This collection of essays deals with a number of important words and passages in the apostle Paul’s letters to the Corinthians. It clarifies Paul’s ways of defending himself against the attacks of some Corinthian Christians and his attempts to persuade his readers to keep on living according to the law of God. The analyses centre on answering two questions. First, what does Paul take from the ideas that were in vogue in his time, the Graeco-Roman, Hellenistic period? Secondly, what particular twist does he give to these traditional concepts and motifs in order to persuade his readers in Corinth effectively? The analyses produce a number of new and surprising results, and will appeal to New Testament scholars and students, clergymen, and all those interested in the ideas of the apostle Paul and in Christian belief and behaviour.