That Someone Has the Wife of His Father

This article addresses two of the many questions that are raised by 1 Cor 5,1-13. Its aim is to elucidate the coherence of Paul’s argumentation in this section as well as to define the origin of the arguments used. As to the argumentation, it will be determined that Paul follows the pattern of the “elaboration of a thesis”, which formed a regular part of the exercises in the Hellenistic schools as found in the remaining progymnasmata. It is argued that Paul’s text exhibits considerable rhetorical skill. As to the origin of the arguments, analysis demonstrates that they all stem from the Jewish way of life and thought. Both findings lead to the conclusion that the form of Paul’s discourse is Greek, but that its content is Jewish. Paul’s discussion apparently implies that, at least in this particular case, the Jewish way of life also holds for non-Jewish Christians.