologia sent to Corinth. This apologia, found in 2 Cor 2:14-7:4, represents an independent letter sent to dispel suspicions about the apostle's honesty, integrity, and poor physical appearance. (Publisher). In Moses in Corinth, Paul Duff contends that the imagery focused on Moses in 2 Corinthians 3 functions as an integral part of Paul's apologia, a defense created by the apostle to refute suspicions about his honesty and integrity