How Not to Do An Exegesis A mis-study of I Cor. 14:33-36

Quotes From the Corinthians 1 Cor. 1:12—What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” 1 Cor. 1:12—What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” 1 Cor. 6:12-13a—“All things are lawful for me,” but [ all ’] not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but [ all ’] I will not be dominated by anything. 13 “Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food”—and [ de; ] God will destroy both one and the other. 1 Cor. 6:12-13a—“All things are lawful for me,” but [ all ’] not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but [ all ’] I will not be dominated by anything. 13 “Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food”—and [ de; ] God will destroy both one and the other.

Quotes From the Corinthians 1 Cor. 7:1—Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” But [ de; ]… 1 Cor. 7:1—Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” But [ de; ]… 1 Cor. 8:1, 4—Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up. … 4 Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “there is no God but one.” 1 Cor. 8:1, 4—Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up. … 4 Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “there is no God but one.”

Three Reasons 1. Stylistic Vocabulary a.Saints b.Law 2. Rhetorical Structure  Disjunctive Particle η 3. Force of the Pronoun  The feminine you

Stylistic Vocabulary Point 1: Churches of the saints Point 1: Churches of the saints “Saints refers to the people of Jerusalem” “Saints refers to the people of Jerusalem” 1 Cor. 16:1 2 Cor Cor. 16:1 2 Cor. 8-9 Refers to Jerusalem church: about the collection Not Refer to the Jerusalem church

Stylistic Vocabulary Point 2: As the law says-no quotation Point 2: As the law says-no quotation  Tractate Keshing 70a  Josephus: Against Apion 2: § Where does Paul cite the oral law? Where does Paul cite the oral law? Gen. 3:16—”he shall rule over you” Gen. 3:16—”he shall rule over you” “Paul never binds a point because the law says it.” “Paul never binds a point because the law says it.” Is he binding or illustrating? Is he binding or illustrating? “He always quotes it when refers to it.” “He always quotes it when refers to it.” Counter-examples: Gal. 3:19, 24; 4:21 Counter-examples: Gal. 3:19, 24; 4:21

Rhetorical Structure Arndt and Gingrich Greek Lexicon The Greek Word ἤ (ē) is a disjunctive particle— which separates mutually exclusive things The gloss “or” is left out; the definition  “related and similar terms” is ignored.

Rhetorical Structure Little, Scott, Jones, McKenzie Greek Lexicon The Greek Word ἤ (ē) is an “exclamation expressing disapproval” A second similar Greek word is chosen; the definition cited refers to when the word is doubled.

Rhetorical Structure

I Corinthians 11:13-15a— 13 Judge among †yourselves; is it fitting for a woman to pray to God [with her head] uncovered? 14 Does not even nature itself teach †you that, if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him, 15 but if a woman has long hair, it is glory to her? I Corinthians 11:13-15a— 13 Judge among †yourselves; is it fitting for a woman to pray to God [with her head] uncovered? 14 Does not even nature itself teach †you that, if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him, 15 but if a woman has long hair, it is glory to her? UBS Text Reading: pray to God [with her head] uncovered? 14 Does not even nature UBS Text Reading: pray to God [with her head] uncovered? 14 Does not even nature Evidence: p 46 a A B C D* F G H P Ψ s , a few Greek others, Latin, most Syriac, north Coptic Evidence: p 46 a A B C D* F G H P Ψ s , a few Greek others, Latin, most Syriac, north Coptic Translations: KJV NKJV ASV NASV RSV NRSV ESV NIV TNIV HCSB Translations: KJV NKJV ASV NASV RSV NRSV ESV NIV TNIV HCSB TR Alternate Reading: pray to God [with her head] uncovered? 14 Or does not even nature TR Alternate Reading: pray to God [with her head] uncovered? 14 Or does not even nature Evidence: D 1 K L , Majority of medieval Greek manuscripts, margin of Syriac h, south Coptic Evidence: D 1 K L , Majority of medieval Greek manuscripts, margin of Syriac h, south Coptic Translations: None! Translations: None! Comments: The word “or” was apparently added by copyists to later manuscripts in imitation of Paul’s style of beginning a second rhetorical question with the word. KJV here follows the Latin. Comments: The word “or” was apparently added by copyists to later manuscripts in imitation of Paul’s style of beginning a second rhetorical question with the word. KJV here follows the Latin.

Force of the Pronoun Greek has masculine and feminine pronouns Greek has masculine and feminine pronouns  [Me: but only in the third person] “you is masculine pronoun” [Me: no such thing] “you is masculine pronoun” [Me: no such thing] “masculine is generic” “masculine is generic” “In v.36 you is exclusive” “In v.36 you is exclusive” “did spirit of God come to you men only?” “did spirit of God come to you men only?” “he does not speak to women, but about them” “he does not speak to women, but about them” “they refers to women; you refers to men” “they refers to women; you refers to men” “In v.31 you—gender is inclusive” [Me: rather arbitrary] “In v.31 you—gender is inclusive” [Me: rather arbitrary] “you can all prophesy (men and women)” “you can all prophesy (men and women)” “You come out of this Jewish culture” “You come out of this Jewish culture” He makes up an untrue grammar rule!!! He makes up an untrue grammar rule!!!