Paul's Line of Thought in 2 Corinthians 4:16–5:10. By Fredrik Lindgård. Pp. 282 + xi. (Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament, 2. Reihe, 189.) Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2005. isbn 3 16 148444 4. n.p

Abstract

This book arises out of the ‘Formation of Early Jewish and Christian Ideology’ research unit in Finland which is headed by Heikki Räisänen. Like many of the projects based in the unit it is an excellent example of the value of careful and detailed study. Lindgård's aim in this book is to arrive at a thorough understanding of 2 Cor. 5:1–10. He achieves this by setting it in the broader context of 4:16–5:10. In chapter 1, Lindgård sets out the problem which he seeks to address, which is that 2 Cor. 5:1–10 is a notoriously difficult passage to interpret. He identifies three major problems which will form the focus of his study: whether Paul changed his mind on matters of eschatology; whether Paul is to be understood as an anthropological dualist or as a ‘holist’; and the fact that he seems inconsistent in 4:16–5:10. An exploration of the wide variety of different interpretations of the book (ch. 2) sets the scene for Lindgård's discussion of the text. He begins (ch. 3) by exploring the integrity of the letter as a whole and concludes in favour of the two letters theory, with 10–13 being sent before 1–9 and constituting the ‘letter of tears’ referred to in 2:4. From there he turns to the character of 1–9, which he identifies as Paul's attempt to establish his own credibility by using an emotional polemic.