Paul was a Hebrew of the Hebrews steeped in the learning of his people. But he was also a Roman citizen who widely traveled the Mediterranean basin & was very knowledgeable of the dominant Greek & Roman culture of his day. These two mighty rivers of influence converge in Paul's first letter to the Corinthians. With razor-sharp attention to the text Kenneth Bailey examines the cultural milieu & rhetorical strategies that shaped this pivotal epistle. He discovers the deep layers of the Hebraic prophetic tradition informing Paul's writin 2949g linking the Apostle with the great prophets of the Old Testament. Throughout Bailey employs his expert knowledge of Near Eastern & Mediterranean culture to deliver to readers a new understanding of Paul & his world. Familiar passages take on a new hue as they are stripped of standard Western interpretations & rendered back into their ancient setting.