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Kingship and Thrones for All Christians: Pauls Inaugurated Eschatology in 1 Corinthians 4-6
Abstract
The central argument presented here is that 1 Corinthians 4–6 reflects a single eschatological vision of the identity of the Corinthians. This single vision works itself out in two separate references as Paul addresses them as both ‘kings’ and ‘judges’. This conclusion is based on a fresh reading of Paul’s identification of the Corinthians as ‘kings’ in 1 Cor. 4 and ‘judges’ in 1 Cor. 6. This study proposes that these labels actually reflect a single reality based on Paul’s inaugurated eschatology.
This chapter argues that the Twelve follow the pattern established by Jesus as they use Spirit-empowered prophetic speech to confront opposition to the kingdom of God. These conflicts are often intra-Jewish conflicts that reveal the need to identify the true people of God. This chapter explains that the Twelve use curses or imprecatory speeches as co-regents who are following after the pattern established by Jesus himself in his conflict with Judas Iscariot.
This chapter considers Jesus’ promise of kingship to the twelve disciples in the context of the Last Supper. The promise of kingship is based on the inauguration of the kingdom of God and the restoration of Israel. This chapter tries to locate this promise within the context of inaugurated eschatology.
C. K. Barrett, F. F. Bruce and E. Käsemann very briefly state, almost in passing, that difficulties at Corinth arose from an over-realized eschatology. In C. K. Barrett's words, the Corinthians were behaving ‘as if the age to come were already consummated…For them there is no “not yet” to qualify the “already” of realized eschatology.’ This claim, however, needs to be argued more closely, and objections to it considered, since it remains a matter of controversy. The most recent attack on this diagnosis of the situation at Corinth comes from E. Earle Ellis. He argues, firstly, that the error in I Cor. xv ‘offers doubtful support for an eschatological interpretation of I Cor. 4. 8’, and secondly, that it is unlikely that Paul would criticize the Corinthians ‘merely for appropriating an eschatological perspective that he himself has taught’.