Collins, Raymond F. First Corinthians. Sacra Pagina. Ed. Daniel J. Harrington. Collegeville, Minn.: Liturgical Press, 1999.
Collins provides a good explanation of Paul’s use of “first fruits” as an eschatological metaphor signifying a “later harvest.” The apostle’s use of scriptural midrash (Psalms) in the closing verses of the pericope is also explained. These explanations are enormously helpful in one’s quest for proper interpretation and understanding. The verse by verse notes are also very enlightening.
Oropeza, B. J. Paul and Apostasy: Eschatology, Perseverance, and Falling Away in the Corinthian Congregation. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2000.
Oropeza complied his work during academic visits at the University of Durham and George Fox University. It is especially insightful as concerns the foci of the pericope. I focused heavily upon section and subsections: 8.3 Paul in the Age of Now and Not Yet; 8.3.1 Paul and the Apocalyptic Centre; 8.3.2 The Tension of Now and Not Yet; 8.3.3. Paul’s Existential and Salvific Dualism; and 8.4 The Eschatological Journey of the Corinthians. Much information regarding the Corinthian ‘over-realized’ eschatology was provided in this work.
Orr, William F., and James Arthur Walther. I Corinthians: A New Translation. The Anchor Bible. 1st ed. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1976.
This commentary, much like Sacra Pagina, focused heavily upon the “first fruits” eschatological metaphor used by Paul. The specific differences voiced in the commentary as concerns the difference between the permanent resurrection of Christ (death defeating) and the resurrected from the dead (to only die again later) by Jesus during his ministry was thought provoking and will probably prove important to the rest of my research and study of Corinthian eschatology. The verse by verse notes were also very helpful in determining a final read.
Peterson, Brian K. Eloquence and the Proclamation of the Gospel in Corinth. Atlanta, Ga.: Scholars Press, 1998.
This work is a product of the Society of Biblical Literature’s Dissertation Series. It is a fantastic resource for one who needs an in-depth (Greek) overall look at the Corinthian Letters. It is, as mentioned Greek extensive; lots of phrases appear in the original language. It also focuses entirely upon the Apostle’s rhetorical style. This was seriously helpful for gaining a deeper understanding of the external structure of the letter, as well as the Apostle’s personal methodology. The conclusion of the work is also very enlightening as regards Paul’s gospel dependence upon cross and resurrection – obviously helpful in the interpretation of the pericope and its proper differentiation from the contextual Gnostic heresy.
Thiselton, Anthony C. Realized Eschatology at Corinth. Christianity at Corinth: The Quest for the Pauline Church. Eds. Edward Adams and David G. Horrell. 1st ed. Louisville, Ky.: Westminster John Knox Press, 2004.
Anthony Thiselton develops the theory of a Corinthian ‘over-realized’ eschatology over and against scholars who disagree and cite the theory as being dependent upon one mere verse (4.8). This work gave me a broader view of the theory and offered arguments for and against. I completed the read and side strongly with Thiselton and am confident that an over-realized Corinthian eschatology led to a hyper-spiritualism which became one source of detriment to the young assembly. Thiselton’s work was comprehensive and very enlightening. It also included many Greek phrases.
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