Table Of Contentl i b r a r y o f n e w t e s t a m e n t s t u d i e s
IDOLATRY AND
AUTHORITY
A Study of 1 Corinthians 8.1–11.1
in the Light of the Jewish Diaspora
RICHARD LIONG-SENG PHUA
LIBRARY OF NEW TESTAMENT STUDIES
299
formerly the Journal for the Study of the New Testament Supplement Series
Editor
Mark Goodacre
Editorial Board
John M. G. Barclay, Craig Blomberg, Kathleen E. Corley,
R. Alan Culpepper, James D. G. Dunn, Craig A. Evans,
Stephen Fowl, Robert Fowler, Simon J. Gathercole,
John S. Kloppenborg, Michael Labahn,
Robert Wall, Robert L. Webb, Catrin H. Williams
CL
* Ht
Dedicated to the loving memory of
Yap Boon Kiat, Natalie
(18 May 1974 - 2 January 2003)
Lover and best friend, confidante, soulmate, playmate
IDOLATRY AND AUTHORITY
A Study of 1 Corinthians 8.1-11.1 in the
Light of the Jewish Diaspora
RICHARD LIONG-SENG PHUA
t&tciark
Copyright © Richard Liong-Seng Phua, 2005
A Continuum imprint
Published by T&T Clark International
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All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or
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British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Phua, Richard Liong-Seng
Idolatry and authority : a study of 1 Corinthians 8.1-11.1 in the light of the Jewish
diaspora / Richard Liong-Seng Phua.
p. cm. ~ (Library of New Testament Studies 299)
Includes bibliographical references (p.) and index.
ISBN 0-567-03060-1
1. Bible. N.T. Corinthians, 1st, VIII, I-XI, 1-Theology. 2. Idols and
images—Worship—Biblical teaching. 3. Judaism—Relations. I. Title. II. Series.
BS2675.6.I35P48 2005
227f.206~dc22
2005050583
EISBN 9780567030603
Typeset by ISB Typesetting, Sheffield
CONTENTS
Acknowledgments vii
Abbreviations x
Chapter 1
INTRODUCTION 1
1. Introduction 1
2. Textual Evidence - Initial Analysis/Survey 1
3. Survey of Interpretations of Conflicts in Corinth 6
4. Summary and Conclusion 26
Chapter 2
IDOLATRY: DEFINITIONS AND PATTERNS 29
1. Introduction 29
2. An Analysis of Idolatry: Halbertal and Margalit (1992) 30
3. Idolatry in the Septuagint (LXX) 35
4. Summary and Conclusion 48
Chapter 3
CRITICISM OF IDOLATRY IN DIASPORA JEWISH LITERATURE 50
1. Introduction 50
2. Wisdom of Solomon 13-15 51
3. Philo 57
4. Josephus 68
5. Joseph and Aseneth 11
6. Sibylline Oracles 82
7. Summary and Conclusion 88
Chapter 4
JEWS AND THE WORSHIP OF THE GODS 91
1. Introduction 91
2. LXX Exodus 22.27a 92
3. Identification of the True God with other Gods - The Letter
ofAristeas 96
4. The use of 0e6s'Yvpiaxos: A Brief Survey 104
5. Artapanus 111
6. Jews' Participation in/Accommodation to Gentile Cults 116
7. Summary and Conclusion 124
vi Idolatry and Authority
Chapter 5
PAUL VERSUS THE ' STRONG' ON IDOLATRY 126
1. Introduction 126
2. Idolatry of the 'Strong': A Brief Overview 127
3. The yvcoois of the 'Strong' 128
4. The Use of 5cci|j6viov 137
5. Paul's Use ofei'ScoAov 146
6. The Distinction between siScoAa and Saipovia in Paul 148
7. The Danger of Idolatry 153
8. Summary and Conclusion 169
Chapter 6
PAUL'S APOSTOLIC AUTHORITY AND EXAMPLE 172
1. Introduction 172
2. Is 1 Corinthians 9 Paul's Defence of his Apostolic Authority? 173
3. Evidence from 1 Corinthians \-A 179
4. The Double Purpose of 1 Corinthians 9: Authority and Example 185
5. The Centre of Authority: Who is to Decide? 197
6. Summary and Conclusion 199
Chapter 7
CONCLUSIONS 201
1. Summary 201
2. The Answers to our Questions 202
3. A Possible Fresh Approach to Understanding Paul's Ethics? 205
4. Historical Reconstruction: Ancient Judaism and Early Christianity 207
Bibliography 209
Index of References 222
Index of Authors 234
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This book is a slightly revised version of a doctoral thesis originally submitted to
the Faculty of Divinity at the University of Glasgow. I wish to express my heart-
felt gratitude and appreciation to Professor John M.G. Barclay who guided me
with equal amounts of critical challenge, amazing skill and great patience through-
out. The few years of learning under his wise supervision have taught me what
makes a true and profound scholar, gentleman and friend, for he has consistently
demonstrated himself to be one. All the flaws of this book, however, remain my
responsibility.
I would also like to thank the editorial assistant Ms Rebecca Vaughan-Williams
for her gracious assistance throughout, and Dr Mark Goodacre, the editor, for
accepting my thesis for publication in this series and for all the helpful sug-
gestions along the way.
Several organizations have made it financially possible for me to undertake
my studies in Glasgow: Orchard Road Presbyterian Church, Singapore; Brash
Trust; The Lee Foundation; and the Faculty of Divinity, University of Glasgow.
The support of Dr and Mrs Christopher Khoo and that of the Bible study group of
Mr and Mrs Tony and Jehanne Puah allowed my wife and myself to honour the
commitments we had towards families and several poverty-stricken people. To
the above organizations and friends, I wish to express my deepest appreciation.
Friends and leaders from our church in Singapore, Orchard Road Presbyterian
Church, have been most encouraging: the former senior minister the Revd Derek
J. Kingston; the Board of Elders and Deacons. The Revd Yap Wai Keong has
been a true friend through thick and thin.
Human relationships are a very vital part of our stay in Glasgow. We have met
many wonderful and caring people. Space does not permit, I shall therefore
briefly mention some: the former pastor of Park Church Uddingston, the Revd
Earsley White and his wife Silvia, extended gracious hospitality to us in ways
beyond description; the profound friendships of the following have been sus-
taining, even now: Dr and Mrs David and Mary Graham; Mr and Mrs David and
Jeanette Miller; Mr and Mrs Robert and Margaret Miller; Mr and Mrs David and
Pauline Young; Mr and Mrs Kenneth and Cassie McClean; Mr and Mrs Ian and
Liz Hutcheon; Mr and Mrs William and Isabel Bar; Mrs Elizabeth Thompson;
Mrs Helen Ooi and many members of Park Church unreservedly extended their
love and hospitality to us. Mr and Mrs David Batteridge, our landlord, provided a
most conducive and warm environment in which my wife and I spent the best
part of our lives together and where my entire research was completed.
viii Idolatry and Authority
Shortly after my viva, a deep personal crisis struck us that eventually led to
the tragic death of my wife (I will elaborate more below). It has since been an
extremely difficult time for me. During the last three years, a few friends have
surrounded me with love and care; among them are Pastor Freddie Ong, the Revd
Yap Wai Keong, the Revd Dr Anthony Ang, Mr Chan Chong Yew, Mr Andy
Lew, Ms Lee Hwee Chin, Ms Joan Low, Ms Pauline Ong, Ms Joy Tong, and Ms
Faith Wang. Friends of my late wife constantly offer care and encouragement,
especially Ms Melissa Tan and Ms Lim Swee Keng. Five months after the death
of my wife, Professor Kung Lap Yan of The Chinese University of Hong Kong,
upon learning about my bereavement, flew to Singapore just to visit me, when he
did not even know me. This was to turn into a profound friendship. Many friends
at Trinity Theological College, where I now teach as a lecturer, have been most
understanding and supportive. The Principal, Revd Dr Ngoei Foong Nghian, made
special arrangements for me to join the college first as a guest lecturer and later
as a full faculty member, and so provided the much needed space and finance not
only during a time of intense grief but also when this manuscript was due. Our
friends in Glasgow continued to support me at a distance and poured out their
love in a most amazing way. To these friends and colleagues I am most grateful.
My mother-in-law, Madam Chong Oi Chan, who witnessed my wife's death
suffers extreme pain losing a most doted daughter and yet does so much to
encourage and comfort me, so do all my siblings. To them I owe so much.
Finally, I turn to the most important person in my life and in the whole jour-
ney of my doctoral studies, and her final exit. During a time when all her friends
were actively and enthusiastically finding jobs and setting up their careers,
Natalie packed up everything and left with a man for a totally unknown place. She
left family, friends, the prospects of a good career and, without a single penny,
joined me to go to Glasgow. Despite her weak health (which turned out to be
strengthened by Glasgow weather!), she gave all her support. During our first
year, she was so thrifty that we ended up spending only about £2,000! She fell
quite ill during our first winter but did not once utter a single word of complaint.
She endured all the loneliness and showered her love on a husband struggling for
a PhD. It was in Glasgow that she first took to cooking and preparing all the
wonderfully delicious meals for her hungry husband, including some of the most
tasty traditional Asian pastries. She encouraged me when the path of research
seemed rough and unpromising, and her lovely smiles and laughter simply kept
me going. During our stay in Glasgow, she missed her mother so dearly and was
totally devastated when she learnt, belatedly, about her mother's hospitalization.
Similarly, she lost two uncles while we were in Glasgow. Natalie endured all this,
and more, with patience and suffered very much because of me and this aca-
demic pursuit.
On 5 September 2002, Natalie joined me to return to Glasgow for the oral
defence of the doctoral thesis, which was scheduled for 9 September 2002. When
we returned to Singapore, Natalie suddenly became very ill the day after, that is,
on 13 September 2002. Doctors could not tell exactly what she was suffering
from, except that it was some form of mental illness. Natalie was in torment and
Acknowledgments ix
slowly lost her ability to eat, sleep, write, watch television programmes, go out of
the house; eventually she lost most of her emotions and speech. From 9 Novem-
ber 2002 onwards, she continually pleaded with me to help her end her life. She
never recovered from her illness and, on 2 January 2003, she ended her own life
by plunging down from our flat on the seventeenth floor. She landed on a tiny
triangular plot of soft soil where there was a small plant, with solid concrete sur-
rounding the plot. The miracle was that her body was fully preserved. I am
reminded of Ps. 116.15, 'Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His
saints'. Her suffering of three and a half months finally ended. Her departure
breaks my heart forever. Natalie, who is my best friend, my lover, my soul, my
life, and my all, will always remain in my heart and I will love her forever. This
book is dedicated to the loving memory of her.
Description:1 Cor 8.1–11.1 is concerned with the subject of idolatry in first-century Christianity and ancient Judaism. Jews and Christians differ over what constitutes idolatry and even within ancient Judaism and early Christianity there was no consensus. In this book, a set of definitions are created which
