Terrance Callan, «Partenoi in Corinth: 1 Cor 7,25-40», Vol. 97 (2016) 264-286
Interpreters differ significantly regarding the identity of the 'partenoi' discussed in 1 Cor 7,25-40. There is some uncertainty about whether they are men and women, or only women. And those who understand them as only women differ as to whether they are betrothed women, unmarried daughters, spouses in spiritual marriages, or young widows who are possible candidates for levirate marriage. I argue that the 'partenoi' are only women, and that they are unmarried daughters of Corinthian Christians. The argument is based mainly on usage of 'partenos' in literature written before, and at approximately the same time as, 1 Corinthians. In addition i offer an interpretation of 1 Cor 7,25-40, especially of vv. 36-38, that supports understanding the word as designating young, unmarried daughters.
Parq/e,noi in Corinth: 1 Cor 7,25-40
in 1 Cor 7,1 Paul begins to discuss matters about which the
Corinthians have written to him. these matters are not explicitly named
in what immediately follows, but the issues Paul discusses in 7,1-24
concern various aspects of marriage 1. in v. 25 Paul does name a topic
before discussing it, the topic of parqe,noi, using the phrase peri. de. tw/n
parqe,nwn. this resembles the phrase with which Paul introduces his
discussion of the matters about which the Corinthians wrote to him in
7,1 (peri. de. w-n evgra,yate), and Paul later uses similar phrases to intro-
duce other topics he discusses (namely, in 8,1; 12,1 and 16,1). this
suggests that each of the discussions introduced by these phrases takes
up a topic about which the Corinthians wrote to Paul 2.
Paul’s discussion of parqe,noi mainly concerns whether or not they
should marry. there is thus a close relationship between the discussion
of this topic and the discussion found in the first half of chapter 7. it
seems, however, that this must have been a particular question raised
in the context of the Corinthians’ question(s) about marriage.
the issues Paul discusses in 1 Cor 7,1-24 seem to arise from
Corinthian enthusiasm for asceticism (reflected in v. 1), which Paul
both affirms and seeks to moderate (as we will see). in vv. 25-40
by contrast, the issue Paul discusses seems to arise from a non-ascetic
impulse for parqe,noi to marry. in response to this, Paul says that it is
no sin for them to marry (vv. 28[twice], 36), but argues that it is good
for parqe,noi to remain unmarried. the main grounds for the argument
are eschatological: because the end is near (vv. 29, 31), it is good to
remain unmarried 3.
in vv. 1-24 Paul seems to address a single point of view, namely an
enthusiasm for asceticism that Paul apparently considers excessive. in
1
For reconstruction of what the Corinthians wrote to Paul, see J.C. Hurd,
Jr., The Origin of 1 Corinthians (New York 1965) 154-168.
2
For a different view, see M.M. MitCHell, “Concerning PERI DE in 1
Corinthians”, NovT 31 (1989) 229-256.
3
For analysis of the issues addressed in 1 Corinthians 7, see G.d. Fee,
The First Epistle to the Corinthians (NiC; Grand rapids Mi 1987) 267-270;
r.e. CiaMPa – B.S. roSNer, The First Letter to the Corinthians (the Pillar Nt
Commentary; Grand rapids, Mi 2010) 266-272.
BiBlica 97.2 (2016) 264-286
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