Selbsttäuschung und Selbsterkenntnis bei Paulus. Zur Interpretation von 1Kor 3,18–23

Rhetorical analysis shows that the section of 1Cor 3:18–23 concludes the theological arguments presented in chapters 1–3 of this letter. The text contains a sequence of two sayings compositions: a warning against self-deception (3:18–21a) and a praise (3:21b-23). The problems of interpretation concern the translation of some terms, and the explanation of what is meant by self-deception, including its background in Hellenistic thought on the concept of wisdom. The concept of self-deception is closely related to that of self-knowledge. In his argument Paul points out how self-knowledge can be obtained, while self-deception is avoided. His own self-knowledge is expressed in connection with his autobiographical statements.