Where Is the Wise Man? Graeco-Roman Education as a Background to the Divisions in 1 Corinthians 1–4 by Adam G. White

Abstract

Reviewed by: Where Is the Wise Man? Graeco-Roman Education as a Background to the Divisions in 1 Corinthians 1–4 by Adam G. White Wendell Willis adam g. white, Where Is the Wise Man? Graeco-Roman Education as a Background to the Divisions in 1 Corinthians 1–4 (LNTS 536; London: Bloomsbury T&T Clark, 2015). Pp. xv + 228. $112. This study was a doctoral dissertation completed at Macquarie University in 2012, and it follows many of the interests associated with that institution and with Bruce Winter, emphasizing connections of early Christian writings with the Roman developments of Hellenistic interests. Adam White extensively utilizes Greek and Roman discussions of education and how education correlates with status. He states his thesis succinctly: "It is the argument of this book, therefore, that at the heart of the problem in Corinth is a partisan evaluation of Paul by the educated, elite leader(s) of the Apollos group, who have evaluated Paul against the shared values found in the schools of both oratory and philosophy, or, more generally, Graeco-Roman paideia" (p. 12). All parts of this sentence are very significant. The book has three parts: The History of Paideia; Paul's Defense of His Style (1 Corinthians 1–2); and Paul's Role as Apostle and Teacher (1 Corinthians 3–4). The first part is a review of how education was conceived and practiced in ancient Greece (especially as evidenced by Plato, Aristotle, and Isocrates) and how the guidelines and expectations of that earlier era continued to shape expectations of educated people in the early Roman empire (esp. pp. 47-58), with a revival of those practices and evaluations. In the second part, W. sets forth his case that in the Corinthian church certain more elite members had benefited from such education. It is this situation that has evoked fractures in the church, which Paul addresses in the first two chapters of 1 Corinthians. In the third part of the book, W. investigates Paul's self-presentation in 1 Corinthians 3–4 by appealing to a series of metaphors to assert not only his priority as the founder of the church but his superiority as a trustworthy teacher. In these chapters, Paul does not diminish Apollos, but, with the metaphors of master builder, household steward, and ultimately father, he claims his own superior status. White provides an informative and helpful review of the practice of education in both [End Page 532] philosophy and oratory in Hellenistic society. While the sources and degree of Paul's education remain highly debated, W. does make a good case for Paul's having more than a basic familiarity with educational models and practices, however acquired, and manifesting those in this letter (on Paul's education, see pp. 21-25). Early on, W. acknowledges that one criticism of his reconstruction would be the absence of the technical term paideia in Paul (p. 17), and he rightly argues that the absence of the term does not determine an absence of the concept (although other terms that contain a similar thought or valuation are too broad in meaning to be regarded as clear equivalents). In the argument, W. often notes how much of his reconstruction is based on assumptions, implications, and implicit deductions. This difficulty attends most attempts at reconstructing situations that almost any ancient writing addresses. In the present work, several steps are made, each of which is unprovable, even if reasonable. First, that there was a group in the Corinthian church who had the educational privileges lauded by their society. Second, that some (many?) of their actions were driven by an elite sense based on their education. Third, that Apollos also had significant educational skills (which requires accepting the portrayal in Acts 18—also uncertain). Fourth, that in comparing themselves and Apollos with Paul, the Corinthian elites looked down on the founding apostle. Fifth, that Paul gives an implicitly critical assessment of Apollos (pp. 191-94). Finally, that the cohesion of the first four chapters of 1 Corinthians is located in Paul's defense against the criticism of the elite. I want to be clear that none of these steps is impossible, but all require speculation. Although...