120 Claude Perera 01. First, let us take up the variant καυθ σομαι. Martyrdom hypoth- esis is refuted because it had not yet become a Christian phenomenon at the time of the writing of the First Epistle to the Corinthians27. Gatiss says, “Historically, Christians were more likely to be beheaded than burnt when Paul wrote this letter, although martyrdom by fire became more common in later years28”. Besides, Emperor Nero (54-68 CE) who initi- ated persecuting Christians came to the scene only a decade after viz. 64 CE (Tacitus, Annals 15, 44)29. Barrett says that Paul had generally a friendly relationship with the imperial court, although non-citizen Chris- tians might have had a different kind of treatment; it has been only Jewish males who were liable to be burnt as a penalty for having connections with a woman and her daughter. The daughter of a priest who committed adultery also suffered the same fate (Sanhedrin 9, 1)30. So this variant would have crept into the text only during a time when martyrdom by fire was common enough; hence, we conjecture it to be a later addition. 02. Let us look at the three words σ μα (“body”), κα ω (“burn”) and καυχ σωμαι from a syntagmatic point of view. In the biblical usage it is κα ω that is more associated with σ μα than καυχ σωμαι. In the OT there are instances of σ μα being associated with fire (π ρ) e.g. 3 Mac 2:29; 4 Mac 14:10; 17:1; Dn 3:27; 7:11 or committing to fire ( μπυρ ζω) without referring to κα ω e.g. 1 Mac 11:4. There are also a few references to burning (κα ω) of flesh (σ ρξ) with fire (π ρ) e.g. Is 10:17-18. A few times κατακα ω with κρ ας {“flesh”} (Ex 29:14, 31; Lv 16:27; Nu 19:5) and π ρ with κρ ας (Lv 8:32) are also instanced. However, we find the root κα ω being associated with σ μα (1 Sm 31:12) only once, but that again only with κατακα ω a compound of κα ω. In the NT only once σ ρξ is associated with π ρ and κατακα ω (Ap 17:16). Mt 5:29-30 speaks of σ μα being thrown into γ εννα (“hell”). This shows that in the Biblical usage κα ω is not a verb predicated of σ μα. Apart from these scanty references, the NT makes little use of such connections. So, we are com- pelled to conclude that in no way could one affirm that biblically σ μα is directly associated with κα ω Similarly, neither is σ μα associated with 27 H. Riesenfeld, “Vorbildliches Martyrium zur Frage der Lesarten in 1 Kor 13:3”, in E. Bammel, C.K. Barrett & W.D. Davies (eds.), Donum Gentilicium, Fs. D. Daube (Oxford 1978) 213. 28 L. Gatiss, “Love is the Greatest Thing (1 Corinthians 13)”, The Internet Journal for Integrated Theology 2001, http://www.geocities.com/the_theologian/content/bible/love.html (access 01.05.05); cf also Calvin, Commentary on the Epistles of Paul to the Corinthians, 421; cf. also Barrett, First Corinthians, 302. 29 Fee, First Corinthians, 634. 30 Barrett, First Corinthians, 302.