1 Corinthians 1–4

This book investigates 1 Corinthians 1-4 from a rhetorical and social perspective and explores that a divisive culture of rhetorical and paternal elitism lies behind the schisms and problems identified in the letter. This culture appears to have been shaped to some extent by the legacy of Cicero. Paul's references to «boasting» and «imitation» indicate both his subversive use, and his critique, of this Greco-Roman wisdom. In the final chapter, this analysis of wisdom traditions and their social consequences among first-century Corinthians leads to a critical reflection on similar dynamics among Korean Christians in twenty-first-century Korean-Confucian culture. In particular, Korean Protestants are encouraged to take a more positive stance towards Confucian wisdom traditions (as exemplified by T'oegye's legacy), and some insights are suggested into the ethics of imperial worship, ancestral veneration, and ethnic exclusivity.