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1 Corinthians 9.9–11: A Literal Interpretation of ‘Do not Muzzle the Ox’

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 February 2009

D. Instone Brewer
Affiliation:
(12 Crundale Crescent, Llanishen, Cardiff CF4 5PY, Wales)

Extract

When Paul interprets ‘Do not muzzle the ox while threshing’ as ‘do not neglect to pay Christian ministers’, commentators have quite naturally assumed that his exegesis was allegorical. However, comparisons with contemporary rabbinic exegesis suggest that this would have been regarded as a literal interpretation of the plain meaning of the text.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1992

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References

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11 These are probably two names for one group which may have existed before 70 CE – see: Lauterbach, J. Z., ‘Ancient Jewish Allegorists in Talmud and Midrash’, JQR NS 1 (19101911) 291333, 503–31CrossRefGoogle Scholar; Lévi, I., ‘Les Dorshé Reschoumot’, REJ 60 (1910) 2431Google Scholar; Ginzberg, L., ‘The Allegorical Interpretation of Scripture’, On Jewish Law and Lore (New York: KTAV, 1955) 127–60 or JE 1 (1901) 403–11.Google Scholar

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