A Week in the Life of Corinth, By Ben Witherington III
A Week in the Life of Corinth
Paperback
  • Length: 159 pages
  • Dimensions: 5.5 × 8.25 in
  • Published: March 30, 2012
  • Imprint: IVP Academic
  • ISBN: 9780830839629
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Ben Witherington III attempts to reenchant our reading of Paul in this creative reconstruction of ancient Corinth. Following a fictitious Corinthian man named Nicanor through an eventful week of business dealings and conflict, you will encounter life at various levels of Roman society--eventually meeting Paul himself and gaining entrance into the Christian community there. The result is an unforgettable introduction to life in a major center of the New Testament world. Numerous full-page textboxes expand on a variety of aspects of life and culture as we encounter them in the narrative.

"Like the valley of dry bones being covered once more with sinews and flesh, Corinth rises from its overgrown ruins to its former vibrancy, color and intrigue, allowed to re-live one week of its history. Witherington masterfully mingles the pleasant and the useful as he introduces readers to the social institutions, household customs and civic life of the Roman colony of Corinth by telling a delightful story centering on the attempts of one Erastus to win a public office and one Paul to prepare for his trial before the Roman proconsul, Gallio. I know of no other introduction to the Greco-Roman environment of Paul's mission that could also qualify as entertaining 'beach reading.'"David A. deSilva, Trustees' Distinguished Professor of New Testament and Greek, Ashland Theological Seminary
"If you want to know what it would have been like to live in ancient Corinth, spend a week in the life of a freedman, traverse the olive groves and cobblestone streets, survive the cutthroat politics of a Greek city, encounter pagan priestesses and converse with a Jewish tentmaker named 'Paulos,' then Ben Witherington has written the book for you. This short novella, with pictures and explanations of customs in ancient Corinth, provides a window into the world of Paul's Corinthian letters. Witherington creatively brings the setting of Paul's Corinthian ministry to life with historical rigor and narrative artistry. Witherington brings to us the sights, smells, sounds and culture of Corinth as the apostle Paul knew it."Michael F. Bird, Crossway College, Australia
"This very readable—indeed, gripping—book gives us an imaginative insight into the Greco-Roman world of Paul's mission to Corinth. The details of everyday life for Paul and those he met are set in their historical context by an expert scholar who knows the New Testament and its background very well. I recommend it to all who want to understand the setting in which early Christianity grew and flourished."Alanna Nobbs, professor of ancient history, Macquarie University
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CONTENTS

1. Poseidon's Revenge
2. Isthmia and Its Games
3. Paulos, Priscilla and Aquila
4. The Home of Erastos
5. The Enmity of the Enemy
6. Gallio's Gall
7. Erastos Goes Missing
8. The Proposition
9. The Trialof Paulos
10. Julia's Prayers and Nicanor's Protection
11. The Subura and the Sabbath
12. Paulos, Priscilla and Erastos
13. Dies Solis: The Morning of the Day of the Sun/Son
14. The Afternoon of the Day of the Sun
15. The End of the Day
Post Scriptum
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Ben Witherington III

Ben Witherington III (PhD, University of Durham) is Jean R. Amos Professor of New Testament for Doctoral Studies at Asbury Theological Seminary. He has written over forty books, including The Jesus Quest and The Paul Quest, bothof which were selected as top biblical studies works by Christianity Today. His books also include The Indelible Image, Women and the Genesis of Christianity, The Gospel Code, A Week in the Life of Corinth, and commentaries on the entire New Testament.