Hans-Josef Klauck

Paul on Marriage and Celibacy

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“Will Deming has done a real service to scholarship by providing clear definitions of concepts such as ascetism and celibacy in the first century C.E. and by producing an extended overview of the debate on marriage and celibacy in ancient Stoicism and Cynicism. A fresh reading of 1 Corinthians 7 against this background (without overlooking the apocalyptic elements in 7:29-31) shows a surprising coherence and consistency in Paul's argument. Advanced students and scholars will also appreciate the book's appendixes, which present two important but barely accessible source texts both in Greek and, for the first time, in a reliable English translation. No serious student of 1 Corinthians, of Paul, or of the ethical discourse in early Christianity should ignore this important study.”