Timothy A. Brookins

For students of the New Testament wanting a background into Greek and Roman philosophy to help them better understand the New Testament text. This book offers a survey of the Greek philosophical tradition from its inception in the Classical period until the final stages of its evolution beginning in the first part of Late Antiquity, covering the pre-Socratics, the Classical philosophers, the major schools of the Hellenistic period (the Stoics, Epicureans, Academics), the rise of Roman philosophy, developments and revivals in the post-Hellenistic period, and the emergence of Christianity as a philosophy. While making Greek and Roman philosophy its central feature, the book's underlying interest is the relevance of these traditions to the early Christian movement, especially the New Testament. For although Christianity is rooted in and ineradicably linked with Judaism, its shoots quickly extended outward into the Greco-Roman world where it was able to flower and propagate only by competing with the intellectual traditions of the Greek-speaking world, above all, the philosophical traditions. A knowledge of these traditions, therefore, is an essential complement to the study of Second Temple Judaism for serious students of the New Testament and early Christianity. It is the purpose of this book to offer such an introduction.

A bold new reading of 1 Corinthians in light of Greco-Roman philosophy The First Letter to the Corinthians begins with an admonishment of the church over their internal division and reliance on human wisdom. What exactly occasioned Paul's advice has perennially troubled New Testament scholars. Many scholars have asserted that Paul disapproved of the Corinthians' infatuation with rhetoric. Yet careful exegesis of the epistle problematizes this consensus. Timothy A. Brookins unsettles common assumptions about the Corinthian conflict in this innovative monograph. His close reading of 1 Corinthians 1-4 presents evidence that the Corinthian problem had roots in Stoicism. The wisdom Paul alludes to is not sophistry, but a Stoic-inspired understanding of natural hierarchy, in which the wise put themselves above believers they considered spiritually underdeveloped. Moreover, Paul's followers saw themselves as a philosophical school in rivalry with other Christians, engendering divisions in the church. Combining scriptural exegesis and investigation of Greco-Roman philosophical culture, Brookins reconstructs the social sphere of Corinth that Paul addresses in his letter. His masterful analysis provides much needed clarity on the context of a major epistle and on Pauline theology more broadly.

Previous scholarship that has examined Paul's letters in light of Greco-Roman rhetoric has focused predominantly on their argumentative strategies (inventio) and overall arrangement (dispositio). In this book Brookins turns attention to the heretofore underexplored area of style (elocutio). With complete coverage of ten of the thirteen letters in the Pauline corpus, the book evaluates these letters according to the standards of the major stylistic virtues taught in rhetorical theory: correctness, clarity, and ornament. Treating ornament most extensively, the book includes a full inventory of tropes, figures of speech, and figures of thought contained in these letters. This work results in a synopsis of stylistic tendencies that not only illustrates differences in letter type within the Pauline corpus but also enables a fresh means of comparing style in the disputed and undisputed letters. This analysis also furnishes new evidence for consideration in the debate about the extent of Paul's rhetorical education. Finally, it helps illuminate the process of exegesis and thus the meaning of the text itself.

Previous scholarship that has examined Paul's letters in light of Greco-Roman rhetoric has focused predominantly on their argumentative strategies (inventio) and overall arrangement (dispositio). In this book Brookins turns attention to the heretofore underexplored area of style (elocutio). With complete coverage of ten of the thirteen letters in the Pauline corpus, the book evaluates these letters according to the standards of the major stylistic virtues taught in rhetorical theory: correctness, clarity, and ornament. Treating ornament most extensively, the book includes a full inventory of tropes, figures of speech, and figures of thought contained in these letters. This work results in a synopsis of stylistic tendencies that not only illustrates differences in letter type within the Pauline corpus but also enables a fresh means of comparing style in the disputed and undisputed letters. This analysis also furnishes new evidence for consideration in the debate about the extent of Paul's rhetorical education. Finally, it helps illuminate the process of exegesis and thus the meaning of the text itself.

Though often neglected among readers of Paul's letters, his two surviving letters to the church in Thessalonica are highly valuable sources for reconstructing the theology of Paul and the history of the earliest Christian churches. First and Second Thessalonians also stand out for their intensely personal nature and provide a rare glimpse into Paul's methods of pastoral care. This practical commentary interacts with the best scholarship on the Thessalonian letters while offering fresh new insights.

One of the apostle Paul's longest surviving letters, 1 Corinthians represents a prolonged argument for unity addressed to a church fraught-already-with internal struggles and sharp dissension just a few months after it was established. Across the sixteen chapters of the letter, Paul addresses a range of troubling issues: obsession with worldly status, sexual immorality, Christian lawsuits, questionable dietary habits, immodest behavior during worship services, denial of the resurrection of the dead, and more. In Reading 1 Corinthians, Timothy Brookins leads the reader through 1 Corinthians section by section, explaining the often perplexing intricacies of Paul's arguments in the light of the wider context of the letter, Paul's theology as a whole, and the church's first-century urban setting. Building on his earlier work, Brookins argues that socio-economic factors and contemporary philosophical perspectives intersected to create a dire rift in the Corinthian church, leaving it divided especially along the line between the "spiritual" Christians and the "unspiritual" ones. Paul advocates a more corporate perspective as the solution for the divisions. All are one in Christ, united with him and with each other. All things should be done, not for building up oneself, but for building up of the church. This is love. And in love there is unity. Timothy A. Brookins is Associate Professor of Classics and Biblical Languages at Houston Baptist University. His research focuses on early Christianity within its ancient context. He is also the author of Corinthians Wisdom, Stoic Philosophy, and the Ancient Economy and the co-author of 1 Corinthians: A Handbook on the Greek Text (2 volumes). Edited by Todd D. Still, Charles J. and Elanor McLerran DeLancey Dean & William M. Hinson Professor of Christian Scriptures at Baylor University's George W. Truett Theological Seminary, the Reading the New Testament commentary series presents cutting-edge biblical research in accessible language. Praise for Reading 1 Corinthians: "Quite a few of the recent commentaries on 1 Corinthians provide too much recycled information from older commentaries on this letter. It is with much delight, then, that I am able to commend Dr. Brookins's commentary as an important exception to the rule. His focus on stoic and ancient philosophical aspects of the letter is a much-needed addition to the Corinthians studies, not only for a fresh reading of the correspondence but also because the philosophical ideas addressed in this work are indeed important elements influencing this congregation. This is an impressive commentary that will engage students, ministers, and scholars alike." -B. J. Oropeza, Professor Biblical Studies and Religious Studies, Azusa Pacific University"Timothy Brookins is among the most qualified people currently writing in English on 1 Corinthians for his familiarity with the Greek text of the letter, understanding of philosophies and social mores in the milieu of first-century-CE Corinth, and sense for how we Christians can apply this letter to our lives. In academic settings, this commentary will prove to be accessible and valuable for undergraduates through graduate students, as well as for their professors. In church settings, it will be a very useful resource for lay people, seminarians, and pastors who desire to engage at a deeper level with 1 Corinthians." -Mark Reasoner, Marian University"This is a treasure trove of learning. Disappoint? Hardly. Students need the best. So the next time I teach 1 Corinthians, this will be required reading." -Jay Smith, Department Chair and Professor of New Testament STudies, Dallas Theological Seminary

This work re-examines the divisive wisdom that Paul addresses in 1 Corinthians. Challenging the recent consensus that the Corinthians' wisdom was rooted primarily in the Greco-Roman rhetorical tradition, Timothy A. Brookins offers a revisionary thesis centered on discourse similarities between the perspective of the Corinthian 'wise' and the Stoic system of thought. Brookins argues that several members of the church, after hearing Paul's initial gospel message, construed that message in terms of Stoic philosophy and began promoting a kind of 'Stoic-Christian' perspective that helped to precipitate divisions in the church. Being apprised of their views, Paul then exploited the 'Stoic' discourse of his opponents in order to sustain common discursive ground. In addition to providing a fresh synthesis of the data in 1 Corinthians, Brookins brings in cutting-edge research on the ancient economy as he explores questions related to philosophical education and social status within the church community.

In these volumes, Timothy Brookins and Bruce Longenecker provide a foundational analysis of the Greek text of 1 Corinthians. Distinguished by the detailed yet comprehensive attention paid to the Greek text, 1 Corinthians is a convenient pedagogical and reference tool that explains the form and syntax of the biblical text, offers guidance for deciding between competing semantic analyses, engages important text-critical questions, and addresses questions relating to the Greek text that are frequently overlooked or ignored by standard commentaries. Beyond serving as a succinct and accessible analytic key, 1 Corinthians also reflects the most recent advances in scholarship on Greek grammar and linguistics. By filling the gap between popular and technical commentaries, these handbooks become indispensable tools for anyone committed to a deep reading of the biblical text.

In these volumes, Timothy Brookins and Bruce Longenecker provide a foundational analysis of the Greek text of 1 Corinthians. Distinguished by the detailed yet comprehensive attention paid to the Greek text, 1 Corinthians is a convenient pedagogical and reference tool that explains the form and syntax of the biblical text, offers guidance for deciding between competing semantic analyses, engages important text-critical questions, and addresses questions relating to the Greek text that are frequently overlooked or ignored by standard commentaries. Beyond serving as a succinct and accessible analytic key, 1 Corinthians also reflects the most recent advances in scholarship on Greek grammar and linguistics. By filling the gap between popular and technical commentaries, these handbooks become indispensable tools for anyone committed to a deep reading of the biblical text.

This work re-examines the divisive wisdom that Paul addresses in 1 Corinthians. Challenging the recent consensus that the Corinthians' wisdom was rooted primarily in the Greco-Roman rhetorical tradition, Timothy A. Brookins offers a revisionary thesis centered on discourse similarities between the perspective of the Corinthian 'wise' and the Stoic system of thought. Brookins argues that several members of the church, after hearing Paul's initial gospel message, construed that message in terms of Stoic philosophy and began promoting a kind of 'Stoic-Christian' perspective that helped to precipitate divisions in the church. Being apprised of their views, Paul then exploited the 'Stoic' discourse of his opponents in order to sustain common discursive ground. In addition to providing a fresh synthesis of the data in 1 Corinthians, Brookins brings in cutting-edge research on the ancient economy as he explores questions related to philosophical education and social status within the church community.