'Hand this man over to Satan': Curse, Exclusion and Salvation in 1 Corinthians 5

by David Raymond Smith

Overview

1 Corinthians 5:5 is a curious passage which has been variously interpreted by scholars.  For some, it denotes a magical curse which is designed to cause the physical death of the sinner.  Others have found such an interpretation unpersuasive.  Instead, they maintain that Paul's words at verse five are to be understood as a metaphor for exclusion from the Corinthian community.  So, the errant Corinthian is not to die by a curse, but is to be excluded.


This work argues for the former interpretation by marshalling a range of the most recent-specialised-magical material, which has not been considered by other works in relation to 1 Corinthians 5.  It fully acknowledges the weaknesses of previous magical interpretations, and metaphorical approaches to the passage.  Instead, it presents a fresh magical reading of not only 1 Corinthians 5:5, but the whole of 1 Corinthians 5-within its wider context of the apostle Paul's letter to the Corinthians.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780567033871
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	06/13/2009
Series:	The Library of New Testament Studies , #386
Edition description:	386th ed.
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.30(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

David Raymond Smith has studied at International Christian College, Glasgow, University of Glasgow (graduating B. D. [hons] First Class]), Princeton Theological Seminary, USA (graduating Th.M. New Testament); and the University of Durham (graduating Ph.D. New Testament). He is currently studying at the University of Edinburgh towards a PGDE (Secondary) in Religious Moral and Philosophical Studies.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Part one: 1 Corinthians 5:5: A Critical Reception History: this section considers previous interpretations of 1 Corinthians 5:5 and assesses these arguments for their strengths and weaknesses.

Part two: Jewish and Graeco-Roman Traditions of ('Binding') Cursing: part two offers a broad examination of Jewish and Graeco-Roman traditions of magic and cursing in order to demonstrate the common practice of magic and cursing in the apostle Paul's cultural milieu.

Part three: The Curse Interpretation-Reformulated: this section draws upon the previous two parts to offer a fresh interpretation of 1 Corinthians 5, avoiding the pitfalls of previous interpreters and drawing upon fresh material (considered in the previous part [two]).

Conclusion
Bibliography

Editorial Reviews

'The brief concluding remarks raise hermeneutical implications for the relationship between historical studies and the implications for contemporary church practices. A challenging question in light of the curse interpretation supported here.' Â 'This is a helpful contribution to Pauline studies and broadens understandings of the role of curses and magic in ancient society.' Â Expository Times, August 2010

From the Publisher