Divisions Over Leaders and Food Offered To Idols: The Parallel Thematic Structures of 1 Corinthians 4:6-21 and 8:1-11:1

Abstract

How significant is 1 Corinthians 1–4 in the epistle as a whole? Paul approaches specifically the problem of food offered to idols in essentially the same manner as he approaches the problem of divisions over leaders. More precisely, 1 Corinthians 8:1–11:1 appears to follow closely Paul’s pattern of argumentation in the climatic 1 Corinthians 4:6-21. In Paul’s remarkably similar approaches to different presenting problems do we have a clue that Paul’s own apostolic hardships are a cruciform paradigm for the pastoral counsel throughout 1 Corinthians 5-15?