Is Paul also among the Prophets? An examination of the relationship between Paul and the Old Testament prophetic tradition in 2 Corinthians

In this study Jeffrey W. Aernie examines the way in which Paul develops his apostolic persona and rhetoric in 2 Corinthians with reference to the prophetic tradition in the Old Testament. After an examination of the prophetic material in the Old Testament and its relationship with prophetic material in Second Temple Judaism, Hellenism, and the early Christian movement, Aernie investigates the effect of the Old Testament prophetic tradition on Paul's self-presentation in 1 Cor 9.15-18 and rhetorical framework in 1 Cor 14.20-25 as a methodological foundation for his analysis of 2 Corinthians. Aernie's analysis of Paul's self-presentation in 2 Corinthians examines the apostle's relationship with Moses, the Isaianic servant, and Jeremiah in order to define Paul's position with regard to the preceding prophetic tradition. He then provides an exegetical analysis of Paul's argument in 2 Cor 2.14-16; 4.1-6; 6.14-7.1; 12.1-10 in order to examine the influence of the Old Testament prophetic tradition on the formation of Paul's rhetorical framework. Aernie's intention is to provide support for the notion that the particularly prophetic nature of Paul's apostolic persona affects both his self-presentation and his rhetorical agenda in 2 Corinthians.