Driven by Grief, Inspired by Christ

Abstract

AbstractPaul’s enigmatic claim of being “beside himself” (ἐξίστηµι) in 2 Cor 5:13 has been interpreted as a reference to an episode of religious ecstasy, an incident of erratic behavior, or a criticism of Paul’s poor rhetoric and leadership. Among its wide range of meanings, however, ἐξίστηµι denotes excessive emotion; it is used in classical texts to describe those swept away by immoderate anger or grief or even those moved or transported by the power of a rhetor’s words. Drawing on these texts, and following a suggestion by James Kennedy in 1903, the author will argue that in 2 Cor 5:13 Paul is controlling for the legitimate possibility that his prior correspondence with the Corinthians, specifically 2 Corinthians 10–13, might have been seen as furious, emotional, or even violent, and reinterpreting any seemingly immoderate anger or foolish speech as done wholly in service of God and compelled by Christ.