The Old Testament Background of Reconciliation in 2 Corinthians 5–7 and its Bearing on the Literary Problem of 2 Corinthians 6.14–7.1

Abstract

Few scholars have proposed that there is any precise OT background for Paul's view of reconciliation, even though there has been much discussion about the formulation of the doctrine. There is no Hebrew word for ‘reconciliation’ in the OT; there is general agreement that Paul obtained this word from not only the Jewish but also the Greco-Roman world. The καταλλάσσω–διαλλάσσομαι word group is found in the Septuagint (rarely), 2 and 4 Maccabees and Josephus as well as in classical, hellenistic and koine writings. The use of the word group in these writings has been well documented.

Group Formative Processes in 2 Cor 6:14–7:1

“…6 For the Jewish background on 'wearing the same yoke', see Deut 22:10 and Lev 19:19 (LXX). The scholars illustrate how 2 Cor 6:14-7:1 functions almost like a Midrash on certain Old Testament Passages: (Beale 1989;Brooke 2014, p. 9;Leppä 2005, p. 374). 7 Mat 11:29-30; Acts 15:10; Gal 5:1; 1 Tim 6:1; Rev 6:5; Mishna, ever, such accusations were not uncommon in internal Jewish debates (Tomson 2014, p. 130).…”

“…For the Jewish background on 'wearing the same yoke', see Deut 22:10 and Lev 19:19 (LXX). The scholars illustrate how 2 Cor 6:14-7:1 functions almost like a Midrash on certain Old Testament Passages: (Beale 1989;Brooke 2014, p. 9;Leppä 2005, p. 374). 1.…”